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4.2.2 Setting the staff size

The default staff size is 20 points, which corresponds to a staff height of 7.03mm (one point is equal to 100/7227 of an inch, or 2540/7227mm). The staff size may be changed in three ways:

1. To set the staff size globally for all scores in a file, use set-global-staff-size.

   #(set-global-staff-size 14)
   

   The above example sets the global default staff size to 14pt (4.92mm) and scales all fonts accordingly.

   The function can also be used to set various staff sizes for different \book blocks:

   #(set-global-staff-size 30)
   \book {
     { c' }
   }
   
   #(set-global-staff-size 10)
   \book {
     { c' }
   }
   

2. To set the staff size for a single score within a book, use layout-set-staff-size inside that score’s \layout block:

   \score {
     …
     \layout {
       #(layout-set-staff-size 14)
     }
   }
   

3. To set the staff size for a single staff within a system, use the \magnifyStaff command. For example, traditionally engraved chamber music scores with piano often used 7mm piano staves while the other staves were typically between 3/5 and 5/7 as large (between 60% and 71%). To achieve the 5/7 proportion, use:

   \score {
     <<
       \new Staff \with {
         \magnifyStaff #5/7
       } { … }
       \new PianoStaff { … }
     >>
   }
   

   If you happen to know which fontSize you wish to use, you could use the following form:

   \score {
     <<
       \new Staff \with {
         \magnifyStaff #(magstep -3)
       } { … }
       \new PianoStaff { … }
     >>
   }
   

   To emulate the look of traditional engraving, it is best to avoid reducing the thickness of the staff lines.

Automatic font weight at different sizes

The Emmentaler font provides the set of Feta musical glyphs in eight different sizes; each one tuned for a different staff size. The smaller the glyph size, the “heavier” it becomes, so as to match the relatively thicker staff lines. Recommended glyphs sizes are listed in the following table:

font name	staff height (pt)	staff height (mm)	use
feta11	11.22	3.9	pocket scores
feta13	12.60	4.4
feta14	14.14	5.0
feta16	15.87	5.6
feta18	17.82	6.3	song books
feta20	20	7.0	standard parts
feta23	22.45	7.9
feta26	25.2	8.9

See also

Notation Reference: Selecting notation font size, The Emmentaler font.

Snippets: Spacing.

Known issues and warnings

When using \magnifyStaff only for some staves in a StaffGroup, BarLine grobs do not align any more, due to the changed BarLine properties thick-thickness, hair-thickness and kern.

\new StaffGroup
  <<
    \new Staff \with { \magnifyStaff #1/2 } { b1 \bar "|." }
    \new Staff { b }
  >>

You may want to cancel magnifying BarLine grobs, mimic them on the other staves or apply intermediate values for every Staff.

#(define bar-line-props
  '((BarLine thick-thickness)
    (BarLine hair-thickness)
    (BarLine kern)))

mus = { b1 \bar "|."}

\markup "Cancel \\magnifyStaff for bar lines:"
\new StaffGroup
  <<
    \new Staff
      \with {
        \magnifyStaff #1/2
        #(revert-props 'magnifyStaff 0 bar-line-props)
      }
      \mus
    \new Staff
      \mus
  >>

\markup "Mimic \\magnifyStaff on other staves:"
\new StaffGroup
  <<
    \new Staff
      \with { \magnifyStaff #1/2 }
      \mus
    \new Staff
      \with {
        #(scale-props 'magnifyStaff 1/2 #t bar-line-props)
      }
      \mus
  >>

\markup "Apply an intermediate value to all staves:"
\new StaffGroup
  <<
    \new Staff
      \with {
        \magnifyStaff #1/2
        #(scale-props 'magnifyStaff 3/2 #t bar-line-props)
      }
      \mus
    \new Staff
      \with {
        #(scale-props 'magnifyStaff 3/4 #t bar-line-props)
      }
      \mus
  >>