Definition

Noun: A ledger line (also called a leger line) is a short horizontal line added above or below a musical staff to notate pitches that fall outside the staff's standard five lines and four spaces.

Usage

A ledger line is used in Western musical notation to extend the range of the staff. Each line represents one step on the musical scale (like a line or space on the main staff) and is drawn only as long as the note head it supports requires.

Examples

• The high C on the piano is written using two ledger lines above the treble staff.
• When the bassoon plays its lowest notes, they are notated with several ledger lines below the bass clef.
• The note was so high that the composer had to use a ledger line to write it correctly.

Advanced Usage

• Multiple Ledger Lines: For very high or very low pitches, multiple ledger lines can be used in succession. However, for extended passages in extreme ranges, changing the clef (e.g., using an octave clef) is often preferred for clarity over using many ledger lines.
• Spacing: The vertical distance between ledger lines, and between the first ledger line and the staff, must be exactly the same as the spacing between the lines of the staff itself.

Variants and Related Words

• Leger line: An alternative, less common spelling for "ledger line." The meaning is identical.

Synonyms

• Staff extender: (Descriptive term, not a formal synonym) A line that extends the staff.
• Added line: (Descriptive term) A line added to the musical staff.

Notes

• The term is specific to the field of music notation.
• It is a compound noun where "ledger" refers to a horizontal architectural beam or a line in an account book, drawing an analogy to the short, horizontal line used in music.

Noun

1. a short line; a notation for extending the range above or below the staff