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Exploring Alternative Music Notation Systems

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Lines a Major 3rd Apart, 2 per Octave, Compact Staff

These systems are like vertically compressed versions of those that have two lines, a major third apart (above). They require less vertical space by introducing a second notehead shape that fits more compactly between adjacent lines, while still keeping the centers of the noteheads evenly spaced on the vertical axis. These shapes (and in most cases hollow and solid noteheads) help to discriminate between adjacent pitches.

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

Chromatic Twinline by Leo de Vries, 1986

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

Diatonic Twinline by Leo de Vries, 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

Twinline Notation by Thomas Reed, 1986

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

Black Triangle Twinline by Doug Keislar, 2006

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

Black-Oval Twinline by Paul Morris, 2006

Chromatic scale from C to C in Bilinear Notation by José A. SotorríoC C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Bilinear Notation by José A. Sotorrío, 1997

Chromatic scale from C to C in TwinNote by Paul MorrisC C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

TwinNote by Paul Morris, 2009

Chromatic scale from C to C in TwinNote TD by Paul MorrisC C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

TwinNote TD by Paul Morris, 2009

Chromatic scale from C to C in Chromatic Nydana by Dan LindgrenC C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Chromatic Nydana by Dan Lindgren, 2011

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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