Tutorials

Learn more about the advantages of alternative music notation systems and the differences between them. See also our FAQ and How does music notation make it more difficult to learn to read music?

Chromatic Staves
A chromatic staff offers many advantages over the diatonic staff used in traditional music notation.

6-6 and 7-5 Pitch Patterns
A brief introduction to 6-6 and 7-5 pitch patterns as design strategies found in various notations.

Using Notehead 'Color' for Pitch
On the rationale for using solid and hollow noteheads to indicate pitch rather than duration.

Key Signatures and Accidentals
Considers a passage of music that requires a complex key signature and many accidentals in traditional music notation, and shows how alternative music notations can make it simpler, clearer, and easier to learn.

Intervals 1: Traditional Notation
An in-depth look at how interval relationships are obscured in traditional music notation.

Intervals 2: 6-6 Notations
Shows how alternative music notations can improve upon traditional notation when it comes to representing interval relationships.

Related Websites & Related Publications
Explore further...