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Exploring Alternative Music Notation Systems

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Twinline Notation
by Thomas Reed, 1986

Chromatic scale from C to C. C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

See more scales, intervals, and melodies with the AudioVisualizer.

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

→ Next Two Notation Systems →

Chromatic scale from C to C in Black Triangle Twinline by Doug Keislar C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Black Triangle Twinline by Doug Keislar

Chromatic scale from C to C in Black-Oval Twinline by Paul Morris C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Black-Oval Twinline by Paul Morris

← Previous Two Notation Systems ←

Chromatic scale from C to C in Chromatic Twinline by Leo de Vries C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Chromatic Twinline by Leo de Vries

Chromatic scale from C to C in Diatonic Twinline by Leo de Vries C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Diatonic Twinline by Leo de Vries

Notation System Groups

  • Lines a Whole Step Apart, 5 Lines per Octave
  • Lines a Whole Step Apart, 4 or 3 Lines per Octave
  • Lines a Whole Step Apart, 6 Lines per Octave
  • Lines a Whole Step and Major 3rd Apart, 4 per Octave
  • Lines a Minor 3rd Apart, 3 or 4 Lines per Octave
  • Lines a Major 3rd Apart, 3 Lines per Octave
  • Lines a Major 3rd Apart, 2 Lines per Octave
  • Lines a Major 3rd Apart, 2 per Octave, Compact Staff
  • Lines a Tritone Apart, 2 per Octave, or 1 Line per Octave
  • 7-5 Line Pattern, 3, 5, or 6 Lines per Octave
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