Know when to turn notes upside-down(eighth notes, sixteen notes, etc.)












2















Suppose I have four of eighth notes(4/4 as time signature), all of them at different pitches, one being very high. An example is show below:



Notes



How would I know if I need to turn that upside down(downward stem) or not? Is there a method that applies to sixteenth notes, thirty-second notes, etc.?










share|improve this question

























  • By “turn upside down” do you mean write it with downward stems? If so, if you use software it should do it automatically.

    – Todd Wilcox
    4 hours ago











  • @ToddWilcox: Yeah, I know but is there some technique when not using software? I also mean downward stems.

    – Xilpex
    4 hours ago











  • I'm not sure what difference the duration of the note makes. Do you know when to draw stem-up or stem-down for quarter-notes?

    – David Bowling
    4 hours ago











  • @DavidBowling I know it for quarter notes but not the faster ones.

    – Xilpex
    4 hours ago











  • The duration doesn't matter, only that there is a stem.

    – David Bowling
    4 hours ago
















2















Suppose I have four of eighth notes(4/4 as time signature), all of them at different pitches, one being very high. An example is show below:



Notes



How would I know if I need to turn that upside down(downward stem) or not? Is there a method that applies to sixteenth notes, thirty-second notes, etc.?










share|improve this question

























  • By “turn upside down” do you mean write it with downward stems? If so, if you use software it should do it automatically.

    – Todd Wilcox
    4 hours ago











  • @ToddWilcox: Yeah, I know but is there some technique when not using software? I also mean downward stems.

    – Xilpex
    4 hours ago











  • I'm not sure what difference the duration of the note makes. Do you know when to draw stem-up or stem-down for quarter-notes?

    – David Bowling
    4 hours ago











  • @DavidBowling I know it for quarter notes but not the faster ones.

    – Xilpex
    4 hours ago











  • The duration doesn't matter, only that there is a stem.

    – David Bowling
    4 hours ago














2












2








2


1






Suppose I have four of eighth notes(4/4 as time signature), all of them at different pitches, one being very high. An example is show below:



Notes



How would I know if I need to turn that upside down(downward stem) or not? Is there a method that applies to sixteenth notes, thirty-second notes, etc.?










share|improve this question
















Suppose I have four of eighth notes(4/4 as time signature), all of them at different pitches, one being very high. An example is show below:



Notes



How would I know if I need to turn that upside down(downward stem) or not? Is there a method that applies to sixteenth notes, thirty-second notes, etc.?







theory sheet-music






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 4 hours ago







Xilpex

















asked 4 hours ago









XilpexXilpex

410214




410214













  • By “turn upside down” do you mean write it with downward stems? If so, if you use software it should do it automatically.

    – Todd Wilcox
    4 hours ago











  • @ToddWilcox: Yeah, I know but is there some technique when not using software? I also mean downward stems.

    – Xilpex
    4 hours ago











  • I'm not sure what difference the duration of the note makes. Do you know when to draw stem-up or stem-down for quarter-notes?

    – David Bowling
    4 hours ago











  • @DavidBowling I know it for quarter notes but not the faster ones.

    – Xilpex
    4 hours ago











  • The duration doesn't matter, only that there is a stem.

    – David Bowling
    4 hours ago



















  • By “turn upside down” do you mean write it with downward stems? If so, if you use software it should do it automatically.

    – Todd Wilcox
    4 hours ago











  • @ToddWilcox: Yeah, I know but is there some technique when not using software? I also mean downward stems.

    – Xilpex
    4 hours ago











  • I'm not sure what difference the duration of the note makes. Do you know when to draw stem-up or stem-down for quarter-notes?

    – David Bowling
    4 hours ago











  • @DavidBowling I know it for quarter notes but not the faster ones.

    – Xilpex
    4 hours ago











  • The duration doesn't matter, only that there is a stem.

    – David Bowling
    4 hours ago

















By “turn upside down” do you mean write it with downward stems? If so, if you use software it should do it automatically.

– Todd Wilcox
4 hours ago





By “turn upside down” do you mean write it with downward stems? If so, if you use software it should do it automatically.

– Todd Wilcox
4 hours ago













@ToddWilcox: Yeah, I know but is there some technique when not using software? I also mean downward stems.

– Xilpex
4 hours ago





@ToddWilcox: Yeah, I know but is there some technique when not using software? I also mean downward stems.

– Xilpex
4 hours ago













I'm not sure what difference the duration of the note makes. Do you know when to draw stem-up or stem-down for quarter-notes?

– David Bowling
4 hours ago





I'm not sure what difference the duration of the note makes. Do you know when to draw stem-up or stem-down for quarter-notes?

– David Bowling
4 hours ago













@DavidBowling I know it for quarter notes but not the faster ones.

– Xilpex
4 hours ago





@DavidBowling I know it for quarter notes but not the faster ones.

– Xilpex
4 hours ago













The duration doesn't matter, only that there is a stem.

– David Bowling
4 hours ago





The duration doesn't matter, only that there is a stem.

– David Bowling
4 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

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3














Notes below the center stave have stems pointing up, and notes above the center stave have stems pointing down. It does not matter whether the notes are half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, etc.; it only matters that the notes have stems.



For beamed groupings, if the number of notes above the center stave is equal to the number below for that grouping, choose the stem direction based on the note head furthest from the center stave. If the number of note heads above the stave is greater than the number below, use the rule for notes above the center stave. Similarly, if the number of note heads below the center stave is greater than the number above, use the rule for notes below the center stave.



When in doubt, use downward-pointing stems. As always, use your best judgement when something doesn't look quite right to you or if the context suggests one choice over another.






share|improve this answer































    2














    The general stemming rule (for individual notes) is: from third space upward, use downward pointing stems; from the second space downward, use upward pointing stems. On the third line, one can go either way. However, one may wish to violate the rules a bit to make stemming match a melodic contour.



    Multiple notes on the same stem follow the majority of the chord notes; in this case, the third line goes down.



    With things like contrapuntal pieces or hymns (in 4-part harmony) generally stem according to voices; high voices have upward pointing stems and lower voices have downward pointing stems.



    In all cases, readability is paramount.






    share|improve this answer























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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      3














      Notes below the center stave have stems pointing up, and notes above the center stave have stems pointing down. It does not matter whether the notes are half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, etc.; it only matters that the notes have stems.



      For beamed groupings, if the number of notes above the center stave is equal to the number below for that grouping, choose the stem direction based on the note head furthest from the center stave. If the number of note heads above the stave is greater than the number below, use the rule for notes above the center stave. Similarly, if the number of note heads below the center stave is greater than the number above, use the rule for notes below the center stave.



      When in doubt, use downward-pointing stems. As always, use your best judgement when something doesn't look quite right to you or if the context suggests one choice over another.






      share|improve this answer




























        3














        Notes below the center stave have stems pointing up, and notes above the center stave have stems pointing down. It does not matter whether the notes are half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, etc.; it only matters that the notes have stems.



        For beamed groupings, if the number of notes above the center stave is equal to the number below for that grouping, choose the stem direction based on the note head furthest from the center stave. If the number of note heads above the stave is greater than the number below, use the rule for notes above the center stave. Similarly, if the number of note heads below the center stave is greater than the number above, use the rule for notes below the center stave.



        When in doubt, use downward-pointing stems. As always, use your best judgement when something doesn't look quite right to you or if the context suggests one choice over another.






        share|improve this answer


























          3












          3








          3







          Notes below the center stave have stems pointing up, and notes above the center stave have stems pointing down. It does not matter whether the notes are half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, etc.; it only matters that the notes have stems.



          For beamed groupings, if the number of notes above the center stave is equal to the number below for that grouping, choose the stem direction based on the note head furthest from the center stave. If the number of note heads above the stave is greater than the number below, use the rule for notes above the center stave. Similarly, if the number of note heads below the center stave is greater than the number above, use the rule for notes below the center stave.



          When in doubt, use downward-pointing stems. As always, use your best judgement when something doesn't look quite right to you or if the context suggests one choice over another.






          share|improve this answer













          Notes below the center stave have stems pointing up, and notes above the center stave have stems pointing down. It does not matter whether the notes are half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, etc.; it only matters that the notes have stems.



          For beamed groupings, if the number of notes above the center stave is equal to the number below for that grouping, choose the stem direction based on the note head furthest from the center stave. If the number of note heads above the stave is greater than the number below, use the rule for notes above the center stave. Similarly, if the number of note heads below the center stave is greater than the number above, use the rule for notes below the center stave.



          When in doubt, use downward-pointing stems. As always, use your best judgement when something doesn't look quite right to you or if the context suggests one choice over another.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 4 hours ago









          David BowlingDavid Bowling

          4,76221337




          4,76221337























              2














              The general stemming rule (for individual notes) is: from third space upward, use downward pointing stems; from the second space downward, use upward pointing stems. On the third line, one can go either way. However, one may wish to violate the rules a bit to make stemming match a melodic contour.



              Multiple notes on the same stem follow the majority of the chord notes; in this case, the third line goes down.



              With things like contrapuntal pieces or hymns (in 4-part harmony) generally stem according to voices; high voices have upward pointing stems and lower voices have downward pointing stems.



              In all cases, readability is paramount.






              share|improve this answer




























                2














                The general stemming rule (for individual notes) is: from third space upward, use downward pointing stems; from the second space downward, use upward pointing stems. On the third line, one can go either way. However, one may wish to violate the rules a bit to make stemming match a melodic contour.



                Multiple notes on the same stem follow the majority of the chord notes; in this case, the third line goes down.



                With things like contrapuntal pieces or hymns (in 4-part harmony) generally stem according to voices; high voices have upward pointing stems and lower voices have downward pointing stems.



                In all cases, readability is paramount.






                share|improve this answer


























                  2












                  2








                  2







                  The general stemming rule (for individual notes) is: from third space upward, use downward pointing stems; from the second space downward, use upward pointing stems. On the third line, one can go either way. However, one may wish to violate the rules a bit to make stemming match a melodic contour.



                  Multiple notes on the same stem follow the majority of the chord notes; in this case, the third line goes down.



                  With things like contrapuntal pieces or hymns (in 4-part harmony) generally stem according to voices; high voices have upward pointing stems and lower voices have downward pointing stems.



                  In all cases, readability is paramount.






                  share|improve this answer













                  The general stemming rule (for individual notes) is: from third space upward, use downward pointing stems; from the second space downward, use upward pointing stems. On the third line, one can go either way. However, one may wish to violate the rules a bit to make stemming match a melodic contour.



                  Multiple notes on the same stem follow the majority of the chord notes; in this case, the third line goes down.



                  With things like contrapuntal pieces or hymns (in 4-part harmony) generally stem according to voices; high voices have upward pointing stems and lower voices have downward pointing stems.



                  In all cases, readability is paramount.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 4 hours ago









                  ttwttw

                  8,498930




                  8,498930






























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