Best way to score melodic piano lines across both hands
Having some trouble understanding the best way to score piano when a melodic pattern is played across both hands...
Here is the first bar of the section in question, arranged on separate staves, and then again using cross staff beaming. I am struggling to see which would be better to implement. Is there a rule for which one to follow? Also, if the cross staff path is the correct one, is it necessary to include rests in the bass clef?
If there is a far superior way to notate such a passage, I'd love to know.
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The only general rule is to make things as clear and easy to read as possible. Your second measure is great. Do a cross-staff beam on the second beat as well.
As a minor touchup note, move the beams on beats 3 and 4 up a bit, and maybe slant them in the direction of the line.
A bit late, but I only just saw this thread!
Both notations are "correct", but they mean different things.
The first bar, with the rests, means that you intend the notes on the top staff to be played with the right hand and the notes on the bottom staff with the left hand.
The second bar, without rests, means you intend everything except the whole-notes to be played with the right hand.
I agree with L3B that the cross-staff beams are pointless in the second bar, especially since they are not even consistent - first you have C and Eb on the top staff, and then on the bottom staff, for no obvious reason.
Keyboard players shouldn't have any problem reading three leger lines above or below either staff, and four are usually OK for occasional notes.
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