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Measure counts

Measure counts are a way to number consecutive measures, for example as an aid for musicians to count measures in written-out repeats. Using this feature requires adding the Measure_counter_engraver to a context type, usually Staff or Score.

\layout {
  \context {
    \Staff
    \consists Measure_counter_engraver
  }
}

\relative c' {
  \time 6/8
  \key e \minor
  r4 a8 b c dis
  \startMeasureCount
  \repeat unfold 3 {
    e8 b e g8. fis32 e dis8
  }
  \stopMeasureCount
  b'4. r
}

Broken measures are numbered in parentheses.

\layout {
  \context {
    \Staff
    \consists Measure_counter_engraver
  }
}

\relative c' {
  \time 6/8
  \key e \minor
  r4 a8 b c dis
  \startMeasureCount
  e8 b e g8. fis32 e dis8
  e8 b e \break g8. fis32 e dis8
  e8 b e g8. fis32 e dis8
  \stopMeasureCount
  b'4. r
}

Compressed multi-measure rests receive special treatment: the full measure range is shown.

\layout {
  \context {
    \Staff
    \consists Measure_counter_engraver
  }
  \context {
    \Voice
    \override MultiMeasureRestNumber.direction = #DOWN
  }
}

\compressMMRests {
  \key e \minor
  \startMeasureCount
  \new CueVoice {
    b4.( e'8) b8 r e' r
  }
  R1*2
  \stopMeasureCount
  g'2\> fis'2\!
}

Measure counters honor alternative numbering styles. If the style is numbers-with-letters, they render best with a textual font.

\layout {
  \context {
    \Score
    alternativeNumberingStyle = #'numbers-with-letters
  }
  \context {
    \Staff
    \consists Measure_counter_engraver
    \override MeasureCounter.Y-offset = 6
    \override MeasureCounter.font-encoding = #'latin1
    \override MeasureCounter.font-size = 1
  }
}

\relative c' {
  \startMeasureCount
  \repeat volta 2 {
    c8 d e f c d e f
  }
  \alternative {
    { e4 d c b }
    { g'4 g c2 }
  }
  \bar "|."
  \stopMeasureCount
}

Predefined commands

\startMeasureCount, \stopMeasureCount.

See also

Notation Reference: Modifying context plug-ins, Compressing empty measures, Breaks, Bar numbers.

Internals Reference: Measure_counter_engraver, MeasureCounter, measure-counter-interface.

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LilyPond Notation Reference v2.25.15 (development-branch).