1 @c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*-
4 @section Educational use
14 @subsection Note heads
17 * Easy notation note heads::
23 @node Easy notation note heads
24 @unnumberedsubsubsec Easy notation note heads
26 @cindex note heads, practice
27 @cindex note heads, easy notation
31 The @q{easy play} note head includes a note name inside the head. It is
32 used in music for beginners
34 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,staffsize=26]
39 The command @code{\setEasyHeads} overrides settings for the
40 @internalsref{NoteHead} object. To make the letters readable, it has
41 to be printed in a large font size. To print with a larger font, see
42 @ref{Setting the staff size}.
46 @funindex \setEasyHeads
50 @node Shape note heads
51 @unnumberedsubsubsec Shape note heads
53 @cindex note heads, shape
55 In shape note head notation, the shape of the note head corresponds
56 to the harmonic function of a note in the scale. This notation was
57 popular in the 19th century American song books.
59 Shape note heads can be produced by setting @code{\aikenHeads} or
60 @code{\sacredHarpHeads}, depending on the style desired.
62 @lilypond[verbatim,relative=1,fragment]
69 Shapes are determined on the step in the scale, where the base of the
70 scale is determined by the @code{\key} command
73 @funindex shapeNoteStyles
75 @funindex \sacredHarpHeads
77 Shape note heads are implemented through the @code{shapeNoteStyles}
78 property. Its value is a vector of symbols. The k-th element indicates
79 the style to use for the k-th step of the scale. Arbitrary
80 combinations are possible, e.g.
82 @lilypond[verbatim,relative=1,fragment]
83 \set shapeNoteStyles = ##(cross triangle fa #f mensural xcircle diamond)
89 @unnumberedsubsubsec Improvisation
91 Improvisation is sometimes denoted with slashed note heads. Such note
92 heads can be created by adding a @internalsref{Pitch_squash_engraver}
93 to the @internalsref{Voice} context. Then, the
97 \set squashedPosition = #0
98 \override NoteHead #'style = #'slash
102 switches on the slashes.
104 There are shortcuts @code{\improvisationOn} (and an accompanying
105 @code{\improvisationOff}) for this command sequence. They are used in
106 the following example
108 @lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote]
110 \consists Pitch_squash_engraver
112 e8 e g a a16(bes)(a8) g \improvisationOn
115 ~fis2 \improvisationOff a16(bes) a8 g e
120 @node Special noteheads
121 @unnumberedsubsubsec Special noteheads
123 @cindex note heads, special
125 Different noteheads are used by various instruments for various
126 meanings -- crosses are used for @q{parlato} with vocalists, stopped
127 notes on guitar; diamonds are used for harmonics on string instruments,
128 etc. There is a shorthand (@code{\harmonic}) for diamond shapes; the
129 other notehead styles are produced by tweaking the property
131 @lilypond[ragged-right,relative=1,fragment,verbatim,quote]
133 \override NoteHead #'style = #'cross
135 \revert NoteHead #'style
136 e d <c f\harmonic> <d a'\harmonic>
140 To see all notehead styles, please see
141 @ref{Note head styles}.
146 Program reference: @internalsref{NoteHead}.
150 @node Inside the staff
151 @subsection Inside the staff
155 * Selecting notation font size::
156 * Fingering instructions::
164 @node Selecting notation font size
165 @unnumberedsubsubsec Selecting notation font size
167 The easiest method of setting the font size of any context is by
168 setting the @code{fontSize} property.
170 @lilypond[quote,fragment,relative=1,verbatim]
179 It does not change the size of variable symbols, such as beams or
182 Internally, the @code{fontSize} context property will cause the
183 @code{font-size} property to be set in all layout objects. The value
184 of @code{font-size} is a number indicating the size relative to the
185 standard size for the current staff height. Each step up is an
186 increase of approximately 12% of the font size. Six steps is exactly a
187 factor two. The Scheme function @code{magstep} converts a
188 @code{font-size} number to a scaling factor. The @code{font-size}
189 property can also be set directly, so that only certain layout objects are
192 @lilypond[quote,fragment,relative=1,verbatim]
194 \override NoteHead #'font-size = #-4
196 \override NoteHead #'font-size = #3
200 Font size changes are achieved by scaling the design size that is
201 closest to the desired size. The standard font size (for
202 @code{font-size} equals 0), depends on the standard staff height. For
203 a 20pt staff, a 10pt font is selected.
205 The @code{font-size} property can only be set on layout objects that
206 use fonts. These are the ones supporting the
207 @internalsref{font-interface} layout interface.
211 The following commands set @code{fontSize} for the current voice:
217 @funindex \normalsize
221 @node Fingering instructions
222 @unnumberedsubsubsec Fingering instructions
225 @cindex finger change
227 Fingering instructions can be entered using
229 @var{note}-@var{digit}
231 For finger changes, use markup texts
233 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right,fragment,relative=1]
235 c^\markup { \finger "2 - 3" }
238 You can use the thumb-script to indicate that a note should be
239 played with the thumb (e.g., in cello music)
240 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2]
241 <a_\thumb a'-3>8 <b_\thumb b'-3>
244 Fingerings for chords can also be added to individual notes
245 of the chord by adding them after the pitches
246 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2]
253 You may exercise greater control over fingering chords by
254 setting @code{fingeringOrientations}
256 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right,fragment,relative=1]
257 \set fingeringOrientations = #'(left down)
258 <c-1 es-2 g-4 bes-5 > 4
259 \set fingeringOrientations = #'(up right down)
260 <c-1 es-2 g-4 bes-5 > 4
263 Using this feature, it is also possible to put fingering instructions
264 very close to note heads in monophonic music,
266 @lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote,fragment]
267 \set fingeringOrientations = #'(right)
274 Program reference: @internalsref{Fingering}.
276 Examples: @lsr{expressive,fingering-chords.ly}
281 @unnumberedsubsubsec Hidden notes
284 @cindex Invisible notes
285 @cindex Transparent notes
288 @funindex \unHideNotes
289 Hidden (or invisible or transparent) notes can be useful in preparing theory
290 or composition exercises.
292 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,relative=2,fragment]
301 @node Coloring objects
302 @unnumberedsubsubsec Coloring objects
304 Individual objects may be assigned colors. You may use the
305 color names listed in the @ref{List of colors}.
307 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=1]
308 \override NoteHead #'color = #red
310 \override NoteHead #'color = #(x11-color 'LimeGreen)
312 \override Stem #'color = #blue
316 The full range of colors defined for X11 can be accessed by using the
317 Scheme function x11-color. The function takes one argument that can be a
321 \override Beam #'color = #(x11-color 'MediumTurquoise)
327 \override Beam #'color = #(x11-color "MediumTurquoise")
330 The first form is quicker to write and is more efficient. However, using
331 the second form it is possible to access X11 colors by the multi-word
335 \override Beam #'color = #(x11-color "medium turquoise")
338 If x11-color cannot make sense of the parameter then the color returned
339 defaults to black. It should be obvious from the final score that
342 This example illustrates the use of x11-color. Notice that the stem
343 color remains black after being set to (x11-color 'Boggle), which is
346 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim]
348 \override Staff.StaffSymbol #'color = #(x11-color 'SlateBlue2)
349 \set Staff.instrumentName = \markup {
350 \with-color #(x11-color 'navy) "Clarinet"
354 \override Beam #'color = #(x11-color "medium turquoise")
356 \override NoteHead #'color = #(x11-color "LimeGreen")
358 \override Stem #'color = #(x11-color 'Boggle)
366 Appendix: @ref{List of colors}.
370 Not all x11 colors are distinguishable in a web browser. For web use
371 normal colors are recommended.
373 An x11 color is not necessarily exactly the same shade as a similarly
376 Notes in a chord cannot be colored with @code{\override}; use
377 @code{\tweak} instead. See @ref{Objects connected to the input},
382 @unnumberedsubsubsec Parentheses
386 @cindex notes, parenthesized
388 Objects may be parenthesized by prefixing @code{\parenthesize} to the music
391 @lilypond[relative=2,fragment,verbatim,ragged-right]
399 This only functions inside chords, even for single notes
402 < \parenthesize NOTE>
407 @unnumberedsubsubsec Ambitus
410 The term @emph{ambitus} denotes a range of pitches for a given voice
411 in a part of music. It may also denote the pitch range that a musical
412 instrument is capable of playing. Ambits are printed on vocal parts,
413 so performers can easily determine it meets their capabilities.
415 Ambits are denoted at the beginning of a piece near the initial clef.
416 The range is graphically specified by two note heads that represent the
417 minimum and maximum pitch. To print such ambits, add the
418 @internalsref{Ambitus_engraver} to the @internalsref{Voice} context,
425 \consists Ambitus_engraver
430 This results in the following output
432 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right]
436 \consists Ambitus_engraver
440 \relative \new Staff {
445 If you have multiple voices in a single staff and you want a single
446 ambitus per staff rather than per each voice, add the
447 @internalsref{Ambitus_engraver} to the @internalsref{Staff} context
448 rather than to the @internalsref{Voice} context. Here is an example,
450 @lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote]
452 \consists "Ambitus_engraver"
456 \remove "Ambitus_engraver"
458 \override Ambitus #'X-offset = #-1.0
463 \remove "Ambitus_engraver"
472 This example uses one advanced feature,
475 \override Ambitus #'X-offset = #-1.0
479 This code moves the ambitus to the left. The same effect could have
480 been achieved with @code{extra-offset}, but then the formatting system
481 would not reserve space for the moved object.
485 Program reference: @internalsref{Ambitus},
486 @internalsref{AmbitusLine}, @internalsref{AmbitusNoteHead},
487 @internalsref{AmbitusAccidental}.
490 @lsr{vocal,ambitus@/.ly}.
494 There is no collision handling in the case of multiple per-voice
499 @unnumberedsubsubsec Stems
501 Whenever a note is found, a @internalsref{Stem} object is created
502 automatically. For whole notes and rests, they are also created but
511 @funindex \stemNeutral
517 To change the direction of stems in the middle of the staff, use
519 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2,verbatim]
521 \override Stem #'neutral-direction = #up
523 \override Stem #'neutral-direction = #down
528 @node Outside the staff
529 @subsection Outside the staff
535 * Blank music sheet::
539 @unnumberedsubsubsec Balloon help
541 Elements of notation can be marked and named with the help of a square
542 balloon. The primary purpose of this feature is to explain notation.
544 The following example demonstrates its use.
546 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,fragment,ragged-right,relative=2]
547 \new Voice \with { \consists "Balloon_engraver" }
549 \balloonGrobText #'Stem #'(3 . 4) \markup { "I'm a Stem" }
550 <c-\balloonText #'(-2 . -2) \markup { Hello } >8
555 There are two music functions, @code{balloonText} and
556 @code{balloonGrobText}. The latter takes the name of the grob to
557 adorn, while the former may be used as an articulation on a note.
558 The other arguments are the offset and the text of the label.
561 @cindex notation, explaining
565 Program reference: @internalsref{text-balloon-interface}.
569 @unnumberedsubsubsec Grid lines
571 Vertical lines can be drawn between staves synchronized with
574 @lilypond[ragged-right,quote,verbatim]
578 \consists "Grid_point_engraver" %% sets of grid
579 gridInterval = #(ly:make-moment 1 4)
584 \consists "Grid_line_span_engraver"
585 %% centers grid lines horizontally below noteheads
586 \override NoteColumn #'X-offset = #-0.5
597 %% centers grid lines vertically
598 \override Score.GridLine #'extra-offset = #'( 0.0 . 1.0 )
608 Examples: @lsrdir{education}
611 @node Blank music sheet
612 @unnumberedsubsubsec Blank music sheet
614 @cindex Sheet music, empty
615 @cindex Staves, blank sheet
617 A blank music sheet can be produced also by using invisible notes, and
618 removing @code{Bar_number_engraver}.
621 @lilypond[quote,verbatim]
622 \layout{ indent = #0 }
624 \repeat unfold 2 % Change this for more lines.
629 \override TimeSignature #'transparent = ##t
630 % un-comment this line if desired
631 % \override Clef #'transparent = ##t
633 \remove Bar_number_engraver
636 % modify these to get the staves you want
637 \new Staff \emptymusic
638 \new TabStaff \emptymusic