Music Notation - Preference?

[betnich]

Hi all - have been thinking of writing some instructional material for keys...How best do you learn?

As an example I've uploaded a song I recently wrote, in a number of formats -
     Chorded (LH/RH note letters, from bottom up, with lyrics)
     Standard music notation
    "Letter Notes" (Music notation with letters in the notes, like E-Z-Play music - http://www.ezplaymusic.com/viewsamplepages.aspx )
There's also a .mid file, so you can listen.

I know that some here read music, while others learn best by ear or with chorded lyrics.
My question is - which format do you prefer? Please download your favorite(s) and let me know...

Thanks,

[Mysteryman]

Wish I had come up with the letter notes on sheet music.  Ingenious. It's a perfect balance for all. I would just make sure the chord charts list chord/bass also. I guess you found out what my book is going to be about.  Is that note thing copyrite? I was thinking about sheet music in the book also.

[betnich]

Wish I had come up with the letter notes on sheet music.  Ingenious. It's a perfect balance for all. I would just make sure the chord charts list chord/bass also. I guess you found out what my book is going to be about.  Is that note thing copyrite? I was thinking about sheet music in the book also.

Ah - Great minds think alike...

Don't know about the copyright; the phrase "E-Z-Play" is probably trademarked, but don't know if one can copyright a format.

I used a special font in Finale - 'Kidnotes'.

http://dvmpublications.com/kidnotes_information.htm

It's not perfect - only works properly in the key of C, and I had to enlarge it to 28pt to make it legible. So it slightly overlaps adjacent notes. When I get my new computer I plan to update Finale and see if they have a similar font.

[betnich]

...I would just make sure the chord charts list chord/bass also.

Here is a Note-letter-Chorded lead sheet version of Jerry Sinclair's "Alleluia" that I did for one of my students. I added RH notes above the LH chord symbols - does that seem clear?

[Mysteryman]

Personally I think it would be over kill seeing the notes are already shown in the music. I would just list the standard chord chart (E/Cmaj) for guitar players.

[T-Block]

Personally I think it would be over kill seeing the notes are already shown in the music. I would just list the standard chord chart (E/Cmaj) for guitar players.

It helps if you're just starting off reading music. You get the best of both worlds, learning the name and location of the note on sheet music.

[betnich]

Personally I think it would be over kill seeing the notes are already shown in the music. I would just list the standard chord chart (E/Cmaj) for guitar players.

Spelling out the RH notes above the chord symbols which the LH plays would be for 1-line Lead Sheet music, like the version of "Alleluia" I uploaded on this thread. I see it as a hybrid, halfway between chorded lyrics and Western music notation.
Would probably be overkill on the letter-note example...

[Mysteryman]

It helps if you're just starting off reading music. You get the best of both worlds, learning the name and location of the note on sheet music.

I was referring to the rh/lh at the top.

[T-Block]

I was referring to the rh/lh at the top.

Ohhh...gotcha.

[berbie]

The letter notes are nice in my case because I don't practice reading very much, and I lose sight recognition of some chords.  Seeing the notes displayed would help, as a matter convenience, to quickly recognize the chords.  I could see also, how new readers might soon learn the notes without looking at the letters if they practiced diligently.

[4hisglory]

Another good software to use is MuseScore (http://musescore.org/)  and its free.

[Docdb04]

It helps if you're just starting off reading music. You get the best of both worlds, learning the name and location of the note on sheet music.

To your point, I would only use this method during the beginning stages of learning to read music.  It can soon become a handicap if kept to long. 

 

[T-Block]

To your point, I would only use this method during the beginning stages of learning to read music.  It can soon become a handicap if kept to long. 

True. I've seen it more used for little kids learning to read music, but I guess it could help teens and adults as well.

[natelove]

you forgot to put down midi files as an option.  usually I either learn from a midi file or from video the best. that way I can get the rhythm and time

[betnich]

you forgot to put down midi files as an option.  usually I either learn from a midi file or from video the best. that way I can get the rhythm and time

I would classify learning from recordings, videos and Midi files under "by Ear"...