Explore the guides below to learn how Figurenotes can work on your instrument.
Keys
Stickers
Stick your Figurenotes stickers on the white keys. For best placement, put them in-line with the end of the black keys. Middle C is a red circle.
Figurenotes Fingers
Print and cut out these slip-on note guides. Make sure to select ‘print whole image’ on A4 paper in your printing options.
Learn more about playing chords, sharps and flats, and progression under the ‘What is Figurenotes?‘ menu at the top of the page.
Untuned Percussion
If the instrument isn’t pitched, you can assign any colour or shape to it. There are no set rules for this, except for the drum kit.
Drum Kit
Each element of the drum kit is assigned a specific colour and shape. You can use stickers for this or print larger images.
There is a specific Figurenotes stave for drum notation. The bottom line contains squares for kick drum, circles for toms and snare in the middle, and cymbals are shown by crosses in the top line.
You can create parts using Notate, our notation programme.
Tuned Percussion
Use the correct sticker on each note. See the keyboard diagram above. Middle C is a red circle.
When using chimes with beginners, we recommend placing the sticker where the beater will strike. This helps guide the player to get the best sound.
Boomwhackers and Coloured Percussion
We are often asked how to use Boomwhackers and other coloured percussion with Figurenotes. This will depend on who you’re working with.
You can stick Figurenotes stickers on the Boomwhackers and ignore their original colour. Or you can recolour the instruments themselves – read this blog on re-spraying your instruments
Plucked Strings
Adapted Guitar
For a simplified guitar setup, use 4 strings instead of 6, tuned AEAE. This means we can barre open chords, focusing on chord changes and strumming patterns. It is then easier to progress to 6 strings.
This video can help with the setup. Use the following guide for a more visual representation: Figurenotes Adapted Guitar Guide – PDF
Standard Guitar
There are many ways to learn guitar using Figurenotes. You can explore different tuning, barre chords, using stickers to learn each chord before removing, or single notes for melodies and solos. The guide here shows where all the stickers would go, but we recommend using a few stickers at a time, rather than all of them.
If using chord charts to teach finger positions, try including a photo from the player’s perspective. See the image below for more details.
Bass Guitar
Use the guide to see where each sticker goes. We suggest adding a few stickers at a time, as you learn notes. Adding them all at once can be overwhelming and difficult to process.
Stickers for open strings are placed behind the nut.
Ukulele
Ukuleles can be tuned for open chords, just like the adapted guitar above.
We can also keep standard tuning and add chords/notes as we go. There are 2 ways to sticker these. 1. Add stickers according to the chord box colour (eg G major would be all black stickers). Learn the chords one at a time. Keep stickers minimal. 2. Add stickers on the correct notes and learn the finger patterns.
If using chord charts to teach finger positions, try including a photo from the player’s perspective. This can be seen in the guide below.
Bowed Strings
Place open string stickers at the end of the fingerboard and/or on the bridge, so they can be seen by the player. The other stickers should be placed on natural notes. You can use strip stickers underneath if desired. See the following set-up guides for more information.
Brass
There are many ways to show valve and slide positions when using Figurenotes with brass instruments. Below are some images supplied by Figurenotes groups in Finland and Brazil when teaching the trumpet.
The first example uses valve diagrams for each note. The second example uses numbers.
More guides will be uploaded soon. Contact us at Figurenotes@DrakeMusicScotland.org for advice or to share your practice.
Woodwind
Stickers are not used on woodwind instruments. Teach the notes as you normally would, associating each fingering with a colour and shape. The following fingering charts can be useful for teachers. Introduce a note at a time, just like you normally would.
Digital Instruments
Thumbjam
Figurenotes colours and shapes can show on each note. See the video below for a step-by-step guide on setting this up.
Clarion
To use Figurenotes colours within your Clarion patterns, go to Settings. You’ll find Figurenotes as an option within the Note Colours dropdown menu.
Garageband
Figurenotes is not built in to Garageband. Try an elasticated band around your case, Velcro works too, and stick the right symbols on. Make sure it doesn’t touch the screen.
Voice
Use Figurenotes colours and shapes to represent the notes. Using Notate, you can use a movable Do and include solfège within the notes, if desired.
We like to use a string of beads to show tones and semitones. See the guide below.
Guest Blog: But they’re the wrong colours!
Starting with Strings
Working with Woodwind
Blowing the Trumpet for Brass
Getting to Grips with Guitars
Prioritising the Piano
Daring to Drum
Top Tips in New Tutorials
