Explore Symbolic

structural / Symbolic

Note sequence

An ordered line of notes and optional rests. Adding durations makes its rhythmic placement explicit.

Try it

Edit pitch and time independently

A line combines ordered pitches with durations. Its rhythm keeps only the time pattern; its point sequence keeps relative pitch movement without a fixed register. Transposing shifts sounding notes while both abstractions stay the same.

Event 1

Event 2

Event 3

Event 4

Event 5

Transpose0 st

Timeline · 5 beats

C41 beat
E41 beat
G42 beats
Rest0.5 beats
C50.5 beats

Melody · MIDI:beats

60:1,64:1,67:2,r:0.5,72:0.5

Point sequence

0:1,4:1,7:2,r:0.5,12:0.5

Rhythm

1,1,2,r0.5,0.5

Pitch classes

0,4,7,~,0

The sequencer pattern uses Strudel duration weights: a two-beat event occupies twice the cycle span of a one-beat event.

Written forms

Ways to write this concept

Each notation describes the same underlying object. Load a playable example to hear one MIDI realization in the Code Sequencer.

pitches

Order only, no durations: comma-separated MIDI pitches. The least-precise notation of the line.

  • 60,62,64,65
  • 67,69,71,72
  • 60,64,67

letters

Order only: note names with octave, no durations.

  • C4,D4,E4,F4
  • G4,A4,B4,C5

beats

Canonical timed notation: comma-separated pitch:duration pairs, duration in beats (quarter note = 1). Tempo-free. Use 'r' for a rest.

  • 60:1,62:0.5,64:0.5,65:2
  • 60:2,r:1,67:1
  • 62:1,65:1,69:2

ticks

MIDI-like: pitch:duration pairs with the duration in MIDI ticks (default 480 PPQ).

  • 60:480,62:240,64:240,65:960
  • 60:960,r:480,67:480

ms

Absolute time: pitch:duration pairs with the duration in milliseconds (default 120 BPM).

  • 60:500,62:250,64:250,65:1000
  • 60:1000,r:500,67:500

staff

Staff-like: note name / note-value pairs (w h q e s t, '.' = dotted). Use 'r' for a rest.

  • C4/q,D4/e,E4/e,F4/h
  • C4/h,r/q,G4/q
  • C4/q,E4/q,G4/h
Choose Load beside a convertible example to open its live player. Some catalog formats describe analysis or a display label and have no note realization yet.

Concept connections

Pitch-class sequenceAn ordered line of pitch classes without fixed octaves. Choose registers to turn it into MIDI notes.Point sequenceAn ordered, rootless pitch contour. An anchor note turns its relative positions into a concrete line.RhythmA sequence of durations and rests without pitches. It can time a melody without changing its note choices.Fractional Rhythmic PatternRhythmic patterns based on fractional subdivisions of timeNote Set SequenceAn ordered sequence of note sets (chords) that may contain duplicatesSong formA chord progression arranged by labeled section (intro, verse, chorus, bridge…) — the harmonic skeleton of a lead sheet or guitar-chord chart. An ordered, named sequence whose sections are chord progressions (its `groupOf` is note-set-sequence). Forget the labels/order and it becomes a collection of progressions; forget pitch and it becomes a point-song-form (a key-independent structural shape for comparing songs).
Sources and playback

Concept descriptions and examples were adapted from Codex Music Mono’s typed catalog and concept examples. The Code Sequencer plays MIDI through a connected instrument; Symbolic does not synthesize sound.