7.1. The grouping of 16ths, etc., is of necessity somewhat different in braille from that of print, and it is not always possible to give an actual facsimile reproduction of the latter.
7.2. The general principle of braille note-grouping is to write the first note of the group in its true value, the remaining notes being given as eighths:
Example 7.2-1.
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"YEFG(IJDZDJI(GFE<K
and if a rest of equal value takes the place of the first note of a group, the same method is used.
Example 7.2-2.
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M"FGHMGHIMHIJ<K
7.3. This method of note-grouping is subject to certain conditions:
7.3.1. It is better not to use this method when the group contains a rest, even of the same value, on any other note but the first.
Example 7.3.1-1.
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"YMZ&=(M!)YZM<K
(An alternate version of this passage is given in Example 7.3.6-1.)
7.3.2. Grouping should not be used if the group cannot be completed in the line in which it begins.
Example 7.3.2-1.
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"Y.D<"E<.E*"E*.E<"&<.&<"!<.!"
<")<.).Y;D"J.J"I.I<K
7.3.3. It should not be used if the group is followed on the same line and in the same measure by an eighth or dotted eighth (but see Example 10.1-1, measure 2).
(Note the difference of treatment on the second beat of both measures in the following example.)
Example 7.3.3-1.
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M"DEF=Z&YH.DJD Z"HIJYIJH"
.EHGH<K
7.3.4. This method should not be used if the group is rendered incomplete by notes or rests of different value.
Example 7.3.4-1.
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"YEFGHI(=FE&YXX<K
7.3.5. It should not be used if for any reason the group is interrupted by the music hyphen.
Example 7.3.5-1.
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"YEFGHI)Y" #D< .ZY)!(IJHFE<K
7.3.6. Where, as in Example 7.3.1-1 above, the grouping is not very clear, the sign <1 should be used.
Example 7.3.6-1.
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"YMZ&<1=(M!<1)YZM<K
(See also Example 9.4-1.)
7.4. In such a case as the following, where syncopated eighths might be mistaken for 16ths, the value signs must be used, as was said in Par. 1.1, to separate the notes of different value.
Example 7.4-1.
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.&^<1EDJ! \V<K
7.5. The nature of the braille eighth sign renders it impossible to indicate the print grouping of eighths without the use of <1 , and, in consequence, such grouping is ignored unless it crosses either the beat or the bar line. When the braille music comma is needed, it is placed at the beginning of a group, and if the notes which follow are of the same value and group themselves obviously in normal fashion, the comma may be used as a terminator. However, if the following notes of like value could themselves be mistaken as unusual grouping, a modified comma is used, whose meaning as a terminator is unequivocal. The music comma becomes an undisputed terminator by adding dot 3 to it. (See General Table.) If such a group is immediately followed by a rest or by a note of different value, no termination sign is needed.
Example 7.5-1.
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X<1.DJIH<1I HGF<1GFE<K
Example 7.5-2.
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X<1.DJIH<1I HGF<1GFE D<1EDJ<1'DF
"H.D"HFDJ N'<K
7.5.1. If Example 7.5-2 had been written in 3/8 time, it would have appeared as follows, the normal braille grouping being retained and the abnormal print grouping being shown by the braille music comma. Thus the unusual grouping of notes smaller than eighths is independent of the normal braille grouping device. Both groupings may be used without interference with one another.
Example 7.5.1-1.
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M<1.DJIH<1I (GF<1GFE<K
Irregular Note-Grouping (Table 7)
7.6. It will be noted that among the signs given in Table 7, the triplet is shown in two forms, (a) and (b). (a) is the form which is more generally used, (b) being reserved for use when a triplet contains a triplet of smaller value on one of its notes.
Example 7.6-1.
(a)
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2"IJD :2EDJ.$2F%GH O'<K
(b)
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.?2.IHG2GFE2_3'Z&ZDJ<K
7.6.1. It is also better to use (b) for triplets which occur in conjunction with irregular groups of different value:
Example 7.6.1-1.
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_6'"(IJDEF_3'"=I.E_6'"&GHIJD"
_3'"ZGJ<K
Example 7.6.2-2.
7.6.2. These signs can be doubled, but in the case of _3' etc., it is unnecessary to use dot 3 after the first of the doubled signs.
Example 7.6.2-1.
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.W 22HJIHGFEDJ IHGFED2JDE<K
_7_7'"&HJDEDJ!DFGHGF"ZGIJDJI"
_7'"(J%EFGFE<K
7.7. It is usual to indicate irregular groups in the print by marking them with the appropriate number in addition to grouping them with a ligature, but the number is sometimes omitted. While it is possible to show this grouping in braille in the case of 16ths, 32nds, and 64ths, without the use of the signs in Table 7, it is impossible to do so with eighths and 128ths (save by the use of <1 ) and in consequence the signs in Table 7 must always be used, even when the corresponding numbers do not appear in the print.