@cindex durations, of notes
@cindex note durations
+@cindex length of notes
+@cindex note lengths
@funindex \longa
+@funindex longa
@funindex \breve
+@funindex breve
@funindex \maxima
+@funindex maxima
-Durations are designated by numbers and dots.
-Durations are entered as their reciprocal values. For example, a
-quarter note is entered using a @code{4} (since it is a 1/4 note),
-and a half note is entered using a @code{2} (since it is a 1/2
-note). For notes longer than a whole you must use the
-@code{\longa} (a double breve) and @code{\breve} commands.
-Durations as short as 128th notes may be specified. Shorter values
-are possible, but only as beamed notes.
+Durations are designated by numbers and dots. Durations are entered
+as their reciprocal values. For example, a quarter note is entered
+using a @code{4} (since it is a 1/4 note), and a half note is entered
+using a @code{2} (since it is a 1/2 note). For notes longer than a
+whole you must use the @code{\longa} (a double breve) and
+@code{\breve} commands. Durations as short as 128th notes may be
+specified. Shorter values are possible, but only as beamed notes.
@c Two 64th notes are needed to obtain beams
@lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=2]
@cindex notes, dotted
@cindex dotted notes
+@cindex notes, double-dotted
+@cindex double-dotted notes
@funindex .
proportional notation, see @ref{Proportional notation}.
@funindex \dotsUp
+@funindex dotsUp
@funindex \dotsDown
+@funindex dotsDown
@funindex \dotsNeutral
+@funindex dotsNeutral
Dots are normally moved up to avoid staff lines, except in
polyphonic situations. Predefined commands are available to
Music Glossary:
@rglos{breve},
@rglos{longa},
+@rglos{maxima},
@rglos{note value},
@rglos{Duration names notes and rests}.
@cindex tuplets
@cindex triplets
+
@funindex \times
+@funindex times
Tuplets are made from a music expression by multiplying all the
durations with a fraction:
@end lilypond
@funindex \tupletUp
+@funindex tupletUp
@funindex \tupletDown
+@funindex tupletDown
@funindex \tupletNeutral
+@funindex tupletNeutral
The automatic placement of the tuplet bracket above or below the
notes may be overridden manually with predefined commands, for
@cindex durations, scaling
You can alter the duration of single notes, rests or chords by a
-fraction @code{N/M} by appending @code{*N/M} (or @code{*N} if
-@code{M} is 1) to the duration.
-This will not affect the appearance of the notes or rests
-produced, but the altered duration will be used in calculating the
-position within the measure and setting the duration in the MIDI
-output. Multiplying factors may be combined such as @code{*L*M/N}.
+fraction @code{N/M} by appending @code{*N/M} (or @code{*N} if @code{M}
+is 1) to the duration. This will not affect the appearance of the
+notes or rests produced, but the altered duration will be used in
+calculating the position within the measure and setting the duration
+in the MIDI output. Multiplying factors may be combined such as
+@code{*L*M/N}.
In the following example, the first three notes take up exactly
two beats, but no triplet bracket is printed.
@code{s1*23}.
@cindex compressing music
+
@funindex \scaleDurations
+@funindex scaleDurations
Longer stretches of music may be compressed by a fraction in the
same way, as if every note, chord or rest had the fraction as a
@unnumberedsubsubsec Ties
@cindex tie
+
@funindex ~
A tie connects two adjacent note heads of the same pitch. The tie
<c~ e g~ b> <c e g b>
@end lilypond
-@funindex \repeatTie
@cindex repeating ties
@cindex ties, repeating
@cindex volta brackets and ties
@cindex ties and volta brackets
+@funindex \repeatTie
+@funindex repeatTie
+
When a second alternative of a repeat starts with a tied note, you
have to specify the repeated tie as follows:
@cindex laissez vibrer
@cindex ties, laissez vibrer
+
@funindex \laissezVibrer
+@funindex laissezVibrer
@notation{L.v.} ties (@notation{laissez vibrer}) indicate that
notes must not be damped at the end. It is used in notation for
@end lilypond
@cindex ties, placement
+
@funindex \tieUp
+@funindex tieUp
@funindex \tieDown
+@funindex tieDown
@funindex \tieNeutral
+@funindex tieNeutral
The vertical placement of ties may be controlled, see
Predefined commands, or for details, see
@ref{Direction and placement}.
@cindex ties, appearance
+@cindex ties, dotted
+@cindex ties, dashed
+@cindex dashed ties
+@cindex dotted ties
+
@funindex \tieDotted
+@funindex tieDotted
@funindex \tieDashed
+@funindex tieDashed
@funindex \tieSolid
+@funindex tieSolid
Solid, dotted or dashed ties may be specified, see Predefined
commands.
-
-
@node Writing rests
@subsection Writing rests
@unnumberedsubsubsec Rests
@cindex rest
@cindex rest, entering durations
-@cindex maxima
-@cindex longa
-@cindex breve
+@cindex maxima rest
+@cindex longa rest
+@cindex breve rest
@funindex \rest
+@funindex rest
@funindex r
@funindex \maxima
+@funindex maxima
@funindex \longa
+@funindex longa
@funindex \breve
+@funindex breve
Rests are entered like notes with the note name @code{r}.
Durations longer than a whole rest use the predefined
@seealso
+Music Glossary:
+@rglos{breve},
+@rglos{longa},
+@rglos{maxima}.
+
Notation Reference:
@ref{Full measure rests}.
@cindex invisible rest
@cindex rest, invisible
@cindex spacer note
+@cindex spacer rest
+
@funindex s
@funindex \skip
+@funindex skip
An invisible rest (also called a @q{spacer rest}) can be entered
like a note with the note name@tie{}@code{s}:
@cindex rest, multi-measure
@cindex rest, full-measure
@cindex whole rest for a full measure
+@cindex rest, whole for a full measure
+
@funindex R
Rests for one or more full measures are entered like notes with
b2^"Tutti" b4 a4
@end lilypond
-The duration of full-measure rests is identical to the duration notation
-used for notes. The duration in a multi-measure rest must always be an
-integral number of measure-lengths, so augmentation
-dots or fractions must often be used:
+The duration of full-measure rests is identical to the duration
+notation used for notes. The duration in a multi-measure rest must
+always be an integral number of measure-lengths, so augmentation dots
+or fractions must often be used:
@lilypond[quote,fragment,verbatim]
\compressFullBarRests
R4*5*4 |
@end lilypond
-A full-measure rest is printed as either a whole
-or breve rest, centered in the measure, depending on the time
-signature.
+A full-measure rest is printed as either a whole or breve rest,
+centered in the measure, depending on the time signature.
@lilypond[quote,verbatim,fragment]
\time 4/4
\time 8/4
R1*2 |
@end lilypond
-@funindex \expandFullBarRests
-@funindex \compressFullBarRests
+
@cindex multi-measure rest, expanding
@cindex multi-measure rest, contracting
-By default a multi-measure rest is expanded in the printed score
-to show all the rest measures explicitly.
-Alternatively, a mult-measure rest can be shown as a single measure
-containing a multi-measure rest symbol, with the number of measures of rest
-printed above the measure:
+@funindex \expandFullBarRests
+@funindex expandFullBarRests
+@funindex \compressFullBarRests
+@funindex compressFullBarRests
+
+By default a multi-measure rest is expanded in the printed score to
+show all the rest measures explicitly. Alternatively, a mult-measure
+rest can be shown as a single measure containing a multi-measure rest
+symbol, with the number of measures of rest printed above the measure:
@lilypond[quote,fragment,verbatim]
% Default behavior
@cindex fermata on multi-measure rest
@cindex multi-measure rest, attaching fermata
+@funindex \fermataMarkup
+@funindex fermataMarkup
+
Markups can be added to multi-measure rests.
The predefined command @code{\fermataMarkup}
is provided for adding fermatas.
@rinternals{MultiMeasureRestText}.
+@cindex fingerings and multi-measure rests
+@cindex multi-measure rests and fingerings
+
@knownissues
If an attempt is made to use fingerings (e.g.,
@cindex time signature
@cindex meter
+
@funindex \time
+@funindex time
The time signature is set as follows:
\time 3/4 c2.
@end lilypond
-@cindex Time signature, visibility of
+@cindex time signature, visibility of
Time signatures are printed at the beginning of a piece
and whenever the time signature changes. If a change takes place
c c c c
@end lilypond
+@cindex time signature style
+@cindex meter style
+
@funindex \numericTimeSignature
+@funindex numericTimeSignature
@funindex \defaultTimeSignature
-@cindex time signature style
+@funindex defaultTimeSignature
The time signature symbol that is used in 2/2 and 4/4 time can be
changed to a numeric style:
@cindex pickup measure
@cindex measure, change length
@cindex measurePosition
+
@funindex \partial
+@funindex partial
Partial or pick-up measures, such as an anacrusis or upbeat, are
entered using the @code{\partial} command, with the syntax
@node Unmetered music
@unnumberedsubsubsec Unmetered music
-@funindex \cadenzaOn
-@funindex \cadenzaOff
@cindex bar lines, turning off
@cindex bar numbering, turning off
@cindex cadenza
@cindex unmetered music
+@funindex \cadenzaOn
+@funindex cadenzaOn
+@funindex \cadenzaOff
+@funindex cadenzaOff
+
Bar lines and bar numbers are calculated automatically. For
unmetered music (some cadenzas, for example), this is not desirable.
To turn off automatic calculation of bar lines and bar numbers,
@cindex double time signatures
@cindex signatures, polymetric
+@cindex time signatures, polymetric
+@cindex time signatures, double
@cindex polymetric signatures
@cindex meter, polymetric
+@funindex timeSignatureFraction
+@funindex \scaleDurations
+@funindex scaleDurations
+@funindex \times
+@funindex times
+
Polymetric notation is supported, either explicitly or by modifying
the visible time signature symbol and scaling the note durations.
@code{\times}, but does not create a tuplet bracket; see
@ref{Scaling durations}.
+@cindex beaming in polymetric music
+@cindex beaming in polymetric meter
+
In this example, music with the time signatures of 3/4, 9/8, and
10/8 are used in parallel. In the second staff, shown durations
are multiplied by 2/3, as 2/3 * 9/8 = 3/4, and in the third
@cindex notes, splitting
@cindex splitting notes
+@funindex Note_heads_engraver
+@funindex Completion_heads_engraver
+
Long notes which overrun bar lines can be converted automatically
to tied notes. This is done by replacing the
@code{Note_heads_engraver} with the
@node Showing melody rhythms
@unnumberedsubsubsec Showing melody rhythms
+@cindex melody rhythms, showing
+@cindex rhythms, showing melody
+
Sometimes you might want to show only the rhythm of a melody. This
can be done with the rhythmic staff. All pitches of notes on such a
staff are squashed, and the staff itself has a single line
>>
@end lilypond
+@cindex guitar chord charts
+@cindex strumming rhythms, showing
+@cindex guitar strumming rhythms, showing
+
+@funindex Pitch_squash_engraver
+@funindex \improvisationOn
+@funindex improvisationOn
+@funindex \improvisationOff
+@funindex improvisationOff
+
Guitar chord charts often show the strumming rhythms. This can
be done with the @code{Pitch_squash_engraver} and
@code{\improvisationOn}.
@cindex beams, manual
@cindex manual beams
+@cindex beams, setting rules for
+@cindex beams, custom rules for
+
+@funindex measureLength
+@funindex beatLength
+@funindex beatGrouping
+@funindex \autoBeamOn
+@funindex autoBeamOn
+@funindex \autoBeamOff
+@funindex autoBeamOff
@lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=2]
\time 2/4 c8 c c c
@code{beatGrouping}. Both the beaming rules and the context
properties can be overridden, see @ref{Setting automatic beam behavior}.
-@cindex autoBeamOn
-@cindex autoBeamOff
@warning{If beams are used to indicate melismata in songs, then automatic
beaming should be switched off with @code{\autoBeamOff} and the beams
@snippets
+@cindex line breaks and beams
+@cindex beams and line breaks
+
@funindex breakable
-@cindex break, line
-@cindex line breaks
@lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,ragged-right,texidoc,doctitle]
{beams-across-line-breaks.ly}
@node Setting automatic beam behavior
@unnumberedsubsubsec Setting automatic beam behavior
-@funindex autoBeaming
-@funindex autoBeamSettings
-@funindex (end * * * *)
-@funindex (begin * * * *)
@cindex automatic beams, tuning
@cindex tuning automatic beaming
@cindex autobeam
@cindex lyrics and beaming
+@funindex autoBeaming
+@funindex autoBeamSettings
+@funindex (end * * * *)
+@funindex (begin * * * *)
+@funindex measureLength
+@funindex beatLength
+@funindex beatGrouping
+@funindex \time
+@funindex time
+@funindex \set
+@funindex set
The placement of automatic beams is determined by the rules
described in @ref{Automatic beams}. There are two mutually
@lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,ragged-right,texidoc,doctitle]
{beam-endings-in-score-context.ly}
+@funindex \autoBeamOff
+@funindex autoBeamOff
+@funindex \autoBeamOn
+@funindex autoBeamOn
@predefined
-@funindex \autoBeamOff
@code{\autoBeamOff},
-@funindex \autoBeamOn
@code{\autoBeamOn}.
@endpredefined
+@cindex beam, last in score
+@cindex beam, last in polyphonic voice
+
@knownissues
If a score ends while an automatic beam has not been ended and is
@unnumberedsubsubsec Manual beams
@cindex beams, manual
+@cindex manual beams
+
@funindex ]
@funindex [
@end lilypond
+@funindex \noBeam
+@funindex noBeam
+
Individual notes may be marked with @code{\noBeam} to prevent them
from being beamed:
@unnumberedsubsubsec Feathered beams
@cindex beams, feathered
+
@funindex \featherDurations
+@funindex featherDurations
+@funindex grow-direction
Feathered beams are used to indicate that a small group of notes
should be played at an increasing (or decreasing) tempo, without
@code{featheredDurations} command which specifies the ratio
between the durations of the first and last notes in the group.
-The square brackets
-show the extent of the beam and the braces show
-which notes are to have their durations modified. Normally
-these would delimit the same group of notes, but this is not
-required: the two commands are independent.
+The square brackets show the extent of the beam and the braces show
+which notes are to have their durations modified. Normally these
+would delimit the same group of notes, but this is not required: the
+two commands are independent.
In the following example the eight 16th notes occupy exactly the
same time as a half note, but the first note is one half as long
@unnumberedsubsubsec Bar lines
@cindex bar lines
-@funindex \bar
@cindex measure lines
@cindex repeat bars
+@funindex \bar
+@funindex bar
+
Bar lines delimit measures, and are also used to indicate
repeats. Normally, simple bar lines are automatically inserted
into the printed output at places based on the current time
counter is not increased. To force a line break see
@ref{Line breaking}.
+@cindex manual bar lines
+@cindex manual measure lines
+@cindex bar lines, manual
+@cindex measure lines, manual
+
This and other special bar lines may be inserted manually at any
-point. When they coincide with the end of a measure they replace
-the simple bar line which would have been inserted there
-automatically. When they do not coincide
-with the end of a measure the specified bar line is inserted at that
-point in the printed output. Such insertions do not affect
-the calculation and placement of subsequent automatic bar lines.
+point. When they coincide with the end of a measure they replace the
+simple bar line which would have been inserted there automatically.
+When they do not coincide with the end of a measure the specified bar
+line is inserted at that point in the printed output. Such insertions
+do not affect the calculation and placement of subsequent automatic
+bar lines.
The simple bar line and five types of double bar line are available
for manual insertion:
@funindex whichBar
@funindex defaultBarType
+@funindex \bar
+@funindex bar
+@funindex bartype
The command @code{\bar }@var{bartype} is a shortcut for
@code{\set Timing.whichBar = }@var{bartype}. A bar line is
@cindex bar numbers
@cindex measure numbers
+@cindex numbers, bar
+@cindex numbers, measure
+
@funindex currentBarNumber
Bar numbers are typeset by default at the start of every line except
@snippets
-@funindex barNumberVisibility
@cindex bar numbers, regular spacing
+@funindex barNumberVisibility
+
Bar numbers can be typeset at regular intervals instead of just at
the beginning of every line. To do this the default behavior
must be overridden to permit bar numbers to be printed at places
Internals Reference: @rinternals{BarNumber}.
+@cindex bar number collision
+@cindex collision, bar number
+
@knownissues
Bar numbers may collide with the top of the
@unnumberedsubsubsec Bar and bar number checks
@cindex bar check
+@cindex bar number check
+@cindex measure check
+@cindex measure number check
+
@funindex barCheckSynchronize
@funindex |
-Bar checks help detect errors in the entered durations.
-A bar check may be entered using the bar symbol, @code{|},
-at any place where a bar line is expected to fall.
-If bar check lines are encountered at other places,
-a list of warnings is printed in the log file,
-showing the line numbers and lines
-in which the bar checks failed. In the next
-example, the second bar check will signal an error.
+Bar checks help detect errors in the entered durations. A bar check
+may be entered using the bar symbol, @code{|}, at any place where a
+bar line is expected to fall. If bar check lines are encountered at
+other places, a list of warnings is printed in the log file, showing
+the line numbers and lines in which the bar checks failed. In the
+next example, the second bar check will signal an error.
@example
\time 3/4 c2 e4 | g2 |
}
@end lilypond
+@funindex \barNumberCheck
+@funindex barNumberCheck
+
When copying large pieces of music, it can be helpful to check
that the LilyPond bar number corresponds to the original that you
are entering from. This can be checked with
@cindex rehearsal marks
@cindex mark, rehearsal
+
@funindex \mark
+@funindex mark
To print a rehearsal mark, use the @code{\mark} command
@cindex format, rehearsal mark
@cindex mark, rehearsal, style
@cindex mark, rehearsal, format
+@cindex rehearsal mark, manual
+@cindex mark, rehearsal, manual
+@cindex custom rehearsal mark
The style is defined by the property @code{markFormatter}. It is
a function taking the current mark (an integer) and the current
@cindex segno
@cindex coda
@cindex D.S al Fine
+@cindex fermata
+@cindex music glyphs
+@cindex glyphs, music
+
+@funindex \musicglyph
+@funindex musicglyph
Music glyphs (such as the segno sign) may be printed inside a
@code{\mark}
@node Grace notes
@unnumberedsubsubsec Grace notes
-@funindex \grace
@cindex ornaments
@cindex grace notes
@cindex appoggiatura
@cindex acciaccatura
+@funindex \grace
+@funindex grace
+
Grace notes are ornaments that are written out. Grace notes
are printed in a smaller font and take up no logical time
in a measure.
\new Staff { c2 \grace { g8[ b] } c2 } >>
@end lilypond
-@funindex \afterGrace
-
@cindex grace notes, following
+@funindex \afterGrace
+@funindex afterGrace
+
If you want to end a note with a grace, use the @code{\afterGrace}
command. It takes two arguments: the main note, and the grace
notes following the main note.
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