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---

Predefined fret diagrams

Fret diagrams can be displayed using the FretBoards context. By default, the FretBoards context will display fret diagrams that are stored in a lookup table:

\include "predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly"
\new FretBoards {
  \chordmode {
    c1 d
  }
}

The default predefined fret diagrams are contained in the file predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly. Fret diagrams are stored based on the pitches of a chord and the value of stringTunings that is currently in use. predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly contains predefined fret diagrams only for guitar-tuning. Predefined fret diagrams can be added for other instruments or other tunings by following the examples found in predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly.

Fret diagrams for the ukulele are contained in the file predefined-ukulele-fretboards.ly.

\include "predefined-ukulele-fretboards.ly"

myChords = \chordmode { a1 a:m a:aug }

\new ChordNames {
  \myChords
}

\new FretBoards {
  \set Staff.stringTunings = #ukulele-tuning
  \myChords
}

Fret diagrams for the mandolin are contained in the file
predefined-mandolin-fretboards.ly.

\include "predefined-mandolin-fretboards.ly"

myChords = \chordmode { c1 c:m7.5- c:aug }

\new ChordNames {
  \myChords
}

\new FretBoards {
  \set Staff.stringTunings = #mandolin-tuning
  \myChords
}

Chord pitches can be entered either as simultaneous music or using chord mode (see Chord mode overview).

\include "predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly"
\new FretBoards {
  \chordmode { c1 }
  <c' e' g'>1
}

It is common that both chord names and fret diagrams are displayed together. This is achieved by putting a ChordNames context in parallel with a FretBoards context and giving both contexts the same music.

\include "predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly"
mychords = \chordmode {
  c1 f g
}

<<
  \new ChordNames {
    \mychords
  }
  \new FretBoards {
    \mychords
  }
>>

Predefined fret diagrams are transposable, as long as a diagram for the transposed chord is stored in the fret diagram table.

\include "predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly"
mychords = \chordmode {
  c1 f g
}

mychordlist = {
  \mychords
  \transpose c e { \mychords }
}
<<
  \new ChordNames {
    \mychordlist
  }
  \new FretBoards {
    \mychordlist
  }
>>

The predefined fret diagram table for guitar contains eight chords (major, minor, augmented, diminished, dominant seventh, major seventh, minor seventh, dominant ninth) for each of 17 keys.

The predefined fret diagram table for ukulele contains these chords plus an additional three chords (major sixth, suspended second, and suspended fourth).

See section Predefined fretboard diagrams for a complete list of the predefined fret diagrams. If there is no entry in the table for a chord, the FretBoards engraver calculates a fret diagram using the automatic fret diagram functionality, see section Automatic fret diagrams.

\include "predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly"
mychords = \chordmode {
  c1 c:maj9
}

<<
  \new ChordNames {
    \mychords
  }
  \new FretBoards {
    \mychords
  }
>>

Fret diagrams can be added to the fret diagram table. To add a diagram, you must specify the hash table for the diagram, the chord for the diagram, the tuning to be used, and a definition for the diagram. Normally, the hash table will be default-fret-table. The diagram definition can be either a \fret-diagram-terse definition string or a \fret-diagram-verbose marking list.

\include "predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly"

\storePredefinedDiagram #default-fret-table
                        \chordmode { c:maj9 }
                        #guitar-tuning
                        "x;3-2;o;o;o;o;"

mychords = \chordmode {
  c1 c:maj9
}

<<
  \new ChordNames {
    \mychords
  }
  \new FretBoards {
    \mychords
  }
>>

Different fret diagrams for the same chord name can be stored using different octaves of pitches. The different octave should be at least two octaves above or below the default octave, because the octaves above and below the default octave are used for transposing fretboards.

\include "predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly"

\storePredefinedDiagram #default-fret-table
                        \chordmode { c'' }
                        #guitar-tuning
                        #(offset-fret 2
                           (chord-shape 'bes guitar-tuning))

mychords = \chordmode {
  c1 c''
}

<<
  \new ChordNames {
    \mychords
  }
  \new FretBoards {
    \mychords
  }
>>

In addition to fret diagrams, LilyPond stores an internal list of chord shapes. The chord shapes are fret diagrams that can be shifted along the neck to different positions to provide different chords. Chord shapes can be added to the internal list and then used to define predefined fret diagrams. Because they can be moved to various positions on the neck, chord shapes will normally not contain any open strings. Like fret diagrams, chord shapes can be entered as either \fret-diagram-terse strings or \fret-diagram-verbose marking lists.

\include "predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly"

% Add a new chord shape

\addChordShape #'powerf #guitar-tuning "1-1;3-3;3-4;x;x;x;"

% add some new chords based on the power chord shape

\storePredefinedDiagram #default-fret-table
                        \chordmode { f'' }
                        #guitar-tuning
                        #(chord-shape 'powerf guitar-tuning)
\storePredefinedDiagram #default-fret-table
                        \chordmode { g'' }
                        #guitar-tuning
                        #(offset-fret 2
                           (chord-shape 'powerf guitar-tuning))

mychords = \chordmode {
  f1 f'' g g''
}

<<
  \new ChordNames {
    \mychords
  }
  \new FretBoards {
    \mychords
  }
>>

The graphical layout of a fret diagram can be customized according to user preference through the properties of the fret-diagram-interface. Details are found at fret-diagram-interface; see Fret diagrams explained and developed for an exhaustive example. For a predefined fret diagram, the interface properties belong to FretBoards.FretBoard.

Selected Snippets

Customizing fretboard fret diagrams

Fret diagram properties can be set through 'fret-diagram-details. For FretBoard fret diagrams, overrides are applied to the FretBoards.FretBoard object. Like Voice, FretBoards is a bottom-level context, and therefore can be omitted in property overrides.

\include "predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly"

\storePredefinedDiagram #default-fret-table \chordmode { c' }
                        #guitar-tuning
                        "x;1-1-(;3-2;3-3;3-4;1-1-);"

% shorthand
oo = #(define-music-function
       (grob-path value)
       (list? scheme?)
       #{ \once \override $grob-path = #value #})

<<
  \new ChordNames {
    \chordmode { c1 | c | c | d }
  }
  \new FretBoards {
    % Set global properties of fret diagram
    \override FretBoards.FretBoard.size = 1.2
    \override FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.finger-code = #'in-dot
    \override FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.dot-color = #'white
    \chordmode {
      c
      \oo FretBoard.size #1.0
      \oo FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.barre-type #'straight
      \oo FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.dot-color #'black
      \oo FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.finger-code #'below-string
      c'
      \oo FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.barre-type #'none
      \oo FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.number-type #'arabic
      \oo FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.orientation #'landscape
      \oo FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.mute-string "M"
      \oo FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.label-dir #LEFT
      \oo FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.dot-color #'black
      c'
      \oo FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.finger-code #'below-string
      \oo FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.dot-radius #0.35
      \oo FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.dot-position #0.5
      \oo FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.fret-count #3
      d
    }
  }
  \new Voice {
    c'1 | c' | c' | d'
  }
>>

Defining predefined fretboards for other instruments

Predefined fret diagrams can be added for new instruments in addition to the standards used for guitar. This file shows how this is done by defining a new string tuning and a few predefined fretboards for the Venezuelan cuatro.

This file also shows how fingerings can be included in the chords used as reference points for the chord lookup, and displayed in the fret diagram and the TabStaff, but not the music.

These fretboards are not transposable because they contain string information. This is planned to be corrected in the future.

% add FretBoards for the Cuatro
%   Note: This section could be put into a separate file
%      predefined-cuatro-fretboards.ly
%      and \included into each of your compositions

cuatroTuning = #`(,(ly:make-pitch 0 6 0)
                  ,(ly:make-pitch 1 3 SHARP)
		  ,(ly:make-pitch 1 1 0)
		  ,(ly:make-pitch 0 5 0))

dSix = { <a\4 b\1 d\3 fis\2> }
dMajor = { <a\4 d\1 d\3 fis \2> }
aMajSeven = { <a\4 cis\1 e\3 g\2> }
dMajSeven = { <a\4 c\1 d\3 fis\2> }
gMajor = { <b\4 b\1 d\3 g\2> }

\storePredefinedDiagram #default-fret-table \dSix
                        #cuatroTuning
                        "o;o;o;o;"
\storePredefinedDiagram #default-fret-table \dMajor
                        #cuatroTuning
                        "o;o;o;3-3;"
\storePredefinedDiagram #default-fret-table \aMajSeven
                        #cuatroTuning
                        "o;2-2;1-1;2-3;"
\storePredefinedDiagram #default-fret-table \dMajSeven
                        #cuatroTuning
                        "o;o;o;1-1;"
\storePredefinedDiagram #default-fret-table \gMajor
                        #cuatroTuning
                        "2-2;o;1-1;o;"

% end of potential include file /predefined-cuatro-fretboards.ly


#(set-global-staff-size 16)

primerosNames = \chordmode {
  d:6 d a:maj7 d:maj7
  g
}
primeros = {
  \dSix \dMajor \aMajSeven \dMajSeven
  \gMajor
}

\score {
  <<
    \new ChordNames {
      \set chordChanges = ##t
      \primerosNames
    }

    \new Staff {
      \new Voice \with {
        \remove "New_fingering_engraver"
      }
      \relative c'' {
        \primeros
      }
    }

    \new FretBoards {
      \set Staff.stringTunings = #cuatroTuning
%      \override FretBoard
%        #'(fret-diagram-details string-count) = 4
      \override FretBoard.fret-diagram-details.finger-code = #'in-dot
      \primeros
    }

    \new TabStaff \relative c'' {
      \set TabStaff.stringTunings = #cuatroTuning
      \primeros
    }

  >>

  \layout {
    \context {
      \Score
      \override SpacingSpanner.base-shortest-duration =
        \musicLength 16
    }
  }
  \midi { }
}

ChordChanges for FretBoards

FretBoards can be set to display only when the chord changes or at the beginning of a new line.

\include "predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly"

\paper { tagline = ##f }

myChords = \chordmode {
  c1 c1 \break
  \set chordChanges = ##t
  c1 c1 \break
  c1 c1
}

<<
  \new ChordNames { \myChords }
  \new FretBoards { \myChords }
  \new Staff { \myChords }
>>

Fretboards alternate tables

Alternate fretboard tables can be created. These would be used in order to have alternate fretboards for a given chord.

In order to use an alternate fretboard table, the table must first be created. Fretboards are then added to the table.

The created fretboard table can be blank, or it can be copied from an existing table.

The table to be used in displaying predefined fretboards is selected by the property \predefinedDiagramTable.

\include "predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly"

% Make a blank new fretboard table
#(define custom-fretboard-table-one
   (make-fretboard-table))

% Make a new fretboard table as a copy of default-fret-table
#(define custom-fretboard-table-two
   (make-fretboard-table default-fret-table))

% Add a chord to custom-fretboard-table-one
\storePredefinedDiagram #custom-fretboard-table-one
                        \chordmode {c}
                        #guitar-tuning
                        "3-(;3;5;5;5;3-);"

% Add a chord to custom-fretboard-table-two
\storePredefinedDiagram #custom-fretboard-table-two
                        \chordmode {c}
                        #guitar-tuning
                        "x;3;5;5;5;o;"

<<
  \chords {
    c1 | d1 |
    c1 | d1 |
    c1 | d1 |
  }
  \new FretBoards {
    \chordmode {
      \set predefinedDiagramTable = #default-fret-table
      c1 | d1 |
      \set predefinedDiagramTable = #custom-fretboard-table-one
      c1 | d1 |
      \set predefinedDiagramTable = #custom-fretboard-table-two
      c1 | d1 |
    }
  }
  \new Staff {
    \clef "treble_8"
    <<
      \chordmode {
        c1 | d1 |
        c1 | d1 |
        c1 | d1 |
      }
      {
        s1_\markup "Default table" | s1 |
        s1_\markup \column {"New table" "from empty"} | s1 |
        s1_\markup \column {"New table" "from default"} | s1 |
      }
    >>
  }
>>

See also

Notation Reference: Custom tablatures, Automatic fret diagrams, Chord mode overview, Predefined fretboard diagrams.

Installed Files: ly/predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly,
ly/predefined-guitar-ninth-fretboards.ly,
ly/predefined-ukulele-fretboards.ly,
ly/predefined-mandolin-fretboards.ly.

Snippets: Fretted strings.

Internals Reference: fret-diagram-interface.

---

[ << Specialist notation ]	[Top][Contents][Index]	[ General input and output >> ]
[ < Fret diagram markups ]	[ Up : Common notation for fretted strings ]	[ Automatic fret diagrams > ]

<< Back to Documentation Index

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