Wikipedia:Using sheet music sources

Sheet music can be used in Wikipedia articles about musical works. While the use of screenshots of sheet music is discouraged, text can be written discussing the nature of a musical work. Reliable sources for sheet music include Musicnotes.com and Sheetmusicplus.com. From sheet music sources, editors can deduce much information about a musical work, including:

1. Time signature
2. Key
3. Tempo (both a description [eg: moderately; slowly et cetera] and the number of beats per minute)
4. Basic chord progression (using en dashes to indicate sequence)

Note that these sheet music sources do not distinguish between whether it is in a male or female vocal range in their notation and thus often notate songs sung by males as being an octave above where they actually sing. Use discernment in these cases as what is listed as the range in these sources is often incorrect.

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 Gaga's vocal range spanning from the low-note of E₃ to the high-note of C₅. 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. ”

The citation is formatted as: <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0080511|accessdate=2013-09-16|title=Digital Sheet Music – Lady Gaga – Bad Romance|publisher=Musicnotes.com. [[Sony/ATV Music Publishing]]}}</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♭₂ to the high note of C₅. The ballad has a basic sequence of Cm–Fm₇–A♭–G–G/B as its chord progression. ”

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: