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.
+ version that you are working on. For details, see the Contributors'
+ Guide, node Updating translation committishes..
@end ignore
@c \version "2.12.0"
infrastructure. Overriding layout decisions in effect accesses the
program internals, which requires Scheme input. Scheme elements are
introduced in a @code{.ly} file with the hash mark
-@code{#}.@footnote{@rlearning{Scheme tutorial}, contains a short tutorial
+@code{#}.@footnote{@rextend{Scheme tutorial}, contains a short tutorial
on entering numbers, lists, strings, and symbols in Scheme.}
* Modifying properties::
* Useful concepts and properties::
* Advanced tweaks::
+* Using music functions::
@end menu
The voice context used within a @code{TabStaff} context. Usually
left to be created implicitly.
+@strong{@emph{CueVoice}}
+
+A voice context used to render notes of a reduced size, intended
+primarily for adding cue notes to a staff, see @ref{Formatting
+cue notes}. Usually left to be created implicitly.
+
@strong{@emph{ChordNames}}
Typesets chord names.
* NoteNames
- * CueVoice Not documented
* Global
Hard coded entry point for LilyPond. Cannot be tuned.
* Devnull
This variant is used with music expressions that can be interpreted at
several levels. For example, the @code{\applyOutput} command (see
-@ref{Running a function on all layout objects}). Without an explicit
+@rextend{Running a function on all layout objects}). Without an explicit
@code{\context}, it is usually applied to @code{Voice}
@example
@node Defining new contexts
@subsection Defining new contexts
+@cindex contexts, defining new
+@cindex engravers, including in contexts
+
+@funindex \alias
+@funindex alias
+@funindex \name
+@funindex name
+@funindex \type
+@funindex type
+@funindex \consists
+@funindex consists
+@funindex \accepts
+@funindex accepts
+@funindex \denies
+@funindex denies
+
Specific contexts, like @code{Staff} and @code{Voice}, are made of
simple building blocks. It is possible to create new types of
contexts with different combinations of engraver plug-ins.
Another thing that is needed, is an overview of the various naming
conventions:
- scheme functions: lowercase-with-hyphens (incl. one-word
+@itemize
+@item scheme functions: lowercase-with-hyphens (incl. one-word
names)
- scheme functions: ly:plus-scheme-style
- music events, music classes and music properties:
+@item scheme functions: ly:plus-scheme-style
+@item music events, music classes and music properties:
as-scheme-functions
- Grob interfaces: scheme-style
- backend properties: scheme-style (but X and Y!)
- contexts (and MusicExpressions and grobs): Capitalized or
+@item Grob interfaces: scheme-style
+@item backend properties: scheme-style (but X and Y!)
+@item contexts (and MusicExpressions and grobs): Capitalized or
CamelCase
- context properties: lowercaseFollowedByCamelCase
- engravers:
+@item context properties: lowercaseFollowedByCamelCase
+@item engravers:
Capitalized_followed_by_lowercase_and_with_underscores
+@end itemize
-Which of these are conventions and which are rules?
-Which are rules of the underlying language, and which are
+Questions to be answered:
+@itemize
+@item Which of these are conventions and which are rules?
+@item Which are rules of the underlying language, and which are
LP-specific?
-
+@end itemize
@node Modifying properties
@section Modifying properties
context. By changing these settings, the appearance of objects can be
altered.
+There are two different kinds of properties stored in contexts:
+context properties and grob properties. Context properties are
+properties that apply to the context as a whole and control
+how the context itself is displayed. In contrast, grob properties
+apply to specific grob types that will be displayed in the context.
+
+The @code{\set} and @code{\unset} commands are used to change values
+for context properties. The @code{\override} and @code{\revert}
+commands are used to change values for grob properties.
+
+@ignore
The syntax for this is
@example
\override Stem #'(details beamed-lengths) = #'(4 4 3)
@end example
+@end ignore
@seealso
-Internals: @rinternals{OverrideProperty}, @rinternals{RevertProperty},
-@rinternals{PropertySet}, @rinternals{Backend}, and
-@rinternals{All layout objects}.
+Internals:
+@rinternals{Backend},
+@rinternals{All layout objects},
+@rinternals{OverrideProperty},
+@rinternals{RevertProperty},
+@rinternals{PropertySet}.
@knownissues
@node The set command
-@subsection The @code{\set} command
+@subsection The @code{@bs{}set} command
@cindex properties
@funindex \set
@cindex changing properties
-Each context can have different @emph{properties}, variables contained
-in that context. They can be changed during the interpretation step.
-This is achieved by inserting the @code{\set} command in the music,
+Each context has a set of @emph{properties}, variables contained
+in that context. Context properties are changed with the @code{\set}
+command, which has the following syntax:
@example
-\set @var{context}.@var{prop} = #@var{value}
+\set @var{context}.@var{property} = #@var{value}
@end example
-For example,
+@var{value} is a Scheme object, which is why it must be preceded by
+the @code{#} character.
+
+Contexts properties are usually named in
+@code{studlyCaps}. They mostly control the translation from
+music to notation, e.g. @code{localKeySignature} (for determining
+whether to print accidentals), or @code{measurePosition} (for
+determining when to print a bar line). Context properties can
+change value over time while interpreting a piece of music;
+@code{measurePosition} is an obvious example of
+this. Context properties are modified with @code{\set}.
+
+For example, multimeasure rests will be combined into a single bar
+if the context property @code{skipBars} is set to @code{#t}:
+
@lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=2,fragment]
R1*2
\set Score.skipBars = ##t
R1*2
@end lilypond
-This command skips measures that have no notes. The result is that
-multi-rests are condensed. The value assigned is a Scheme object. In
-this case, it is @code{#t}, the boolean True value.
-
-If the @var{context} argument is left out, then the current bottom-most
-context (typically @code{ChordNames}, @code{Voice}, or
-@code{Lyrics}) is used. In this example,
+If the @var{context} argument is left out, then the property will be
+set in the current bottom context (typically @code{ChordNames},
+@code{Voice}, @code{TabVoice}, or @code{Lyrics}).
@lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=2,fragment]
-c8 c c c
-\set autoBeaming = ##f
-c8 c c c
+\set Score.autoBeaming = ##f
+<<
+ {
+ e8 e e e
+ \set autoBeaming = ##t
+ e8 e e e
+ } \\ {
+ c8 c c c c8 c c c
+ }
+>>
@end lilypond
-@noindent
-the @var{context} argument to @code{\set} is left out, so automatic
-beaming is switched off in the current @rinternals{Voice}. Note that
-the bottom-most context does not always contain the property that you
-wish to change -- for example, attempting to set the @code{skipBars}
-property (of the bottom-most context, in this case @code{Voice}) will
-have no effect.
+The change is applied @q{on-the-fly}, during the music, so that the
+setting only affects the second group of eighth notes.
+
+Note that the bottom-most context does not always contain the property
+that you wish to change -- for example, attempting to set the
+@code{skipBars} property of the default bottom context, in this case
+@code{Voice}, will have no effect, because skipBars is a property of
+the @code{Score} context.
@lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=2,fragment]
R1*2
R1*2
@end lilypond
-Contexts are hierarchical, so if a bigger context was specified, for
+Contexts are hierarchical, so if an enclosing context was specified, for
example @code{Staff}, then the change would also apply to all
-@code{Voice}s in the current stave. The change is applied
-@q{on-the-fly}, during the music, so that the setting only affects the
-second group of eighth notes.
+@code{Voice}s in the current staff.
@funindex \unset
-There is also an @code{\unset} command,
-@example
-\unset @var{context}.@var{prop}
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-which removes the definition of @var{prop}. This command removes
-the definition only if it is set in @var{context}, so
+The @code{\unset} command:
@example
-\set Staff.autoBeaming = ##f
+\unset @var{context}.@var{property}
@end example
@noindent
-introduces a property setting at @code{Staff} level. The setting also
-applies to the current @code{Voice}. However,
+is used to remove the definition of @var{property} from
+@var{context}. This command removes
+the definition only if it is set in @var{context}.
+Properties that have been set in enclosing contexts will
+not be altered by an unset in an enclosed context:
-@example
-\unset Voice.autoBeaming
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-does not have any effect. To cancel this setting, the @code{\unset}
-must be specified on the same level as the original @code{\set}. In
-other words, undoing the effect of @code{Staff.autoBeaming = ##f}
-requires
-@example
-\unset Staff.autoBeaming
-@end example
+@lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=2,fragment]
+\set Score.autoBeaming = ##t
+<<
+ {
+ \unset autoBeaming
+ e8 e e e
+ \unset Score.autoBeaming
+ e8 e e e
+ } \\ {
+ c8 c c c c8 c c c
+ }
+>>
+@end lilypond
Like @code{\set}, the @var{context} argument does not have to be
specified for a bottom context, so the two statements
@end example
@noindent
-are equivalent.
+are equivalent if the current bottom context is @code{Voice}.
@cindex \once
-Settings that should only apply to a single time-step can be entered
-with @code{\once}, for example in
+Preceding a @code{\set} command by @code{\once} makes the
+setting apply to only a single time-step:
@lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=2,fragment]
c4
c4
@end lilypond
-the property @code{fontSize} is unset automatically after the second
-note.
-
A full description of all available context properties is in the
-program reference, see
+internals reference, see
@ifhtml
@rinternals{Tunable context properties}.
@end ifhtml
Translation @expansion{} Tunable context properties.
@end ifnothtml
+@seealso
+
+Internals Reference:
+
+@rinternals{Tunable context properties}.
+
+
+@cindex grob properties
+@cindex properties, grob
+@funindex \override
@node The override command
@subsection The @code{\override} command
+There is a special type of context property: the grob
+description. Grob descriptions are named in @code{StudlyCaps}
+(starting with capital letters). They contain the
+@q{default settings} for a particular kind of grob as an
+association list. See @file{scm/@/define@/-grobs@/.scm}
+to see the settings for each grob description. Grob descriptions
+are modified with @code{\override}.
+
+@code{\override} is actually a shorthand;
+
+@example
+\override @var{context}.@var{GrobName} #'@var{property} = #@var{value}
+@end example
+
+@noindent
+is more or less equivalent to
+
+@c leave this long line -gp
+@example
+\set @var{context}.@var{GrobName} =
+ #(cons (cons '@var{property} @var{value})
+ <previous value of @var{context}.@var{GrobName}>)
+@end example
+
+The value of @code{context}.@code{GrobName} (the alist) is used to initialize
+the properties of individual grobs. Grobs have
+properties, named in Scheme style, with
+@code{dashed-words}. The values of grob properties change
+during the formatting process: formatting basically amounts
+to computing properties using callback functions.
+
+For example, we can increase the thickness of a note stem by
+overriding the @code{thickness} property of the @code{Stem}
+object:
+
+@lilypond[quote, verbatim, relative=2, fragment]
+c4 c
+\override Voice.Stem #'thickness = #3.0
+c4 c
+@end lilypond
+
+If no context is specified in an @code{\override}, the bottom
+context is used:
+
+@lilypond[quote, verbatim, relative=2, fragment]
+{ \override Staff.Stem #'thickness = #3.0
+ <<
+ {
+ e4 e
+ \override Stem #'thickness = #0.5
+ e4 e
+ } \\ {
+ c4 c c c
+ }
+ >>
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+@funindex \revert
+@cindex reverting overrides
+@cindex overrides, reverting
+
+The effects of @code{\override} can be undone by @code{\revert}:
+
+@lilypond[quote, verbatim, relative=2, fragment]
+c4
+\override Voice.Stem #'thickness = #3.0
+c4 c
+\revert Voice.Stem #'thickness
+c4
+@end lilypond
+
+The effects of @code{\override} and @code{\revert} apply to all
+grobs in the affected context from the current time forward:
+
+@lilypond[quote, verbatim, relative=2, fragment]
+{
+ <<
+ {
+ e4
+ \override Staff.Stem #'thickness = #3.0
+ e4 e e
+ } \\ {
+ c4 c c
+ \revert Staff.Stem #'thickness
+ c4
+ }
+ >>
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+@funindex \once
+@cindex overriding for only one moment
+
+@code{\once} can be used with @code{\override}
+to affect only the current time step:
+
+@lilypond[quote, verbatim, relative=2, fragment]
+{
+ <<
+ {
+ \override Stem #'thickness = #3.0
+ e4 e e e
+ } \\ {
+ c4
+ \once \override Stem #'thickness = #3.0
+ c4 c c
+ }
+ >>
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+
+@ignore
Commands which change output generally look like
@example
We demonstrate how to glean this information from the notation manual
and the program reference.
+@end ignore
+
+@seealso
+Internals Reference:
+@rinternals{Backend}
@node The tweak command
@subsection The @code{\tweak} command
@funindex \tweak
@cindex tweaking
+Changing grob properties
+with @code{\override} causes the changes to apply to all of the
+given grobs in the context at the moment the change applies.
+Sometimes, however, it is desirable to have changes apply to just
+one grob, rather than to all grobs in the affected context. This is
+accomplished with the @code{\tweak} command, which has the following
+syntax:
+
+@example
+\tweak #'@code{grob-property} #@code{value}
+@end example
+
+The @code{\tweak} command applies to the object that immediately
+follows @code{value} in the music stream.
+
+@ignore
In some cases, it is possible to take a short-cut for tuning
graphical objects. For objects that are created directly from
an item in the input file, you can use the @code{\tweak} command.
For example:
-@lilypond[relative=2,verbatim]
+@lilypond[relative=2,verbatim,quote]
< c
\tweak #'color #red
d
-^
@end lilypond
-@cindex chord, modifying one note in
+
But the main use of the @code{\tweak} command is to modify just
one of a number of notation elements which start at the same musical
moment, like the notes of a chord, or tuplet brackets which start
at the same time.
-For an introduction to the syntax and uses of the tweak command
-see @rlearning{Tweaking methods}.
-
The @code{\tweak} command sets a property in the following object
directly, without requiring the grob name or context to be
specified. For this to work, it is necessary for the @code{\tweak}
\tweak #'color #red c4
@end lilypond
+@end ignore
+
+For an introduction to the syntax and uses of the tweak command
+see @rlearning{Tweaking methods}.
+
When several similar items are placed at the same musical moment,
the @code{\override} command cannot be used to modify just one of
them -- this is where the @code{\tweak} command must be used.
@c TODO add examples of these
-@noindent
-and @code{\tweak} may be used to modify any single occurrence of
-these items.
+@cindex chord, modifying one note in
-Notably the @code{\tweak} command cannot be used to modify stems,
-beams or accidentals directly, since these are generated later by
-note heads, rather than by music elements in the input stream.
-Nor can a @code{\tweak} command be used to modify clefs or time
-signatures, since these become separated from any preceding
-@code{\tweak} command in the input stream by the automatic
-insertion of extra elements required to specify the context.
+In this example, the color of one note head and the type of another
+note head are modified within a single chord:
-But the @code{\tweak} command can be used as an alternative to
-the @code{\override} command to modify those notational elements
-that do not cause any additional implicit elements to be added
-before them in the music stream. For example, slurs may be
-modified in this way:
+@lilypond[relative=2,verbatim,quote]
+< c
+ \tweak #'color #red
+ d
+ g
+ \tweak #'duration-log #1
+ a
+> 4
+@end lilypond
+
+@code{\tweak} can be used to modify slurs:
@lilypond[verbatim,quote,relative=1]
c-\tweak #'thickness #5 ( d e f)
@end lilypond
-Also several @code{\tweak} commands may be placed before a
+
+For the @code{\tweak} command to work, it must
+remain immediately adjacent to the object to which it is
+to apply after the input file has been converted to a music stream.
+At times, LilyPond may insert additional items into the music stream
+during the parsing process. For example, when a note that is not
+explicitly part of a chord will be placed in a chord by LilyPond,
+so notes to be modified with @code{\tweak} must be placed inside
+a chord construct:
+
+@lilypond[relative=2,verbatim,quote]
+\tweak #'color #red c4
+<\tweak #'color #red c>4
+@end lilypond
+
+The @code{\tweak} command cannot be used to modify any item
+that does not appear explicitly in the input file. In particular
+it cannot be used to modify stems,
+beams or accidentals directly, since these are generated later by
+note heads, rather than by music elements in the input stream.
+Nor can @code{\tweak} be used to modify clefs or time
+signatures, since these become separated from any preceding
+@code{\tweak} command in the input stream by the automatic
+insertion of extra elements required to specify the context.
+
+Several @code{\tweak} commands may be placed before a
notational element -- all affect it:
@lilypond[verbatim,quote,relative=1]
The music stream which is generated from a section of an input file,
including any automatically inserted elements, may be examined,
-see @ref{Displaying music expressions}. This may be helpful in
-determining what may be modified by a @code{\tweak} command.
+see @rextend{Displaying music expressions}. This may be helpful in
+determining what may be modified by a @code{\tweak} command, or
+in determining how to adjust the input to make a @code{\tweak}
+apply.
@seealso
Learning Manual:
@rlearning{Tweaking methods}.
-Notation Reference:
-@ref{Displaying music expressions}.
+Extending:
+@rextend{Displaying music expressions}.
@knownissues
@cindex tweaking control points
@cindex control points, tweaking
-The @code{\tweak} command cannot be used to modify the control
-points of just one of several ties in a chord, other than the first
-one encountered in the input file.
+The @code{\tweak} command will apply to only the first of several
+generated ties in a chord.
@node set versus override
@subsection @code{\set} vs. @code{\override}
+TODO -- This section is probably unnecessary now.
+
+@ignore
We have seen two methods of changing properties: @code{\set} and
@code{\override}. There are actually two different kinds of
properties.
-Contexts can have properties, which are usually named in
-@code{studlyCaps}. They mostly control the translation from
-music to notation, eg. @code{localKeySignature} (for determining
-whether to print accidentals), @code{measurePosition} (for
-determining when to print a bar line). Context properties can
-change value over time while interpreting a piece of music;
-@code{measurePosition} is an obvious example of
-this. Context properties are modified with @code{\set}.
-
-There is a special type of context property: the element
-description. These properties are named in @code{StudlyCaps}
-(starting with capital letters). They contain the
-@q{default settings} for said graphical object as an
-association list. See @file{scm/@/define@/-grobs@/.scm}
-to see what kind of settings there are. Element descriptions
-may be modified with @code{\override}.
-
-@code{\override} is actually a shorthand;
-
-@example
-\override @var{context}.@var{name} #'@var{property} = #@var{value}
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-is more or less equivalent to
-
-@c leave this long line -gp
-@example
-\set @var{context}.@var{name} #'@var{property} = #(cons (cons '@var{property} @var{value}) <previous value of @var{context})
-@end example
-
-The value of @code{context} (the alist) is used to initialize
-the properties of individual grobs. Grobs also have
-properties, named in Scheme style, with
-@code{dashed-words}. The values of grob properties change
-during the formatting process: formatting basically amounts
-to computing properties using callback functions.
-
@code{fontSize} is a special property: it is equivalent to
entering @code{\override ... #'font-size} for all pertinent
objects. Since this is a common change, the special
property (modified with @code{\set}) was created.
+@end ignore
@node Useful concepts and properties
@section Useful concepts and properties
@menu
* Input modes::
* Direction and placement::
+* Context layout order::
* Distances and measurements::
* Staff symbol properties::
* Spanners::
be determined automatically by LilyPond, but in some cases it may
be desirable to force a particular direction or placement.
-@strong{Default actions}
+@strong{Articulation direction indicators}
By default some directions are always up or always down (e.g.
dynamics or fermata), while other things can alternate between
@c TODO Add table showing these
-@strong{Context layout order}
-
-Contexts are normally positioned in a system from top to bottom
-in the order in which they are encountered. Note, however, that
-a context will be created implicitly if a command is encountered
-when there is no suitable context available to contain it. When
-contexts are nested, the outer context will exclude inner contexts
-which are not included in its @qq{accepts} list; excluded contexts
-will be repositioned below the outer context.
-
-The default order in which contexts are laid out and the
-@qq{accepts} list can be changed, see @ref{Aligning contexts}.
-
-@strong{Articulation direction indicators}
-
-When adding articulations to notes the direction indicator,
-@code{^} (meaning @qq{up}), @code{_} (meaning @qq{down}) or
-@code{-} (meaning @qq{use default direction}), can usually be
-omitted, in which case @code{-} is assumed. But a direction
-indicator is @strong{always} required before
+The default action may be overridden by prefixing the articulation
+by a @emph{direction indicator}. Three direction indicators are
+available: @code{^} (meaning @qq{up}), @code{_} (meaning @qq{down})
+and @code{-} (meaning @qq{use default direction}). The direction
+indicator can usually be omitted, in which case @code{-} is assumed,
+but a direction indicator is @strong{always} required before
@itemize
@item @code{\tweak} commands
@item articulation shortcuts, e.g. @code{-.}, @code{->}, @code{--}
@end itemize
-These indications affect only the next note.
+Direction indicators affect only the next note:
@lilypond[verbatim,quote,relative=2]
c2( c)
@end lilypond
+@node Context layout order
+@subsection Context layout order
+
+@cindex contexts, layout order
+
+Contexts are normally positioned in a system from top to bottom
+in the order in which they are encountered in the input file. When
+contexts are nested, the outer context will include inner nested
+contexts as specified in the input file, provided the inner contexts
+are included in the outer context's @qq{accepts} list. Nested
+contexts which are not included in the outer context's @qq{accepts}
+list will be repositioned below the outer context rather than nested
+within it.
+
+Note that a context will be silently created implicitly if a command
+is encountered when there is no suitable context available to
+contain it. This can give rise to unexpected new staves or scores.
+
+The default order in which contexts are laid out and the
+@qq{accepts} list can be changed, see @ref{Aligning contexts}.
+
+@seealso
+Usage Manual:
+@rprogram{An extra staff appears}.
+
@node Distances and measurements
@subsection Distances and measurements
@seealso
-Internals Reference: @rinternals{TextSpanner},
-@rinternals{Glissando}, @rinternals{VoiceFollower},
+Internals Reference:
+@rinternals{TextSpanner},
+@rinternals{Glissando},
+@rinternals{VoiceFollower},
@rinternals{TrillSpanner},
@rinternals{line-spanner-interface}.
where there is no line break, or after a line break.
Alternatively, these eight combinations may be specified
-by pre-defined functions, defined in @file{scm/output-lib.scm},
+by pre-defined functions, defined in @file{scm/@/output@/-lib@/.scm},
where the last three columns indicate whether the layout objects
will be visible in the positions shown at the head of the columns:
on-the-fly for every graphic object, but it is possible to
override these:
-@c FIXME Complete
+@c TODO Complete
@lilypond[relative=2,ragged-right,verbatim,fragment]
e2 \glissando f
\once \override Glissando #'(bound-details right Y) = #-2
Notation Reference:
@ref{Explaining the Internals Reference},
-@ref{Modifying properties},
-@ref{Interfaces for programmers}.
+@ref{Modifying properties}.
Installed Files:
@file{scm/@/define@/-grobs@/.scm}.
Snippets:
@rlsr{Tweaks and overrides}.
+Extending:
+@rextend{Interfaces for programmers}.
+
Internals Reference:
@rinternals{All layout objects}.
@node Vertical grouping of grobs
@subsection Vertical grouping of grobs
-@c FIXME Expand this section
+@c TODO Expand this section
The VerticalAlignment and VerticalAxisGroup grobs work together.
VerticalAxisGroup groups together different grobs like Staff, Lyrics,
It is not possible to modify shapes of ties or slurs by changing
the @code{control-points} property if there are more than one at
the same musical moment, not even by using the @code{\tweak}
-command.
+command. However, the @code{tie-configuration} property of
+@code{TieColumn} can be overridden to set start line and direction
+of ties as required.
+@node Using music functions
+@section Using music functions
+
+@c TODO -- add @seealso, etc. to these subsections
+
+Where tweaks need to be reused with different music expressions, it
+is often convenient to make the tweak part of a music function.
+In this section, we discuss only @emph{substitution} functions, where
+the object is to substitute a variable into a piece of LilyPond
+input code. Other more complex functions are described in
+@rextend{Music functions}.
+
+@menu
+* Substitution function syntax::
+* Common argument types::
+* Substitution function examples::
+@end menu
+
+@node Substitution function syntax
+@subsection Substitution function syntax
+
+Making a function that substitutes a variable into LilyPond
+code is easy. The general form of these functions is
+
+@example
+function =
+#(define-music-function (parser location @var{var1} @var{var2}...@var{vari}... )
+ (@var{var1-type?} @var{var2-type?}...@var{vari-type?}...)
+ #@{
+ @emph{...music...}
+ #@})
+@end example
+
+@noindent
+where
+
+@multitable @columnfractions .33 .66
+@item @var{vari} @tab @var{i}th variable
+@item @var{vari-type?} @tab type of @var{i}th variable
+@item @var{...music...} @tab normal LilyPond input, using
+ variables as @code{#$var1}, etc.
+@end multitable
+
+Common variable types are described in @ref{Common argument types}.
+A more complete description of variable types is found in
+@rextend{Music function syntax}. The complete list of defined variable
+types is found in the @var{type-p-name-alist} entry of
+@file{scm/lily.scm}.
+
+@c TODO -- find an automatic way of documenting the type-p-name-alist
+
+The @code{parser} and @code{location} arguments are mandatory,
+and are used in some advanced situations as described in
+@rextend{Music function syntax}. For substitution functions, just be sure
+to include them.
+
+@seealso
+
+Notation Reference:
+@ref{Common argument types}.
+
+Extending LilyPond:
+@rextend{Music function syntax}.
+
+@node Common argument types
+@subsection Common argument types
+
+In order to allow for error checking, the type of each argument
+that is passed to a music function must be defined. Some of the
+common types of variables are shown in the table below.
+
+The following input types may be used as variables in a music
+function. This list is not exhaustive;
+more information about possible variable types
+can be found in @rextend{Music function syntax}.
+
+@multitable @columnfractions .33 .66
+@headitem Input type @tab @var{vari-type?} notation
+@item Integer @tab @code{integer?}
+@item Float (decimal number) @tab @code{number?}
+@item Text string @tab @code{string?}
+@item Markup @tab @code{markup?}
+@item Music expression @tab @code{ly:music?}
+@item A Scheme pair @tab @code{pair?}
+@end multitable
+
+@seealso
+
+Extending LilyPond:
+@rextend {Music function syntax}.
+
+Installed Files:
+@file{lily/music-scheme.cc},
+@file{scm/c++.scm}.
+
+
+@node Substitution function examples
+@subsection Substitution function examples
+
+This section introduces some substitution function examples. These
+are not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to demonstrate some
+of the possibilities of simple substitution functions.
+
+In the first example, a function is defined that simplifies
+setting the padding of a TextScript:
+
+@lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
+padText = #(define-music-function (parser location padding) (number?)
+ #{
+ \once \override TextScript #'padding = #$padding
+ #})
+
+\relative c''' {
+ c4^"piu mosso" b a b
+ \padText #1.8
+ c4^"piu mosso" d e f
+ \padText #2.6
+ c4^"piu mosso" fis a g
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+In addition to numbers, we can use music expressions such
+as notes for arguments to music functions:
+
+@lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
+custosNote = #(define-music-function (parser location note)
+ (ly:music?)
+ #{
+ \once \override Voice.NoteHead #'stencil =
+ #ly:text-interface::print
+ \once \override Voice.NoteHead #'text =
+ \markup \musicglyph #"custodes.mensural.u0"
+ \once \override Voice.Stem #'stencil = ##f
+ $note
+ #})
+
+{ c' d' e' f' \custosNote g' }
+@end lilypond
+
+Substitution functions with multiple arguments can be defined:
+
+@lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
+tempoPadded = #(define-music-function (parser location padding tempotext)
+ (number? string?)
+#{
+ \once \override Score.MetronomeMark #'padding = $padding
+ \tempo \markup { \bold $tempotext }
+#})
+
+\relative c'' {
+ \tempo \markup { "Low tempo" }
+ c4 d e f g1
+ \tempoPadded #4.0 #"High tempo"
+ g4 f e d c1
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+@seealso
+