Music notation

by Mark McGrain

This text is designed to provide the reader with an understanding of the theory of music notation as well as the necessary technique for drawing each notational symbol.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

207 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1990

Reviews

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased and read this book so that I can fill in the gaps of my music notation knowledge and subsequently use as a reference. I was surprised to see that it met my expectations and exceeded them. I was particularly surprised (and glad) that it discussed, with excellent precision, how to "draw" music by hand. The examples demonstrated common mistakes juxtaposed with correct methods. I read the Kindle version while riding the bus, and did so mostly for review so I did no complete the provided "homework" exercises--however they seemed very practical. Most of my reading of this book took place in February. I picked it up again today and unexpected hit the appendix sections, which were also quite useful. I did not realize that several orchestral instruments are not written literally. I've heard of Horn 5ths, but it was interesting to learn that French Horns are written a perfect 5th up from where it sounds on the treble clef.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

The treble clef is not the easiest thing in the world to draw. For no special reason (other than I was daydreaming in choir practice, and happened to wonder if I could draw one of these by hand ... and couldn't do it), I was curious how to draw one correctly. This book I discovered in the library, read through it and did, in fact, learn how to draw a very nice looking treble clef. And a bass clef, too, for that matter. Better yet, I learned a lot about music notation just from seeing what a composer has to do to make something understandable.

It is a lot like doing math problems, actually. In both cases, you have to be neat enough so you can go back and understand what, exactly, you intended. But not be so neat that you never get anything done.

I have no intentions of composing music, and will stick to my field of math, but I am glad to know much more about how music is written. And how to make a well executed G clef. Plus its friend, the F clef. Pretty awesome.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is how I met my wife.