In this paper a number of issues relating to theapplication of string processing techniques on musicalsequences are discussed. A brief survey of somemusical string processing algorithms is given and someissues of melodic representation, abstraction,segmentation and categorisation are presented. Thispaper is not intended to provide solutions tostring processing problems but rather tohighlight possible stumbling-block areas andraise awareness of primarily music‐elatedparticularities that can cause problems in matchingapplications.