Day 20: Ledger Lines - Beyond the Staff
Although the 5 lines and 4 spaces of the staff are already quite efficient at representing tones visually, we do also have a means of representing higher or lower notes than the staff would normally allow.
We do so simply by adding lines, as they are needed, either on top of the staff for notes that go higher:
Ledger lines that go above the staff
Or below, for notes that go lower:
Ledger lines that go below the staff
These extra lines are called ledger lines
(also spelled Leger
).
Just like on the normal staff, notes can be placed through the ledger lines themselves:
Notes on the ledger lines
Or in the spaces:
Notes in the spaces above or below ledger lines
A warning: notation is meant to provide the reader with an easily and quickly discernible musical score (sheet music). Having too many ledger lines makes it difficult to recognize what the notes are so ledger lines are usually limited to about 4 or 5.
Accidentals that belong to notes on ledger lines are no different than normal. They are written to the left of the note and parallel to the note head:
Notes with accidentals on ledger lines
