Please help me! Proofread my sheet music for a tattoo. "Nothing Else Matters"

[mistertomlinson]

Another question about these dotted staccato notes. Some people put the dot over the note... I've seen it on the side... I've seen some above the stems. What exactly is the rule?

[Gitfiddlemann]

Originally Posted by mistertomlinson

You have to tell me what that means.

Going out with a bang and resting for a while....

[Gitfiddlemann]

Originally Posted by mistertomlinson

Another question about these dotted staccato notes. Some people put the dot over the note... I've seen it on the side... I've seen some above the stems. What exactly is the rule?

I usually see them directly below the note. To differentiate it from the dot placement in a dotted rhythm.
But, I'll defer to the notation experts for the rule on it.

[DupleMeter]

Originally Posted by Guitar Slim II

Just want to acknowledge what mistertomlinson said earlier, Jon did the work here and deserves most of the thanks. And DupleMeter, for his contribution. By the way, what software did you use? Finale? Sibeleus?

All I did was nit-pick the score. Scoring is a bit of a craft all it's own, and my comments and corrections were certainly not a criticism of the work done by others. Again, Jon deserves the real thanks here...

And it's really special to be involved in this project even in a small way. I don't have any tattoos, but if I ever heard of a great reason to get one ... and a cool one to get ... this is it. Of course, it's not my skin, is it?

Agreed. Honored to be able to help. I just piled on at the end to make a couple changes to the notation. I don't even know the song [emoji6]

If you were asking me what notation software I used, it was Sibelius.

[Gitfiddlemann]

Just for kicks I did a very rough recording of the outro as notated by JonPR earlier on (minus the B note below the C in the second beat of the third measure), just for further verification to mistertomlinson that a tattoo of this would at least work!




Unfortunately, when I preview the post I get this message:
"This track can’t be played outside of SoundCloud"

I followed the FAQ instructions, and tried 3 different browsers, all with the same result.
Can someone tell me how to get the clip to play within AGF, and not have to be re-directed to SOuncloud?

Thanks!

[SouthpawJeff]

Just read through your post and find it really amazing. I can't read music to save my life, but one thing occurred to me in your stating your motivation.... do the notes need to be exactly as Metallica recorded them, possibly with two guitars or overdubs etc.? Or should the tattoo reflect the notes that YOU PLAY and your mother got to enjoy? Only you can answer the question, but may be worth considering?

Best of luck,
Jeff

[DupleMeter]

Originally Posted by mistertomlinson

Another question about these dotted staccato notes. Some people put the dot over the note... I've seen it on the side... I've seen some above the stems. What exactly is the rule?

When it's above the notehead it's a staccato. To the side it's a dotted rhythm. 2 different things, even though they are both dots.

[vindibona1]

Originally Posted by DupleMeter

I agree with Guitar Slim II & mistertomlinson on the notation fixes.

But, I wouldn't connect the bass notes to the treble in a guitar piece.


And that last bar probably warrants an eighth rest on beat 1 of the treble.

Technically, the separated bass note is probably more correct. Aesthetically I think I like the connected bass note better.

Originally Posted by JonPR

Sibelius Mine neither.
I have no tattoos either. Thats just a sign of my inability to commit to anything. Typical guy, right?

If I did have a musical tattoo, it would be this:



As it is, I can't even get round to putting it on a t-shirt...

(Of course I would put ©JonPR on it too.... As long as no one else has copyrighted silence, I should make a fortune.... John Cage only owns 4'33" of it.)

I think the fermata is too high

I am fascinated by tattoos I am not a fan of them any more than I'd like to wear bell-bottom jeans or Nehru suits every day for the rest of my life. Heck, over the years even the NBA went from short-shorts to bermuda shorts. I've seen a few tattoos that are incredible pieces of art but most leave me wondering "what was that guy thinking about when he asked for that"? There is a young woman who sits not far from where I sit in concert band. She has an excerpt of some piece tattooed on her calf and it looks like one big rectangular blotch. Neither the placement design or execution was good. Too late now. And then there is another dude who has stupid tattoos all over his arms. An ice cream cone. Another stupid cartoon-like looking something (that's indistinguishable). And here's another dude (pictured below) that thinks his tat is cool looking :0 I dunno... I don' get it.

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by mistertomlinson

Another question about these dotted staccato notes. Some people put the dot over the note... I've seen it on the side... I've seen some above the stems. What exactly is the rule?

It goes on the opposite side of the notehead to the stem - above the notehead when the stem is down, below the notehead when the stem is up.
The exception is when there are two voices on the same stave (as in guitar fingerstyle). Then the stems for each voice go in opposite directions (bass down, treble up), and staccato dots go at the end of the stem.

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by DupleMeter

I agree with Guitar Slim II & mistertomlinson on the notation fixes.

But, I wouldn't connect the bass notes to the treble in a guitar piece.


And that last bar probably warrants an eighth rest on beat 1 of the treble.

I agree about the rest, and there should probably be one in your bar 2 as well, seeing as the first high E in bar 1 is the melody note (from the end of the first time through, played on the repeat). I.e., the rhythm guitar arpeggio would simply go up and down in single notes - bass E, then G-B-E-B-G in the treble. The other notes are melody notes (lead guitar).

[Guitar Slim II]

Originally Posted by JonPR

Sibelius Mine neither.
I have no tattoos either. Thats just a sign of my inability to commit to anything. Typical guy, right?

If I did have a musical tattoo, it would be this:



As it is, I can't even get round to putting it on a t-shirt...

(Of course I would put ©JonPR on it too.... As long as no one else has copyrighted silence, I should make a fortune.... John Cage only owns 4'33" of it.)

It’s a Zen paradox. What is the sound of deafening silence?

[mistertomlinson]

FINAL DRAFT?

This should be note for note correct now. I had to go back and draw beams for the 16th notes I missed, so the stems could be a little longer as they're a little cramped.

But I still have questions, particularly about bar 4.

1. I feel like the staccato dots on that first chord aren't correct. How would I properly notate that staccato?

2. That second dotted note... that's a dotted rhythm note, right? Not a staccato? So it should be on the side?

3. Do I have the slurs right or should they go UNDER the notes? (This regards all slurs)

4. Is there any (correct) way to make the 4th bar shorter in height? I doubt it, but I thought I'd ask if there was any other way to notate it that would take up less room. Maybe drawing the slur UNDER the notes, but only if this is correct. And maybe there was another way to tie the note from the previous bar... again, only if it's correct. Coincidently, that will go right around the widest part of my forearm, so I guess it's not a big deal.

5. Would someone listen to the 5th bar and tell me what they would do? The E tied from the previous bar doesn't sustain the entire length of the following bar (with the 3/8 time signature). It stops abruptly with that last staccato note in the melody. I feel like that should be specifically notated.

EDIT: Forgot the staccato on the very last note. Writing music is hard.

[vindibona1]

Originally Posted by mistertomlinson

Another question about these dotted staccato notes. Some people put the dot over the note... I've seen it on the side... I've seen some above the stems. What exactly is the rule?

Staccato markings ALWAYS go on top of notes with downward stems and below for upward stems. A dot on the SIDE of the note indicates that it is held for 50% longer! On the side is (always) a time indicator not an accent mark. See the 3rd note, 5th measure in with the dot.

As far as the notation goes, the first of the highlighted measure (photo below) could also be notated this way, but I like AndreF's the best so far. Written music is always just a skeleton and interpretation is part of deciphering the music. I've seen some pretty goofy looking stuff pass by my music stands that could have been notated much simpler and easier to read. I'd be able to sight read what AndreF notated, the original one you (OP) posted would have stumped me on the first pass and I still might have screwed it up without knowing the tune. Often in a legit group you'll hear the conductor say "play what it sounds like, not what it looks like". You're just supposed to know. BTW... For those that think that a staccato dot just means "short", it does not. Technically it means HALF VALUE. 99% of musicians never learn that simple fact and think it only means short which sadly often translates to "pecky".

[Guitar Slim II]

Again, I didn't do the transcription and only listened to the tune once or twice, so I can't help with the accuracy of the pitches, rhythms or articulations.

But it looks for real doesn't it? Don't see any stemming, beaming or meter errors. If I saw it in a classical guitar anthology, I wouldn't blink.

One little thing. Not sure about the staccato markings. On the recording, are they really pronounced and "intentional", or are they just a subtle part of of the guitarists style? I'm thinking they might clutter things up a bit, and sometimes it's hard to tell them from the dotted note values.

The slurs, ties and phrase markings look good though, and add to the visual appeal.

Great work, really an honor to be part of it...

[Guitar Slim II]

You know, I was thinking, do you think James Hetfield might be interested in this story?

I wonder how someone would get word to him?