1.2.3.4 Polymetric notation

Alternating time signatures

Regularly alternating double time signatures are not supported explicitly, but they can be faked. In the next example, the double time signature is created with markup text, while the real time signature is set in the usual way with \time.

% Create 9/8 split into 2/4 + 5/8
tsMarkup = \markup {
  \override #'(baseline-skip . 2) \number {
    \column { "2" "4" }
    \vcenter "+"
    \bracket \column { "5" "8" }
  }
}

{
  \override Staff.TimeSignature #'stencil =
    #ly:text-interface::print
  \override Staff.TimeSignature #'text = #tsMarkup
  \time 9/8
  c'2 \bar ":" c'4 c'4.
  c'2 \bar ":" c'4 c'4.
}

Staves with different time signatures, equal measure lengths

This notation can be created by setting a common time signature for each staff but replacing the symbol manually by setting timeSignatureFraction to the desired fraction and scaling the printed durations in each staff to the common time signature. This done with \scaleDurations, which is used in a similar way to \times, but does not create a tuplet bracket, see Scaling durations.

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 staff, shown durations are multiplied by 3/5, as 3/5 * 10/8 = 3/4.

     
     \relative c' { <<
       \new Staff {
         \time 3/4
         c4 c c |
         c c c |
       }
       \new Staff {
         \time 3/4
         \set Staff.timeSignatureFraction = #'(9 . 8)
         \scaleDurations #'(2 . 3)
           \repeat unfold 6 { c8[ c c] }
       }
       \new Staff {
         \time 3/4
         \set Staff.timeSignatureFraction = #'(10 . 8)
         \scaleDurations #'(3 . 5) {
           \repeat unfold 2 { c8[ c c] }
           \repeat unfold 2 { c8[ c] } |
           c4. c4. \times 2/3 { c8 c c } c4
         }
       }
     >> }

Staves with different time signatures, unequal bar lengths

Each staff can be given its own independent time signature by moving the Timing_translator to the Staff context.

     
     \layout {
       \context {
         \Score
         \remove "Timing_translator"
         \remove "Default_bar_line_engraver"
       }
       \context {
         \Staff
         \consists "Timing_translator"
         \consists "Default_bar_line_engraver"
       }
     }
     
     % Now each staff has its own time signature.
     
     \relative c' <<
       \new Staff {
         \time 3/4
         c4 c c |
         c c c |
       }
       \new Staff {
         \time 2/4
         c4 c |
         c c |
         c c |
       }
       \new Staff {
         \time 3/8
         c4. |
         c8 c c |
         c4. |
         c8 c c |
       }
     >>

See also

Music Glossary: polymetric, polymetric time signature, meter.

Notation Reference: Scaling durations

Snippets: Rhythms.

Internals Reference: TimeSignature, Timing-translator, Staff.

Known issues and warnings

When using different time signatures in parallel, the spacing is aligned vertically, but bar lines distort the regular spacing.

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