From the course: Learning Music Notation

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Stems

Stems

From the course: Learning Music Notation

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Stems

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- [Instructor] The placement and length of stems is something that people new to music notation often do incorrectly. So let's take some time to go over the basic guidelines for how they're notated correctly. So stems for notes above the center line are placed on the left-hand side of the note head and go down from the note head. Let's do a couple. So if I put a note on the top space, an E, the stem should go on the left side and should go down. Same thing for C, or D, or if I go up to F. Stems for notes below the center line are placed on the right-hand side of the note head and go upwards from the note head. Here I'm going to write an A and the stem on the right-hand side of the note head, a G, an F, and let's do an E. Context for the stem direction of the notes surrounding the note head placed on the center line determine the stem direction. What that means is that if most of my notes are down stems, and then I get one on the center line, its stem should go down, and same thing if…

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