Wikipedia:Using sheet music sources
 | The following is a proposed Wikipedia policy, guideline, or process. The proposal may still be in development, under discussion, or in the process of gathering consensus for adoption. |
Sheet music can be used in Wikipedia articles about songs. While the use of screenshots of sheet music is discouraged, text can be written discussing the nature of a song. Reliable sources for sheet music include Musicnotes.com and Sheetmusicplus.com. From sheet music sources, editors can deduct much information about a song, including:
- Time signature
- Key
- Tempo (both a description [eg: moderately; slowly et cetera] and the number of beats per minute)
- Basic chord progression (using en dashes to indicate sequence)
- Vocal range
When using sheet music in articles, editors must attribute the source in the prose.
Examples
The following is an excerpt from the "Bad Romance" article:
| “ | According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, "Bad Romance" is set in common time with a metronome of 119 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of A minor with the vocal range spanning from a low of E3 to a high of A5. The song follows in the chord progression of Am–C–F–C–G in the verses and F–G–Am–C–F–G–E–Am in the chorus.[1] | ” |
The citation is formatted as: <ref>{{cite web |first1=Nadir |last1=Khayat |authorlink1=RedOne |first2=Stefani |last2=Germanotta |authorlink2=Lady Gaga |title=Lady Gaga - Bad Romance Sheet Music (Digital Download)|publisher=Musicnotes.com. [[Universal Music Publishing Group]] |format=sheet music |year=2009 |url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp?ppn=MN0080511 |accessdate=1022-01-18}}</ref>
The following is an excerpt from the "You Make Me Wanna..." article:
| “ | According to Universal Music Publishing Group's sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "You Make Me Wanna..." is written in the key of E♭ major with a moderate tempo of 88 beats per minute. The vocal range extends from the low note of B♭3 to the high note of C6. The ballad has a basic sequence of Cm–Fm7–A♭–G–G/B as its chord progression.[2] | ” |
The citation is formatted as: <ref>{{cite web |first1=Jermaine |last1=Dupri |authorlink1=Jermaine Dupri |first2=Manuel |last2=Seal |authorlink2=Manuel Seal |first3=Usher |last3=Raymond |authorlink3=Usher (entertainer) |title=Usher – You Make Me Wanna... Sheet Music (Digital Download)|publisher=Musicnotes.com. [[Universal Music Publishing Group]] |format=sheet music |url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp?ppn=MN0041247 |year=1997 |accessdate=November 29, 2010}}</ref>
Notes
Reference outputs:
- ^ Khayat, Nadir; Germanotta, Stefani (2009). "Lady Gaga - Bad Romance Sheet Music (Digital Download)" (sheet music). Musicnotes.com. Universal Music Publishing Group. Retrieved 1022-01-18.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Dupri, Jermaine; Seal, Manuel; Raymond, Usher (1997). "Usher – You Make Me Wanna... Sheet Music (Digital Download)" (sheet music). Musicnotes.com. Universal Music Publishing Group. Retrieved November 29, 2010.