The New Understanding of Musical Expression ( NUME ) method of transcribing music in Western Culture could be considered the single greatest advance in music transcribing in the last several hundred years. It is featured in The Music Notation Project (formerly The Music Notation Modernization Association) because  "...it is certainly possible to solve problems in a different manner, as you have done with your carefully designed system, which is one reason why we want to maintain a link to your Web site on the MNP page" and "Another reason is that you've come up with a novel rhythmic notation, and rhythmic innovations are under-represented on the MNP Web site,"

Professional Music Instructor Dan Anderson sent the following comment about NUME.  "Your NUME notation system is so sensible it makes me feel guilty for putting kids through our convoluted traditional system."

The NUME method incorporates the six-line staff to utilize the chromatic (every note) scale. Several other six-line methods exist. The four distinguishing and more logical features of the NUME method are:

1. The bottom line of each clef begins at the start of the alphabet with the A note.
2. Notes no longer have "double" names. (ie. A# or Bb. The F major scale will be F G A A# C D E F.)
3. The largest duration of a note, rest, or sustain is one beat, giving a simple and unique method of timing the sounds.
4. Since different kinds of notes cannot arbitrarily be assigned one beat, time signatures are no longer needed.

And as in other chromatic methods, key signatures are no longer needed.

The "T" represents Treble and the "B" represents Bass, with the bottom line
of the Treble clef starting on the A note below what is currently called "middle C."

There is no note between the G# on top of the Bass clef and the A note
on the bottom line of the Treble clef. Spacing is for ease of reading.

The beat is the fundamental concept of music. This is explained below.

Bar lines (or measure lines) can be incorporated to indicate phrasing, but there is no longer a need for time signatures.

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Please read this article before proceeding to the music selections below.

Transcribing Western Music

The following music selections have been transcribed in the NUME method. Feel free to copy, print, and distribute any and all music presented here. And check back from time to time to find new music. The current method of transcribing music in Western culture has only been in place for 500 years. That's not long considering how long music has been around. And one man started the current method. Maybe one man can change the world of transcribing music, but I'll need YOUR HELP!
So pass it along freely, and SPREAD THE WORD!

And you can write your own music using the NUME Manuscript Paper. Just click HERE.