From: Kay.Shapero@f524.n102.z1.fidonet.org
Newsgroups: alt.music.filk
Subject: Ascii music notation
Date: 13 Oct 92 08:43:47 GMT
X-Sender: newtout 0.02 Oct  1 1992

Recent posts suggest it's time to post this one again.  Thanks as usual to Joe 
Ellis, who devised the system!

--begin quote--
  Here is the format I've developed for sending music notation via ASCII  
  characters.
  
  -----------------------------
  C5 = C 2 ledger lines above treble clef staff
  C4 = octave above middle C, third space treble clef staff
  C3 = Middle C  
  C2 = C second space bass clef staff
  C1 = C 2 ledger lines below bass clef staff
                   (this is standard terminology)
     
  C is the change point for octaves. The note immediately below C3   
  (middle C) is B2. A C scale starting on middle C would be as follows:     
                  C3  D3  E3  F3  G3  A3  B3  C4.  
  By using all capital letters for notes, we can use the more  
  intuitive # = sharp and b = flat. (C#2, F##4, Eb3, Bbb1)  
   
  All sharps and flats are indicated in the notation. No key signatures  
  are used, but it doesn't hurt to include a text notation of the key at  
  the beginning or at changes. Time signatures should be include in the  
  same manner (3/4 D major, 7/8 A minor).   
     
  -----------------------------    
  For values, simply use a one or two letter initial code:  
  DW = Dotted Whole                W = whole  
  DH = Dotted Half                 H = Half  
  DQ = Dotted Quarter              Q = Quarter  
  DE = Dotted Eighth               E = Eighth  
  DS = Dotted Sixteenth            S = Sixteenth  
                                                  ad nausem...  
  Double dotted notes are done like this: C4DDQ   
  -----------------------------    
  Rests, of course, use 'R' followed by the value: RDH  
   
  Use '!' for bar lines, and '!!' for double bars.   
  Repeats are   '!!:          :!!'  
    
  Use  '--' for a tie. Use  '-!-' for a tie across bar lines.  
   
 Tuplets are indicated thusly:  
                         +--- 3 ---+  
        C3H    ! G3H   ! F3E E3E D3E C4Q-!-C4Q G3Q !  
   
  -----------------------------    
  So, for example, 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' played in the octave  
  immediately above Middle C would look like this:  
    
  4/4  C Major  
    C                                   G7   
  ! E3Q D3Q C3Q D3Q ! E3Q E3Q E3H     ! D3Q D3Q D3H     !  
    C  
  ! E3Q G3Q G3H     ! E3Q D3Q C3Q D3Q ! E3Q E3Q E3Q E3Q !  
    G7                C  
  ! D3Q D3Q E3Q D3Q ! C3DH        RQ  !  
    
  It is, of course, POSSIBLE to write the words below the notes, but   
  unless it is necessary I would not recommend it. Why? First, it makes  
  things VERY 'busy' on the page. Secondly, and more importantly, it  
  means that someone who wants to USE the song will probably have to  
  delete those lines to get a workable lyric sheet, and then have to  
  re-format the text, too! It's a lot easier just to delete the music  
  if it's all alone at the top of the page!  
     
  -----------------------------    
  A few comments on style:  
  Try to keep notes spaced in proportion to note length. It GREATLY  
  helps readability!   
   
  Note pitches ALWAYS come first, and end with a number.  
   
  Note values follow pitch with NO SPACE BETWEEN.  
   
  -----------------------------    
  My primary goal was to create a notation system that could be used  
  intuitively by anyone familiar with standard notation. Some elements  
  are drawn from other proposed encoding systems, and we all owe those  
  people a debt for believing it COULD be done. I don't think this is  
  the last word in ASCII music, but I do feel it is a good, solid  
  foundation. I expect to modify and add to this as I receive comments  
  on it, and welcome other viewpoints... but keep in mind what we're  
  trying to accomplish.  
    
  This is NOT a performance-level notation system, and is not intended  
  to be. The amount of information packed into a single page of sheet  
  music in a minimum number of symbols is phenominal, and we cannot hope  
  to begin to match it in any humanly readable form given the constraints  
   the music around!  
   
  
   Joe Ellis  o/' The Synthetic FIlker o/'      |     TesserAct Studios
     Internet: usr6184a@tso.uc.edu              |       P.O. Box 18577
        GEnie: J.EllIS22                        |    Fairfield, OH 45018
       All filked up and no place to sing!      |  New Dimensions In Filk!
   ###



--- msged 2.06
Newsgroups: alt.music.filk