Standard notation question

blis · #1 03-14-2010, 03:58 PM

How would you write a quarter note triplet where the first note keeps ringing over the other two?

This is my first attempt at writing down my arrangements and I dont know if the problem is my knowledge or tuxguitar.

I sort of assumed it should look like this but tuxguitar wont let me put it in and my book on sight reading doesnt say how to notate this. I had to patch this example together with mspaint.

mr. beaumont · #2 03-14-2010, 04:21 PM

will it let you tie the note over the other two? not the neatest solution, and i guess in certain situations it wouldn't work, but it might work within the parameters of your program...

blis · #3 03-14-2010, 04:44 PM

I'll give it a go. Dont have it on the computer in this house.

Is the example of what I was trying correct notation? I've only been trying to read music for the last 3 months or so.

Is there any better software for writing down music? I dont mind paying for it. All really want to be able to do is write standard notation with tab underneath. I dont need it to do fancy stuff like play the music.

JohnW400 · #4 03-14-2010, 05:02 PM

try a regular 1/2 note for the first note in voice 1. Then put a 1/4 rest followed by the two remaining notes in voice 2

blis · #5 03-14-2010, 06:09 PM

Thanks for the advice guys.

What I'm most concerned about though is if I was right in thinking how it should be written. If tuxguitar cant display it properly I'd rather just not use tuxguitar.

Reg · #6 03-15-2010, 08:09 AM

You have 3 different lines going... you need either a rest or another quarter note to go with the two quarter notes, B and G, the rest above doesn't work. Or make the B a Half note.
Reg

JohnW400 · #7 03-15-2010, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blis

Thanks for the advice guys.

What I'm most concerned about though is if I was right in thinking how it should be written. If tuxguitar cant display it properly I'd rather just not use tuxguitar.

You have 2 beats. With a triplet your putting 3 into 2. The C/E lasts only 2 (or 3) beats. It doesn't belong in the triplet. The triplet figure is rest , quarter quarter, in two beats.

blis · #8 03-16-2010, 08:51 AM

Ok I think I follow you. The C/E is just a straight half note and cant be put into the triplet. So how do I "overlap" it with the triplet so that the notes in the triplet sound at the correct time.

Thanks for helping me guys. Sorry if I'm being overly obtuse or confusing. The book I've got isnt very comprehensive. I havent been able to find any really big books on reading music.

To make matters even more confusing, the second note is also ringing until the end of the triplet. I just wrote it by hand in the end as a normal quarter note triplet with a remark to let the the first two notes ring. I know what I mean but it would still be nice to know the correct way to write it.

JohnW400 · #9 03-16-2010, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blis

Ok I think I follow you. The C/E is just a straight half note and cant be put into the triplet. So how do I "overlap" it with the triplet so that the notes in the triplet sound at the correct time.

They are different voices. I don't know how your program works so I can't tell you how to do it. But if there is a tutorial, look up inputting voices.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blis

To make matters even more confusing, the second note is also ringing until the end of the triplet. I just wrote it by hand in the end as a normal quarter note triplet with a remark to let the the first two notes ring. I know what I mean but it would still be nice to know the correct way to write it.

Tie the B to the G.

Or, if it's what I think you're trying to do(fingerpicking a chord), Write the whole thing as a quarter note triplet, put a slur over the figure and type hold

fep · #10 03-16-2010, 09:38 AM

This is most commonly written with the first notes being written just like the last two notes - all as quarter note triplets in one voice. It is generally up to the performing to understand to let the notes ring even though the notation doesn't indicate it.

This is very common in classical music pieces where there are arpeggios finger picked and you let the notes "Let ring------------/" throughout most or all of the piece. Sometimes the "let ring-------/" will be written into the notation, most of the time it will not.

For example Tarrega's Lagrima has held 1/8th notes written in one voice (you let both notes in the lower voice ring). It's not notated as such, it's just understood. In that piece and in many pieces it would be very messy to separate all the voices and notate all the held notes in an arpeggio for their full duration (and even messier to do it as one voice with the use of tied notes) and it would make the piece much more difficult to read.

Also take a look at Sor's Etude in B Minor. Again 1/8th notes that you let ring longer than indicated by the notation. And Carcassi's Etude in A (major)... Actually just flip thru classical pieces, this type of notation is extremely common.

Whether to write it as one voice or two is a judgement call... often it comes down to what is going to be easiest to read given that the performer will still understand how to play the piece as the composer intended.

blis · #11 03-17-2010, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnW400

Or, if it's what I think you're trying to do(fingerpicking a chord), Write the whole thing as a quarter note triplet, put a slur over the figure and type hold

Thanks mate thats exactly what I'm doing. I'd never really paid much attention to things like slurs before. I've still got so much to learn.

Thanks for such a full explanation Fep. I'm starting to get an idea of how much is left up to the musicians interpretation. I'll be sure to look at the pieces you mentioned. Just found a couple of pdf's of them.