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2.4.2 Guitar

Most of the notational issues associated with guitar music are covered sufficiently in the general fretted strings section, but there are a few more worth covering here. Occasionally users want to create songbook-type documents having only lyrics with chord indications above them. Since LilyPond is a music typesetter, it is not recommended for documents that have no music notation in them. A better alternative is a word processor, text editor, or, for experienced users, a typesetter like GuitarTeX.

Indicating position and barring  
Indicating harmonics and dampened notes  
Indicating power chords  
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[ < Guitar ][ Up : Guitar ][]

Indicating position and barring

This example demonstrates how to include guitar position and barring indications. 

\relative {
  \clef "treble_8"
  b,16 d g b e
  \textSpannerDown
  \override TextSpanner.bound-details.left.text = "XII "
  g16\startTextSpan
  b16 e g e b g\stopTextSpan
  e16 b g d
}

[image of music]

See also

Notation Reference: Text spanners.

Snippets: Fretted strings, Expressive marks.

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Indicating harmonics and dampened notes

Special note heads can be used to indicate dampened notes or harmonics. Harmonics are normally further explained with a text markup. 

\relative {
  \clef "treble_8"
  \override NoteHead.style = #'harmonic-mixed
  d'8^\markup { \italic \fontsize #-2 "harm. 12" } <g b>4
}

[image of music]

Dampened notes (also called dead notes) are supported within normal and tablature staves: 

music = \relative {
  < a\3 \deadNote c\2 a'\1 >4
  < b\3 \deadNote d\2 b'\1 >
  < c\3 \deadNote e\2 c'\1 >
  \deadNotesOn
  \tuplet 3/2 { g8 b e }
  \deadNotesOff
  < a,\3 c\2 e\1 >1
}
\new StaffGroup <<
  \new Staff {
    \clef "treble_8"
    \music
  }
  \new TabStaff {
    \music
  }
>>

[image of music]

Another playing technique (especially used on electric guitars) is called palm mute. The string is hereby partly muted by the palm of the striking hand (hence the name). LilyPond supports the notation of palm mute-style notes by changing the note head to a triangle shape. 

\new Voice { % Warning: explicit Voice instantiation is
             %    required to have palmMuteOff work properly
             %    when palmMuteOn comes at the beginning of
             %    the piece.
  \relative c, {
    \clef "G_8"
    \palmMuteOn
    e8^\markup { \musicglyph "noteheads.s2do"  = palm mute }
    < e b' e > e
    \palmMuteOff
    e e  \palmMute e e e |
    e8 \palmMute { e e e } e e e e |
    < \palmMute e b' e >8 \palmMute { e e e } < \palmMute e b' e >2
  }
}

[image of music]

See also

Snippets: Fretted strings.

Notation Reference: Special note heads, Note head styles.

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[ < Indicating harmonics and dampened notes ][ Up : Guitar ][]

Indicating power chords

Power chords and their symbols can be engraved in chord mode or as chord constructs. As an exception, the fifth is specified in these chord names, whereas it is usually left out in other chords (e.g., major or minor triads). 

ChordsAndSymbols = {
  \chordmode {
    e,,1:5
    a,,:5.8
    \set TabStaff.restrainOpenStrings = ##t
    \set minimumFret = #8
    c,:5
    f,:5.8
  }
  \set minimumFret = #2
  \set restrainOpenStrings = ##f
  <a, e> <a cis' e'>
  <g d' g'>
}
\score {
  <<
    \new ChordNames {
    \ChordsAndSymbols
    }
    \new Staff {
      \clef "treble_8"
      \ChordsAndSymbols
    }
    \new TabStaff {
      \ChordsAndSymbols
    }
  >>
}

[image of music]

See also

Music Glossary: power chord.

Notation Reference: Extended and altered chords, Printing chord names.

Snippets: Fretted strings.

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[ < Indicating harmonics and dampened notes ][ Up : Guitar ][]

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LilyPond — Notation Reference v2.23.82 (development-branch).