What does this horizontal bar at the first measure mean?
6
I was looking at some sheet music when I came across something I am seeing for the first time. It looked like a horizontal bar on the first measure. Here is an image:
What does this bar tell you? What is it for?
notation
edited yesterday
Dom♦
36.8k19109225
asked yesterday
XilpexXilpex
908226
|
show 4 more comments
6
I was looking at some sheet music when I came across something I am seeing for the first time. It looked like a horizontal bar on the first measure. Here is an image:
What does this bar tell you? What is it for?
notation
edited yesterday
Dom♦
36.8k19109225
asked yesterday
XilpexXilpex
908226
3
I really fail to understand why the most basic of questions (not just this one, by any means) gets so many up-votes. Dolmetsch and Wikipedia, to name two of dozens of music sites, have extensive lists of notation symbols.
– Carl Witthoft
20 hours ago
3
@CarlWitthoft "One of the primary purposes of the whole Stack Exchange system is to be near the top of the results of web searches, so we want the answers to your questions to be found here. If there isn't already the answer here, then we want your question and answer here." -- music.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/2899/…
– Wayne Conrad
20 hours ago
1
@WayneConrad I'm not convinced that asking about notation symbols qualifies. WHich would you rather do - search thru a few hundred music.se questions (many of which have images which are difficult to search), or just go to Dolmetsch.com?
– Carl Witthoft
18 hours ago
3
@WayneConrad I'll also point out that, despite the best intentions of the creators of StackExchange, we get hundreds of questions that would have easily been answered if anyone ever bothered to search the database. Clearly that paradigm has failed.
– Carl Witthoft
18 hours ago
1
@YourUncleBob "Not enough research" is not, and never has been, a close reason on SO. It is, however a valid reason to down-vote on SO or here.
– Wayne Conrad
9 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
6
6
6
I was looking at some sheet music when I came across something I am seeing for the first time. It looked like a horizontal bar on the first measure. Here is an image:
What does this bar tell you? What is it for?
notation
edited yesterday
Dom♦
36.8k19109225
asked yesterday
XilpexXilpex
908226
I was looking at some sheet music when I came across something I am seeing for the first time. It looked like a horizontal bar on the first measure. Here is an image:
What does this bar tell you? What is it for?
notation
notation
edited yesterday
Dom♦
36.8k19109225
asked yesterday
XilpexXilpex
908226
edited yesterday
Dom♦
36.8k19109225
asked yesterday
XilpexXilpex
908226
edited yesterday
Dom♦
36.8k19109225
edited yesterday
Dom♦
36.8k19109225
edited yesterday
Dom♦
36.8k19109225
36.8k19109225
asked yesterday
XilpexXilpex
908226
asked yesterday
XilpexXilpex
908226
asked yesterday
XilpexXilpex
908226
908226
3
I really fail to understand why the most basic of questions (not just this one, by any means) gets so many up-votes. Dolmetsch and Wikipedia, to name two of dozens of music sites, have extensive lists of notation symbols.
– Carl Witthoft
20 hours ago
3
@CarlWitthoft "One of the primary purposes of the whole Stack Exchange system is to be near the top of the results of web searches, so we want the answers to your questions to be found here. If there isn't already the answer here, then we want your question and answer here." -- music.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/2899/…
– Wayne Conrad
20 hours ago
1
@WayneConrad I'm not convinced that asking about notation symbols qualifies. WHich would you rather do - search thru a few hundred music.se questions (many of which have images which are difficult to search), or just go to Dolmetsch.com?
– Carl Witthoft
18 hours ago
3
@WayneConrad I'll also point out that, despite the best intentions of the creators of StackExchange, we get hundreds of questions that would have easily been answered if anyone ever bothered to search the database. Clearly that paradigm has failed.
– Carl Witthoft
18 hours ago
1
@YourUncleBob "Not enough research" is not, and never has been, a close reason on SO. It is, however a valid reason to down-vote on SO or here.
– Wayne Conrad
9 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
3
I really fail to understand why the most basic of questions (not just this one, by any means) gets so many up-votes. Dolmetsch and Wikipedia, to name two of dozens of music sites, have extensive lists of notation symbols.
– Carl Witthoft
20 hours ago
3
@CarlWitthoft "One of the primary purposes of the whole Stack Exchange system is to be near the top of the results of web searches, so we want the answers to your questions to be found here. If there isn't already the answer here, then we want your question and answer here." -- music.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/2899/…
– Wayne Conrad
20 hours ago
1
@WayneConrad I'm not convinced that asking about notation symbols qualifies. WHich would you rather do - search thru a few hundred music.se questions (many of which have images which are difficult to search), or just go to Dolmetsch.com?
– Carl Witthoft
18 hours ago
3
@WayneConrad I'll also point out that, despite the best intentions of the creators of StackExchange, we get hundreds of questions that would have easily been answered if anyone ever bothered to search the database. Clearly that paradigm has failed.
– Carl Witthoft
18 hours ago
1
@YourUncleBob "Not enough research" is not, and never has been, a close reason on SO. It is, however a valid reason to down-vote on SO or here.
– Wayne Conrad
9 hours ago
3
3
I really fail to understand why the most basic of questions (not just this one, by any means) gets so many up-votes. Dolmetsch and Wikipedia, to name two of dozens of music sites, have extensive lists of notation symbols.
– Carl Witthoft
20 hours ago
I really fail to understand why the most basic of questions (not just this one, by any means) gets so many up-votes. Dolmetsch and Wikipedia, to name two of dozens of music sites, have extensive lists of notation symbols.
– Carl Witthoft
20 hours ago
3
3
@CarlWitthoft "One of the primary purposes of the whole Stack Exchange system is to be near the top of the results of web searches, so we want the answers to your questions to be found here. If there isn't already the answer here, then we want your question and answer here." -- music.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/2899/…
– Wayne Conrad
20 hours ago
@CarlWitthoft "One of the primary purposes of the whole Stack Exchange system is to be near the top of the results of web searches, so we want the answers to your questions to be found here. If there isn't already the answer here, then we want your question and answer here." -- music.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/2899/…
– Wayne Conrad
20 hours ago
1
1
@WayneConrad I'm not convinced that asking about notation symbols qualifies. WHich would you rather do - search thru a few hundred music.se questions (many of which have images which are difficult to search), or just go to Dolmetsch.com?
– Carl Witthoft
18 hours ago
@WayneConrad I'm not convinced that asking about notation symbols qualifies. WHich would you rather do - search thru a few hundred music.se questions (many of which have images which are difficult to search), or just go to Dolmetsch.com?
– Carl Witthoft
18 hours ago
3
3
@WayneConrad I'll also point out that, despite the best intentions of the creators of StackExchange, we get hundreds of questions that would have easily been answered if anyone ever bothered to search the database. Clearly that paradigm has failed.
– Carl Witthoft
18 hours ago
@WayneConrad I'll also point out that, despite the best intentions of the creators of StackExchange, we get hundreds of questions that would have easily been answered if anyone ever bothered to search the database. Clearly that paradigm has failed.
– Carl Witthoft
18 hours ago
1
1
@YourUncleBob "Not enough research" is not, and never has been, a close reason on SO. It is, however a valid reason to down-vote on SO or here.
– Wayne Conrad
9 hours ago
@YourUncleBob "Not enough research" is not, and never has been, a close reason on SO. It is, however a valid reason to down-vote on SO or here.
– Wayne Conrad
9 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
24
That is a multi-measure rest. The numeral 15 above it indicates that it is equivalent to writing out fifteen bars of full-measure rests. This is done to save space, for example in orchestral parts.
edited yesterday
Tim Parenti
1073
answered yesterday
repletereplete
3,572823
4
It also saves you from having to count all 15 measures and praying you didn't miscount.
– Dekkadeci
yesterday
6
You still have to count to 15, but at least you know it's 15 that you have to count to...
– Michael Kay
23 hours ago
2
Note, that for less than 15 full measuress a different notation exists using whole rest and vertical lines representing 2 or 4 measures of rest, see lilypond documentation.
– guidot
22 hours ago
1
@guidot that is true, and it's well worth knowing both kinds of notation. As a personal preference, I'd rather see this symbol for 4 measures or more.
– Carl Witthoft
20 hours ago
1
@CarlWitthoft ...provided the numerals are clearly written. I've had to distinguish between 1 and 7, 5 and 3 (!) based on the longa/breve notation before!
– Geoff
16 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
24
That is a multi-measure rest. The numeral 15 above it indicates that it is equivalent to writing out fifteen bars of full-measure rests. This is done to save space, for example in orchestral parts.
edited yesterday
Tim Parenti
1073
answered yesterday
repletereplete
3,572823
4
It also saves you from having to count all 15 measures and praying you didn't miscount.
– Dekkadeci
yesterday
6
You still have to count to 15, but at least you know it's 15 that you have to count to...
– Michael Kay
23 hours ago
2
Note, that for less than 15 full measuress a different notation exists using whole rest and vertical lines representing 2 or 4 measures of rest, see lilypond documentation.
– guidot
22 hours ago
1
@guidot that is true, and it's well worth knowing both kinds of notation. As a personal preference, I'd rather see this symbol for 4 measures or more.
– Carl Witthoft
20 hours ago
1
@CarlWitthoft ...provided the numerals are clearly written. I've had to distinguish between 1 and 7, 5 and 3 (!) based on the longa/breve notation before!
– Geoff
16 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
24
That is a multi-measure rest. The numeral 15 above it indicates that it is equivalent to writing out fifteen bars of full-measure rests. This is done to save space, for example in orchestral parts.
edited yesterday
Tim Parenti
1073
answered yesterday
repletereplete
3,572823
4
It also saves you from having to count all 15 measures and praying you didn't miscount.
– Dekkadeci
yesterday
6
You still have to count to 15, but at least you know it's 15 that you have to count to...
– Michael Kay
23 hours ago
2
Note, that for less than 15 full measuress a different notation exists using whole rest and vertical lines representing 2 or 4 measures of rest, see lilypond documentation.
– guidot
22 hours ago
1
@guidot that is true, and it's well worth knowing both kinds of notation. As a personal preference, I'd rather see this symbol for 4 measures or more.
– Carl Witthoft
20 hours ago
1
@CarlWitthoft ...provided the numerals are clearly written. I've had to distinguish between 1 and 7, 5 and 3 (!) based on the longa/breve notation before!
– Geoff
16 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
24
24
24
That is a multi-measure rest. The numeral 15 above it indicates that it is equivalent to writing out fifteen bars of full-measure rests. This is done to save space, for example in orchestral parts.
edited yesterday
Tim Parenti
1073
answered yesterday
repletereplete
3,572823
That is a multi-measure rest. The numeral 15 above it indicates that it is equivalent to writing out fifteen bars of full-measure rests. This is done to save space, for example in orchestral parts.
edited yesterday
Tim Parenti
1073
answered yesterday
repletereplete
3,572823
edited yesterday
Tim Parenti
1073
edited yesterday
Tim Parenti
1073
edited yesterday
Tim Parenti
1073
1073
answered yesterday
repletereplete
3,572823
answered yesterday
repletereplete
3,572823
answered yesterday
repletereplete
3,572823
3,572823
4
It also saves you from having to count all 15 measures and praying you didn't miscount.
– Dekkadeci
yesterday
6
You still have to count to 15, but at least you know it's 15 that you have to count to...
– Michael Kay
23 hours ago
2
Note, that for less than 15 full measuress a different notation exists using whole rest and vertical lines representing 2 or 4 measures of rest, see lilypond documentation.
– guidot
22 hours ago
1
@guidot that is true, and it's well worth knowing both kinds of notation. As a personal preference, I'd rather see this symbol for 4 measures or more.
– Carl Witthoft
20 hours ago
1
@CarlWitthoft ...provided the numerals are clearly written. I've had to distinguish between 1 and 7, 5 and 3 (!) based on the longa/breve notation before!
– Geoff
16 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
4
It also saves you from having to count all 15 measures and praying you didn't miscount.
– Dekkadeci
yesterday
6
You still have to count to 15, but at least you know it's 15 that you have to count to...
– Michael Kay
23 hours ago
2
Note, that for less than 15 full measuress a different notation exists using whole rest and vertical lines representing 2 or 4 measures of rest, see lilypond documentation.
– guidot
22 hours ago
1
@guidot that is true, and it's well worth knowing both kinds of notation. As a personal preference, I'd rather see this symbol for 4 measures or more.
– Carl Witthoft
20 hours ago
1
@CarlWitthoft ...provided the numerals are clearly written. I've had to distinguish between 1 and 7, 5 and 3 (!) based on the longa/breve notation before!
– Geoff
16 hours ago
4
4
It also saves you from having to count all 15 measures and praying you didn't miscount.
– Dekkadeci
yesterday
It also saves you from having to count all 15 measures and praying you didn't miscount.
– Dekkadeci
yesterday
6
6
You still have to count to 15, but at least you know it's 15 that you have to count to...
– Michael Kay
23 hours ago
You still have to count to 15, but at least you know it's 15 that you have to count to...
– Michael Kay
23 hours ago
2
2
Note, that for less than 15 full measuress a different notation exists using whole rest and vertical lines representing 2 or 4 measures of rest, see lilypond documentation.
– guidot
22 hours ago
Note, that for less than 15 full measuress a different notation exists using whole rest and vertical lines representing 2 or 4 measures of rest, see lilypond documentation.
– guidot
22 hours ago
1
1
@guidot that is true, and it's well worth knowing both kinds of notation. As a personal preference, I'd rather see this symbol for 4 measures or more.
– Carl Witthoft
20 hours ago
@guidot that is true, and it's well worth knowing both kinds of notation. As a personal preference, I'd rather see this symbol for 4 measures or more.
– Carl Witthoft
20 hours ago
1
1
@CarlWitthoft ...provided the numerals are clearly written. I've had to distinguish between 1 and 7, 5 and 3 (!) based on the longa/breve notation before!
– Geoff
16 hours ago
@CarlWitthoft ...provided the numerals are clearly written. I've had to distinguish between 1 and 7, 5 and 3 (!) based on the longa/breve notation before!
– Geoff
16 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
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3
I really fail to understand why the most basic of questions (not just this one, by any means) gets so many up-votes. Dolmetsch and Wikipedia, to name two of dozens of music sites, have extensive lists of notation symbols.
– Carl Witthoft
20 hours ago
3
@CarlWitthoft "One of the primary purposes of the whole Stack Exchange system is to be near the top of the results of web searches, so we want the answers to your questions to be found here. If there isn't already the answer here, then we want your question and answer here." -- music.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/2899/…
– Wayne Conrad
20 hours ago
1
@WayneConrad I'm not convinced that asking about notation symbols qualifies. WHich would you rather do - search thru a few hundred music.se questions (many of which have images which are difficult to search), or just go to Dolmetsch.com?
– Carl Witthoft
18 hours ago
3
@WayneConrad I'll also point out that, despite the best intentions of the creators of StackExchange, we get hundreds of questions that would have easily been answered if anyone ever bothered to search the database. Clearly that paradigm has failed.
– Carl Witthoft
18 hours ago
1
@YourUncleBob "Not enough research" is not, and never has been, a close reason on SO. It is, however a valid reason to down-vote on SO or here.
– Wayne Conrad
9 hours ago