Song Structure Notation System
Printable / read-only version (PDF):
iylock Style – Song Structure Notation System - v20260410 (PDF)
Full specification is available on GitHub:
GitHub Repository
iylock Style is a song structure notation system designed to organize and communicate musical form in a clear and repeatable way.
It is intended for practical use in music arrangement and performance contexts, where structural clarity is more important than strict academic labeling.
music notation song structureI could not find a clearly organized system for song structure(song form) notation. So, I organized it for practical use. I developed this while using it in a local church band for two years. Now, there are no major issues in using it.
When I decided to make it public online, I realized that it needed a name so that people could easily find this document. Also, this notation is merely my own model and is not academic. A model needs to be continuously updated if necessary. I thought that required a name.
Therefore, to signify a commitment to continuous learning and development, I transliterated "iylock"—which I call the "iylock Mindset"—and used it as the name. Just as there are various citation styles such as APA, Chicago, and MLA, I consider my song structure notation to be one of many possible styles, and I describe it as a style.
The list of song sections and symbols followed multitracks.com exactly. The same applies to most dynamic cues. My contributions were to clarify the criteria for classifying sections in my own way, to divide parts in order to express the structure of sections for smooth communication within the band, and to establish notations for dynamic cues and section carryover.
I have identified areas that need modification and development, and I plan to continue developing them gradually.
A : Vp – I – V1 – V2 – Pr1 – C1 – C2 -
A’: Ta – V3 – Pr2 – C1 – C2 -
B : B – It – C2 – C1 – C1(Ac) - E
A: I – C1 – V1 – V2 – Pr1 – Pr2 – C1 – C2
A’: V3 – Pr2 – C1 – C2 – O – E
A : I – V1 – V2 – Pr – Is – C -
A’: Ta – V2 – Pr – Is – C -
B : Vp – B1 – B2 -
C : Pr – Is – C – O - E
A : I – Rf – V1 – V2 – Pr – C1 -
A’: V3 – V4 – Pr – C1 – C2 -
B : Vp – B – B -
C : (Bk)C1(Bu) – C1 – Tg – Tg – C2 -
D : Is – Rf – Rf - E
A : I – V1 – Pr – C -
A’: It – V2 – (Bk)Pr – C – C -
B : Is – Rf – Rf – B – (Ac)C(Bu) – C - E
A : I – V1 – V2* – It – C* -
A’: Ta – V3 – V4* – It – C – Rf(Bu) – Rf – (Bu)Rf* – It -
B : (Bd)V5* – It – Is – B – B – B(Bu) – It -
C : C – Rf(Bu) – Rf(Bk) – Tg(slow) – E(big)
MultiTracks.com. (2019, February 18). Updated song sections & guide cues! [Blog post]. https://www.multitracks.com/blog/updated-song-sections-guide-cues (Accessed May 15, 2024)
MultiTracks.com. (n.d.). Click & guide [Audio files]. https://www.multitracks.com/free/. https://multitracks.blob.core.windows.net/public/content/free/Click_and_Guide_Samples.zip (Accessed May 15, 2024)
Heeyoun Lee
South Korea
2026