@subheading Pitches
Music glossary: @rglos{pitch}, @rglos{interval}, @rglos{fourth},
-@rglos{scale}, @rglos{middle C}, @rglos{octave}.
+@rglos{scale}, @rglos{middle C}, @rglos{octave},
+@rglos{accidental}.
The easiest way to enter notes is by using @code{\relative} mode.
In this mode, the octave is chosen automatically by assuming the
@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.
+It is not necessary for the first note of the melody to start on
+the note which specifies the starting pitch. In the previous
+example, the first note -- the @code{d} -- is the closest D to
+middle C.
+
+By adding (or removing) quotes @code{'} or commas @code{,} from
+the @code{\relative c' @{} command, we can change the starting
+octave:
+
+@lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right]
+\relative c'' { % one octave above middle C
+ e c a c
+}
+@end lilypond
Relative mode can be confusing initially, but is the easiest way
to enter most melodies. Let us see how this relative calculation
if the note following a B is a C, D or F it will be assumed to be
above the B, and an A, G or F will be assumed to be below.
-@lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right,fragment,relative=2]
-b c % c is 1 staff space up, so is the c above
-b d % d is 2 up or 5 down, so is the d above
-b e % e is 3 up or 4 down, so is the e above
-b a % a is 4 up or 3 down, so is the a below
-b g % g is 5 up or 2 down, so is the g below
-b f % f is 6 up or 1 down, so is the f below
+@lilypond[verbatim,quote,ragged-right]
+\relative c'' {
+ b c % c is 1 staff space up, so is the c above
+ b d % d is 2 up or 5 down, so is the d above
+ b e % e is 3 up or 4 down, so is the e above
+ b a % a is 4 up or 3 down, so is the a below
+ b g % g is 5 up or 2 down, so is the g below
+ b f % f is 6 up or 1 down, so is the f below
+}
@end lilypond
Exactly the same happens even when any of these notes are
-sharpened or flatted (@rglos{accidentals} and the @rglos{key
-signature}) are @strong{totally ignored} in the calculation of
-relative position. Exactly the same staff space counting is done
-from a note at any other position on the staff.
+sharpened or flatted. @notation{Accidentals} are @strong{totally
+ignored} in the calculation of relative position. Precisely the
+same staff space counting is done from a note at any other
+position on the staff.
-To add intervals that are larger than four staff spaces, we can
+To add intervals that are larger than three staff spaces, 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.