@c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*- @c This file is part of lilypond-learning.tely @ignore Translation of GIT committish: FILL-IN-HEAD-COMMITTISH When revising a translation, copy the HEAD committish of the version that you are working on. See TRANSLATION for details. @end ignore @ignore Tutorial guidelines: (different from policy.txt!) - unless you have a really good reason, use either @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] or @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] Don't use any other relative=X commands (make it a non-fragment example), and don't use fragment without relative=2. - use "aes" and "ees" instead of "as" and "es". I know it's not correct Dutch naming, but let's not confuse people with this until we get to the Basic notation chapter. - Add "Music glossary: @rglos{foo}" to the _top_ of the relevant portions of the tutorial. @end ignore @node Tutorial @chapter Tutorial This tutorial starts with an introduction to the LilyPond music language and how to produce printed music. After this first contact we will explain how to create common musical notation. @menu * First steps:: * Single staff notation:: * Multiple notes at once:: * Songs:: * Final touches:: @end menu @node First steps @section First steps This section gives a basic introduction to working with LilyPond. @menu * Compiling a file:: * Simple notation:: * Working on text files:: * How to read the tutorial:: @end menu @node Compiling a file @subsection Compiling a file The first example demonstrates how to start working with LilyPond. To create sheet music, we write a text file that specifies the notation. For example, if we write: @example @{ c' e' g' e' @} @end example @noindent the result looks like this: @c in this case we don't want verbatim @lilypond[quote,ragged-right] { c' e' g' e' } @end lilypond @warning{Every piece of LilyPond input needs to have @strong{@{ curly braces @}} placed around the input. The braces should also be surrounded by a space unless they are at the beginning or end of a line to avoid ambiguities. The braces may be omitted in some examples in this manual, but don't forget them in your own music! For more information about the display of examples in the manual, see @ref{How to read the tutorial}.} @cindex case sensitive In addition, LilyPond input is @strong{case sensitive}. @code{ @{ c d e @}} is valid input; @code{@{ C D E @}} will produce an error message. @smallspace @subheading Entering music and viewing output @cindex PDF file @cindex viewing music In this section we will explain what commands to run and how to view or print the output. Note that there are several other text editors available with better support for LilyPond. For more information, see @rprogram{Text editor support}. @warning{the first time you ever run LilyPond, it may take a minute or two because all of the system fonts have to be analyzed first. After this, LilyPond will be much faster!} @subsubheading MacOS X If you double click @code{LilyPond.app}, it will open with an example file. Save it, for example, to @file{test.ly} on your Desktop, and then process it with the menu command @samp{Compile > Typeset File}. The resulting PDF file will be displayed on your screen. For future use of LilyPond, you should begin by selecting @q{New} or @q{Open}. You must save your file before typesetting it. If any errors occur in processing, please see the log window. @subsubheading Windows On Windows, if you double-click in the LilyPond icon on the Desktop, it will open a simple text editor with an example file. Save it, for example, to @file{test.ly} on your Desktop and then double-click on the file to process it (the file icon looks like a note). After some seconds, you will get a file @file{test.pdf} on your desktop. Double-click on this PDF file to view the typeset score. An alternative method to process the @file{test.ly} file is to drag and drop it onto the LilyPond icon using your mouse pointer. To edit an existing @file{.ly} file, right-click on it and select @qq{Edit source}. To get an empty file to start from, run the editor as described above and use @qq{New} in the @qq{File} menu. Double-clicking the file does not only result in a PDF file, but also produces a @file{.log} file that contains some information on what LilyPond has done to the file. If any errors occur, please examine this file. @subsubheading Unix Create a file (such as @file{test.ly}) and enter: @example @{ c' e' g' e' @} @end example To process @file{test.ly}, proceed as follows: @example lilypond test.ly @end example @noindent You will see something resembling: @example lilypond test.ly GNU LilyPond 2.12.0 Processing `test.ly' Parsing... Interpreting music... Preprocessing graphical objects... Finding the ideal number of pages... Fitting music on 1 page... Drawing systems... Layout output to `test.ps'... Converting to `test.pdf'... @end example @node Simple notation @subsection Simple notation LilyPond will add some notation elements automatically. In the next example, we have only specified four pitches, but LilyPond has added a clef, time signature, and rhythms. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] { c' e' g' e' } @end lilypond @noindent This behavior may be altered, but in most cases these automatic values are useful. @subheading Pitches Music glossary: @rglos{pitch}, @rglos{interval}, @rglos{fourth}, @rglos{scale}, @rglos{middle C}, @rglos{octave}. The easiest way to enter notes is by using @code{\relative} mode. In this mode, the @notation{interval} between the previous note and the current note is assumed to be within a @notation{fourth}. We begin by entering the most elementary piece of music, a @notation{scale}. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c' { c d e f g a b c } @end lilypond The initial note is @notation{middle C}. Each successive note is within a fourth of the previous note -- in other words, the first @code{c} is the closest C to middle C. This is followed by the closest D to the previous note. We can create melodies which have larger intervals: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c' { d f a g c b f d } @end lilypond @noindent As you may notice, this example does not start on middle C. The first note -- the @code{d} -- is the closest D to middle C. To add intervals that are larger than a fourth, we can raise the @notation{octave} by adding a single quote @code{'} (or apostrophe) to the note name. We can lower the octave by adding a comma @code{,} to the note name. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c'' { a a, c' f, g g'' a,, f' } @end lilypond @noindent To change a note by two (or more!) octaves, we use multiple @code{''} or @code{,,} -- but be careful that you use two single quotes @code{''} and not one double quote @code{"}@tie{}! The initial value in @code{\relative c'} may also be modified like this. @subheading Durations (rhythms) Music glossary: @rglos{beam}, @rglos{duration}, @rglos{whole note}, @rglos{half note}, @rglos{quarter note}, @rglos{dotted note}. The @notation{duration} of a note is specified by a number after the note name. @samp{1} for a @notation{whole note}, @samp{2} for a @notation{half note}, @samp{4} for a @notation{quarter note} and so on. @notation{Beams} are added automatically. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c'' { a1 a2 a4 a8 a a16 a a a a32 a a a a64 a a a a a a a a2 } @end lilypond @noindent If you do not specify a duration, the previous duration is used for the next note. The duration of the first note defaults to a quarter. To create @notation{dotted notes}, add a dot @samp{.} to the duration number. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c'' { a a a4. a8 a8. a16 a a8. a8 a4. } @end lilypond @subheading Rests Music glossary: @rglos{rest}. A @notation{rest} is entered just like a note with the name @samp{r}: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c'' { a r r2 r8 a r4 r4. r8 } @end lilypond @subheading Time signature Music glossary: @rglos{time signature}. The @notation{time signature} can be set with the @code{\time} command: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c'' { \time 3/4 a4 a a \time 6/8 a4. a \time 4/4 a4 a a a } @end lilypond @subheading Clef Music glossary: @rglos{clef}. The @notation{clef} can be set using the @code{\clef} command: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c' { \clef treble c1 \clef alto c1 \clef tenor c1 \clef bass c1 } @end lilypond @subheading All together Here is a small example showing all these elements together: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c, { \time 3/4 \clef bass c2 e8 c' g'2. f4 e d c4 c, r4 } @end lilypond @seealso Notation reference: @ruser{Writing pitches}, @ruser{Writing rhythms}, @ruser{Writing rests}, @ruser{Time signature}, @ruser{Clef}. @c HERE's where I started @node Working on text files @subsection Working on text files LilyPond input files are similar to source files in many common programming languages. They are case sensitive, and white-space is generally equivalent. Expressions are formed with curly braces @{ @}, and comments are denoted with @code{%} or @code{%@{ ... %@}}. If the previous sentence sounds like nonsense, don't worry! We'll explain what all these terms mean: @itemize @cindex case sensitive @item @strong{Case sensitive}: it matters whether you enter a letter in lower case (e.g. @code{a, b, s, t}) or upper case (e.g. @code{A, B, S, T}). Notes are lower case: @code{@{ c d e @}} is valid input; @code{@{ C D E @}} will produce an error message. @item @strong{Whitespace insensitive}: it does not matter how many spaces (or new lines) you add. @code{@{ c d e @}} means the same thing as @code{@{ c @tie{} @tie{} @tie{} d e @}} and: @example @{ c d e @} @end example @noindent Of course, the previous example is hard to read. A good rule of thumb is to indent code blocks with either a tab or two spaces: @example @{ c d e @} @end example @item @strong{Expressions:} Every piece of LilyPond input needs to have @strong{@{ curly braces @}} placed around the input. These braces tell LilyPond that the input is a single music expression, just like parentheses @samp{()} in mathematics. The braces should be surrounded by a space unless they are at the beginning or end of a line to avoid ambiguities. A function (such as @code{\relative @{ @}}) also counts as a single music expression. @cindex comments @cindex line comment @cindex block comment @item @strong{Comments}: A comment is a remark for the human reader of the music input; it is ignored while parsing, so it has no effect on the printed output. There are two types of comments. The percent symbol @samp{%} introduces a line comment; anything after @samp{%} on that line is ignored. A block comment marks a whole section of music input as a comment. Anything that is enclosed in @code{%@{} and @code{%@}} is ignored. (Comments do not nest.) The following fragment shows possible uses for comments: @example % notes for twinkle twinkle follow c4 c g' g a a g2 %@{ This line, and the notes below are ignored, since they are in a block comment. g g f f e e d d c2 %@} @end example @end itemize There are more tips for constructing input files in @ref{Suggestions for writing LilyPond files}. @node How to read the tutorial @subsection How to read the tutorial LilyPond input must be surrounded by @{ @} marks or a @code{\relative c'' @{ ... @}}, as we saw in @ref{Working on text files}. For the rest of this manual, most examples will omit this. To replicate the examples, you may copy and paste the displayed input but you @strong{must} add the @code{\relative c'' @{ @}} like this: @example \relative c'' @{ ... example goes here... @} @end example Why omit the braces? Most examples in this manual can be inserted into the middle of a longer piece of music. For these examples, it does not make sense to add @code{\relative c'' @{ @}} -- you should not place a @code{\relative} inside another @code{\relative}! If we included @code{\relative c'' @{ @}} around every example, you would not be able to copy a small documentation example and paste it inside a longer piece of your own. Most people want to add material to an existing piece, so we format the manual this way. @subheading Clickable examples Many people learn programs by trying and fiddling around with the program. This is also possible with LilyPond. If you click on a picture in the HTML version of this manual, you will see the exact LilyPond input that was used to generate that image. Try it on this image: @c no verbatim here @lilypond[quote,ragged-right] \relative c'' { c-\markup { \bold \huge { Click here. } } } @end lilypond By cutting and pasting everything in the @qq{ly snippet} section, you have a starting template for experiments. To see exactly the same output (line-width and all), copy everything from @qq{Start cut-&-pastable section} to the bottom of the file. @node Single staff notation @section Single staff notation This section introduces common notation that is used for one voice on one staff. @menu * Relative note names:: * Accidentals and key signatures:: * Ties and slurs:: * Articulation and dynamics:: * Adding text:: * Automatic and manual beams:: * Advanced rhythmic commands:: @end menu @node Relative note names @subsection Relative note names Music glossary: @rglos{octave}, @rglos{fourth}, @rglos{fifth}. LilyPond calculates the pitch of each note relative to the previous one@footnote{There is another mode of entering pitches, @ruser{Absolute octave entry}. However, in practice relative mode is much easier and safer to use.}, as we saw in @ref{Simple notation}. If no extra @notation{octave} marks (@code{'} and @code{,}) are added, it assumes that each pitch is within a @notation{fourth} of the previous note. LilyPond examines pitches based on the note names -- in other words, an augmented fourth is @emph{not} treated the same as a diminished fifth. If we begin at a C, then an F-sharp will be placed a higher than the C, while a G-flat will be placed lower than the C. An F-sharp is written as @code{fis} and a G-flat is written as @code{ges} as we will see in @ref{Accidentals and key signatures}. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] c2 fis c2 ges @end lilypond @seealso @quotation @table @asis @item Relative octaves see @ruser{Relative octave entry}. @item Octave check see @ruser{Octave check}. @end table @end quotation @node Accidentals and key signatures @subsection Accidentals and key signatures @subheading Accidentals Music glossary: @rglos{sharp}, @rglos{flat}, @rglos{double sharp}, @rglos{double flat}, @rglos{accidental}. A @notation{sharp} pitch is made by adding @samp{is} to the name, and a @notation{flat} pitch by adding @samp{es}. As you might expect, a @notation{double sharp} or @notation{double flat} is made by adding @samp{isis} or @samp{eses}. This syntax derived from note naming conventions in Nordic and Germanic languages, like German and Dutch. To use other names for @notation{accidentals}, see @ruser{Note names in other languages}. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] cis1 ees fisis, aeses @end lilypond @cindex key signature, setting @subheading Key signatures Music glossary: @rglos{key signature}, @rglos{major}, @rglos{minor}. The @notation{key signature} is set with the command @code{\key} followed by a pitch and @code{\major} or @code{\minor}. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] \key d \major a1 \key c \minor a @end lilypond @smallspace @subheading Warning: key signatures and pitches Music glossary: @rglos{accidental}, @rglos{key signature}, @rglos{pitch}, @rglos{flat}, @rglos{natural}, @rglos{sharp}, @rglos{transposition}. To determine whether to print an @notation{accidental}, LilyPond examines the pitches and the @notation{key signature}. The key signature only affects the @emph{printed} accidentals, not the note's @notation{pitch}! This is a feature that often causes confusion to newcomers, so let us explain it in more detail. LilyPond makes a sharp distinction between musical content and layout. The alteration (@notation{flat}, @notation{natural} or @notation{sharp}) of a note is part of the pitch, and is therefore musical content. Whether an accidental (a @emph{printed} flat, natural or sharp sign) is printed in front of the corresponding note is a question of layout. Layout is something that follows rules, so accidentals are printed automatically according to those rules. The pitches in your music are works of art, so they will not be added automatically, and you must enter what you want to hear. In this example: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] \key d \major d cis fis @end lilypond @noindent No note has a printed accidental, but you must still add the @samp{is} to @code{cis} and @code{fis}. The code @samp{e} does not mean @qq{print a black dot just below the first line of the staff.} Rather, it means @qq{there is a note with pitch E-natural.} In the key of A-flat major, it @emph{does} get an accidental: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] \key aes \major e @end lilypond Adding all alterations explicitly might require a little more effort when typing, but the advantage is that @notation{transposing} is easier, and accidentals can be printed according to different conventions. For some examples how accidentals can be printed according to different rules, see @ruser{Automatic accidentals}. @seealso @quotation @table @asis @item Accidentals see @ruser{Accidentals}, and @ruser{Automatic accidentals}. @item Key signature see @ruser{Key signature} @item Pitch names see @rglos{Pitch names}. @end table @end quotation @node Ties and slurs @subsection Ties and slurs @cindex ties @subheading Ties Music glossary: @rglos{tie}. A @notation{tie} is created by appending a tilde @samp{~} to the first note being tied @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] g4~ g c2~ c4 ~ c8 a8 ~ a2 @end lilypond @cindex slurs @subheading Slurs Music glossary: @rglos{slur}. A @notation{slur} is a curve drawn across many notes. The starting note and ending note are marked with @samp{(} and @samp{)} respectively. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] d4( c16) cis( d e c cis d) e( d4) @end lilypond @cindex slurs, phrasing @cindex phrasing slurs @subheading Phrasing slurs Music glossary: @rglos{phrasing}, @rglos{legato}. Slurs to indicate longer @notation{phrasing} can be entered with @code{\(} and @code{\)}. You can have both @notation{legato} slurs and phrasing slurs at the same time, but you cannot have simultaneous legato slurs or simultaneous phrasing slurs. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] a8(\( ais b c) cis2 b'2 a4 cis,\) @end lilypond @smallspace @cindex slurs versus ties @subheading Warnings: slurs vs. ties Music glossary: @rglos{articulation}, @rglos{slur}, @rglos{tie}. A @notation{slur} looks like a @notation{tie}, but it has a different meaning. A tie simply makes the first note longer, and can only be used on pairs of notes with the same pitch. Slurs indicate the @notation{articulation} of notes, and can be used on larger groups of notes. Slurs and ties can be nested. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] c2~( c8 fis fis4 ~ fis2 g2) @end lilypond @seealso @quotation @table @asis @item Ties see @ruser{Ties}. @item Slurs see @ruser{Slurs}. @item Phrasing slurs see @ruser{Phrasing slurs}. @end table @end quotation @node Articulation and dynamics @subsection Articulation and dynamics @cindex articulation @cindex accents @cindex staccato @subheading Articulations Music glossary: @rglos{articulation}. Common @notation{articulations} can be added to a note using a dash @samp{-} and a single character: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] c-. c-- c-> c-^ c-+ c-_ @end lilypond @cindex fingering @subheading Fingerings Music glossary: @rglos{fingering}. Similarly, @notation{fingering} indications can be added to a note using a dash (@samp{-}) and the digit to be printed: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] c-3 e-5 b-2 a-1 @end lilypond Articulations and fingerings are usually placed automatically, but you can specify a direction using @samp{^} (up) or @samp{_} (down). You can also use multiple articulations on the same note. However, in most cases it is best to let LilyPond determine the articulation directions. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] c_-^1 d^. f^4_2-> e^-_+ @end lilypond @subheading Dynamics Music glossary: @rglos{dynamics}, @rglos{crescendo}, @rglos{decrescendo}. @notation{Dynamic} signs are made by adding the markings (with a backslash) to the note: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] c\ff c\mf c\p c\pp @end lilypond @cindex dynamics @cindex decrescendo @cindex crescendo @notation{Crescendi} and @notation{decrescendi} are started with the commands @code{\<} and @code{\>}. An ending dynamic, for example @code{\f}, will finish the (de)crescendo, or the command @code{\!} can be used: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] c2\< c2\ff\> c2 c2\! @end lilypond @seealso @quotation @table @asis @item Articulations see @ruser{Articulations}. @item Fingering see @ruser{Fingering instructions}. @item Dynamics see @ruser{Dynamics} (Notation reference) and @rglos{dynamics} (Glossary). @end table @end quotation @c CONTINUE HERE @node Adding text @subsection Adding text Text may be added to your scores: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] c1^"espr" a_"legato" @end lilypond Extra formatting may be added with the @code{\markup} command: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] c1^\markup{ \bold espr} a1_\markup{ \dynamic f \italic \small { 2nd } \hspace #0.1 \dynamic p } @end lilypond @c Kurt: leave this alone for now. @seealso Notation reference: @ruser{Writing text}. @node Automatic and manual beams @subsection Automatic and manual beams Music glossary: @rglos{beam}. @cindex beams, by hand All @notation{beams} are drawn automatically: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] a8 ais d ees r d c16 b a8 @end lilypond @noindent If you do not like the automatic beams, they may be overridden manually. Mark the first note to be beamed with @samp{[} and the last one with @samp{]}. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] a8[ ais] d[ ees r d] a b @end lilypond @seealso @quotation @table @asis @item Automatic beams see @ruser{Automatic beams}. @item Manual beams see @ruser{Manual beams}. @end table @end quotation @node Advanced rhythmic commands @subsection Advanced rhythmic commands @cindex pickup @cindex anacrusis @cindex partial measure @subheading Partial measure Music glossary: @rglos{anacrusis}. A pickup (or @notation{anacrusis}) is entered with the keyword @code{\partial}. It is followed by a duration: @code{\partial 4} is a quarter note pickup and @code{\partial 8} an eighth note. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] \partial 8 f8 c2 d @end lilypond @cindex tuplets @cindex triplets @subheading Tuplets Music glossary: @rglos{note value}, @rglos{triplet}. @notation{Tuplets} are made with the @code{\times} keyword. It takes two arguments: a fraction and a piece of music. The duration of the piece of music is multiplied by the fraction. Triplets make notes occupy 2/3 of their notated duration, so a @notation{triplet} has 2/3 as its fraction @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] \times 2/3 { f8 g a } \times 2/3 { c r c } \times 2/3 { f,8 g16[ a g a] } \times 2/3 { d4 a8 } @end lilypond @cindex grace notes @cindex acciaccatura @cindex appoggiatura @subheading Grace notes Music glossary: @rglos{grace notes}, @rglos{appoggiatura}. @notation{Grace notes} are created with the @code{\grace} command, although they can also be created by prefixing a music expression with the keyword @code{\appoggiatura} or @code{\acciaccatura}: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] c2 \grace { a32[ b] } c2 c2 \appoggiatura b16 c2 c2 \acciaccatura b16 c2 @end lilypond @seealso @quotation @table @asis @item Grace notes see @ruser{Grace notes}, @item Tuplets see @ruser{Tuplets}, @item Pickups see @ruser{Upbeats}. @end table @end quotation @node Multiple notes at once @section Multiple notes at once This section introduces having more than one note at the same time: multiple instruments, multiple staves for a single instrument (i.e. piano), and chords. Polyphony in music refers to having more than one voice occurring in a piece of music. Polyphony in LilyPond refers to having more than one voice on the same staff. @menu * Music expressions explained:: * Multiple staves:: * Piano staves:: * Combining notes into chords:: * Single staff polyphony:: @end menu @node Music expressions explained @subsection Music expressions explained In LilyPond input files, music is represented by @emph{music expressions}. A single note is a music expression: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] a4 @end lilypond Enclosing a note in braces creates a @emph{compound music expression}. Here we have created a compound music expression with two notes: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] { a4 g4 } @end lilypond Putting a group of music expressions (e.g. notes) in braces means that they are in sequence (i.e. each one follows the previous one). The result is another music expression: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] { { a4 g } f g } @end lilypond @subheading Simultaneous music expressions: multiple staves Music glossary: @rglos{polyphony}. This technique is useful for @notation{polyphonic} music. To enter music with more voices or more staves, we combine expressions in parallel. To indicate that two voices should play at the same time, simply enter a simultaneous combination of music expressions. A @q{simultaneous} music expression is formed by enclosing expressions inside @code{<<} and @code{>>}. In the following example, three sequences (all containing two separate notes) are combined simultaneously: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c'' { << { a4 g } { f e } { d b } >> } @end lilypond Note that we have indented each level of the input with a different amount of space. LilyPond does not care how much (or little) space there is at the beginning of a line, but indenting LilyPond code like this makes it much easier for humans to read. @warning{each note is relative to the previous note in the input, not relative to the @code{c''} in the initial @code{\\relative} command.} @subheading Simultaneous music expressions: single staff To determine the number of staves in a piece, LilyPond looks at the first expression. If it is a single note, there is one staff; if there is a simultaneous expression, there is more than one staff. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c'' { c2 <> << { e f } { c <> } >> } @end lilypond @cindex expression @cindex music expression @subheading Analogy: mathematical expressions This mechanism is similar to mathematical formulas: a big formula is created by composing small formulas. Such formulas are called expressions, and their definition is recursive so you can make arbitrarily complex and large expressions. For example, @example 1 1 + 2 (1 + 2) * 3 ((1 + 2) * 3) / (4 * 5) @end example This is a sequence of expressions, where each expression is contained in the next (larger) one. The simplest expressions are numbers, and larger ones are made by combining expressions with operators (like @samp{+}, @samp{*} and @samp{/}) and parentheses. Like mathematical expressions, music expressions can be nested arbitrarily deep, which is necessary for complex music like polyphonic scores. @node Multiple staves @subsection Multiple staves LilyPond input files are constructed out of music expressions, as we saw in @ref{Music expressions explained}. If the score begins with simultaneous music expressions, LilyPond creates multiples staves. However, it is easier to see what happens if we create each staff explicitly. To print more than one staff, each piece of music that makes up a staff is marked by adding @code{\new Staff} before it. These @code{Staff} elements are then combined in parallel with @code{<<} and @code{>>}: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c'' { << \new Staff { \clef treble c } \new Staff { \clef bass c,, } >> } @end lilypond The command @code{\new} introduces a @q{notation context.} A notation context is an environment in which musical events (like notes or @code{\clef} commands) are interpreted. For simple pieces, such notation contexts are created automatically. For more complex pieces, it is best to mark contexts explicitly. There are several types of contexts. @code{Score}, @code{Staff}, and @code{Voice} handle melodic notation, while @code{Lyrics} sets lyric texts and @code{ChordNames} prints chord names. In terms of syntax, prepending @code{\new} to a music expression creates a bigger music expression. In this way it resembles the minus sign in mathematics. The formula @math{(4+5)} is an expression, so @math{-(4+5)} is a bigger expression. Time signatures entered in one staff affects all other staves@footnote{This behavior may be changed if desired; for details, see @ruser{Polymetric notation}.}. On the other hand, the key signature of one staff does @emph{not} affect other staves. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c'' { << \new Staff { \clef treble \time 3/4 c } \new Staff { \clef bass \key d \major c,, } >> } @end lilypond @node Piano staves @subsection Piano staves @cindex staff switch, manual @cindex cross staff voice, manual Music glossary: @rglos{brace}. Piano music is typeset in two staves connected by a @notation{brace}. Printing such a staff is similar to the polyphonic example in @ref{Multiple staves}. However, now this entire expression is inserted inside a @code{PianoStaff}: @example \new PianoStaff << \new Staff @dots{} \new Staff @dots{} >> @end example Here is a small example: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c'' { \new PianoStaff << \new Staff { \time 2/4 c4 e g g, } \new Staff { \clef bass c,, c' e c } >> } @end lilypond @seealso @quotation See @ruser{Piano music}. @end quotation @node Combining notes into chords @subsection Combining notes into chords @cindex chords Music glossary: @rglos{chord}. @notation{Chords} can be made by surrounding pitches with single angle brackets. Angle brackets are the symbols @samp{<} and @samp{>}. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] r4 4 2 @end lilypond You can combine markings like beams and ties with chords. They must be placed outside the angle brackets @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] r4 8[ ]~ 2 @end lilypond @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] r4 8\>( 4 \!) @end lilypond @node Single staff polyphony @subsection Single staff polyphony @cindex polyphony @cindex multiple voices @cindex voices, more -- on a staff When different melodic lines are combined on a single staff they are printed as polyphonic voices; each voice has its own stems, slurs and beams, and the top voice has the stems up, while the bottom voice has them down. Entering such parts is done by entering each voice as a sequence (with @code{@{...@}}) and combining these simultaneously, separating the voices with @code{\\} @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] << { a4 g2 f4~ f4 } \\ { r4 g4 f2 f4 } >> @end lilypond For polyphonic music typesetting, spacer rests can also be convenient; these are rests that do not print. They are useful for filling up voices that temporarily do not play. Here is the same example with a spacer rest (@samp{s}) instead of a normal rest (@samp{r}), @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] << { a4 g2 f4~ f4 } \\ { s4 g4 f2 f4 } >> @end lilypond @noindent Again, these expressions can be nested arbitrarily. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2] << \new Staff << { a4 g2 f4~ f4 } \\ { s4 g4 f2 f4 } >> \new Staff << \clef bass { 1 ~ 4 } \\ { e,,4 d e2 ~ e4} >> >> @end lilypond @seealso @quotation See @ruser{Simultaneous notes}. @end quotation @node Songs @section Songs This section introduces vocal music and simple song sheets. @menu * Setting simple songs:: * Aligning lyrics to a melody:: * Lyrics to multiple staves:: @end menu @node Setting simple songs @subsection Setting simple songs @cindex lyrics @cindex songs Music glossary: @rglos{lyrics}. Here is the start of the melody to a nursery rhyme, @qq{Girls and boys come out to play}: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c'' { \key g \major \time 6/8 d4 b8 c4 a8 d4 b8 g4 } @end lilypond The @notation{lyrics} can be set to these notes, combining both with the @code{\addlyrics} keyword. Lyrics are entered by separating each syllable with a space. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] << \relative c'' { \key g \major \time 6/8 d4 b8 c4 a8 d4 b8 g4 } \addlyrics { Girls and boys come out to play, } >> @end lilypond Note the curly brackets delimiting both the music and the lyrics, and the angle brackets @code{<< ... >>} around the whole piece to show that the music and lyrics are to occur at the same time. @node Aligning lyrics to a melody @subsection Aligning lyrics to a melody Music glossary: @rglos{melisma}, @rglos{extender line}. @cindex melisma @cindex extender line @cindex hyphens @cindex underscore The next line in the nursery rhyme is @q{The moon doth shine as bright as day}. Let's extend it: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] << \relative c'' { \key g \major \time 6/8 d4 b8 c4 a8 d4 b8 g4 g8 a4 b8 c b a d4 b8 g4. } \addlyrics { Girls and boys come out to play, The moon doth shine as bright as day; } >> @end lilypond We see the extra lyrics do not align properly with the notes. The word @q{shine} should be sung on two notes, not one. This is called a @notation{melisma}, a single syllable sung to more than one note. There are several ways to spread a syllable over multiple notes, the simplest being to add a slur across them (see @ref{Ties and slurs}): @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] << \relative c'' { \key g \major \time 6/8 d4 b8 c4 a8 d4 b8 g4 g8 a4 b8 c([ b)] a d4 b8 g4. } \addlyrics { Girls and boys come out to play, The moon doth shine as bright as day; } >> @end lilypond Here we have also used manual beaming (the square brackets @code{[ ]} ) to generate the beaming which is customarily used with lyrics (see @ref{Automatic and manual beams}). If a syllable extends over several notes or a single very long note an @notation{extender line} is usually drawn from the syllable extending under all the notes for that syllable. It is entered as two underscores @code{__}. Here is an example from the first three bars of Dido's Lament, from Purcell's Dido and Æneas: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] << \relative c'' { \key g \minor \time 3/2 g2 a bes bes( a) b c4.( bes8 a4. g8 fis4.) g8 fis1 } \addlyrics { When I am laid, am laid __ in earth, } >> @end lilypond None of the examples so far have involved words containing more than one syllable. Such words are usually split one syllable to a note, with hyphens between syllables. Such hyphens are entered as two dashes, resulting in a centered hyphen between the syllables. Here is an example showing this and everything we have learned so far about aligning lyrics to notes. @c no ragged-right here because otherwise the hyphens get lost, @c but the example is long enough to avoid looking strange. @lilypond[verbatim,quote] << \relative c' { \key g \major \time 3/4 \partial 4 d4 g4 g a8( b) g4 g4 b8( c) d4 d e4 c2 } \addlyrics { A -- way in a __ man -- ger, no __ crib for a bed, __ } >> @end lilypond Some lyrics, especially those in Italian, require the opposite: setting more than one syllable to a single note. This is achieved by linking the syllables together with a single underscore @code{_} (with no spaces), or enclosing them in quotes. Here's an example from Rossini's Figaro, where @q{al} has to be sung on the same note as the @q{go} of @q{Largo} in Figaro's aria @q{Largo al factotum}: @c no ragged-right here because otherwise the hyphens get lost, @c but the example is long enough to avoid looking strange. @lilypond[verbatim,quote] << \relative c' { \clef bass \key c \major \time 6/8 c4.~ c8 d b c([ d)] b c d b c } \addlyrics { Lar -- go_al fac -- to -- tum del -- la cit -- tà } >> @end lilypond @seealso @quotation More options, such as inserting explicit rhythms into lyrics, inserting lyric ties (e.g., between @q{go al}) above, alternative ways of handling melismata, and adding extra verses, are discussed in @ruser{Vocal music}. @end quotation @node Lyrics to multiple staves @subsection Lyrics to multiple staves The simple approach using @code{\addlyrics} can be used for placing lyrics under more than one staff. Here is an example from Handel's Judas Maccabæus: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] << { \time 6/8 \partial 8 } \relative c'' { \key f \major c8 c([ bes)] a a([ g)] f f'4. b, c4.~ c4 } \addlyrics { Let flee -- cy flocks the hills a -- dorn, __ } \relative c' { \key f \major r8 r4. r4 c8 a'([ g)] f f([ e)] d e([ d)] c bes'4 } \addlyrics { Let flee -- cy flocks the hills a -- dorn, } >> @end lilypond but scores any more complex than this simple example are better produced by separating out the staff structure from the notes and lyrics with variables. These are discussed later (see @ref{Organizing pieces with variables}). @seealso @quotation More options, such as putting multiple stanzas below the score, setting choral music, and lyrics to divided voices, are discussed in @ruser{Vocal music}. @end quotation @node Final touches @section Final touches This is the final section of the tutorial; it demonstrates how to add the final touches to simple pieces, and provides an introduction to the rest of the manual. @menu * Version number:: * Adding titles:: * Absolute note names:: * Organizing pieces with variables:: * After the tutorial:: * How to read the manual:: @end menu @node Version number @subsection Version number @cindex versioning The @code{\version} statement records the version of LilyPond that was used to write the file: @example \version "2.11.23" @end example @noindent By convention, this is placed at the top of your LilyPond file. These annotations make future upgrades of LilyPond go more smoothly. Changes in the syntax are handled with a special program, @file{convert-ly}, and it uses @code{\version} to determine what rules to apply. For details, see @rprogram{Updating files with convert-ly}. @node Adding titles @subsection Adding titles The title, composer, opus number, and similar information are entered in the @code{\header} block. This exists outside of the main music expression; the @code{\header} block is usually placed underneath the @ref{Version number}. @example \version "2.11.23" \header @{ title = "Symphony" composer = "Me" opus = "Op. 9" @} @{ @dots{} music @dots{} @} @end example When the file is processed, the title and composer are printed above the music. More information on titling can be found in @ruser{Creating titles}. @node Absolute note names @subsection Absolute note names So far we have always used @code{\relative} to define pitches. This is the easiest way to enter most music, but another way of defining pitches exists: absolute mode. If you omit the @code{\relative}, LilyPond treats all pitches as absolute values. A @code{c'} will always mean middle C, a @code{b} will always mean the note one step below middle C, and a @code{g,} will always mean the note on the bottom staff of the bass clef. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] { \clef bass c' b g, g, g, f, f c' } @end lilypond Here is a four-octave scale: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] { \clef bass c, d, e, f, g, a, b, c d e f g a b c' d' \clef treble e' f' g' a' b' c'' d'' e'' f'' g'' a'' b'' c'''1 } @end lilypond As you can see, writing a melody in the treble clef involves a lot of quote @code{'} marks. Consider this fragment from Mozart: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] { \key a \major \time 6/8 cis''8. d''16 cis''8 e''4 e''8 b'8. cis''16 b'8 d''4 d''8 } @end lilypond All these quotes makes the input less readable and it is a source of errors. With @code{\relative}, the previous example is much easier to read: @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] \relative c'' { \key a \major \time 6/8 cis8. d16 cis8 e4 e8 b8. cis16 b8 d4 d8 } @end lilypond If you make a mistake with an octave mark (@code{'} or @code{,}) while working in @code{\relative} mode, it is very obvious -- many notes will be in the wrong octave. When working in absolute mode, a single mistake will not be as visible, and will not be as easy to find. However, absolute mode is useful for music which has large intervals, and is extremely useful for computer-generated LilyPond files. @node Organizing pieces with variables @subsection Organizing pieces with variables When all of the elements discussed earlier are combined to produce larger files, the music expressions get a lot bigger. In polyphonic music with many staves, the input files can become very confusing. We can reduce this confusion by using @emph{variables}. With variables (also known as identifiers or macros), we can break up complex music expressions. An variable is assigned as follows: @example namedMusic = @{ @dots{} @} @end example The contents of the music expression @code{namedMusic} can be used later by placing a backslash in front of the name (@code{\namedMusic}, just like a normal LilyPond command). Variables must be defined @emph{before} the main music expression. @lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right] violin = \new Staff { \relative c'' { a4 b c b }} cello = \new Staff { \relative c { \clef bass e2 d }} { << \violin \cello >> } @end lilypond @noindent The name of an variable must have alphabetic characters only, no numbers, underscores, or dashes. It is possible to use variables for many other types of objects in the input. For example, @example width = 4.5\cm name = "Wendy" aFivePaper = \paper @{ paperheight = 21.0 \cm @} @end example Depending on its contents, the variable can be used in different places. The following example uses the above variables: @example \paper @{ \aFivePaper line-width = \width @} @{ c4^\name @} @end example @node After the tutorial @subsection After the tutorial After finishing the tutorial, you should probably try writing a piece or two. Start by adding notes to one of the @ref{Templates}. If you need any notation that was not covered in the tutorial, look at the Notation Reference, starting with @ruser{Musical notation}. If you want to write for an instrument ensemble that is not covered in the templates, take a look at @ref{Extending the templates}. Once you have written a few short pieces, read the rest of the Learning Manual (chapters 3-5). There's nothing wrong with reading it now, of course! However, the rest of the Learning Manual assumes that you are familiar with LilyPond input. You may wish to skim these chapters right now, and come back to them after you have more experience. @node How to read the manual @subsection How to read the manual Many examples in the tutorial omitted a @code{\relative c'' @{ ... @}} around the printed example, as we saw in @ref{How to read the tutorial}. In the rest of the manual, we are much more lax about the printed examples: sometimes they may have omitted a @code{\relative c'' @{ ... @}}, but other times a different initial pitch may be used (such as @code{c'} or @code{c,,}), and in some cases the whole example is in absolute note mode! However, ambiguities like this only exist where the pitches are not important. In any example where the pitch matters, we have explicitly stated @code{\relative} or absolute-mode @code{@{ @}}. If you are still confused about the exact LilyPond input that was used in an example, read the HTML version (if you are not already doing so) and click on the picture of the music. This will display the exact input that LilyPond used to generate this manual. For information about the structure of the rest of the manual, see @ref{About this manual}.