Parsons code

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The Parsons code, formally named the Parsons Code for Melodic Contours, is a simple notation used to identify a piece of music through melodic motion—the motion of the pitch up and down. Denys Parsons developed this system for his 1975 book, The Directory of Tunes and Musical Themes. Representing a melody in this manner makes it easy to index or search for particular pieces.

1 The code
- 1.1 Some examples
2 References
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] The code

The first note of a melody is denoted with an asterisk (*), although some Parsons code users omit the first note. All succeeding notes are denoted with one of three letters to indicate the relationship of its pitch to the previous note:

u = "up," if the note is higher than the previous note
d = "down," if the note is lower than the previous note
r = "repeat," if the note is the same pitch as the previous note
∗ = first tone as reference (very important)

[edit] Some examples

"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star": *rururddrdrdrd
"Silent Night": *udduuddurdurdurudddudduruddduddurrudduuddduddd
"Love Me Tender": *uduududdduu
"White Christmas": *udduuuu
First verse in Madonnas "Like a Virgin": *rrurddrdrrurdudurrrrddrduuddrdu
First verse in "We Are the World": *rduduururdrddrududuu
Verse in theme for "Att angöra en brygga": *uuudddduddududduddudduuuuuuuddddddududdu
First verse in Shakespears Sisters "Stay": *dduuuuuuuddddu