The Music Notation Project

Exploring Alternative Music Notation Systems

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
    • Guided Tour
    • AudioVisualizer
    • Gallery
    • More Notation Systems
    • Criteria for Systems
    • Evaluative Research
    • Tutorials Overview
    • 6-6 and 7-5 Pitch Patterns
    • Noteheads and Pitch
    • Intervals: Traditional System
    • Intervals: Reading and Playing
    • Intervals: 6-6 Systems
    • Chromatic Staves Example
    • Enharmonic Equivalents
    • Numerical Notation Systems
    • Software Overview
    • LilyPond
    • Finale
    • MuseScore
    • Sibelius
    • Open Source Strategy
    • MNMA Overview
    • Research Project
    • Publications
    • Conferences
  • Wiki
  • Forum

Lines a Major 3rd Apart, 3 Lines per Octave

These systems achieve a less dense appearance through lines that are spaced a major third apart. Between the lines are three elevations where notes are placed. One of the three lines per octave is either bold or dashed to allow for identification of the lines when more than one staff is stacked contiguously for a greater pitch range. Some systems use hollow and solid noteheads to help differentiate between adjacent pitches.

Chromatic scale from C to C in Chromatic 6-6 Notation by Johannes BeyreutherC C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Chromatic 6-6 Notation by Johannes Beyreuther, 1985

Chromatic scale from C to C in 6-6 Klavar by Cornelis PotC C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

6-6 Klavar by Cornelis Pot, 1972

Chromatic scale from C to C in Untitled by Arnold SchoenbergC C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Untitled by Arnold Schoenberg, 1924

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
The Music Notation Project
A not-for-profit organization sustained by the contributions of volunteers and supporters. Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
  • Home
  • Notation Systems
  • Tutorials
  • Software
  • MNMA
  • Wiki
  • Forum (Google Group)
  • About, FAQ, Contact Info
  • Blog
  • Community
  • Contribute
  • Facebook
  • Return to Top