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3.1 Input modes
The way in which the notation contained within an input file is
interpreted is determined by the current input mode. In general,
there are two ways of specifying the mode: a long form, e.g.
\chordmode, and a short form, e.g. \chords. The long
form is typically used when supplying input to a variable or when
entering input directly into an explicitly created context. The short
form implicitly creates a context of the correct type for the input and
passes the input directly to it. It is useful in simple situations
when there is no requirement to explicitly create the receiving context.
Chord mode
This is activated with the \chordmode command, and causes
input to be interpreted with the syntax of chord notation, see
Chord notation. Music in chord mode is rendered as chords on a staff
when entered into a Staff context, as chord names when entered
into a ChordNames context or as fretboards when entered into
a FretBoards context.
Chord mode is also activated with the \chords command. This
also causes the following input to be interpreted with the syntax of
chord notation but in addition it implicitly creates a new
ChordNames context and renders the input into it as chord names,
see Printing chord names.
Drum mode
This is activated with the \drummode command, and causes
input to be interpreted with the syntax of drum notation, see
Basic percussion notation. Music in drum mode is rendered as
percussion notes when entered into a DrumStaff context.
Drum mode is also activated with the \drums command. This
also causes the following input to be interpreted with the syntax of
drum notation but in addition it implicitly creates a new
DrumStaff context and renders the input into it as percussion
notes, see Basic percussion notation.
Figure mode
This is activated with the \figuremode command, and causes
input to be interpreted with the syntax of figured bass, see
Entering figured bass. Music in figure mode is rendered as
figured bass when entered into a FiguredBass context or a
Staff context.
Figure mode is also activated with the \figures command.
This also causes the following input to be interpreted with the
figured bass syntax but in addition it implicitly creates a new
FiguredBass context and renders the input into it as figured
bass, see Introduction to figured bass.
Fret and tab modes
There are no special input modes for entering fret and tab symbols.
To create tab diagrams, enter notes or chords in note mode and
render them in a TabStaff context, see
Default tablatures.
To create fret diagrams above a staff, enter notes or chords in either
note mode or chord mode and render them in a FretBoards context,
see Automatic fret diagrams. Alternatively, fret diagrams can be
entered as markup above the notes using the \fret-diagram
command, see Fret diagram markups.
Lyrics mode
This is activated with the \lyricmode command, and causes
input to be interpreted as lyric syllables with optional durations
and associated lyric modifiers, see Vocal music. Input in
lyric mode is rendered as lyric syllables when entered into a
Lyrics context.
Lyric mode is also activated with the \lyrics command. This
also causes the following input to be interpreted as lyric syllables
but in addition it implicitly creates a new Lyrics context and
renders the input into it as lyric syllables.
Lyric mode is also activated with the \addlyrics command. This
also implicitly creates a new Lyrics context and in addition it
adds an implicit \lyricsto command which associates the following
lyrics with the preceding music, see Automatic syllable durations.
Markup mode
This is activated with the \markup command, and causes
input to be interpreted with the syntax of markup, see
Text markup commands.
Note mode
This is the default mode or it may be activated with the
\notemode command. Input is interpreted as pitches,
durations, markup, etc and typeset as musical notation on a staff.
It is not normally necessary to specify note mode explicitly, but it may be useful to do so in certain situations, for example if you are in lyric mode, chord mode or any other mode and want to insert something that only can be done with note mode syntax.
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