What 𝅖 means
It marks a notehead, but gives no pitch or duration alone.
A notehead is the oval or other mark placed on a staff; its vertical position tells you pitch. A stem is the line attached to many noteheads; short notes can add small hooks to show rhythm. 𝅖 is one part of written notation, not a complete note to play.
The parentheses are a score instruction; their meaning depends on that part's convention.
If the legend says ghost note, keep its beat and play it quietly.
What it means when someone sends it to you
3 readingsDrum legend says “ghost note”
Play a very quiet hit; it still keeps its place in the rhythm.
Drum legend says “optional note”
Play the hit only if that chart's directions call for it.
No legend or directions explain it
The notehead alone does not settle the instruction; check with the arranger.
Don't confuse it with
4Questions people ask
1Why does 𝅖 show as a box on some devices?
Because that device's fonts have no glyph for it. The character is still correct and still copies correctly — the box is a missing glyph, not a broken character.
How to type 𝅖
Windows (Word)
Alt+XType 1D156, then Alt+X to get 𝅖.
Windows
Win+Rrun charmap for the full table, or use the emoji picker's Ω symbols tab (Win + .).
macOS
Control+Command+SpaceOpen the character viewer and search “musical symbol parenthesis notehead”.
Linux
Ctrl+Shift+UType 1d156, then Enter or Space.
HTML
𝅖CSS
\1D156Notation software
Select a note and use the editor's parenthesis or ghost-note control; shortcuts vary by app.
Codes and encoding1 code points
HTML decimal
𝅖
HTML hex
𝅖
CSS content
content: "\1D156";
Each escape is closed by the next backslash; a trailing space is needed before a literal hex digit.
URL encoded
%F0%9D%85%96
1
On screen
1
Code points
2
JS .length
4
UTF-8 bytes
A visible symbol can contain several code points. JS .length counts UTF-16 units; UTF-8 counts bytes.