4.4.1 Flexible vertical spacing within systems

Three separate mechanisms control the flexible vertical spacing within systems, one for each of the following categories:

The height of each system is determined in two steps. First, all of the staves are spaced according to the amount of space available. Then, the non-staff lines are distributed between the staves.

Note that the spacing mechanisms discussed in this section only control the vertical spacing of staves and non-staff lines within individual systems. The vertical spacing between separate systems, scores, markups, and margins is controlled by \paper variables, which are discussed in Flexible vertical spacing \paper variables.

LilyPond Notation Reference v2.25.14 (development-branch).