Parsons Code - The Code

The Code

The first note of a melody is denoted with an asterisk (*), although some Parsons code users omit the first note. All succeeding notes are denoted with one of three letters to indicate the relationship of its pitch to the previous note:

• u = "up," if the note is higher than the previous note
• d = "down," if the note is lower than the previous note
• r = "repeat," if the note is the same pitch as the previous note
• * = first tone as reference