The Plaine and Easie Code is a notation code representing music notation using typewriter characters. It has been used since the 1960s by musicians, musicologists and music librarians to communicate music notation without having to draw the notation graphics while typing text on the typewriter or computer.
Title |
Key signature & metre (separate field in database) |
Code |
| Aikendrum (1) | (xFCG, 2/4) | `6AB/``8xCxCxC`6BA/4xF8xFA/ |
| Aikendrum (2) | (4/4) | `8EG/8.A6B8AG4E8EE/``4C`8BA4B8GG/ |
| Annan Water | (bB, 6/8) | `4.A``4C`8E/4.F8-A/ |
| Annie and Jamie | (2/4) | `8G/6G8.EA6F/8G``8.C8-D/8.E6FEDC/ |
| Annie Laurie | (2/4) | `8C6CC``8CC/`BA-A/ |
Symbol |
Description |
Symbol |
Description |
|
| 1 | Whole-note or rest | - | Rest | |
| 2 | Half-note or rest | _ | Tie; a single underline with no character above it. Also used for slur between successive pitches. | |
| 4 | Crotchet, etc. | , ,, ,,, | Lower octave placements (1, 2 or 3 octaves) | |
| 8 | Quaver | ` `` ``` | Higher octave placements (1, 2 or 3 octaves) | |
| 6 | Semiquaver (16) | / | Bar line | |
| 3 | Demisemiquaver (32) | ( ) | Unusual rhythmic grouping such as triplets, quintolets etc. are enclosed in parantheses | |
| 5 | Hemidemisemiquaver (64) | (( )) | Double parantheses enclose changes in tempo, key signature or metre that occur in the course of a piece | |
| 7 | Semihemidemisemiquaver (128) | / - / | Full measure rest | |
| 9 | Breve | //: :// | Repeat signs | |
| 0 | Longa | x xx b bb n |
Accidentals (sharp, flat, natural) |
Original source: Brook, Barry S. The Simplified Plaine
and Easie Code System In: Fontes Artis Musicae, Vol. XII/2-3 (1965),
p. 156-60.