Common header elements:

• X: index number, required in some software [e.g. X:1]
• T: title [e.g T: Happy Birthday]
• M: meter, required [e.g. M:C, M:4/4, M:3/4]
• L: default note length [e.g. L:1/2, L:1/4, L:1/8]
• Q: tempo [e.g. Q:120, Q:1/8=120, Q:1/4=60]
• K: key signature, required [e.g. K:G, K:Gm]
• V: voice, can set the clef [e.g. V:1 name=Violin, V:2 name=Cello clef=bass]

Common notation elements:

• bottom octave CDEFGAB, top octave cdefgab [e.g. C = middle C]
• z rest
• , down an octave, ' up an octave [e.g. C, or c']
• ^ sharps, _ flats [e.g. ^c or _c]
• make note longer by multiplying number, or shorter by a / dividing number [e.g. a2 or a/2]
• notes separated by spaces will not have beams, those together will [e.g. a b c versus abc]
• | barline, |] double bar, |: repeats :|