Music Notation calligraphy using a squared paper

This is the approach that is being co-developed with Vicky.


A3 size paper is currently being used having aproximately 80x54 squares, ie aprox 80 columns and 54 lines.


The use of squares approach has been inspired by examining some so beautifully written commercial editions of scores, examining the 16 LED matrix of the Rolland TR-606 drum machine, TR-909 etc.


So 18 squares are used for each measure in order to give some left right margin.


A typical approach would be from left to right:


Line, Sol clef etc, sharps or flats, rhythm indication, one square (space), 16 squares, one square, bar line, one square, 16 squares, one square etc.


Notes are written inside a square.
Stems are guided by the columns.


Different colored markers are used throughout, for drawing the 5 line stave, notes, clef etc.


But how notes are actually written?
One way is mimicking what a TR-606 does or how it thinks.
For example counting 16 1/16ths for every bar.
How is this done?
One way is O O O One
                  Two o o o
                  Three e e e
                  Fo  o o our
immediately back to O ...ne and loop


Or simultaneously tapping four fingers one by one and loop.
Finger number for example 1 2 3 4
                                             1 2 3 4
                                             1 2 3 4
                                             1 2 3 4
and this is done while listening or playing to the music we wish to write down.
In this way we immediately find on which square of the 16 matrix each notes begins.
When we add all notes correctly for each bar then we add (specify) correctly their duration.



See also:


Music Notation - Gardner Read


Bach Bass Rules - Bach, Niedt - PDF