4.7.12 Dynamics

Absolute dynamic marks are specified using an variable after a note: c4\ff. The available dynamic marks are \ppp, \pp, \p, \mp, \mf, \f, \ff, \fff, \fff, \fp, \sf, \sff, \sp, \spp, \sfz, and \rfz:

       c'\ppp c\pp c \p c\mp c\mf c\f c\ff c\fff
       c2\sf c\rfz

A crescendo mark is started with \< and terminated with \!. A decrescendo is started with \> and also terminated with \!. Because these marks are bound to notes, if you must use spacer notes if multiple marks during one note are needed:

       c''\< c''\!   d''\decr e''\rced
       << f''1 { s4 s4\< s4\! \>  s4\! } >>

      \property Staff.Hairpin \override #'minimum-length = #5

You can also use a text saying cresc. instead of hairpins. Here is an example how to do it:

       c4 \cresc c4 c c c \endcresc c4

You can also supply your own texts:

       \context Voice {
         \property Voice.crescendoText = \markup { \italic "cresc. poco" }
         \property Voice.crescendoSpanner = #'dashed-line
         a'2\< a a a\!\mf
       }

Predefined commands

\dynamicUp, \dynamicDown, \dynamicBoth.

See also

CrescendoEvent (lilypond-internals), DecrescendoEvent (lilypond-internals), and AbsoluteDynamicEvent (lilypond-internals).

Dynamics are objects of DynamicText (lilypond-internals) and Hairpin (lilypond-internals). Vertical positioning of these symbols is handled by the DynamicLineSpanner (lilypond-internals) object.

If you want to adjust padding or vertical direction of the dynamics, you must set properties for the DynamicLineSpanner (lilypond-internals) object.

This page is for LilyPond-2.0.3 (stable-branch). Report errors to <bug-lilypond@gnu.org>.