Ledger line

Ledger line

A ledger line or leger line is 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 (see Figure 1).

Notes more than three or four ledger lines above or below the staffs are usually considered too hard to read. When there are several measures of notes outside the regular musical staffs it is usually preferable to switch clef or use 8va notation, even though the note placement is not uniform across clefs. Some transposing instruments, such as the piccolo, double bass, guitar, and the tenor voice transpose at the octave to avoid ledger lines.

Players of certain instruments prefer ledger lines to clef changes or 8va notation. Clarinetists, for example, would rather read ledger lines in the chalumeau register than read bass clef notes. Flute players would rather read ledger lines for notes in the third octave than read 8va notation because higher flute notes require different fingerings. Tuba, trombone, and euphonium players in the instruments' lower register generally prefer ledger lines below the bass staff to 8vb notation or an octave-lowered bass clef for similar reasons.


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  • Ledger line — Ledger Ledg er(l[e^]j [ e]r), n. [Akin to D. legger layer, daybook (fr. leggen to lay, liggen to lie), E. ledge, lie. See {Lie} to be prostrate.] 1. A book in which a summary of accounts is laid up or preserved; the final book of record in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ledger line — (also leger line) ► NOUN Music ▪ a short line added for notes above or below the range of a stave …   English terms dictionary

  • ledger line — n a line on which you write musical notes that are too high or low to be shown on a ↑stave …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • ledger line — n. Music a short line written above or below the staff, for notes beyond the range of the staff …   English World dictionary

  • ledger line — 1. Also, leger line. Also called added line. Music. a short line added when necessary above or below the staff to increase the range of the staff. 2. Angling. a line so set that both the bait and sinker rest on the bottom. [1690 1700 for def. 2;… …   Universalium

  • ledger line — noun a short line; a notation for extending the range above or below the staff • Syn: ↑leger line • Hypernyms: ↑line • Part Holonyms: ↑musical notation …   Useful english dictionary

  • ledger line — also leger line noun Date: 1700 a short line added above or below a musical staff to extend its range …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • ledger line — ledg′er line n. mad a short line added above or below a musical staff to accommodate an increase in range …   From formal English to slang

  • ledger line — /ˈlɛdʒə laɪn/ (say lejuh luyn) noun 1. Angling a line used in ledgering. 2. Music → leger line …  

  • ledger line — noun 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 …   Wiktionary

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