same note head and opposite stem direction are automatically
merged, but notes with different note heads or the same stem
direction are not. Rests opposite a stem in a different voice
-are shifted vertically.
+are shifted vertically. The following example shows three
+different circumstances, on beats 1 and 3 in bar 1 and beat 1
+in bar 2, where the automatic merging fails.
@lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=2]
<<
@end lilypond
Notes with different note heads may be merged, with the
-exception of half-note heads and quarter-note heads:
+exception of half-note heads and quarter-note heads, as shown
+below. Here the note heads on beat 1 of bar 1 are now merged:
@lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=2]
<<
>>
@end lilypond
-Note heads with different dots may be merged:
+Note heads with different dots as shown in beat 2 of bar 1 may be
+also be merged:
@lilypond[quote,relative=2,verbatim]
<<
The half note and eighth note at the start of the second measure
-are incorrectly merged because @code{\mergeDifferentlyHeadedOn}
-cannot successfully complete the merge when three or more notes
-line up in the same column, and in this case a warning is given.
-To allow the merge to work properly a @code{\shift} must be applied
-to the note that should not be merged. Here, @code{\shiftOn} is
-applied to move the top @notation{g} out of the column, and
-@code{\mergeDifferentlyHeadedOn} then works properly.
+are incorrectly merged because the automatic merge cannot
+successfully complete the merge when three or more notes line up in
+the same note column, and in this case the merged note head is
+incorrect. To allow the merge to select the correct note head
+a @code{\shift} must be applied to the note that should not be
+merged. Here, @code{\shiftOn} is applied to move the top
+@notation{g} out of the column, and @code{\mergeDifferentlyHeadedOn}
+then works properly.
@lilypond[quote,relative=2,verbatim]
<<
four) have @code{\shiftOn}. @code{\shiftOnn} and
@code{\shiftOnnn} define further shift levels.
-Notes are only merged if they have opposing stem directions (e.g. in
-@code{Voice} 1 and 2).
+Notes are only merged if they have opposing stem directions (as
+they have, for example, in voices one and two by default or when
+the stems are explicitly set in opposite directions).
@predefined
Learning Manual:
@rlearning{Multiple notes at once},
@rlearning{Voices contain music},
-@rlearning{Collisions of objects}.
+@rlearning{Real music example}.
Snippets:
@rlsr{Simultaneous notes}.