[lilypond.git] / Documentation / user / fretted-strings.itely

@c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*-
@ignore
    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.
@end ignore

@c \version "2.11.51"

@node Fretted string instruments
@section Fretted string instruments

@lilypondfile[quote]{fretted-headword.ly}

This section discusses several aspects of music notation that are unique
to fretted string instruments.

@cindex tablature
@cindex guitar tablature

@menu
* Common notation for fretted strings::  
* Guitar::                      
* Banjo::                       
@end menu

@node Common notation for fretted strings
@subsection Common notation for fretted strings

This section discusses common notation that is unique
to fretted string instruments.

@menu
* References for fretted strings::  
* String number indications::   
* Default tablatures::          
* Custom tablatures::           
* Fret diagrams::               
* Right-hand fingerings::       
@end menu

@node References for fretted strings
@subsubsection References for fretted strings

Music for fretted string instruments is normally notated on
a single staff, either in traditional music notation or in
tablature.  Sometimes the two types are combined, and it is
especially common in popular music to use chord diagrams above
a staff of traditional notation.  The guitar and the banjo are
transposing instruments, sounding an octave lower than written. 
Scores for these instruments should use the @code{"treble_8"} clef. 
Some other elements pertinent to fretted string instruments 
are covered elsewhere:

@itemize
@item Fingerings are indicated with @ref{Fingering instructions}.

@item Instructions for @notation{Laissez vibrer} ties
as well as ties on arpeggios and tremolos is described in
@ref{Ties}.

@item Instructions on handling multiple voices is described 
in @ref{Collision resolution}. 

@end itemize

@seealso

Notation Reference:
@ref{Instrument names},
@ref{Writing music in parallel},
@ref{Fingering instructions},
@ref{Ties},
@ref{Arpeggio},
@ref{List of articulations},
@ref{Clef}.

@node String number indications
@subsubsection String number indications

@cindex String numbers

The string on which a note should be played may be indicated by
appending @code{\@var{number}} to a note inside a chord construct
@code{<>}.

@warning{String numbers @strong{must} be defined inside a chord
construct even if there is only a single note.}

@lilypond[verbatim,quote,relative=0]
\clef "treble_8"
<c\5>4 <e\4> <g\3>2
<c,\5 e\4 g\3>1
@end lilypond

When fingerings and string indications are used together, their
placement is controlled by the order in which the two items appear
in the code:

@lilypond[verbatim,quote,relative=1]
\clef "treble_8"
<g\3-0>2
<g-0\3>
@end lilypond

@snippets

@lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,texidoc,doctitle]
{controlling-the-placement-of-chord-fingerings.ly}

@lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,texidoc,doctitle]
{allowing-fingerings-to-be-printed-inside-the-staff.ly}

@seealso

Notation Reference:
@ref{Fingering instructions}.

Snippets:
@rlsr{Fretted strings}.

Internals Reference:
@rinternals{StringNumber},
@rinternals{Fingering}.


@node Default tablatures
@subsubsection Default tablatures
@cindex Tablatures, basic
@cindex Tablatures, default

Tablature notation is used for notating music for plucked string
instruments.  Pitches are not denoted with note heads, but by
numbers indicating on which string and fret a note must be played.  
LilyPond offers limited support for tablature.

The string number associated with a note is given as a backslash
followed by a number.  By default, string 1 is the highest, 
and the tuning defaults to the standard guitar tuning (with 6 strings).  
The notes are printed as tablature, by using @code{TabStaff} and
@code{TabVoice} contexts

@lilypond[quote,ragged-right,fragment,verbatim]
\new TabStaff {
  a,4\5 c'\2 a\3 e'\1
  e\4 c'\2 a\3 e'\1
}
@end lilypond

@funindex minimumFret
@cindex fret


When no string is specified for a note, the note is assigned to
the lowest string that can generate the note with a fret number
greater than or equal to @code{minimumFret} is selected.  The
default value for @code{minimumFret} is 0.


@lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim]
\new StaffGroup <<
   \new Staff \relative c {
     \clef "treble_8"
     c16 d e f g4
     c,16 d e f g4
   }
   \new TabStaff \relative c {
     c16 d e f g4
     \set TabStaff.minimumFret = #5
     c,16 d e f g4
   }
>>
@end lilypond

@snippets

The direction of stems is controlled the same way in tablature as
in traditional notation. Beams can be made horizontal:

@lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim]
\new TabStaff {
  \relative c {
    g16 b d g
    b d g b
    \stemDown
    \override Beam #'damping = #100000
    g,,16 b d g
    b d g b
  }
}
@end lilypond

Polyphony is created the same way in a @code{TabStaff} as in a
regular staff.

@lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim]
upper = \relative c' {
        \time 12/8
        \key e \minor
        \voiceOne
        r4. r8 e, fis g16 b g e e' b c b a g fis e
}

lower = \relative c {
        \key e \minor
        \voiceTwo
        r16 e d c b a g4 fis8 e fis g a b c  
}

\score {
  <<
    \new StaffGroup = "tab with traditional" <<
      \new Staff = "guitar traditional" <<
            \clef "treble_8"
            \context Voice = "upper" \upper
            \context Voice = "lower" \lower
      >>
      \new TabStaff = "guitar tab" << 
            \context TabVoice = "upper"  \upper 
            \context TabVoice = "lower"  \lower 
      >>
    >>
  >>
}
@end lilypond

@seealso

Notation Reference:
@ref{Stems}.

Snippets:
@rlsr{Fretted strings}.

Internals Reference: 
@rinternals{TabNoteHead},
@rinternals{TabStaff},
@rinternals{TabVoice},
@rinternals{Beam}.

@knownissues

Chords are not handled in a special way, and hence the automatic
string selector may easily select the same string for two notes in
a chord.

In order to handle @code{\partcombine}, a @code{TabStaff} must use
specially-created voices:

@lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim]
melodia = \partcombine { e4 g g g }{ e4 e e e }
<<
  \new TabStaff <<
    \new TabVoice = "one" s1
    \new TabVoice = "two" s1
    \new TabVoice = "shared" s1
    \new TabVoice = "solo" s1
    { \melodia }
  >>
>>
@end lilypond


@node Custom tablatures
@subsubsection Custom tablatures
@cindex Tablatures, custom

You can change the tuning of the strings.  A string tuning is
given as a Scheme list with one integer number for each string,
the number being the pitch (measured in semitones relative to
middle C) of an open string.  The numbers specified for
@code{stringTunings} are the numbers of semitones to subtract or
add, starting the specified pitch by default middle C, in string
order.  LilyPond automatically calculates the number of strings by
looking at @code{stringTunings}.

In the next example, @code{stringTunings} is set for the pitches
e, a, d, and g.

@lilypond[quote,ragged-right,fragment,verbatim]
\new TabStaff <<
  \set TabStaff.stringTunings = #'(-5 -10 -15 -20)
  {
    a,4 c' a e' e c' a e'
  }
>>
@end lilypond

LilyPond comes with predefined string tunings for banjo, mandolin,
guitar and bass guitar.  Lilypond automatically sets the correct 
transposition for predefined tunings.  The following example is
for bass guitar, which sounds an octave lower than written.

@lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim]
<<
  \new Staff <<
    \clef "bass_8"
    \relative c, {
    c4 d e f
    }
  >>
  \new TabStaff <<
    \set TabStaff.stringTunings = #bass-tuning
    \relative c, {
    c4 d e f
    }
  >>
>>
@end lilypond

The default string tuning is @code{guitar-tuning} (the standard
EADGBE tuning).  Some other predefined tunings are
@code{guitar-open-g-tuning}, @code{mandolin-tuning} and
@code{banjo-open-g-tuning}.

@seealso

Snippets:
@rlsr{Fretted strings}.

The file @file{scm/@/output@/-lib@/.scm} contains the predefined string
tunings.

Internals Reference: @rinternals{Tab_note_heads_engraver}.

@knownissues

No guitar special effects have been implemented.



@node Fret diagrams
@subsubsection Fret diagrams
@cindex fret diagrams
@cindex chord diagrams

Fret diagrams can be added to music as a markup to the desired
note.  The markup contains information about the desired fret
diagram.  There are three different fret-diagram markup
interfaces: standard, terse, and verbose.  The three interfaces
produce equivalent markups, but have varying amounts of
information in the markup string.  Details about the markup
interfaces are found at @ref{Text markup commands}.

The following example shows the three fret-diagram markup
interfaces, along with examples of common tweaks.  For example,
the size of the verbose fret diagram is reduced to 0.75, and the
finger indications are specified to appear below the diagram.  The
terse diagram includes tweaks to specify placement of finger code
and color of dots.

@lilypond[verbatim,ragged-right,quote]
\new Voice {
  \clef "treble_8"
  d^\markup \fret-diagram #"6-x;5-x;4-o;3-2;2-3;1-2;"
  d d d
  fis^\markup \override #'(size . 0.75) {
    \override #'(finger-code . below-string) {
      \fret-diagram-verbose #'((place-fret 6 2 1) (barre 6 1 2)
                               (place-fret 5 4 3) 
                               (place-fret 4 4 4)
                               (place-fret 3 3 2) 
                               (place-fret 2 2 1)
                               (place-fret 1 2 1))
    }
  }
  fis fis fis
  c^\markup \override #'(dot-radius . 0.35) {
    \override #'(finger-code . in-dot) {
      \override #'(dot-color . white) {
        \fret-diagram-terse #"x;3-1-(;5-2;5-3;5-4;3-1-);"
      }
    }
  }
  c c c
}
@end lilypond

You can set a number of graphical properties according to your preference.
Details about the property interface to fret diagrams are found at
@rinternals{fret-diagram-interface}.


@seealso

Snippets:
@rlsr{Fretted strings}.

@node Right-hand fingerings
@subsubsection Right-hand fingerings

Right-hand fingerings @var{p-i-m-a} must be entered within a  
chord construct @code{<>} for them to be printed in the score, 
even when applied to a single note. 

@warning{There @strong{must} be a hyphen after the note and a space 
before the closing @code{>}.}

@lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=0]
\clef "treble_8"
<c-\rightHandFinger #1 >4 
<e-\rightHandFinger #2 > 
<g-\rightHandFinger #3 > 
<c-\rightHandFinger #4 >
<c,-\rightHandFinger #1 e-\rightHandFinger #2 g-\rightHandFinger #3 c-\rightHandFinger #4 >1
@end lilypond

For convenience, you can abbreviate @code{\rightHandFinger} to something
short, for example @code{RH},

@example
#(define RH rightHandFinger)
@end example

@cindex fingerings, right hand, for guitar
@cindex right hand fingerings for guitar

@snippets

You may exercise greater control over the placement of right-hand 
fingerings by setting @code{strokeFingerOrientations},

@lilypond[quote,verbatim]
#(define RH rightHandFinger)
\relative c {
  \clef "treble_8"
  \set strokeFingerOrientations = #'(up down)
  <c-\RH #1 e-\RH #2 g-\RH #3 c-\RH #4 > 4
  \set strokeFingerOrientations = #'(up right down)
  <c-\RH #1 e-\RH #2 g-\RH #3 c-\RH #4 > 4
  \set strokeFingerOrientations = #'(left)
  <c-\RH #1 e-\RH #2 g-\RH #3 c-\RH #4 > 2
}
@end lilypond

This example combines left-hand fingering, string indication, and 
right-hand fingering

@lilypond[quote,verbatim]
#(define RH rightHandFinger)
\relative c {
  \clef "treble_8"
  <c-3\5-\RH #1 >4 
  <e-2\4-\RH #2 > 
  <g-0\3-\RH #3 > 
  <c-1\2-\RH #4 >
}
@end lilypond

@seealso

Snippets:
@rlsr{Fretted strings}.

Internals Reference: 
@rinternals{StrokeFinger}.


@node Guitar
@subsection Guitar

@c TODO Make a snippet based on
@c http://www.nabble.com/Creating-a-nice-formatted-Chords-%2B-Lyrics-layout-for-guitar-players-to13829430.html
@c and include it somewhere -td

@menu
* Guitar tablatures::           
* Indicating position and barring::  
* Indicating harmonics and dampened notes::  
@end menu

@node Guitar tablatures
@subsubsection Guitar tablatures

@c TODO Add text
TBC

@node Indicating position and barring
@subsubsection Indicating position and barring

This example demonstrates how to include guitar position and
barring indications.

@lilypond[quote,ragged-right,fragment,verbatim,relative=0]
\clef "treble_8"
b16 d g b e
\textSpannerDown
\override TextSpanner #'bound-details #'left #'text = #"XII "
  g16\startTextSpan
  b16 e g e b g\stopTextSpan
e16 b g d
@end lilypond

@node Indicating harmonics and dampened notes
@subsubsection Indicating harmonics and dampened notes

Special note heads can be used to indicate dampened notes or 
harmonics.  Harmonics are normally further explained with a 
text markup.

@lilypond[quote,ragged-right,fragment,verbatim]
\relative c' {
  \clef "treble_8"
  \override Staff.NoteHead #'style = #'cross
  g8 a b c b4
  \override Staff.NoteHead #'style = #'harmonic-mixed
  d^\markup { \italic { \fontsize #-2 { "harm. 12" }}} <g b>1
}
@end lilypond

@seealso

Snippets:
@rlsr{Fretted strings}.

Notation Reference:
@ref{Special note heads},
@ref{Note head styles}.

@node Banjo
@subsection Banjo

@menu
* Banjo tablatures::            
@end menu

@node Banjo tablatures
@subsubsection Banjo tablatures
@cindex Banjo tablatures

LilyPond has basic support for the five-string banjo.  When making tablatures
for five-string banjo, use the banjo tablature format function to get
correct fret numbers for the fifth string:

@lilypond[quote,ragged-right,fragment,verbatim]
\new TabStaff <<
  \set TabStaff.tablatureFormat = #fret-number-tablature-format-banjo
  \set TabStaff.stringTunings = #banjo-open-g-tuning
  {
    \stemDown
    g8 d' g'\5 a b g e d' |
    g4 d''8\5 b' a'\2 g'\5 e'\2 d' |
    g4
  }
>>
@end lilypond

A number of common tunings for banjo are predefined in LilyPond:
@code{banjo-c-tuning} (gCGBD), @code{banjo-modal-tuning} (gDGCD),
@code{banjo-open-d-tuning} (aDF#AD) and @code{banjo-open-dm-tuning}
(aDFAD).

These tunings may be converted to four string banjo tunings using the
@code{four-string-banjo} function:

@example
\set TabStaff.stringTunings = #(four-string-banjo banjo-c-tuning)
@end example

@seealso

Snippets:
@rlsr{Fretted strings}.

The file @file{scm/@/output@/-lib@/.scm} contains predefined banjo tunings.