Twinline Notation
by Thomas Reed, 1986

Chromatic scale from C to C in Twinline Notation by Thomas ReedC C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

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A two-line staff is used, with the lower line representing E.   Above and below the staff a ledger line is used to represent C. Between any two adjacent lines there are three elevations on which notes can be placed.  These three elevations are made easier to read because of a change in notehead shape.  As illustrated, the notes next to a line assume a triangular shape, with the base of the triangle resting on the closer line.   The notes are all white for ease of handwriting.  Rhythmic notation is mostly traditional. A novel flag indicates half notes. Tom Reed’s Twinline is his modification of Leo de Vries’ Chromatic Twinline.

Earliest documentation: 1986

Source: Directory of Music Notation Proposals, section/page: 10/24, 11/2, 13/72

Miscellaneous examples: Major Scale Comparison Triad Comparison Jazz Chords Comparison

Manuscript paper: Discontinuous Staves Continuous Staves