@node Compiling a file
@subsection Compiling a file
-The first example demonstrates how to start working with LilyPond.
+@qq{Compiling} is the term used for processing an input text file
+in LilyPond format to produce a file which can be printed and
+(optionally) a MIDI file which can be played. The first example
+shows what a simple input text file looks like.
+
To create sheet music, we write a text file that specifies the
notation. For example, if we write:
}
@end lilypond
-@warning{Every piece of LilyPond input needs to have
-@strong{@{ curly braces @}} placed around the input. The braces
+@warning{Notes and lyrics in LilyPond input must always be
+surrounded by @strong{@{ curly braces @}}. 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
is ignored while parsing, so it has no effect on the printed
output. There are two types of comments. The percent symbol
@code{%} introduces a line comment; anything after @code{%} 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. However, block comments do not @q{nest}.
-This means that you cannot place a block comment inside another
-block comment. If you try, the first @code{%@}} will terminate
-@emph{both} block comments. The following
-fragment shows possible uses for comments:
+that line is ignored. By convention, a line comment is placed
+@emph{above} the code it refers to.
+
+@example
+a4 a a a
+% this comment refers to the Bs
+b2 b
+@end example
+
+A block comment marks a whole section of music input as a comment.
+Anything that is enclosed in @code{%@{} and @code{%@}} is ignored.
+However, block comments do not @q{nest}. This means that you
+cannot place a block comment inside another block comment. If you
+try, the first @code{%@}} will terminate @emph{both} block
+comments. The following fragment shows possible uses for
+comments:
@example
% notes for twinkle twinkle follow
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
+layout. The alteration (@notation{flat}, @notation{natural sign} 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
@cindex phrasing slurs
@subheading Phrasing slurs
-Music Glossary: @rglos{phrasing}, @rglos{legato}.
+Music Glossary: @rglos{slurs}, @rglos{phrasing}.
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.
+@code{\(} and @code{\)}. You can have both @notation{slurs}
+and phrasing slurs at the same time, but you cannot have
+simultaneous slurs or simultaneous phrasing slurs.
@lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2]
a8(\( ais b c) cis2 b'2 a4 cis,\)
@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.
+the beginning of the first expression. If 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'' {
vocal scores. These staff groups each form another
type of context, one that generates the brace at the
left end of every system and also controls the extent
-of barlines.
+of bar lines.
@seealso
Music Glossary: @rglos{chord}.
-@notation{Chords} can be made by surrounding pitches with single
-angle brackets. Note that all the notes in a chord must have the
-same duration, and that duration is placed after the closing
-bracket.
+We saw earlier how notes can be combined into @notation{chords} by
+indicating they are simultaneous by enclosing them in double angle
+brackets. However, the normal way of indicating a chord is to
+surround the pitches with @emph{single} angle brackets. Note that
+all the notes in a chord must have the same duration, and that the
+duration is placed after the closing bracket.
@lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2]
r4 <c e g>4 <c f a>2
Think of chords as almost equivalent to single notes:
almost everything you can attach to a single note can be attached
-to a chord, and everything must go @emph{outside} the angle
-brackets. For example, you can combine markings like beams and
+to a chord, and everything must go @emph{outside} the angle
+brackets. For example, 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]
was used to write the file:
@example
-\version "2.11.23"
+\version "2.11.38"
@end example
@noindent
underneath the @ref{Version number}.
@example
-\version "2.11.23"
+\version "2.11.38"
\header @{
title = "Symphony"
composer = "Me"
+
projects / lilypond.git / blobdiff