Universal Music Notations
There are some musical notations that are universal over all clefs.
Note Lengths
A whole note will appear as an open circle with not stems. A whole note is held for the length of 4 quarter notes.
A half note will appear as an open circle with a stem. A half note is held for the length of 2 quarter notes.
A quarter note will appear as a shaded black circle with a stem. A quarter note is generally what note lengths in anything /4 time are compared to.
An Eighth note will appear as a shaded black circle with a stem, however the stem has a flag at the top, which is connected to neighboring eighth notes if there are any. An eighth note is held for 1/2 of a quarter note.
A Sixteenth note will appear as a shaded black circle with a stem, however the stem has a flag at the top, which has a smaller line below it, and is connected to neighboring sixteenth notes if there are any. An eighth note is held for 1/4 of a quarter note.
A Thirty-second note will appear as a shaded black circle with a stem, however the stem has a flag at the top, which has 2 smaller lines below it, and is connected to neighboring thirty-second notes if there are any. An eighth note is held for 1/8 of a quarter note.
A Sixty-fourth note and more will follow the same pattern given for increasing in speed. Same looking note with 1 more line for each time the speed doubles.
A dot next to a note means that you take half of the length of the dotted note, and add it onto the note. For example, a dotted quarter note will be held for 1 and 1/2 quarter notes.
If you find a set of notes that have a number over them. If you see this that means that the number you see above the notes is how many of those you find in a beat. For example, if you see 3 eighth notes that have a 3 above them, those 3 notes are all one beat and will be played in a way that occupies that space of time. Another example would be septuplet notes
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Accidentals
♭ (Flat) symbolizes lowering the pitch a single half step
♯ (Sharp) symbolizes raising the pitch a single half step
♭♭ (Double Flat) symbolizes lowering the pitch a full step
x (Double sharp) symbolizes raising the pitch a full step
♯ (Sharp) symbolizes raising the pitch a single half step
♭♭ (Double Flat) symbolizes lowering the pitch a full step
x (Double sharp) symbolizes raising the pitch a full step
Key Signature
They key signature is located at the beginning of any column of music measures.
The key signature shows all of the sharps or flats in a piece of music. Any notes with no sharp or flat in the key signature will be natural.
The order of sharps from first added to last added will always be F, C, G, D, A, E, B
The order of flats from first added to last added will always be B, E, A, D, G, C, F
The order of sharps from first added to last added will always be F, C, G, D, A, E, B
The order of flats from first added to last added will always be B, E, A, D, G, C, F
Time Signature
The time signature is located in the very first measure of music to the far left. The number on the top symbolizes how many beats are in a measure. The bottom number symbolizes what note is a beat. For example, the picture below shows that there are 12 beats in a measure, and that an eighth note is a single beat. This means 12 eighth notes would be a full measure.
You may also find that instead of numbers there you find a C. This C stands for common time, which is simply 4/4 time. You also may find a C with a slash through it. This would symbolize 2/2 time which can be a tricky time signature.
Tempo
The tempo marking can be found in the area above the first measure. The tempo marking tells you what range your beats per minute should be in.
The meanings of specific tempo markings are: (they are usually notated on a metronome, such as the metronome these came from)
Larghissimo – very, very slow (19 BPM and under)
Grave – slow and solemn (20–40 BPM)
Lento – slowly (40–45 BPM)
Largo – broadly (45–50 BPM)
Larghetto – rather broadly (50–55 BPM)
Adagio – slow and stately (55–65 BPM)
Adagietto – rather slow (65–69 BPM)
Andante moderato – a bit slower than andante (69-72 BPM)
Andante – at a walking pace (73–77 BPM)
Andantino – slightly faster than andante (78-83 BPM)
Marcia moderato – moderately, in the manner of a march (83-85 BPM)
Moderato – moderately (86–97 BPM)
Allegretto – moderately fast (98–109 BPM)
Allegro – fast, quickly and bright (109–132 BPM)
Vivace – lively and fast (132-140 BPM) (quicker than allegro)
Vivacissimo – very fast and lively (140-150 BPM)
Allegrissimo – very fast (150-167 BPM)
Presto – very fast (168–177 BPM)
Prestissimo – extremely fast (178 BPM and over)
Larghissimo – very, very slow (19 BPM and under)
Grave – slow and solemn (20–40 BPM)
Lento – slowly (40–45 BPM)
Largo – broadly (45–50 BPM)
Larghetto – rather broadly (50–55 BPM)
Adagio – slow and stately (55–65 BPM)
Adagietto – rather slow (65–69 BPM)
Andante moderato – a bit slower than andante (69-72 BPM)
Andante – at a walking pace (73–77 BPM)
Andantino – slightly faster than andante (78-83 BPM)
Marcia moderato – moderately, in the manner of a march (83-85 BPM)
Moderato – moderately (86–97 BPM)
Allegretto – moderately fast (98–109 BPM)
Allegro – fast, quickly and bright (109–132 BPM)
Vivace – lively and fast (132-140 BPM) (quicker than allegro)
Vivacissimo – very fast and lively (140-150 BPM)
Allegrissimo – very fast (150-167 BPM)
Presto – very fast (168–177 BPM)
Prestissimo – extremely fast (178 BPM and over)
Slurring
A slur will look like the arch above the notes in the picture below. It means that you do not break between the notes.