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Topic: Rhythm notation preference (Read 4416 times) previous topic - next topic

Rhythm notation preference

I've got some charts that have the same rhythm notated two different ways in some of the parts.
One is a half note tied to a dotted quarter followed by an eighth note (tied into the next bar).
The other is a dotted half note tied to an eighth note followed by an eighth note (tied into the next bar).
I know that these are the same mathematically, but I was wondering if there was a preference out there for one way over the other (so that when I notate my own stuff, I can be more "accommodating").

Re: Rhythm notation preference

Reply #1 –
I would certainly prefer the first, as it puts the second note of the first tie on the beat. If this is strictly a rhythm part, where the note value has no purpose except to denote how long to wait before the next note, I would consider using a rest instead of the second note of the tie. Of course, another possibility is a double-dotted half note.

Re: Rhythm notation preference

Reply #2 –
I think you're better off making the meter of the bar as clear as possible.

Since your first note is going to cross the third beat of the bar, your reader will probably appreciate seening the half tied to the dotted quarter.

That makes it obvious to the eye that the note is crossing the third beat.

A dot sometimes gets missed on a crowded score.

Re: Rhythm notation preference

Reply #3 –
What's wrong with a double-dotted half note, followed by the tied eighth note? Or am I missing something?

Re: Rhythm notation preference

Reply #4 –
All 3 ways of writing the figure are correct.

It seems to me that double-dots weren't in vogue during my formative years, although they seem to be popular these days.

My only point is to make it as easy as possible for your musician to read the part.  If your player is sightreading, sharing a stand in a room with poor light, and has less than good vision, he or she might not see the dots as easily as tied notes.

While I know the question wasn't about a syncopated figure, I think Sammy Nestico's The Complete Arranger, at page 7 under Syncopated Notations, is still good advice.  He writes:

"When syncopated notes are carried over the third beat of a measure, the figures should be written to expose the third beat, even though it is silent."

Re: Rhythm notation preference

Reply #5 –
As a general rule I would always divide the measure at the centre for ease of sight reading.
The half note tied to a quarter tied to an eighth in the following measure would be my preference.

Re: Rhythm notation preference

Reply #6 –
Thanks for your replies.  You have confirmed my beliefs.

Re: Rhythm notation preference

Reply #7 –
For reading songs... Music written the following way is very useful: When I see a double-dotted note, I expect that the note would have been longer, but needs to be shortened just a bit to provide room for a pickup syllable into the next measure.

Re: Rhythm notation preference

Reply #8 –
Here's another one for you all.
An eighth rest, an eighth note tied to a half note tied to an eighth note, and one more eighth note
-OR-
An eighth rest, a dotted quarter tied to a dotted quarter, and an eighth note.
Preferences?

Re: Rhythm notation preference

Reply #9 –
Nestico's rule would suggest the second.  Looking at the notation, I think I would agree.

Probably the composer or arranger would write it the first way to save time if writing with pencil and paper, but a good copyist would use the second when extracting the part.

Re: Rhythm notation preference

Reply #10 –
As I alluded to in Reply 1, I find ties very confusing when the note is truly percussion, i.e. the note itself is instantaneous, and the note value simply indicates how long to wait for the next one. I prefer using rests rather than ties in such cases.

Re: Rhythm notation preference

Reply #11 –
All my examples from horn parts.
I'm sorry if Rhythm notation made you think "Rhythm section" or some other percussion stuff.

Re: Rhythm notation preference

Reply #12 –
Not being a percussionist, I would like to know about note durations.  I know that a simple tap on a drum can be notated as a short or a long note and it makes no difference.

However, what about those instruments where you have the choice of asking the musician to immediately stop the sound or to let it ring a bit.  I'm thinking about cymbals and tympani, for instance.

Does it then make sense to use notes with different values?