Numerical Notation Systems

[memyselfandus]

anyone messed with these Numerical Notation Systems?

http://musicnotation.org/tutorials/nume ... n-systems/
Numerical Notation Systems

Elsewhere on the Music Notation Project's Web site, we focus on systems that represent the chromatic scale graphically, with a pitch-proportional staff. However, it is instructive to also examine systems that represent the chromatic scale numerically and not necessarily graphically. In such systems, pitches are represented by numerals.

One benefit of a numerical approach is that it makes it easier to calculate the interval relationships between notes — instead of, or in addition to, representing interval relationships graphically on a staff. Most of these systems place all the notes/numbers of one octave at the same vertical position. This approach allows these systems to be vertically very compact. However, this benefit is gained by sacrificing the benefits of a pitch-proportional graphical representation of notes (#8 of our Desirable Criteria…).

This tutorial contains two parts: a historical background written mostly by Dominique Waller (himself an inventor of a numerical notation system), and a chronology of important innovations, extracted from information in Gardner Read's Source Book of Proposed Music Notation Reforms.

Also see the overview of nomenclatures page on the Music Notation Project Wiki, especially Dominique Waller's document on the various single-digit symbols that have been proposed as substitutes for double-digit numbers in numerical notation systems (i.e. 10 and 11).

[jancivil]

One benefit of a numerical approach is that it makes it easier to calculate the interval relationships between notes.

Wait: "calculate the interval relationships between notes"? I'm not even sure what 'calculate' means there; I know straight off how many semitones one interval in a twelve note system is. I think more often than not 'minor sixth' [or HEY, 'augmented fifth'] is more useful information musically than '8'.

this goes from tablature to this 'chromatic notation' thing, which may be an interesting curiosity, but isn't there already a thread to waste our time with here?

[tapper mike]

I agree.
I don't know anything about it's source but the notated method is indeed notation and not numeric values.

Of numeric values notation systems the most common is in roman numeral chord systems.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_numeral_analysis

And Nashville chord charts
http://guitarthinker.com/nashville-number-system/

[memyselfandus]

um... Yeah... this thread is geared towards nerds like me... who find it interesting to explore things like this. sort of like an extra hobby on the side.. I find this sort of discussion a lot more productive than talking about sports and various other things that tend bore the crap out of me in casual conversation. know what I mean? its how I roll. it's such a harmless topic. I promise I will have those TPS reports done today.


I know where you guys coming from though. if it's not your thing just move along. thank you for the links. I've always loved the Nashville number system.

[JoeyT]

Intresting! I didnt realise tabs were so old!