So is the typical classical score we see today the only standard notation of music or were there other civilizations prior who had their own? | AskHistorians Archive Observer

So is the typical classical score we see today the only standard notation of music or were there other civilizations prior who had their own?

by JFREEDOML

flotiste

I'm going to link to a previous answer I've done on this as well: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4j8ltr/when_did_music_begin_to_be_written_like_it_was/

erus

Yes, there have been other forms of musical notation:

Music in cuneiform

Two Chinese forms of notation

There are some notations from India

A different notation was developed in the East for chanting

Some symbols were added to texts in Cantillation

And Western musical notation has not always been exactly the same

Daseian notation

There have been tablatures for different instruments (Lute, organ) and shorthand notations (figured bass)

To be honest, there have been additions to Western notation and even new proposals

Graphic notations

Variations on conventional notation