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Exploring Alternative Music Notation Systems

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7-5 Line Pattern, 3, 5, or 6 Lines per Octave

Many chromatic staves have lines spaced either a whole step apart, or some multiple of a whole step (a major third, a tritone, or an octave). These systems follow a different principle instead. The lines of these staves have an irregular spacing that highlights the 7-5 pitch pattern, by putting the diatonic notes of the C major scale either in spaces or on lines and ledger lines.

Chromatic scale from C to C in Klavar, Mirck Version by Jean de BuurC C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Klavar, Mirck Version by Jean de Buur, 2006

Chromatic scale from C to C in Klavar, Dekker Version by Antoon DekkerC C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Klavar, Dekker Version by Antoon Dekker, 2015

Chromatic scale from C to C in Tonnetz-Based 4x3 Notation by Joe AustinC C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

ChromaTonnetz by Joe Austin, 2010

Chromatic scale from C to C in Keyboard (7-5) Trigram Notation by Richard ParncuttC C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Keyboard (7-5) Trigram Notation by Richard Parncutt, 1989

Chromatic scale from C to C in Avique Notation by Anne and Bill CollinsC C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Avique Notation by Anne and Bill Collins, 1974

Chromatic scale from C to C in 0-5-7 Notation by Richard ParncuttC C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

0-5-7 Notation by Richard Parncutt, 1984

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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