1. The stave
As one of the basic elements of music notation, the stave receives all the music signs :
Notes
Accidentals
Rests
Bar lines
Tempo
Accents
Dynamics
Phrases
The modern stave includes 5 horizontal and parallel lines, seprated by 4 spaces numbered from bottom to top:
Some ledger lines are placed above and below the stave
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
2. The brackets
We find 2 kind of brackets.
a. Bracket bringing 2 or several staves together for one instrument only :
Piano
b. Bracket bringing 2 or several staves together for different instruments :
String quartet
Note : Placed just before a dynamic mark, the bracket indicates that this dynamic is available for both staves :
Piano
3. The systems
A system brings several staves together that are red vertically and simultaneously. Each system is separated by 2 oblique and parallel dashes, placed on the right and left sides of the stave.
System 1
System 2
4. The octave signs
The octave sign is useful when a large number of ledger lines makes the reading difficult.
8va----------------------
= 
8ve b--------------------
The "15ma" et "15ma b" signs mean that the written notes will be played 2 octaves above or below.
15ma -----------------
=
15ma b --------------
Sometimes, in the low register, it is better to change the clef.
15ma 8va b
=
The expression "col 8va" means that a note must be played simultaneously with its octave.
col 8va
=
col 8va b.
=
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