On That Note
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On That Note

· By Mikey G

Meta Prompt
[Level 3] The answer to the meta is what crosswords might be for you.
Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • oldjudge solved 2024-03-16T17:24:00.767Z
  • boharr solved 2024-03-16T17:31:20.882Z
  • dannyvee solved 2024-03-16T17:37:07.720Z
  • I K Snamhcok solved 2024-03-16T17:39:02.971Z
  • Meg solved 2024-03-16T17:48:34.280Z
  • Cindy Weatherman solved 2024-03-16T18:07:16.814Z
  • andeux solved 2024-03-16T18:08:17.609Z
  • Hector solved 2024-03-16T18:10:27.603Z
  • Rick solved 2024-03-16T18:15:32.735Z
  • frostyjhammer solved 2024-03-16T18:21:39.960Z
  • FrankieHeck solved 2024-03-16T18:37:53.173Z
  • Tom Wilson solved 2024-03-16T18:39:24.920Z
  • DebbieC solved 2024-03-16T18:42:46.535Z
  • whimsy solved 2024-03-16T18:48:46.168Z
  • Cindy Heisler solved 2024-03-16T19:05:01.638Z
  • KayW solved 2024-03-16T19:07:19.603Z
  • Gutman solved 2024-03-16T19:26:10.500Z
  • Danny K Bernstein solved 2024-03-16T19:42:02.313Z
  • Pair O Ducks solved 2024-03-16T19:45:51.726Z
  • LarsCaine solved 2024-03-16T19:50:56.413Z
  • CPJohnson solved 2024-03-16T19:52:30.165Z
  • BrennerTJ solved 2024-03-16T20:00:50.593Z
  • HeadinHome solved 2024-03-16T20:03:27.244Z
  • damefox solved 2024-03-16T20:16:29.577Z
  • woozy solved 2024-03-16T21:01:57.751Z
  • ajk solved 2024-03-16T21:06:03.658Z
  • benchen71 solved 2024-03-16T21:42:09.174Z
  • MatthewL solved 2024-03-16T21:48:34.881Z
  • Darth solved 2024-03-17T01:36:20.781Z
  • Philip Chow solved 2024-03-17T02:11:35.960Z
  • Laura M solved 2024-03-17T05:08:52.690Z
  • DJB solved 2024-03-17T08:37:00.313Z
  • lbray53 solved 2024-03-17T13:33:55.433Z
  • rjy solved 2024-03-17T15:24:47.034Z
  • DCBilly solved 2024-03-17T15:42:41.176Z
  • hoover solved 2024-03-17T16:15:08.127Z
  • Myelbow solved 2024-03-17T17:44:36.653Z
  • Berto solved 2024-03-17T18:01:19.993Z
  • GR solved 2024-03-17T18:21:28.331Z
  • Capn Rick solved 2024-03-17T18:24:56.718Z
  • Joe solved 2024-03-17T20:33:13.292Z
  • Jerry Miccolis solved 2024-03-18T00:05:06.392Z
  • Abide solved 2024-03-18T01:00:48.885Z
  • DIS solved 2024-03-18T18:00:46.205Z
  • JHSeeman solved 2024-03-18T20:29:34.262Z
  • Schmeel solved 2024-03-19T03:47:35.336Z
  • Alex Sisti solved 2024-03-19T13:27:50.858Z
  • Qmark solved 2024-03-19T13:50:03.906Z
  • SJ solved 2024-03-19T13:58:20.877Z
  • DrTom solved 2024-03-19T20:30:58.912Z
  • heidi solved 2024-03-20T16:27:28.451Z
  • Alvibu67 solved 2024-03-20T17:07:10.173Z
  • BarbaraK solved 2024-03-20T23:43:00.906Z
  • Tyrpmom solved 2024-03-21T03:38:23.484Z
  • Steve M solved 2024-03-21T14:27:51.231Z
  • kurtalert solved 2024-03-21T18:53:38.423Z
  • Meta World Peace solved 2024-03-22T17:40:25.544Z
  • syoustra solved 2024-03-22T18:49:01.215Z
  • SJMcK solved 2024-03-23T04:36:28.725Z
  • JM solved 2024-03-23T13:28:29.070Z
  • Bob J solved 2024-03-23T15:42:18.511Z

Comments

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  • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-16T17:00:44.345Z
    Answer: FORTE
    Explanation: The alpha entry (PIANO) and the omega entry (SCALE) imply that we'll be dealing with music here, particularly the musical scale! The eight notes DO, RE, MI, FA, SOL, LA, TI, DO are placed about as symmetrically as possible within the grid (SOL's extra letter disrupts the symmetry slightly), hidden within other entries. These are the only uses of these within the grid! Per the title, take the letters on each note: LO WE RC AS EFI NM US IC. These re-parse as LOWERCASE "f" IN MUSIC, which signals FORTE, the answer to the meta, which also signals your crossword-solving ability! Also note the original name of the instrument PIANO was the pianoforte!
    • oldjudge 3s · 2024-03-16T17:28:23.998Z
      I had a forte after too many beans, but I excused myself. Great puzzle Mikey--thanks!
      • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-16T19:14:07.662Z
        Bahaha.
      • I K Snamhcok 1s · 2024-03-16T17:40:47.700Z
        First on the leaderboard? I can’t believe it! I must have arrived on the forum just as you posted the puzzle. Thanks, Mr. G! Gneiss!
        • Meg 2s · 2024-03-16T17:50:59.152Z
          Got my weekly ration of groans today with your clues. Thanks, Mikey!
          • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-16T19:14:35.760Z
            That's what it's all about! (Oh, and also the meta.)
          • boharr 2s · 2024-03-16T17:32:03.978Z
            Nice one. Thanks, Mikey. I forgot to check the box!! Can I fix that?
            • hoover 4s · 2024-03-17T17:34:09.386Z
              Half the time I forget to check the box. I wonder if there's a reason this one has box to check and the others are mostly automatic.
            • Hector 3s · 2024-03-16T18:13:55.681Z
              NIce one. I guess we can look forward to a puzzle about actinium next week?
              • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-16T19:14:50.300Z
                I'll have to get my actinium together!
              • frostyjhammer 🤓15:44 · 2024-03-16T18:25:55.062Z
                Got to "forte" and was beating myself up... "What's the next step?!" Forte means loud, or played hard, right? LOLzz. Very well constructed meta puzzle, with one of the best titles/clues I've seen: "On That Note" is really all you need. Thank you!
                • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-16T19:16:58.532Z
                  Yes, in the context of music, that's exactly what it means! (And I only know that from research, as my music knowledge is not as up to par as it could be). So, it's playing off of the other meaning of FORTE, which means a personal specialty or strength (it looks like the root word means both "loud" and/or "strong," and the "strong suit" was probably the metaphorical meaning that evolved over time). Thank you for solving!
                • whimsy 17:35 · 2024-03-16T18:53:35.524Z
                  Neat method calling for the translation. But I did wonder briefly if we were dealing with Charlie the (piano) Tuna and his fin music -- whatever that is. Thanks, Mikey!
                  • benchen71 11s · 2024-03-16T21:43:55.442Z
                    That was me, too: [thinks] "what is fin music?!?"
                    • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-18T17:02:43.221Z
                      When the tuna plays a tune (you can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish)
                  • KayW 🤓8:24 · 2024-03-16T19:08:55.673Z
                    LOL I can't tell you how long I stared at that and kept saying to myself "What on earth is lower case fin music?! The theme from Jaws?" I finally re-parsed. Bravo, Mikey! Encore!
                    • ajk 🤓10:09 · 2024-03-16T21:08:16.357Z
                      LOL this was me too. Finally googled lowercase fin music just in case it was a thing, and google was like "uh, I think you meant f in" 😆
                    • HeadinHome 🤓13:56 · 2024-03-16T20:04:12.459Z
                      HA! You got me… I spelled the whole thing out six ways to China, then went “what the he…. OHHHH.” Very very cute, Mikey!
                      • MatthewL 🤓7:48 · 2024-03-16T21:51:25.421Z
                        Very, very clever. Really like how it all came together. Although I did spend a few minutes trying to figure out what the heck FIN MUSIC was. Music for sharks? Thanks for the puzzle, Mikey!
                        • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-18T17:04:42.972Z
                          I'm loving this "fin music" - fish do have great scales!
                        • Darth 🤓12:42 · 2024-03-17T01:40:15.520Z
                          Nice work, MikeyG! You're the "grand" master!
                          • Laura M 🤓10:55 · 2024-03-17T05:09:46.110Z
                            Loved it!
                            • FrankieHeck 🤓9:19 · 2024-03-17T12:21:04.772Z
                              Thanks for another great meta! Fun aha moment.
                              • DCBilly 3s · 2024-03-17T15:54:46.402Z
                                Haha, for a minute I was wondering if "E SHARP" might have something to do with the answer...
                                • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-18T17:06:56.143Z
                                  An initial idea for this involved trying to change notes into other things, involving sharps and flats, but nothing ever came of this. You have to B-sharp in your solving abilities, though! (Is there even a B-sharp, haha)
                                • hoover 4s · 2024-03-17T16:15:15.490Z
                                  OK, this one's up my alley.
                                  • hoover 4s · 2024-03-17T16:21:57.299Z
                                    I can't believe not one of you FIN MUSIC folks has left a link to https://youtu.be/XqZsoesa55w?si=NoQ2UU6wNeuKG8qC&t=28 !
                                    • whimsy 17:35 · 2024-03-17T17:43:57.838Z
                                      :-) ---- and there's a kitty that shows up too!
                                      • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-18T17:08:29.621Z
                                        I actually like this earworm! But others want it to fin-ish immediately!
                                    • Berto 1s · 2024-03-17T18:10:13.138Z
                                      Count me among the other “fin music” googlers. Just glad it had nothing to do with baby shark… Thanks Mikey!
                                      • Capn Rick 🤓8:19 · 2024-03-17T18:28:14.055Z
                                        Nice one, Mikey! Music isn't my "LOWER CASE F", but the "aha" was delicious when I Googled it. 😄
                                        • Abide 🤓19:56 · 2024-03-18T01:08:38.157Z
                                          At least you folks had "fin music". I was drawing on my phone screenshot and had "lowercase f minus ic"
                                          • Qmark 5s · 2024-03-19T13:50:34.500Z
                                            Enjoyable meta, Mikey...bravo!
                                            • Tyrpmom 2s · 2024-03-21T03:44:21.558Z
                                              Love it! (Except for flashback to left off. What’s fin music?)
                                              • Steve M 27:37 · 2024-03-21T14:32:43.996Z
                                                Thanks! Fun and clever puzzle!
                                                • kurtalert 🤓8:07 · 2024-03-21T18:56:00.472Z
                                                  Fantastic one. Took me a little too long to back my way out of trying to solve what Lowercase Fin Music was... I was like... WTF is FIN MUSIC? Dolphins or sharks playing instruments? Sigh. LOL.
                                                  • Meta World Peace 3s · 2024-03-22T17:46:33.027Z
                                                    Great HAL clue--acing standardized tests is impressive but I'll really salute AI when it can suss a stumper meta!
                                                    1A
                                                    It has 88 keys (hey, numeric tie-in!)
                                                    1
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                                                    47
                                                    48
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                                                    70
                                                    71
                                                    72
                                                    Across
                                                    1. 1A
                                                      It has 88 keys (hey, numeric tie-in!)
                                                    2. 6A
                                                      Highlander
                                                    3. 10A
                                                      31-Down's costar in "Leaving Las Vegas"
                                                    4. 14A
                                                      Salts or Downs
                                                    5. 15A
                                                      Opener for an Alto
                                                    6. 16A
                                                      Those, in Tegucigalpa
                                                    7. 17A
                                                      Top hat, in Monopoly (always my favorite!)
                                                    8. 18A
                                                      Ginger (Mikey's beloved tabby), for one
                                                    9. 20A
                                                      Ronstadt who sang "Somewhere Out There" with James Ingram
                                                    10. 22A
                                                      Abolitionist author
                                                    11. 23A
                                                      Zoom, e.g.
                                                    12. 26A
                                                      Proper adjective on fabulous collections
                                                    13. 29A
                                                      Uno + due
                                                    14. 30A
                                                      Tolkien creature that's not an ent (that narrows it down)
                                                    15. 31A
                                                      Some kings and queens
                                                    16. 32A
                                                      "Gangnam Style" rapper born Park Jae-sang
                                                    17. 33A
                                                      "White Teeth" author Zadie
                                                    18. 35A
                                                      "Do you like visiting all these animals in their native habitats?" "___, so good!"
                                                    19. 37A
                                                      Abate
                                                    20. 39A
                                                      Spot for rags, perhaps
                                                    21. 43A
                                                      Deem appropriate
                                                    22. 47A
                                                      Wire, in a more modern sense
                                                    23. 48A
                                                      "This Level 1 meta feels good!"
                                                    24. 50A
                                                      When the soldier-turned-chemist greeted his peers, he gave them a ___
                                                    25. 52A
                                                      Not long.
                                                    26. 53A
                                                      "It's no ___!"
                                                    27. 54A
                                                      Patron of sailors in a 1985 John Parr bop (perfect for a montage of all your epic puzzling moments)
                                                    28. 55A
                                                      "I can't find my mimicking avian!" "Oh, that's just a ___ inconvenience"
                                                    29. 56A
                                                      Part of a pina colada, properly
                                                    30. 58A
                                                      "Are my cocoon dwellers doing well in your class?" "Of course, they're such good ___"
                                                    31. 60A
                                                      Type of experimental data (the statistician went data way!)
                                                    32. 63A
                                                      "Private ___" (B-52s bop)
                                                    33. 67A
                                                      Former NFL quarterback whose name becames a world capital with last letter changed to an "E"
                                                    34. 68A
                                                      Do that's old-fashioned?
                                                    35. 69A
                                                      Adversary
                                                    36. 70A
                                                      A kind-hearted baker uses tender ___ care
                                                    37. 71A
                                                      Meeting: Abbr.
                                                    38. 72A
                                                      Set of notes
                                                    Down
                                                    1. 1D
                                                      18-Across, likely
                                                    2. 2D
                                                      NASDAQ debut and not the hoppy brew (I still get these confused)
                                                    3. 3D
                                                      Pose, in a way
                                                    4. 4D
                                                      Year-end numbers?
                                                    5. 5D
                                                      Potent beginning?
                                                    6. 6D
                                                      Web designers
                                                    7. 7D
                                                      Game with 108 cards
                                                    8. 8D
                                                      See 8-Down
                                                    9. 9D
                                                      With 8-Down, not eligible for the kids' menu anymore
                                                    10. 10D
                                                      Tic-tac alternative
                                                    11. 11D
                                                      Cravats' cousins
                                                    12. 12D
                                                      What my carefully constructed plans always do
                                                    13. 13D
                                                      Some cosmeticians speak quietly, but this one was Lauder
                                                    14. 19D
                                                      CIA predecessor
                                                    15. 21D
                                                      6-Across's denial
                                                    16. 23D
                                                      What you might do if you're behind
                                                    17. 24D
                                                      Bombeck who said, "When the going gets tough, the tough make cookies"
                                                    18. 25D
                                                      Long-running CBS procedural
                                                    19. 27D
                                                      Me, trying to dance
                                                    20. 28D
                                                      Some spots, for short
                                                    21. 31D
                                                      10-Across's costar in "Leaving Las Vegas"
                                                    22. 32D
                                                      Carpet feature
                                                    23. 34D
                                                      John who composed "Roundball Rock" (the classic NBA on NBC theme)
                                                    24. 36D
                                                      The all-night dance party got ___ reviews
                                                    25. 38D
                                                      The centipede's memoir was a ___ seller
                                                    26. 40D
                                                      "___ the Lonely" (Roy Orbison tune)
                                                    27. 41D
                                                      Its eastern border is the Arabian Sea
                                                    28. 42D
                                                      "___ chance!"
                                                    29. 44D
                                                      Adversary
                                                    30. 45D
                                                      "Not really my cup of tea" (I prefer coffee myself)
                                                    31. 46D
                                                      Hubbubs
                                                    32. 48D
                                                      He wrote his first published story "Marooned Off Vesta" at age 18
                                                    33. 49D
                                                      "Can you lend a hand with this particularly perplexing puzzle?"
                                                    34. 51D
                                                      "Here's your spinning toy right when you get up - ___ of the morning to you!"
                                                    35. 53D
                                                      In ___ (not yet born)
                                                    36. 54D
                                                      To be, in Bolivia
                                                    37. 55D
                                                      Private doctor?
                                                    38. 57D
                                                      Singer of the 1998 Academy Award winner for Best Song
                                                    39. 59D
                                                      They're sometimes put on
                                                    40. 61D
                                                      SSNs, e.g.
                                                    41. 62D
                                                      Ames : Iowa State :: Cedar Rapids : ___ (rhymes with 44-Down)
                                                    42. 64D
                                                      "Selma" director DuVernay
                                                    43. 65D
                                                      It says, "I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that" ("that" being solve this Level 5 meta for you)
                                                    44. 66D
                                                      "Bravo! What a meta!"
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