How did music notation begin?

Music notation dates back to around the 11th century, when a monk named Guido of Arezzo developed a system of staff notation using lines and horizontal space to represent different musical notes. The musical staff was developed and refined over time so that by the 12th century, notes could be written to indicate pitch and duration. Musical notation allowed musicians to precisely record music, including polyphonic music and complex compositions that would have otherwise been difficult to remember and pass on.