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Positioning multi-measure rests

Unlike ordinary rests, there is no predefined command to change the staff position of a multi-measure rest symbol of either form by attaching it to a note. However, in polyphonic music multi-measure rests in odd-numbered and even-numbered voices are vertically separated.

This snippet shows how positioning of multi-measure rests can be controlled.

\relative c'' {
  % Multi-measure rests by default are set under the fourth line.
  R1
  % They can be moved using an override.
  \override MultiMeasureRest.staff-position = -2
  R1
  \override MultiMeasureRest.staff-position = 0
  R1
  \override MultiMeasureRest.staff-position = 2
  R1
  \override MultiMeasureRest.staff-position = 3
  R1
  \override MultiMeasureRest.staff-position = 6
  R1
  \revert MultiMeasureRest.staff-position
  \break

  % In two Voices, odd-numbered voices are under the top line.
  << { R1 } \\ { a1 } >>
  % Even-numbered voices are under the bottom line.
  << { a1 } \\ { R1 } >>
  % Multi-measure rests in both voices remain separate.
  << { R1 } \\ { R1 } >>

  % Separating multi-measure rests in more than two voices
  % requires an override.
  << { R1 } \\ { R1 } \\
     \once \override MultiMeasureRest.staff-position = 0
     { R1 }
  >>

  % Using compressed bars in multiple voices requires another override
  % in all voices to avoid multiple instances being printed.
  \compressMMRests
  <<
    \revert MultiMeasureRest.direction
    { R1*3 } \\
    \revert MultiMeasureRest.direction
    { R1*3 }
  >>
}