Topmusicanswers
Within one voice, the stems usually point down for notes on the middle line or higher, and up for those below. If the stem points up from a notehead, the stem originates from the right-hand side of the note, but if it points down, it originates from the left.
- Where would the stem be placed on the following notehead?
- Does the stem on B go up or down?
- Which way do stems go in chords?
- Why do some notes point up and some down?
Where would the stem be placed on the following notehead?
If the notehead of a music note is on the third line of the staff or above, the stems must go down on the left.
Does the stem on B go up or down?
1. If you are writing a single melodic line, stems should go up if the note is below the middle line and down if the note is above the middle line. If the note is on the mid- dle line, the stem may go up or down, depending on the stems of adjacent notes (example B.
Which way do stems go in chords?
The stem direction for a chord in a single voice is determined by the balance of notes above/below the middle line of the staff. If the note furthest from the middle line is above the middle line, the stem of the chord points downwards.
Why do some notes point up and some down?
The stems of notes on or above the middle line (B) usually face down to make the sheet music look tidier and prevent the stems of high notes sticking too far out of the staff.
