This cheat sheet provides a quick reference for understanding Jerry's unique musical notation system.
Symbol | Meaning | Value (in bons) |
---|---|---|
||: |
Repeat Bar Start: Go back to this point when :|| is encountered. |
|
:|| |
Repeat Bar End: Go back to the nearest ||: . |
|
1. , 2. |
Numbered Endings: Indicates different ways to end a repeated section. | |
_ |
Underline: Signifies a Chorus or Bridge section. | |
/ |
Forward Slash: A single beat. | 1 bon |
~ |
Tilde: Half a beat. | ½ bon |
^ |
Caret (in front of syllable): Half a note. | ½ bon |
^ |
Caret (between syllables): Combines two ½ bons to make 1 bon. | 1 bon |
= |
Equal Sign (in front of syllable): Quarter note. | ¼ bon |
= |
Equal Sign (between syllables): Combines two ¼ notes to make ½ bon. | ½ bon |
# |
Hash: Quarter beat. | ¼ bon |
@ |
At: Sustains a note beyond its customary value. | Variable |
() |
Brackets: Modifies the value of a group of entities (e.g., deducts one entity's value). |
2/4
at the start of a bar).BbM7
for Bbmaj7) and placed directly above lyrics for precise timing.This cheat sheet covers the essential elements of Jerry's Songbook notation. For more detailed explanations and examples, please refer to the full tutorial.