@node Staff notation
@section Staff notation
-@lilypondfile[quote,ragged-right,line-width=16\cm,staffsize=16]
-{staff-headword.ly}
+@lilypondfile[quote]{staff-headword.ly}
This section explains how to influence the staff appearance,
how to apply specific performance marks to single staves.
@menu
-* Displaying staves::
-* Modifying single staves::
+* Displaying staves::
+* Modifying single staves::
* Writing parts::
@end menu
staves into groups, which can be marked in the beginning of each
line with either a bracket or a brace.
-
-
@menu
-* Initiating new staves::
-* Grouping staves::
+* Instantiating new staves::
+* Grouping staves::
* Deeper nested staff groups::
@end menu
-@node Initiating new staves
-@subsubsection Initiating new staves
+@node Instantiating new staves
+@subsubsection Instantiating new staves
@cindex new staff
@cindex staff initiation
+@cindex staff instantiation
@cindex staff, new
+@cindex staff, single
+@cindex drum staff
+@cindex percussion staff
+@cindex Gregorian transciption staff
+@cindex rhythmic staff
+@cindex tabstaff
+@cindex tablature
+
+The lines of a staff (pl. staves) are produced by the @code{staff symbol}
+layout object. Staves are created with the @code{\new} or
+@code{\context} commands. For an explanation on these commands,
+see @ref{Creating contexts}.
+
+There are different predefined staff contexts available in Lilypond:
+
+@itemize
+@item
+The default is @code{Staff}:
+@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote]
+\relative c'' {
+ \new Staff { c d e f }
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+@item
+@code{DrumStaff} creates a five line staff set up for a typical drum set.
+It uses different names for each instrument. The instrument names have to
+be set using the @code{drummode}. See @ref{Percussion staves}.
+@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote]
+\new DrumStaff {
+ \drummode { cymc hh ss tomh }
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+@item
+@code{GregorianTranscriptionStaff} sets up a staff to notate modern
+Gregorian chant. It does not show bar lines.
+@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote]
+\relative c'' {
+ \new GregorianTranscriptionStaff { c d e f }
+}
+@end lilypond
-The lines of a staff are produced by a @code{staff symbol} layout object.
-LilyPond ensures that all music is printed on staff lines so if you just
-type in some notes, the staff symbol is added automatically to the output.
-This is just a shortcut to make the program usage more easy, but in most
-cases where you want to print more complex music on more than on staff
-it is better to create the staff explicitly at the beginning of your
-music inside of the @code{\score} environment.
+@item
+@code{RhythmicStaff} can be used to show the rhythm of some music. The
+notes are printed on one line regardless of their pitch, but the duration
+is preserved. See @ref{Showing melody rhythms}.
+@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote]
+\relative c'' {
+ \new RhythmicStaff { c d e f }
+}
+@end lilypond
-With the command @code{\new Staff @{ ... @}} you actually call a new
-Staff context that has already everything set up to the default
-engraving rules. @ref{Creating contexts} explains how different contexts
-are called.
+@item
+@code{TabStaff} creates by default a tabulature with six strings in
+standard guitar tuning. See @ref{Tablatures basic}.
+@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote]
+\relative c'' {
+ \new TabStaff { c d e f }
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+@end itemize
+
+@noindent
+Besides these staves there are two staff contexts specific for the notation
+of ancient music: @code{MensuralStaff} and @code{VaticanaStaff}. They are
+described in @ref{Pre-defined contexts}.
Once a staff is instantiated it can be started or stopped at every point
in the score. This is done with the commands @code{\startStaff} and
-@code{\stopStaff}. How to use it is shown in @ref{Staff symbol}.
+@code{\stopStaff}. How to use it is explained in @ref{Staff symbol}.
-Besides the default @code{Staff} context there are also
-specialized staff contexts for setting percussion, Guitar music,
-and ancient music.
-@c No need to mention all the other contexts?
-See @ref{Printing chord names}, @ref{Percussion staves},
-@ref{Tablatures basic}, @ref{Gregorian Chant contexts}, and
-@ref{Mensural contexts} for an explanation.
@seealso
-Music Glossary: @rglos{staff}, @rglos{staves}
+Music Glossary: @rglos{staff}, @rglos{staves}.
-Snippets: @lsrdir{Staff,Staff-notation}
+Notation Reference: @ref{Percussion staves},
+@ref{Tablatures basic}, @ref{Gregorian Chant contexts}, and
+@ref{Mensural contexts}.
+
+Snippets: @lsrdir{Staff,Staff-notation}.
-Internals Reference: @internalsref{Staff}
+Internals Reference: @internalsref{Staff}, @internalsref{DrumStaff},
+@internalsref{GregorianTranscriptionStaff}, @internalsref{RhythmicStaff},
+@internalsref{TabStaff}, @internalsref{MensuralStaff},
+@internalsref{VaticanaStaff}.
of the system start delimiter, but they have also influence on the
behaviour of the bar lines.
+Each staff group context sets the property
+@code{systemStartDelimiter} to one of the values
+@internalsref{SystemStartBar}, @internalsref{SystemStartBrace},
+and @internalsref{SystemStartBracket}. A fourth delimiter,
+@code{systemStartSquare}, is also available, but must be
+instantiated manually. The usage of this last delimiter is shown in the
+snippet section in @ref{Deeper nested staff groups}.
+
@itemize
@item
will be used: the group is started with a vertical line, and the
bar lines are not connected.
-@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote,relative=2]
- <<
- \new Staff { c1 c }
- \new Staff { c c }
- >>
+@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote]
+\relative c'' { <<
+ \new Staff { c1 c }
+ \new Staff { c c }
+>> }
@end lilypond
@item
In a @code{StaffGroup}, the bar lines will be drawn through
all the staves, and the group is started with a bracket.
-@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote,relative=2]
- \new StaffGroup
- <<
+@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote]
+\new StaffGroup {
+ \relative c'' <<
\new Staff { c1 c }
\new Staff { c c }
>>
+}
@end lilypond
@item
In a @code{ChoirStaff}, the group is
started with a bracket, but bar lines are not connected.
-@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote,relative=2]
- \new ChoirStaff
- <<
+@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote]
+\new ChoirStaff {
+ \relative c'' <<
\new Staff { c1 c }
\new Staff { c c }
>>
+}
@end lilypond
@item
In a @code{GrandStaff}, the group is started with a brace
at the left, and bar lines are connected between the staves.
-@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote,relative=2]
- \new GrandStaff
- <<
+@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote]
+\new GrandStaff {
+ \relative c'' <<
\new Staff { c1 c }
\new Staff { c c }
>>
+}
@end lilypond
@item
The @code{PianoStaff} behaves almost as the @code{GrandStaff} but is
optimized for setting piano music.
-@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote,relative=2]
- \new PianoStaff
- <<
+@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote]
+\new PianoStaff {
+ \relative c'' <<
\new Staff { c1 c }
\new Staff { c c }
>>
+}
@end lilypond
@end itemize
starting bracket. A group of same instruments or an instrument using
more than one staff is grouped with braces in a @code{GrandStaff}.
-Piano music is notated with the @code{PianoStaff} context, that produces
-a starting brace and conntects the bar lines between the systems.
+As the context names tell, @code{PianoStaff} is used for notating
+piano music and @code{ChoirStaff} for all kind of vocal ensemble music.
-Choral music (vocal music for more than one voice) is notated using the
-@code{ChoirStaff} context that produces a starting bracket but does not
-connect the bar lines between the staves so the lyrics will not collide
-with bar lines.
-Here is an example of an orchestral score using groupings. Note that the
-instrument names are omited here, see @ref{Instrument names} how to set
-them.
+@snippets
-@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote,relative=2]
- \score{
- <<
- \new StaffGroup %the woodwinds group
- <<
- \new Staff { c1 c }
- \new Staff { c c }
- \new Staff { c c }
- >>
- \new StaffGroup %the brass group
- <<
- \new Staff { c c }
- \new Staff { c c }
- \new GrandStaff %the horns need two staves
- <<
- \new Staff { c c }
- \new Staff {\clef bass c c }
- >>
- >>
- \new ChoirStaff
- <<
- \new Staff { c c }
- \new Staff {\clef alto c c }
- \new Staff {\clef bass c c }
- >>
- \new PianoStaff %for the piano
- <<
- \new Staff { c c }
- \new Staff {\clef bass c c }
- >>
- >>
- }
+@c FIXME: Graham will deal with this. -gp
+@c snippet 201
+To display a bracket even if there is only one staff, see
+@c @lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,ragged-right,texidoc]
+@c {staff,display-bracket-with-only-one-staff-in-a system.ly}
+@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote]
+\score {
+ \new StaffGroup <<
+ % Must be one lower than your actual amount off staff lines
+ \override StaffGroup.SystemStartBracket #'collapse-height = #4
+ \new Staff {
+ c'4 d' e' f'
+ }
+ >>
+ }
+ {
+ \new PianoStaff <<
+ \override PianoStaff.SystemStartBrace #'collapse-height = #4
+ \new Staff {
+ c'4 d' e' f'
+ }
+ >>
+ }
@end lilypond
+
@cindex mensurstriche layout
@cindex renaissance music
@cindex transcription of mensural music
@cindex mensural music, transcription of
-Other groupings may be achieved by changin various properties.
+
+@c FIXME: not yet in master
+@c @lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,ragged-right,texidoc]
+@c {mensurstriche-layout.ly}
+
+Other groupings may be achieved by changing various properties.
E.g., the
@q{Mensurstriche} layout common in Renaissance music, with
bar lines running between but not through the staves, can be
produced from a @code{StaffGroup} or @code{GrandStaff} context if
the bar lines are made transparent in the @code{Staff} itself:
-@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote,relative=2]
- global = {\override Staff.BarLine #'transparent = ##t
- s1 s
- %the final bar line is not interupted
- \once \override Staff.BarLine #'transparent = ##f
- \bar "|."}
- \new StaffGroup
- <<
- \new Staff {<< \global { c1 c } >>}
- \new Staff {<< \global { c c } >>}
- >>
+@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote]
+global = {\override Staff.BarLine #'transparent = ##t
+ s1 s
+ %the final bar line is not interupted
+ \once \override Staff.BarLine #'transparent = ##f
+ \bar "|."}
+\new StaffGroup
+\relative c'' <<
+ \new Staff {<< \global { c1 c } >>}
+ \new Staff {<< \global { c c } >>}
+>>
@end lilypond
-@c FIXME: Graham will deal with this. -gp
-@c snippet 201
-To display a bracket even if there is only one staff, see
-@c @lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,ragged-right,texidoc]
-@c {staff,display-bracket-with-only-one-staff-in-a system.ly}
-
@seealso
Music Glossary: @rglos{brace},
@node Deeper nested staff groups
@subsubsection Deeper nested staff groups
-The last section explained the grouping of staves and also the nesting
-of different types of staves together. So the @q{Horn section} in our
-example above is contained both in a @code{StaffGroup} and a
-@code{GrandStaff}.
+There are also two inner staff contexts named @code{InnerStaffGroup}
+and @code{InnerChoirStaffGroup} besides the grouping contexts mentioned
+in @ref{Grouping staves}. They behave in the same way as their simple
+counterparts, except that they are contained in another staff grouping
+context, thus producing one more bracket on top of the existing one.
+Note that @code{GrandStaff} and @code{PianoStaff} do not have any inner
+grouping contexts. They can both be inside any other staff context,
+including inner staff groups, though.
+
+Here is an example of an orchestral score using groupings and nesting
+of these groupings. Note that the instrument names are omited from the
+source code, see @ref{Instrument names} how to set them.
-Here about innerChoirStaff and innerStaffGroup
@cindex staff, nested
+@cindex staves, nested
+@cindex nesting of staves
-Staff groups can be nested, using the context
-@code{InnerStaffGroup} or @code{InnerChoirStaff}; see
-@c @lsr{staff,staff-brackets.ly}
-@c snippet 137
-@snippets
-
-More complex nesting can be accomplished using the property
-@code{systemStartDelimiterHierarchy}:
+@example
+\score @{ <<
+ \new StaffGroup %woodwinds
+ <<
+ \new Staff @{ c'1 d' @} %flute
+ \new InnerStaffGroup <<
+ \new Staff @{ c' d' @} %sax
+ \new Staff @{ c' d' @} %oboe
+ \new Staff @{ c' d' @} %English horn
+ >>
+ \new Staff @{ \clef bass c d @} %bassoon
+ >>
+ \new StaffGroup %the brass group
+ <<
+ \new Staff @{ c' d' @} %trumpet
+ \new Staff @{ \clef bass c d @} %trombone
+ \new GrandStaff %the horns need a GrandStaff (same instrument)
+ <<
+ \new Staff @{ c' d' @}
+ \new Staff @{ \clef bass c d @}
+ >>
+ >>
+ \new ChoirStaff %for setting vocal music
+ <<
+ \new Staff @{ c' d' @}
+ \new InnerChoirStaff <<
+ \new Staff @{ c' d' @}
+ \new Staff @{ c' d' @}
+ >>
+ \new Staff @{ c' d' @}
+ >>
+ \new PianoStaff %for the piano
+ <<
+ \new Staff @{ c' d' @}
+ \new Staff @{\clef bass c d @}
+ >>
+>> @}
+@end example
-@lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim]
-\new StaffGroup
-\relative <<
- \set StaffGroup.systemStartDelimiterHierarchy
- = #'(SystemStartSquare (SystemStartBracket a
- (SystemStartSquare b)) d)
- \new Staff { c1 }
- \new Staff { c1 }
- \new Staff { c1 }
- \new Staff { c1 }
- \new Staff { c1 }
->>
+@c no verbatim so instrument names are only in the music
+@lilypond[ragged-right,quote]
+\score { <<
+ \new StaffGroup %woodwinds
+ <<
+ \new Staff {\set Staff.instrumentName = "fl" c'1 d' } %flute
+ \new InnerStaffGroup <<
+ \new Staff { \set Staff.instrumentName = "sax" c' d' } %sax 1
+ \new Staff { \set Staff.instrumentName = "ob" c' d' } %sax 2
+ \new Staff { \set Staff.instrumentName = "ca" c' d' }
+ >>
+ \new Staff {\set Staff.instrumentName = "bs" \clef bass c d } %bassoon
+ >>
+ \new StaffGroup %the brass group
+ <<
+ \new Staff {\set Staff.instrumentName = "tr" c' d' } %trumpet
+ \new Staff {\set Staff.instrumentName = "tb" \clef bass c d } %trombone
+ \new GrandStaff %the horns need a GrandStaff (same instrument)
+ <<
+ \new Staff {\set Staff.instrumentName = "cor1" c' d' }
+ \new Staff {\set Staff.instrumentName = "cor2" \clef bass c d }
+ >>
+ >>
+ \new ChoirStaff %for setting vocal music
+ <<
+ \new Staff {\set Staff.instrumentName = "S" c' d' }
+ \new InnerChoirStaff <<
+ \new Staff {\set Staff.instrumentName = "A1" c' d' }
+ \new Staff {\set Staff.instrumentName = "A2" c' d' }
+ >>
+ \new Staff {\set Staff.instrumentName = "T" c' d' }
+ >>
+ \new PianoStaff %for the piano
+ <<
+ \new Staff { c' d' }
+ \new Staff {\clef bass c d }
+ >>
+>> }
@end lilypond
-Each staff group context sets the property
-@code{systemStartDelimiter} to one of the values
-@internalsref{SystemStartBar}, @internalsref{SystemStartBrace},
-and @internalsref{SystemStartBracket}. A fourth delimiter,
-@code{systemStartSquare}, is also available, but must be
-instantiated manually
+@snippets
+
+@lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,ragged-right,texidoc]
+{nesting-staves.ly}
+@seealso
+
Internals Reference: @internalsref{SystemStartBar},
@internalsref{SystemStartBrace}, @internalsref{SystemStartBracket},
@internalsref{systemStartDelimiterHierarchy}.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
@node Modifying single staves
@subsection Modifying single staves
@subsubsection Staff symbol
@cindex adjusting staff symbol
+@cindex drawing staff symbol
+@cindex stop staff lines
+@cindex start staff lines
+@cindex staff lines, amount of
+@cindex staff line, thickness of
+@cindex amount of staff lines
+@cindex thickness of staff lines
The layout object which draws the lines of a staff is called
@code{staff symbol}. The staff symbol may be tuned in the number,
@cindex thickness of staff lines, setting
@cindex number of staff lines, setting
+@snippets
+
+@c lilypondfile{Making-some-staff-lines-thicker-than-the-others.ly}
+@c snippet 277
+
@seealso
Music Glossary: @rglos{ossia}, @rglos{staff}, @rglos{Frenched staff}.