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  #1  
Old 01-21-2021, 09:05 AM
Merak Merak is online now
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Default Notation Question

What does a number inside a square mean? It goes in order of 1, 2, 5, 6.
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Old 01-21-2021, 09:21 AM
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rick-slo rick-slo is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Merak View Post
What does a number inside a square mean? It goes in order of 1, 2, 5, 6.
Most likely it indicates a harmonic. Symbols in different tab programs can vary somewhat.
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Last edited by rick-slo; 01-21-2021 at 10:58 AM.
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Old 01-21-2021, 10:40 AM
BlueStarfish BlueStarfish is offline
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What kind of notation system? Can you post an image? I can think of at least two different interpretations (one for standard notation, one for Nashville Number System notation). And both of my guesses could be wrong, it could be something else...

In standard notation, a number inside a box could be used as a measure marker or rehearsal marker. “Let’s start it again at section 2.” Might also be denoted as a circle instead of a box, and / or, a letter instead of a number. This kind of rehearsal marker is often used in choral and band arranagements (situations where there is an an ensemble playing and behing rehearsed by a conductor).

In Nashville Number System, if there are two chords in a measure, it’s common to see them with a box around them (so you know it’s a single measure). For example a common turnaround progrsesion would be, in jazz lead sheet chord symbols:

iii vi | ii V | I

In NNS you might see, for the same progression:

[3m 6m] [2m 5] 1 (with the brackets being a box in the hand written version)
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Old 01-21-2021, 02:38 PM
Merak Merak is online now
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Its a blues tune for guitar, the squared number is located between the standard notation and the tab. I would post a picture but its a PITA on this site, hoping the description is enough.
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Old 01-21-2021, 09:29 PM
BlueStarfish BlueStarfish is offline
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Well you’ve stumped this chump. I can’t say I know the answer. I spent five minutes flipping through my stack of method and song books and could not find anything that seemed like what you describe. I did see notation for harmonics but that was more of a diamond, and it was on the tab lines, not between the tab and staff.

My last guess would be that somehow the arranger is trying to signal what string to play a note on? But you said it’s both standard notation + tab so that seems redundant...

Last edited by BlueStarfish; 01-21-2021 at 09:30 PM. Reason: ammend
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Old 01-21-2021, 11:04 PM
Cecil6243 Cecil6243 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Merak View Post
Its a blues tune for guitar, the squared number is located between the standard notation and the tab. I would post a picture but its a PITA on this site, hoping the description is enough.
If you can email me the picture I can post it for you. I pm'd my email address.
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Old 01-23-2021, 08:45 AM
Merak Merak is online now
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I replied to your pm
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Old 01-24-2021, 11:09 AM
Cecil6243 Cecil6243 is offline
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Default Here is what Merak is referring to

My apologies for the delay Merak!

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Old 01-24-2021, 11:29 AM
Andyrondack Andyrondack is offline
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Is it the bar number relating to notes elsewhere?
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Old 01-24-2021, 11:33 AM
Gitfiddlemann Gitfiddlemann is offline
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This is just a guess:
It might be the transcriber's way of splitting the tune into parts or chunks that are similar. For learning purposes.
I've seen it done in other music, but usually with letters instead of numbers.

But only a small snippet was provided in the pic, so I'm not sure if this guess makes sense.
I don't think it's a very common practice in any case.
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Old 01-24-2021, 01:16 PM
NormanKliman NormanKliman is offline
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That's my guess, as well. It looks like they refer to sections of the composition.
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Old 01-24-2021, 02:19 PM
BlueStarfish BlueStarfish is offline
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Now seeing the notation example, am agreeing it looks like a rehearsal mark.
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Old 01-24-2021, 02:36 PM
Merak Merak is online now
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Thanks for looking at it, and to Cecil for posting the picture for me, many thanks. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing a detail on how the piece is to be played.
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