They add some additional information and symbols from western notation - time signature, bar lines, dots and connecting bars to indicate quavers and semiquavers. These examples are from a book published in Hong Kong. In addition, there is the use of numbers in figured bass notation of the baroque period, and some European keyboard tablatures while Roman numerals are often used for writing down chords. |3212|333-|222-|355-|3212|333-|2232|1-|įorms of number notation are quite widely used, for instance in East Asia, and some examples are given below. Musical symbols are marks and symbols in musical notation that indicate various aspects of how a piece of music is to be performed. it doesn't give a visual indication of pitch, although can be adapted to do so and it works best when applied to scales of no more than 8 notes.Ī simple number notation would notate the melody 'Merrily we roll along' like this:Īdditional symbols could be used to clarify the rhythm: However, it has limitations - you need additional symbols to indicate note lengths, metre, etc. It can also help you to understand the degrees of the scale and the relationships between them, and to this end is sometimes used for vocal warm-up exercises. It has the advantage of using symbols that are already familiar and is useful when dealing with instruments where numbers are written on the notes, such as some tuned percussion instruments. Number notation relates to forms of notation where numbers are used to designate individual notes.
