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# Hummingbird
- URL: https://www.protein.xyz/hummingbird/
- Published: 2013-04-10T09:20:00.000Z
- Updated: 2025-05-28T11:01:36.000Z
- Description: Sheet music is given an intelligent, design-conscious makeover, one that intends to make learning music that much easier for aspiring musicians.
- Author: Protein
- Tags: Seeds, Music, Art & Design, #protein, #Import 2024-06-11 13:21, #author-change-2025-05-28

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/9169/ad6ceb8c-05fb-4156-bc7f-52671f7257c7.jpeg)

Anyone that has learned to read traditional sheet music (or attempted to) knows that it can be a daunting task. Enter [Hummingbird](http://www.hummingbirdnotation.com/?ref=protein.xyz), a “fresh take on music notation, easier to learn, faster to read, and simple for even the trickiest music.” Inspired by his students’ frustrations in learning this new skill, Blake West teamed up with former college roommate Mike Sal, to create a friendlier, more intuitive system of notation.  
  
In Hummingbird, every note has it’s own symbol and accompanying helper word to aid in memorization. Additionally, rhythm and rest symbols are illustrated more concretely. For example, long notes are long and short notes are shorter. Hummingbird exemplifies how design can create innovative solutions to age-old problems.