Stromian Tuplet Notation: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Stromian tuplet notation 1.jpg|thumb|Nested tuplet from polyriddim by phonon|399x399px]] | [[File:Stromian tuplet notation 1.jpg|thumb|Nested tuplet from polyriddim by phonon|399x399px]][[File:Stromian tuplet notation 2.jpg|thumb|Nested tuplet used frequently in The Black Page by Frank Zappa|199x199px]] | ||
[[File:Stromian tuplet notation 2.jpg|thumb|Nested tuplet used frequently in The Black Page by Frank Zappa|199x199px]] | |||
'''Stromian tuplet notation''' is a system for expressing '''tuplets'''. The main purpose of STN is to convey complicated tuplet ideas over text. The system strikes a balance between legibility and efficiency. | '''Stromian tuplet notation''' is a system for expressing '''tuplets'''. The main purpose of STN is to convey complicated tuplet ideas over text. The system strikes a balance between legibility and efficiency. | ||
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=== Legibility === | === Legibility === | ||
[[File:Nested nested triplet.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Nested nested triplet]] | |||
A triplet inside of a nested triplet is pretty easy to conceptualize when reading it on sheet music, as opposed to STN, where it would be written like “3[3[3:2+1]:2+1]:2”. STN has its limitations, but it allows those familiar with it to glance at “11[6+9:5]:8” and think “ah yes, a 11:8 tuplet with a nested 9:5 at the end”. | A triplet inside of a nested triplet is pretty easy to conceptualize when reading it on sheet music, as opposed to STN, where it would be written like “3[3[3:2+1]:2+1]:2”. STN has its limitations, but it allows those familiar with it to glance at “11[6+9:5]:8” and think “ah yes, a 11:8 tuplet with a nested 9:5 at the end”. | ||
[[Category:Music Theory]] | [[Category:Music Theory]] | ||
Revision as of 17:22, 20 June 2026
Stromian tuplet notation is a system for expressing tuplets. The main purpose of STN is to convey complicated tuplet ideas over text. The system strikes a balance between legibility and efficiency.
It can get frustrating when you send your homie a Fizz WIP and they ask “what’s that rhythm 8 seconds in?” To which you reply “It’s a bar long triplet but the first and last of those 3 beats are both nonuplets, and the beat in the middle is just filled with 8th notes. Or 8th note triplets rather... Never mind, you get what I mean. Actually I'll draw a picture and send it...". STN allows you to reply with "it's 3[9:1+4:1+9:1]:2/2" like an absolute chad.
The notation system used on the Metr tool on chambercode.com is very similar to STN, the main difference being that it doesn’t have STN’s redundant numerator.
| Tuplet | Notation | |
|---|---|---|
| Stromian | 11:8 with a nested 8:6 at the beginning | 11[8:6+5]:8 |
| Metr | 11:8 with a nested 8:6 at the beginning | [8:6+5]:8 |
Limitations
Ambiguity
When written with STN, the exact length of the tuplet can be ambiguous. If there’s a 4 in the denominator, that could mean that the tuplet is 4 quarter notes long, but it could also be 4 eighth notes, 4 sixteenth notes, etc. This ambiguity can be solved by writing the denominator as a time signature instead of a plain number.
11[8:6+5]:8 —> 11[8:6+5]:8/8
Legibility
A triplet inside of a nested triplet is pretty easy to conceptualize when reading it on sheet music, as opposed to STN, where it would be written like “3[3[3:2+1]:2+1]:2”. STN has its limitations, but it allows those familiar with it to glance at “11[6+9:5]:8” and think “ah yes, a 11:8 tuplet with a nested 9:5 at the end”.