3.2 Piano templates

3.2.1 Solo piano

Here is a simple piano staff.

     \version "2.6.0"
     upper = \relative c'' {
        \clef treble
        \key c \major
        \time 4/4
     
        a b c d
     }
     
     lower = \relative c {
        \clef bass
        \key c \major
        \time 4/4
     
        a2 c
     }
     
     \score {
        \context PianoStaff <<
           \set PianoStaff.instrument = "Piano  "
           \context Staff = upper \upper
           \context Staff = lower \lower
        >>
        \layout { }
        \midi { \tempo 4=60 }
     }

3.2.2 Piano and melody with lyrics

Here is a typical song format: one staff with the melody and lyrics, with piano accompaniment underneath.

     \version "2.6.0"
     melody = \relative c'' {
        \clef treble
        \key c \major
        \time 4/4
     
        a b c d
     }
     
     text = \lyricmode {
        Aaa Bee Cee Dee
     }
     
     upper = \relative c'' {
        \clef treble
        \key c \major
        \time 4/4
     
        a b c d
     }
     
     lower = \relative c {
        \clef bass
        \key c \major
        \time 4/4
     
        a2 c
     }
     
     \score {
        <<
           \context Voice = mel {
               \autoBeamOff
               \melody
           }
           \lyricsto mel \new Lyrics \text
     
           \context PianoStaff <<
              \context Staff = upper \upper
              \context Staff = lower \lower
           >>
        >>
        \layout {
           \context { \RemoveEmptyStaffContext }
        }
        \midi { \tempo 4=60 }
     }

3.2.3 Piano centered lyrics

Instead of having a full staff for the melody and lyrics, you can place the lyrics between the piano staff (and omit the separate melody staff).

     \version "2.6.0"
     upper = \relative c'' {
        \clef treble
        \key c \major
        \time 4/4
     
        a b c d
     }
     
     lower = \relative c {
        \clef bass
        \key c \major
        \time 4/4
     
        a2 c
     }
     
     text = \lyricmode {
        Aaa Bee Cee Dee
     }
     
     \score {
       \context GrandStaff <<
         \context Staff = upper {
             \context Voice = singer \upper }
         \lyricsto "singer" \new Lyrics \text
         \context Staff = lower <<
           \clef bass
           \lower
         >>
       >>
       \layout {
         \context { \GrandStaff \accepts "Lyrics" }
         \context { \Lyrics \consists "Bar_engraver" }
       }
       \midi { \tempo 4=60 }
     }

3.2.4 Piano centered dynamics

Many piano scores have the dynamics centered between the two staffs. This requires a bit of tweaking to implement, but since the template is right here, you don't have to do the tweaking yourself.

     \version "2.6.0"
     upper = \relative c'' {
       \clef treble
       \key c \major
       \time 4/4
     
       a b c d
     }
     
     lower = \relative c {
       \clef bass
       \key c \major
       \time 4/4
     
       a2 c
     }
     
     dynamics = {
       s2\fff\> s4
       s\!\pp
     }
     
     pedal = {
       s2\sustainDown s2\sustainUp
     }
     
     \score {
       \context PianoStaff <<
         \context Staff=upper \upper
         \context Dynamics=dynamics \dynamics
         \context Staff=lower <<
           \clef bass
           \lower
         >>
         \context Dynamics=pedal \pedal
       >>
       \layout {
         \context {
           \type "Engraver_group_engraver"
           \name Dynamics
           \alias Voice % So that \cresc works, for example.
           \consists "Output_property_engraver"
     
           minimumVerticalExtent = #'(-1 . 1)
           pedalSustainStrings = #'("Ped." "*Ped." "*")
           pedalUnaCordaStrings = #'("una corda" "" "tre corde")
     
           \consists "Piano_pedal_engraver"
           \consists "Script_engraver"
           \consists "Dynamic_engraver"
           \consists "Text_engraver"
     
           \override TextScript #'font-size = #2
           \override TextScript #'font-shape = #'italic
           \override DynamicText #'extra-offset = #'(0 . 2.5)
           \override Hairpin #'extra-offset = #'(0 . 2.5)
     
           \consists "Skip_event_swallow_translator"
     
           \consists "Axis_group_engraver"
         }
         \context {
           \PianoStaff
           \accepts Dynamics
           \override VerticalAlignment #'forced-distance = #7
         }
       }
     }
     \score {
       \context PianoStaff <<
         \context Staff=upper << \upper \dynamics >>
         \context Staff=lower << \lower \dynamics >>
         \context Dynamics=pedal \pedal
       >>
       \midi {
         \context {
           \type "Performer_group_performer"
           \name Dynamics
           \consists "Piano_pedal_performer"
         }
         \context {
           \PianoStaff
           \accepts Dynamics
         }
       }
     }

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