Ledger Line
A short horizontal line drawn above or below the staff to extend its range for notes too high or too low to fit.
Category
notation
Pronunciation
/ˈlɛdʒə laɪn/
Origin
Variant of "leger" (French, light)
Length
179 words · 1 min read
About Ledger Line
Ledger lines allow composers to write notes that lie beyond the five lines and four spaces of the standard staff without changing clef. Middle C, for example, sits on one ledger line below the treble staff or one ledger line above the bass staff.
More notation terms
Staff
View all notationterms →The set of five horizontal lines and four spaces on which musical notes are written.
Repeat SignA pair of dots and double barlines that instruct the performer to replay a section of music.
Articulation MarkingsSymbols placed above or below notes to indicate how they should be attacked, sustained, or released.
SlurA curved line connecting two or more notes of different pitch to indicate they should be played smoothly and connected.
Tempo MarkingA word or phrase placed at the beginning of a piece or section indicating the speed at which it should be performed.
Compare with similar terms
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