Sixteenth Note Flags – 5 Things You Might Not Know

sixteenth-note-flags

Sixteenth Note Flags - What is and what isn't acceptable?

Sixteenth Note Flags – Do you need a degree in art to draw those little curved sixteenth note flags or will a stick flag do?

Are you often frustrated with how fancy the font is on printed music and how simple the actual hand printed music needs to be?

Alas, Finale does not come with a “do it simple like this” font, so I'm going to do my best to show what is and isn’t acceptable when writing (or drawing) the single sixteenth note flags.

Dr. Scott Brubacher of the Royal Conservatory of Music shares his thoughts below.

Sixteenth Note Flags - The Rules

When a note has a flag (or flags), you must follow these rules:

1)    The flags do not touch the notehead.

2)    The flags are always placed on the right of the stem.

UMT Tip: Yes, in printed music, it often looks like the flag on a descending stem is touching the notehead. This is simply because typesetting programs use a uniform stem length. When a stem is descending, the uniform flag size will place the flag so that it does touch the notehead. On an exam, or in their theory, if the student writes the flag so that it touches the notehead, it will be marked as incorrect.

To draw a single sixteenth note, remember that:

1)    The stem is approximately one octave (an 8th) in length.

2)    Each flag is approximately a 5th in length.

The key word here is “approximately”. No one will be measuring the stems or flags with a ruler. However, if it “looks” too small or too big, then it probably is!

5 Things You Might Not Know About Sixteenth Note Flags

  • First: Let’s look at some examples of printed descending single sixteenth note flags. Which are acceptable and which are not acceptable?

Sixteenth Note Flags - Descending single
1)    Incorrect – the flag is touching the notehead.

2)    Correct.

3)    Incorrect – the notehead is on the wrong side of the stem.

4)    Correct.

  • Second: Here are some examples of printed ascending single sixteenth note flags. Thoughts?

Sixteenth Note Flags - Ascending
1)    Incorrect – the stem is obviously too long.

2)    Incorrect – the stem is obviously too short.

3)    Incorrect – the notehead is on the wrong side of the stem.

4)    Correct.

So how can we teach our students to write the single sixteenth note flags? The easiest way is the “line” way. Simply use straight or slightly curved angled lines for the flags.

  • Third: Here are some examples of hand drawn ascending single sixteenth notes. Are they correct or incorrect?

Sixteenth Note Flags - Hand Drawn
Guess what! They are all correct. They are all acceptable! The flag ends can be separated or joined together at the end as long as:

1)    Both flags are angling correctly (Stem up, angle down; stem down, angle up).

2)    Both flags are the appropriate length.

3)    The furthest flag is joined to the tip of the stem and the 2nd flag is joined approximately a 2nd or 3rd apart from it.

  • Fourth: Let’s have some fun. How about these examples?

Sixteenth Note Flags - incorrect
Are you ready for this? They are all incorrect! Why?

1)    The flags are too long (they go below the notehead).

2)    The flags are too short (they have a serious short factor happening).

3)    The two flags leave the stem at the same location (I call this the split end flag) and do not angle correctly.

4)    The flags are straight, with no angle at all. They can’t just stick out to the side like this as that is the flag location for joined sixteenth notes.

  • Fifth: And finally, here are 4 examples of acceptable (correct) hand drawn descending single sixteenth notes.

Sixteenth Note Flags - Correct
Regarding both examples of acceptable (correct) hand drawn ascending and descending single sixteenth notes, Dr. Scott Brubacher of the Royal Conservatory of Music writes:

“I am fairly certain that all the 16th note flags you have indicated would be acceptable. If a note is completely unrecognizable, that would be a different matter, but these examples all seem well within the range of legibility.”  ~ Dr. Scott Brubacher of the Royal Conservatory of Music

See? You don’t need a Master’s Degree in Art. Just remember KISS – Keep It Simple Silly – and you will do just fine.

Check out the Music Theory Worksheets under the Free Resources. There are free Activities for each worksheet, and I’m very proud of the How to draw a Treble Clef and How to draw a Bass Clef Activities.

P.S. – Join the Conversation! What else can I help you find a simple way to write or draw?

UMC-UMTC-3D

Ultimate Music Theory Certification Course Online Teacher Training includes: 50 Video Sessions, All Materials, Online Support,
Exam Marking & Certificate!

Click HERE to discover what you will learn in the Ultimate Music Theory Certification Course.  Your professional development Online Teacher Training starts here.

Keep on Learning... With a Smile and a Song!

Shelagh McKibbon-U'Ren

SHARE:

1 thoughts on “Sixteenth Note Flags – 5 Things You Might Not Know”

  • Shelagh McKibbon-U'Ren says:

    We want to support teachers every way possible and helping them to know exactly what is and is not acceptable on an examination is (I feel) a good thing to be blogging about. Remember to let me know if you want to know what is and is not acceptable regarding any other note or rest or concept! Shelagh

Join The Conversation!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


*