What a terrible proposal. The "problems" he's trying to fix are actually features of the Western notation system.
Despite the intentionally click-bait title, this video explains how and why our current notation system came about, and why various proposals to "fix" didn't get any traction:
Since he's the guy in charge of MuseScore, he know what he's talking about.
What a terrible proposal. The "problems" he's trying to fix are actually features of the Western notation system
I too have pondered over whether there are better ways to notate music and went through a fair few of the "fails" that he shows, before concluding that, despite its apparent clumsiness, standard notation seems to offer fewer problems than other systems.
One that he highlighted as one of the better tries was mostly just rotating the staff to vertical, which seems reasonable enough, though that creates another issue that isn't always obvious ... our eyes are better at seeing variation from the horizontal than they are from the vertical, so vertical staves are actually s little harder to read.
If one remembers that we were hunter-gatherers, then it should be fairly clear why we more easily perceive variation from horizontal ... things on the horizon are important for early sighting of prey and predators. It's also why we prefer faders and VU bars to be vertical rather than horizontal.
Last edited by Gordon Scott; 01/30/2402:51 AM.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
I have no problem at all with normal music notation.
It's actually quite an efficient way to pass on a lot of information.
I have had some rare problems with people who do not notate music properly. There is often more than one right way to notate a piece of music, or a passage. The person doing the chart, should choose the way that makes it easy to sightread.
I like it the way it is, and see no need to change it.
I had some problems with his explanation of the existing system. For example, he didn't seem to understand the significance of clefs when describing where the notes fall on the staff. Or the continuity of pitches spanning the treble and bass clefs.
While I agree there are lots of things one can find fault with, and many conflicting 'rules', the existing system of notation system seems to work well. I've written for symphony orchestra and everything smaller, and people seem to understand what I write with no arguing.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
BIAB. CbB. Mixbus 32C 8 HP Envy. Intel core i7. 16GB RAM W10. Focusrite Scarlett 18i 20. Various instruments played with varying degrees of proficiency.
The guitar world and other stringed instrument world figured out a good way to do this with tab. I can read tab just as easily as standard notation. Since there are so many ways to get the exact same note and pitch on stinged instruments, tab can be really useful. But, yeah, standard notation is not something that needs fixing.
My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
The guitar world and other stringed instrument world figured out a good way to do this with tab. I can read tab just as easily as standard notation. Since there are so many ways to get the exact same note and pitch on stinged instruments, tab can be really useful. But, yeah, standard notation is not something that needs fixing.
I'm just the opposite. I can't read tabs unless it is accompanied with notation and even then I have trouble with tabs.
I agree standard notation does not need fixing.
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64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
The guitar world and other stringed instrument world figured out a good way to do this with tab. I can read tab just as easily as standard notation. Since there are so many ways to get the exact same note and pitch on stinged instruments, tab can be really useful. But, yeah, standard notation is not something that needs fixing.
I'm just the opposite. I can't read tabs unless it is accompanied with notation and even then I have trouble with tabs.
I agree standard notation does not need fixing.
I started out that way but over time, i found I didn't need the notation. I really found it easier to see chords in tab vice notation. Sometimes when I see a chord in notation it throws me because I have to figure out "where" the chord should be on the neck, of course this is sight reading. If I am learning something from notation, I am taking the time to find out the best place to play everything written as there are so many choices on the guitar for the exact same inversion of every chord if the notation was not marked up for guitarist. Some transcriptions in notation are and give fingerings etc. Some give chord diagrams and so on. There are many ways to enhance the notation. Thankfully I am not thrown into a lot of sight reading situations!!
My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
The guitar world and other stringed instrument world figured out a good way to do this with tab. I can read tab just as easily as standard notation. Since there are so many ways to get the exact same note and pitch on stinged instruments, tab can be really useful. But, yeah, standard notation is not something that needs fixing.
Tab frustrates me.
When reading notation, I get the note values, the note timing, and a lot of expressive details all in one line. When reading tab, there is the advantage of displaying fingering, but that part does nothing to express timing or expression.
Of course, there is more than one correct way to do this.
The guitar world and other stringed instrument world figured out a good way to do this with tab. I can read tab just as easily as standard notation. Since there are so many ways to get the exact same note and pitch on stinged instruments, tab can be really useful. But, yeah, standard notation is not something that needs fixing.
Yes - tablature assumes that you already know the melody and rhythm, so it only needs to communicate the fingering.
It's an example of where a hybrid solution to a specialized problem works very well. Rather than trying to make one solution do both things, you can use Western notation and tab to get the job done. Or include an audio file for those that choose not to read Western notation.
I was going to say "standard" notation instead of "Western" notation, but it's only "standard" depending on where you happen to be.
And you know the old saw... The great thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from.
<…snip…> It's an example of where a hybrid solution to a specialized problem works very well. Rather than trying to make one solution do both things, you can use Western notation and tab to get the job done. Or include an audio file for those that choose not to read Western notation. ;)<…>
That's a workaround, but for reading, I can't combine the tab with the notation. I especially can't sightread.
To me, the solution is to know the notes on the fretboard, and read the notation. But guitar is my 7th instrument, I don't have many occasions to read music on it, so to tell the truth, I'm not very good at reading on the guitar. Simple melody lines, that don't require hand position movement, is it.
I would think if you want to eventually sightread guitar, that would be the way to do it. After all, that's how violin players do it.
Sax and wind synthesizer is what I'm best at. If the rhythms aren't too tricky, I can sightread. If they are quite tricky, a little woodshedding is in order.
I can't think of much I'd do to improve standard, Western notation, but I can think of a lot of things I could do to improve some charts that people have made.
One big one for reading a song I've never heard. Instead of saying brightly or with energy, give me the mm= or the standard Italian tempo designation. For example, if you say allegro, I know it's between 112 and 120 beats per minute.
Stick to the standard notation markings, and it's a lot easier to read something I'm not familiar with.
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Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
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Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
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Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
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In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
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New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
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