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References for keyboards

Keyboard instruments are usually notated with Piano staves. These are two or more normal staves coupled with a brace. The same notation is also used for other keyed instruments. Organ music is normally written with two staves inside a PianoStaff group and third, normal staff for the pedals.

The staves in keyboard music are largely independent, but sometimes voices can cross between the two staves. This section discusses notation techniques particular to keyboard music.

Several common issues in keyboard music are covered elsewhere:

• Keyboard music usually contains multiple voices and the number of voices may change regularly; this is described in Collision resolution.
• Keyboard music can be written in parallel, as described in Writing music in parallel.
• Dynamics may be placed in a Dynamics context, between the two Staff contexts to align the dynamic marks on a horizontal line centered between the staves; see Dynamics.
• Fingerings are indicated with Fingering instructions.
• Organ pedal indications are inserted as articulations, see List of articulations.
• Vertical grid lines can be shown with Grid lines.
• Keyboard music often contains Laissez vibrer ties as well as ties on arpeggios and tremolos, described in Ties.
• Placing arpeggios across multiple voices and staves is covered in Arpeggio.
• Tremolo marks are described in Tremolo repeats.
• Several of the tweaks that can occur in keyboard music are demonstrated in Real music example.
• Hidden notes can be used to produce ties that cross voices, as shown in Other uses for tweaks.

See also

Learning Manual: Real music example, Other uses for tweaks.

Notation Reference: Grouping staves, Instrument names, Collision resolution, Writing music in parallel, Fingering instructions, List of articulations, Grid lines, Ties, Arpeggio, Tremolo repeats.

Internals Reference: PianoStaff.

Snippets: Keyboards.