Braille Music Basics
Notes
Top four dots give the note name
Bottom two dots give the note value
Upper
dots
Lower
dots
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
Rest
Type
Basic
note
none
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
x
8ths or 128ths
Basic
note
dot 6
?
:
$
]
\
[
w
v
Quarters or 64ths
Basic
note
dot 3
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
Halves or 32nds
Basic
note
dots 3-6
y
z
&
=
(
!
)
m
Wholes or 16ths
* Note: Music Braille is based on the solfege scale, rather than on the letter names that
we are used to in the United States. The letter “d” is the first note because it stands for
“do.”
Table 1: Basic Signs
A. Notes and Rests
Throughout this work:
whole note or rest = semibreve
half note or rest = minim
quarter note or rest = crochet
8th note or rest = quaver
16th note or rest = semi-quaver (etc.)
C D E F G A B Rest
yz&=(!)
nopqrst
?:$]\[w
defghij
m
u
v
x
Type
Wholes or 16ths
Halves or 32nds
Quarters or 64ths
8ths or 128ths
;<1 Prefix for 256th notes, i.e., ;<1yz&= (etc.)
<1 Distinction of values
< 1 Separation of rhythmic groups
^ < 1 Larger values;8ths and larger
, < 1 Smaller values; 16ths and smaller
y ^ c y Brevis, i.e.,z ^ c z (etc.)
m ^ c m Brevis rest
y ^ c ^ c y Longa, i.e., y ^ c ^ c y z ^ c ^ c z (etc.)
m ^ c ^ c m Longa rest
^ 5 Notes printed in large type
, 5 Notes printed in small type
(For modern notation, see Table 13A)
B. Octave Marks
@ y First octave C
(contra octave)
^ y Second octave C
_ y Third octave C
" y Fourth octave C (middle C octave)
. y Fifth octave C
; y Sixth octave C
, y Seventh octave C
@ @ ! A below first octave
, , y C above seventh octave
From the Braille Music Code
http://www.brl.org/music/index.html
Braille Music FAQ
This is the official FAQ of BrailleM, the Braille Music List. The BrailleM Web Page,
with information about the list, including how to subscribe and unsubscribe, is at
http://www.sunflower.org/~bhugh/braillem
The FAQ is in very rudimentary form right now. Suggestions are welcomed. If you write
them in a form similar to what's already here, I'll just cut and paste your suggestions into
place (saves a lot of work!).
I plan to post the FAQ occasionally to BrailleM (we'll see how often it's necessary) and
you can always find it at its web site: http://www.sunflower.org/~bhugh/braillem
If you don't have access to the World-wide Web, you can request a copy of the FAQ via
email, by writing me: bhugh@mwsc.edu
1. What books and materials are useful for learning braille
music?
_Primer of Braille Music_ by Edward Jenkins (available in both print and braille versions
from NLS--see below) goes through the braille code step-by-step. With a lot more
examples and some reorganization, this could be a top-notch source. As it is, it is still one
of the most useful and comprehensive sources.
_How to Read Braille Music_ by Bettye Krolick (available in print and braille from NLS)
is brief but very helpful.
_The Dictionary of Braille Music Signs_ (available in print and braille from NLS) has a
good bit of information on the various formats, how they developed, and how to tell them
apart. The Dictionary also lists every possible braille music sign and every possible
meaning for each sign, in encyclopedic fashion (a rather thick book--but indispensible for
braille music users!).
2. Where can I get braille Music Courses or Teaching Materials?
http://hadley-school.org/ offers correspondence courses in braille music.
Hadley School for the Blind
700 Elm Street
Winnetka, IL 60093
1-847-446-8111
Toll Free: 1-800-323-4238
FAX: 1-708-446-8153
3. What schools teach braille music?
Southern Cal. Conservatory of Music has an active program teaching sight reading and
braille music to college students. Richard Taesch (mailto:taeshr@ix.netcom.com), a
certified music transcriber, has set up the braille music program there. He has a great deal
to offer blind students (including scholarships in some cases).
4. Where can I order braille music and materials?
The National Library Service has a large library of braille music and they send it to
visually impaired people in the U.S. free of charge.
National Library Service:
(800) 424-8567
(202) 707-5100
TTY: (202) 707-0744
FAX: (202)707-0712
National Braille Association has a collection. Call (716) 427-8260 to request a free
catalog in print or on tape. Address is 3 Townline Circle, Rochester, NY 14623. FAX
(716) 427-0263.
The Canadian National Institute for the Blind is offers the same service to Canadian
citizens. They are on the World-wide Web at:
http://www.cnib.ca/
Royal National Institute for the Blind, United Kingdom:
http://www.rnib.org.uk/
Most other countries have a similar service. RNIB has a searchable guide listing various
helpful agencies around the world at:
http://www.rnib.org.uk/cgi-bin/agency.pl
4. How can I get a certain piece of music transcribed into braille?
4A. Transcription services
National Braille Association has a transcription service, but it is very popular. Call to get
an idea of waiting time before sending anything to them. Phone: (716) 427-8260 (other
contact info above)
4B. Transcription software
The GOODFEEL Braille Music Translator allows you to enter music into the Lime (a
standard computer music notation program, available for both Windows and Macintosh),
then use a set of utilities to convert it to a braille music file which can be printed on a
braille printer. For more info see http://www.netaxs.com/~ddots/
Concert-O-Braille converts music from NIFF format to braille. In the reasonably near
future, this will be a great alternative, as many computer music programs will support
NIFF. For now, the software is in the process of being written. You can get info at
http://www.converto.org/concerto/conce001.htm