What does ledger line mean?
Definitions for ledger line
led·ger line
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word ledger line.
Princeton's WordNet
ledger line, leger linenoun
a short line; a notation for extending the range above or below the staff
Wiktionary
ledger linenoun
A musical notation to inscribe notes outside the lines and spaces of the regular musical staffs; a line slightly longer than the note is drawn parallel to the staff, above or below, spaced at the same distances as the notes within the staff.
Wikipedia
Ledger line
A ledger line or leger line is used in Western musical notation to notate pitches above or below the lines and spaces of the regular musical staff. A line slightly longer than the note head is drawn parallel to the staff, above or below, spaced at the same distance as the lines within the staff. The origin of the word is uncertain, but may have been borrowed attributively from the term for a horizontal timber in a scaffolding, lying parallel to the face of the building and supporting the putlogs. There is no basis to support the often-found claim that the word originates from the French léger, meaning "light" or "slight" (OED 2005). The Oxford online dictionary describes the origin of the "leger" spelling as a "variant of ledger" that first appeared in the 19th century (Oxford Living Dictionary n.d.). Although ledger lines are found occasionally in manuscripts of plainchant and early polyphony, it was only in the early 16th century in keyboard music that their use became at all extensive (Anon. 2001). Even then, printers had an aversion to ledger lines which caused difficulties in setting type, wasting space on the page and causing a messy appearance. Vocal music employed a variety of different clefs to keep the range of the part on the staff as much as possible; in keyboard notation a common way of avoiding ledger lines was the use of open score on four staves with different clefs (Godwin 1974, 16–17). Except for woodwind players, who prefer ledger lines to 8va notation because they associate fingerings with staff positions (Shatzkin 1993, 48), notes that use at least four ledger lines make music more difficult to read. For easier readability, the composer would usually switch clefs or use the 8va notation. Some transposing instruments, such as the piccolo, double bass, guitar, and the tenor voice, transpose at the octave to avoid ledger lines. Notation of tuba, trombone, and euphonium parts always use ledger lines below the bass staff, and never the 8va bassa notation (Read 1969, 354). Music for bass clef instruments, such as the cello, bassoon or trombone, use tenor clef for the high notes rather than the treble clef. Alto clef is used for the alto trombone, and for the tenor trombone parts in Russian repertoire. Bass trombone and tuba use the bass clef only.A ledger line is also used to support a half rest or whole rest where there are multiple voices on one staff and such a rest is forced above or below the staff. (The rare double whole rest is suspended between two ledger lines in this situation.)
ChatGPT
ledger line
A ledger line or leger line is a small line added for notes above or below the range of the staff in sheet music. They allow for the representation of pitches that fall outside the five lines and four spaces of the main musical staff.
Wikidata
Ledger line
A ledger line or leger line is used in Western musical notation to notate pitches above or below the lines and spaces of the regular musical staff. A line slightly longer than the note head is drawn parallel to the staff, above or below, spaced at the same distance as the lines within the staff. Although ledger lines are found occasionally in manuscripts of plainchant and early polyphony, it was only in the early 16th century in keyboard music that their use became at all extensive. Even then printers had an aversion to ledger lines which caused difficulties in setting type, wasting space on the page and causing a messy appearance. Vocal music employed a variety of different clefs to keep the range of the part on the staff as much as possible; in keyboard notation a common way of avoiding ledger lines was the use of "open score" on four staves with different clefs. Notes more than three or four ledger lines above or below the staff are usually considered hard to read. When there are many notes in a passage requiring more than three ledger lines, it is often preferable to switch clef or use 8va notation. Some transposing instruments, such as the piccolo, double bass, guitar, and the tenor voice, transpose at the octave to avoid ledger lines.va
Matched Categories
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of ledger line in Chaldean Numerology is: 9
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of ledger line in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1
Translations for ledger line
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- HilfslinieGerman
- línea adicionalSpanish
- apuviivaFinnish
- ligne supplémentaireFrench
- garis buku besarIndonesian
- aukalínaIcelandic
- taglio addizionaleItalian
- ledger rectaLatin
- linia księgiPolish
- linha de razãoPortuguese
- defter satırıTurkish
- dòng sổ cáiVietnamese
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"ledger line." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/ledger+line>.
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