In some musical genres, such as jazz and blues, even else freedom is given to the performer to engage in improvisation on a vital melodic, harmonic, Sound Effects or rhythmic framework. The greatest latitude is given to the performer in a style of performing called free improvisation, which is material that is spontaneously "thought of" (imagined) while being performed, not preconceived. According to the analysis of Georgiana Costescu, improvised piece usually follows stylistic or genre conventions and even "fully composed" includes some freely chosen material. Composition does not always mean the use of notation, or the accepted sole authorship of uncommon individual.

In popular music, guitarists and electric bass players often read modern notated in tablature, which indicates the location of the notes to be played on the appliance using a diagram of the guitar or bass fingerboard. Tabulature was also used in the Baroque era to notate music for the lute, a stringed, fretted instrument.