@c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*- @c This file is part of lilypond.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: - unless you have a really good reason, use either @l ilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] or @l ilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] (without spaces) 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 "aes". I know it's not correct Dutch naming, but let's not confuse people with this until we get to the Basic notation chapter. @end ignore @c old info that will probably be removed. @c TODO: @c * more details about running lilypond; error messages, @c compiling/viewing (emacs?) @c * where to go from First steps+More basics? @c wherever possible, do not include index entries here; the @c index should point to stuff in the reference manual. -gp @c Your first LilyPond score in 10 minutes? @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. @ifhtml 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. If you like learning in this way, you will probably want to print out or bookmark the @ref{Cheat sheet}, which is a table listing of the most common commands for quick reference. @end ifhtml @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 @strong{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. These may be omitted in some examples in this manual, but don't forget them in your own music! @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. @sp 1 @subheading Entering music and viewing output In this section we will explain what commands to run and how to view or print the output. @subsubheading MacOS X If you double click 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. Be warned that the first time you ever run LilyPond, it will take a minute or two because all of the system fonts have to be analyzed first. For future use of LilyPond, you should begin by selecting "New" or "Open". @subsubheading Windows On Windows, start up a text-editor@footnote{Any simple or programmer-oriented editor with UTF-8 support will do, for example Notepad. Do not use a word processor, since these insert formatting codes that will confuse LilyPond.} and enter @verbatim { c' e' g' e' } @end verbatim Save it on the desktop as @file{test.ly} and make sure that it is not called @file{test.ly.TXT}. Double clicking @file{test.ly} will process the file and show the resulting PDF file. @subsubheading Unix Begin by opening a terminal window and starting a text editor. For example, you could open an xterm and execute @code{joe}@footnote{There are macro files for VIM addicts, and there is a @code{LilyPond-mode} for Emacs addicts. If they have not been installed already, refer to the file @file{INSTALL.txt}. The easiest editing environment is @file{LilyPondTool}. See @ref{Editor support} for more information.}. In your text editor, enter the following input and save the file as @file{test.ly} @verbatim { c' e' g' e' } @end verbatim @noindent 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 2.10.0 Processing `test.ly' Parsing... Interpreting music... [1] Preprocessing graphical objects... Calculating line breaks... [2] Layout output to `test.ps'... Converting to `test.pdf'... @end example @cindex PDF file @cindex Viewing music @noindent The result is the file @file{test.pdf} which you can print or view with the standard facilities of your operating system.@footnote{If your system does not have any such tools installed, you can try @uref{http://@/www@/.cs@/.wisc@/.edu/@/~ghost/,Ghostscript}, a freely available package for viewing and printing PDF and PostScript files.} @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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] { c' e' g' e' } @end lilypond @noindent This behavior may be altered, but in most cases these automatic values are useful. @subheading Pitches The easiest way to enter notes is by using @code{\relative} mode. In this mode, the @rglos{interval} between the previous note and the current note is assumed to be within a @rglos{fourth}. We begin by entering the most elementary piece of music, a @rglos{scale}. @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \relative c' { c d e f g a b c } @end lilypond The initial note is @rglos{middle C}. Each successive note is within a fourth of the previous note -- in other words, the first @samp{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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \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 @samp{d} -- is the closest D to middle C. To add intervals that are larger than a fourth, we can raise the 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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \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) The @rglos{duration} of a note is specified by a number after the note name. @samp{1} for a @rglos{whole note}, @samp{2} for a @rglos{half note}, @samp{4} for a @rglos{quarter note} and so on. Beams are added automatically. @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \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 @rglos{dotted notes}, add a dot @samp{.} to the duration number. @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \relative c'' { a a a4. a8 a8. a16 a a8. a8 a4. } @end lilypond @subheading Rests A @rglos{rest} is entered just like a note with the name @samp{r}: @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \relative c'' { a r r2 r8 a r4 r4. r8 } @end lilypond @subheading Time signature The @rglos{time signature}) can be set with the @code{\time} command: @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \relative c'' { \time 3/4 a4 a a \time 6/8 a4. a \time 4/4 a4 a a a } @end lilypond @subheading Clef The @rglos{clef} can be set using the @code{\clef} command: @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \relative c, { \time 3/4 \clef bass c2 e8 c' g'2. f4 e d c4 c, r4 } @end lilypond @moreinfo @quotation @table @asis @item Entering pitches and durations see @ref{Pitches} and @ref{Durations}. @item Rests see @ref{Rests}. @item Time signatures and other timing commands see @ref{Time signature}. @item Clefs see @ref{Clef}. @end table @end quotation @node Working on text files @subsection Working on text files LilyPond input files are treated like files in most programming languages: they are case sensitive, white-space insensitive, 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 (i.e. @code{a, b, s, t}) or upper case (i.e. @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 @ @ @ @ @ 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 parenthesis @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. 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 As we saw in @ref{Working on text files}, LilyPond input must be surrounded by @{ @} marks or a @code{\relative c'' @{ ... @}}. For the rest of this manual, most examples will omit this. If you are reading the HTML documentation and wish to see the exact exact LilyPond code that was used to create the example, simply click on the picture. If you are not reading the HTML version, you could 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}, so you would not be able to copy a small documentation example and paste it inside a longer piece of your own. @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:: * Automatic and manual beams:: * Advanced rhythmic commands:: @end menu @node Relative note names @subsection Relative note names As we saw in @ref{Simple notation}, LilyPond calculates the pitch of each note relative to the previous one@footnote{There is another mode of entering pitches, @ref{Absolute note names}, but in practice relative mode is much easier and safer to use.}. If no extra octave marks (@code{'} and @code{,}) are added, it assumes that each pitch is within a fourth of the previous note. LilyPond examines pitches based on the note names -- in other words, an augmented fourth is @emph{not} 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. @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] c2 fis c2 ges @end lilypond @moreinfo @quotation @table @asis @item Relative octaves see @ref{Relative octaves}. @item Octave check see @ref{Octave check}. @end table @end quotation @node Accidentals and key signatures @subsection Accidentals and key signatures @subheading Accidentals A @rglos{sharp} pitch is made by adding @samp{is} to the name, and a @rglos{flat} pitch by adding @samp{es}. As you might expect, a @rglos{double sharp} or @rglos{double flat} is made by adding @samp{isis} or @samp{eses}@footnote{This syntax derived from note naming conventions in Nordic and Germanic languages, like German and Dutch. To use other names for accidentals, see @ref{Note names in other languages}.} @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] cis1 ees fisis, aeses @end lilypond @cindex key signature, setting @subheading Key signatures The key signature is set with the command @code{\key} followed by a pitch and @code{\major} or @code{\minor}. @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] \key d \major a1 \key c \minor a @end lilypond @sp 1 @subheading Warning: key signatures and pitches To determine whether to print an accidental, LilyPond examines the pitches and the key signature. The key signature only effects the @emph{printed} accidentals, not the actual pitches! 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 (flat, natural or 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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,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 transposing is easier, and accidentals can be printed according to different conventions. See @ref{Automatic accidentals} for some examples how accidentals can be printed according to different rules. @moreinfo @quotation @table @asis @item Accidentals see @ref{Accidentals} and @ref{Automatic accidentals}. @item Key signature see @ref{Key signature}. @end table @end quotation @node Ties and slurs @subsection Ties and slurs @cindex ties @subheading Ties A @rglos{tie} is created by appending a tilde @samp{~} to the first note being tied @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] g4~ g c2~ c4 ~ c8 a8 ~ a2 @end lilypond @cindex slurs @subheading Slurs A @rglos{slur} is a curve drawn across many notes. The starting note and ending note are marked with @samp{(} and @samp{)} respectively. @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] d4( c16) cis( d e c cis d) e( d4) @end lilypond @cindex slurs, phrasing @cindex phrasing slurs @subheading Phrasing slurs @cindex phrasing slurs Slurs to indicate longer phrasing can be entered with @code{\(} and @code{\)}. You can have both legato slurs and phrasing slurs at the same time, but you cannot have simultaneous slurs or simultaneous phrasing slurs. @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] a8(\( ais b c) cis2 b'2 a4 cis,\) @end lilypond @sp 1 @cindex slurs versus ties @subheading Warnings: slurs vs. ties A slur looks like a @rglos{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 articulations of notes, and can be used on larger groups of notes. Slurs and ties can be nested. @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] c2~( c8 fis fis4 ~ fis2 g2) @end lilypond @moreinfo @quotation @table @asis @item Ties see @ref{Ties}. @item Slurs see @ref{Slurs}. @item Phrasing slurs see @ref{Phrasing slurs}. @end table @end quotation @node Articulation and dynamics @subsection Articulation and dynamics @cindex articulation @cindex accents @cindex staccato @subheading Articulations Common @rglos{articulations} can be added to a note using a dash @samp{-} and a single character: @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] c-. c-- c-> c-^ c-+ c-_ @end lilypond @cindex fingering @subheading Fingerings Similarly, fingering indications can be added to a note using a dash (@samp{-}) and the digit to be printed: @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] c_-^1 d^. f^4_2-> e^-_+ @end lilypond @subheading Dynamics Dynamic signs are made by adding the markings (with a backslash) to the note @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] c\ff c\mf c\p c\pp @end lilypond @cindex dynamics @cindex decrescendo @cindex crescendo Crescendi and 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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] c2\< c2\ff\> c2 c2\! @end lilypond @moreinfo @quotation @table @asis @item Articulations see @ref{Articulations}. @item Fingering see @ref{Fingering instructions}. @item Dynamics see @ref{Dynamics}. @end table @end quotation @node Automatic and manual beams @subsection Automatic and manual beams @cindex beams, by hand All @rglos{beam}s are drawn automatically: @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] a8[ ais] d[ ees r d] a b @end lilypond @moreinfo @quotation @table @asis @item Automatic beams see @ref{Automatic beams}. @item Manual beams see @ref{Manual beams}. @end table @end quotation @node Advanced rhythmic commands @subsection Advanced rhythmic commands @cindex pickup @cindex anacruse @cindex partial measure @subheading Partial measure A pickup (or @rglos{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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] \partial 8 f8 c2 d @end lilypond @cindex tuplets @cindex triplets @subheading Tuplets 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 triplet has 2/3 as its fraction @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,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 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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] c2 \grace { a32 b} c2 c2 \appoggiatura b16 c2 c2 \acciaccatura b16 c2 @end lilypond @moreinfo @quotation @table @asis @item Grace notes see @ref{Grace notes}, @item Tuplets see @ref{Tuplets}, @item Pickups see @ref{Partial measures}. @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:: * Single staff polyphony:: * Combining notes into chords:: @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, although it is not valid input all on its own. @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] a4 @end lilypond Enclosing a group of notes in braces creates a new music expression: @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] { { a4 g } f g } @end lilypond @subheading Simultaneous music expressions: multiple staves This technique is useful for 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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \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. @strong{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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \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 As we saw in @ref{Music expressions explained}, LilyPond input files are constructed out of music expressions. 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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \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, but the key signature of one staff does @emph{not} affect other staves@footnote{This behavior may be changed if desired; see @ref{Changing defaults} for details.}. @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \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 Piano music is typeset in two staves connected by a brace. Printing such a staff is similar to the polyphonic example in @ref{Multiple staves}, but 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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \relative c'' { \new PianoStaff << \new Staff { \time 2/4 c4 e g g, } \new Staff { \clef bass c,, c' e c } >> } @end lilypond @moreinfo @quotation See @ref{Piano music}. @end quotation @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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment,relative=2] << { a4 g2 f4~ f4 } \\ { s4 g4 f2 f4 } >> @end lilypond @noindent Again, these expressions can be nested arbitrarily. @lilypond[quote,fragment,verbatim,relative=2,fragment] << \new Staff << { a4 g2 f4~ f4 } \\ { s4 g4 f2 f4 } >> \new Staff << \clef bass { 1 ~ 4 } \\ { e,,4 d e2 ~ e4} >> >> @end lilypond @moreinfo @quotation See @ref{Basic polyphony}. @end quotation @node Combining notes into chords @subsection Combining notes into chords @cindex chords Chords can be made by surrounding pitches with single angle brackets. Angle brackets are the symbols @samp{<} and @samp{>}. @lilypond[quote,fragment,verbatim,relative=2,fragment] r4 4 2 @end lilypond You can combine markings like beams and ties with chords. They must be placed outside the angle brackets @lilypond[quote,fragment,verbatim,relative=2,fragment] r4 8[ ]~ 2 @end lilypond @lilypond[quote,fragment,verbatim,relative=2,fragment] r4 8\>( 4 \!) @end lilypond @node Songs @section Songs This section introduces vocal music and simple song sheets. @menu * Printing lyrics:: * A lead sheet:: @end menu @node Printing lyrics @subsection Printing lyrics @cindex Lyrics @cindex Songs Consider a simple melody: @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \relative c'' { a4 e c8 e r4 b2 c4( d) } @end lilypond The 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[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] << \relative c'' { a4 e c8 e r4 b2 c4( d) } \addlyrics { One day this shall be free } >> @end lilypond @cindex melisma @cindex extender line This melody ends on a @rglos{melisma}, a single syllable (@q{free}) sung to more than one note. This is indicated with an @emph{extender line}. It is entered as two underscores @code{__}: @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] << \relative c'' { a4 e c8 e r4 b2 c4( d) } \addlyrics { One day this shall be free __ } >> @end lilypond Similarly, hyphens between words can be entered as two dashes, resulting in a centered hyphen between two syllables @c no ragged-right here because otherwise the hypens get lost. @lilypond[quote,verbatim] << \relative c' { \time 2/4 f4 f c c } \addlyrics { A -- le -- gri -- a } >> @end lilypond @moreinfo @quotation More options, such as putting multiple stanzas below a melody, are discussed in @ref{Vocal music}. @end quotation @node A lead sheet @subsection A lead sheet @cindex Lead sheets @cindex chords @cindex chord names @c TODO: revise this, \chords { } is shorter and more intuitive. @c I need help for this. -gp In popular music it is common to denote accompaniment with chord names. Such chords can be entered like notes, @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim] \chordmode { c2 f4. g8 } @end lilypond @noindent Now each pitch is read as the root of a chord instead of a note. This mode is switched on with @code{\chordmode} Other chords can be created by adding modifiers after a colon. The following example shows a few common modifiers @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right] \chordmode { c2 f4:m g4:maj7 gis1:dim7 } @end lilypond For lead sheets, chords are not printed on staves, but as names on a line for themselves. This is achieved by using @code{\chords} instead of @code{\chordmode}. This uses the same syntax as @code{\chordmode}, but renders the notes in a @code{ChordNames} context, with the following result. @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right] \chords { c2 f4.:m g4.:maj7 gis8:dim7 } @end lilypond @cindex lead sheet When put together, chord names, lyrics and a melody form a lead sheet, for example, @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right] % FIXME: this melody needs to be changed. See my new example in 2.4.1. -gp << \chords { r2 c:sus4 f } \relative { r4 c' \times 2/3 { f g g } \times 2/3 { g4( a2) } } \addlyrics { I want to break free __ } >> @end lilypond A complete list of modifiers and other options for layout can be found in @ref{Chords}. @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 identifiers:: * After the tutorial:: * How to read the manual:: @end menu @node Version number @subsection Version number @cindex versioning The @code{\version} statement marks for which version of LilyPond the file was written. To mark a file for version 2.10.1, place @example \version "2.10.1" @end example @noindent 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} (see @ref{Updating files with convert-ly}), and it uses @code{\version} to determine what rules to apply. @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 "2.10.1" \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 @ref{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[quote,verbatim,ragged-right] { \clef bass c' b g, g, g, f, f c' } @end lilypond Here is a four-octave scale: @lilypond[quote,verbatim,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 ' marks. Consider this fragment from Mozart: @lilypond[quote,verbatim,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[quote,verbatim,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 identifiers @subsection Organizing pieces with identifiers 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{identifiers}. With identifiers (also known as variables or macros), we can break up complex music expressions. An identifier 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). Identifiers must be defined @emph{before} the main music expression. @lilypond[quote,verbatim,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 identifier 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 identifier 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 with one of the @ref{Templates} and add notes. If you need any notation that was not covered in the tutorial, look at the Notation Reference, starting with @ref{Basic notation}. If you want to write for an instrument ensemble which 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 them 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 As we saw in @ref{How to read the tutorial}, many examples in the tutorial omitted a @code{\relative c'' @{ ... @}} around the printed example. 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 in 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 our @code{\relative} our our 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.