The document discusses the complexities of pop music notation, exploring how traditional common music notation (CMN) may not adequately represent the unique characteristics of pop music, such as syncopation and microtiming. It evaluates various score formats and software applications, highlighting their limitations in handling the diverse needs of pop musicians who often rely on audio rather than written scores. The conclusion emphasizes the necessity for flexible and standardized software and file formats to accommodate the distinct features of pop, jazz, and folk music compositions.

1. Dec. 2010 Think TankPop Music Notation SoftwareWijnand Schepens

2. What is so special about the notation of pop music?What is pop music?Pop musicFolk music“Classical” RockBluesContemporary Jazz

3. Art music information flowScore / Sheet musicCommon Music Notation (CMN)

4. Pop music information flowscore ?

5. “Covering” a pop song(partial) score

6. Folk music information flow(partial) score

7. What is the “essence” of a song?Philosophical implication

8. What can we do with a score?storagestorageperformanceSCOREdistributionanalysiseditingSOFTWARE ?DIGITIZATION !

9. Is CMN suitable/appropriate for the notation of pop music?How about software?File formatsApplications for viewing, editing, playing, …Core questions

10. Full score (fragment)-complex rhythm (syncopation)-microtiming-microtonality (e.g. blue notes, glissandi, …)-timbre, sound effectsHard to read

11. Why? The pop musician knows the musicbecause he composed it by listening to recordingsAn aide-memoire is sufficientThe pop musician can’t read notes (well)Partial scores

12. Chord sheet (1)Chord labelsLyrics

13. Chord sheet (2)Meta-informationChord labelsSong structureLyrics

14. Chord sheet (3)Meta-informationChord labelsSong structureTiming?

15. Chord sheet (4)Meta-informationMetric structureSong structureChord labelsTiming?

16. Chord sheet (5)Meta-informationFret diagramsChord labelsSong structureBars

17. Chord sheet (6)Meta-informationFret diagramsLyricsChord labelsGuitar tablature(no timing)

18. Tab sheetMeta-informationInstrument-specificinstructionsGuitar tablature(no timing)Lyrics cuesSong structure

19. Tab sheet (2)Chord labelsBars (numbered)HarmonyrhythmGuitartablatureSong structure

20. Lead sheet (1)Meta-informationMetric structureLyricsNotes (rhythm+pitch)Parlando lyrics?

21. Lead sheet (2)Chord labelsMetric structureLyricsBacking lyrics?Notes (rhythm+pitch)

22. Lead sheet (3)Meta-informationMetric structureChord labelsSong structureLyricsNotes (rhythm+pitch)

23. Lead sheet (4)Meta-informationMetric structureChord labelsSong structureNotes (rhythm+pitch+articulation)

24. Lead sheet (5)Pitch for dummiesLyrics(multipe lines)

25. Lead sheet (6)Notes (rhythm+pitch)Same notes (pitch+fingering)

26. Lead sheet (7)Fret diagramsChord rhythm

27. Lyrics with rhythm

28. song structurelyricschord labels notesrhythm (time)pitch (frequency)dynamics, accentsbars, measuresinstrument specific:fingeringsfretboards phrasing…Partial score ingredientsMix and match…

29. Are common music formats appropriate/suitable for partial scores?Are common software applications up to the task?If not, what should be changed? Core questions (2)

30. CM7, CMaj7, C C+7(#9), Calt, C7C6, Am7/CChord labelsStandardization?Normalization?Check validity?Toggle style?Simplify?Transpose?(#5 #9)

31. Wikifonia.org

32. = incremental addition of information possibly by multiple usersExample:1. lyrics2. song structure 3. chord labels4. bars5. fret diagrams6. tablature (pitch)7. chord rhythm8. lyrics rhythm9. melody pitches10. tablature rhythm11. add bass-part…Wiki-flowrepetitionnormalizationtapping

33. Measure-centricNote-centricHiding is possible (but awkward)Chord label treatment is variableSibelius, Finale…

34. MusicXMLMeasure-centricChord labelsbetween notesNote-centricLyrics attached to notes

35. Space alignment (monospaced font!)Very popular on internet(OLGA, napster, ultimate-guitar, …) - Alignment not always clear - Editing is awkward - Not standardized  hard to handle for computersText-based

36. ASCII tabStructure, cues:Informal!

37. ChordProChord labels between lyricsStructure tagsSTANDARD ? DOCUMENTATION ?

38. Flexibility and standardizationflexiblehand-written? ? ?text-basedfreestandardizedSibelius, Finale…ChordProMusicXMLrigid

39. Develop software and file formatsfor handling partial scoresAvoid note- and measure-centricismAllow untimed informationAllow flexible combination of separate streams…Our research

40. = online lead sheet editorChord labels, lyrics, structure, metric, notesWiki workflowTo be used in wikifonia.orgChed

41. = XML-format and API for the representation of complex time structuresApplications:Pop, jazz, folk, …KaraokeContemporary musicPre-classical musicNon-western musicPoetryChoreography, movementLight showRobot controlScheduling, planning…Chronicle

42. Questions?That’s all folks!

43. LilypondMIDI (+Karaoke)Other formats

44. Pop music uses “partial” scoresMost formats and software applications areNote-centricMeasure-centricConclusions

45. thoughtsSystem breaks versus line breaks ex: lied om lied(intro): difference between classical and pop?Pop: composer is performerPop: audio, not scoreHow well does software cope? (partial info, non-CMN like chord labels ..)How well do formats cope?Nomenclature badly standardized (chord sheet, leadsheet, tab, …)Notations by amateurs: errors, inaccuracy (inherent??)Software / usability: Transpos.Chord reductionAuto fingering…TUBS, tracker notation, module fileInteger notationTranspositie wordt veel gevraagd. Bestaat ook in tekstfilesFret diagram = chord grid

46. http://www.songwriting-software.com/music-writing-software.htmlLyricist: http://www.virtualstudiosystems.com/LyrProd3/index.htmhttp://chordsheeteditorword.codeplex.com/: MS Word plugin for chord sheets (with transposition). Textual alignment (?)Song sheet: http://www.dsbsoft.com/ (ChordPro + formatting)(niet zelfde als Song Sheet Generator: gebruikt ook ChordPro ?)ScoreChart: http://www.filebuzz.com/fileinfo/17467/Score_Chart.htmlKaraoke-editorsSib/fin etc.BiaB / Chord Composer …editors…