Staff notation

Staff notation


Adding ambitus per voice

Ambitus can be added per voice. In this case, the ambitus must be moved manually to prevent collisions.

\new Staff <<
  \new Voice \with {
    \consists "Ambitus_engraver"
  } \relative c'' {
    \override Ambitus.X-offset = #2.0
    \voiceOne
    c4 a d e
    f1
  }
  \new Voice \with {
    \consists "Ambitus_engraver"
  } \relative c' {
    \voiceTwo
    es4 f g as
    b1
  }
>>

[image of music]


Adding an extra staff

An extra staff can be added (possibly temporarily) after the start of a piece.

\score {
  <<
    \new Staff \relative c'' {
      c1 | c | c | c | c
    }
    \new StaffGroup \relative c'' {
      \new Staff {
        c1 | c
        <<
          {
            c1 | d
          }
          \new Staff {
            \once \omit Staff.TimeSignature
            c1 | b
          }
        >>
        c1
      }
    }
  >>
}

[image of music]


Adding an extra staff at a line break

When adding a new staff at a line break, some extra space is unfortunately added at the end of the line before the break (to fit in a key signature change, which will never be printed anyway). The workaround is to add a setting of Staff.explicitKeySignatureVisibility as is shown in the example.

\score {
  \new StaffGroup \relative c'' {
    \new Staff
    \key f \major
    c1 c^"Unwanted extra space" \break
    << { c1 | c }
       \new Staff {
         \key f \major
         \once \omit Staff.TimeSignature
         c1 | c
       }
    >>
    c1 | c^"Fixed here" \break
    << { c1 | c }
       \new Staff {
         \once \set Staff.explicitKeySignatureVisibility = #end-of-line-invisible
         \key f \major
         \once \omit Staff.TimeSignature
         c1 | c
       }
    >>
  }
}

[image of music]


Adding indicators to staves which get split after a break

This snippet defines the \splitStaffBarLine, convUpStaffBarLine and convDownStaffBarLine commands. These add arrows at a bar line, to denote that several voices sharing a staff will each continue on a staff of their own in the next system, or that voices split in this way recombine.

#(define-markup-command (arrow-at-angle layout props angle-deg length fill)
   (number? number? boolean?)
   (let* (
           (PI-OVER-180 (/ (atan 1 1) 34))
           (degrees->radians (lambda (degrees) (* degrees PI-OVER-180)))
           (angle-rad (degrees->radians angle-deg))
           (target-x (* length (cos angle-rad)))
           (target-y (* length (sin angle-rad))))
     (interpret-markup layout props
       (markup
        #:translate (cons (/ target-x 2) (/ target-y 2))
        #:rotate angle-deg
        #:translate (cons (/ length -2) 0)
        #:concat (#:draw-line (cons length 0)
                   #:arrow-head X RIGHT fill)))))


splitStaffBarLineMarkup = \markup \with-dimensions #'(0 . 0) #'(0 . 0) {
  \combine
  \arrow-at-angle #45 #(sqrt 8) ##t
  \arrow-at-angle #-45 #(sqrt 8) ##t
}

splitStaffBarLine = {
  \once \override Staff.BarLine.stencil =
  #(lambda (grob)
     (ly:stencil-combine-at-edge
      (ly:bar-line::print grob)
      X RIGHT
      (grob-interpret-markup grob splitStaffBarLineMarkup)
      0))
  \break
}

convDownStaffBarLine = {
  \once \override Staff.BarLine.stencil =
  #(lambda (grob)
     (ly:stencil-combine-at-edge
      (ly:bar-line::print grob)
      X RIGHT
      (grob-interpret-markup grob #{
        \markup\with-dimensions #'(0 . 0) #'(0 . 0) {
          \translate #'(0 . -.13)\arrow-at-angle #-45 #(sqrt 8) ##t
        }#})
      0))
  \break
}

convUpStaffBarLine = {
  \once \override Staff.BarLine.stencil =
  #(lambda (grob)
     (ly:stencil-combine-at-edge
      (ly:bar-line::print grob)
      X RIGHT
      (grob-interpret-markup grob #{
        \markup\with-dimensions #'(0 . 0) #'(0 . 0) {
          \translate #'(0 . .14)\arrow-at-angle #45 #(sqrt 8) ##t
        }#})
      0))
  \break
}


\paper {
  ragged-right = ##t
  short-indent = 10\mm
}

separateSopranos = {
  \set Staff.instrumentName = "AI AII"
  \set Staff.shortInstrumentName = "AI AII"
  \splitStaffBarLine
  \change Staff = "up"
}
convSopranos = {
  \convDownStaffBarLine
  \change Staff = "shared"
  \set Staff.instrumentName = "S A"
  \set Staff.shortInstrumentName = "S A"
}

sI = {
  \voiceOne
  \repeat unfold 4 f''2
  \separateSopranos
  \repeat unfold 4 g''2
  \convSopranos
  \repeat unfold 4 c''2
}
sII = {
  s1*2
  \voiceTwo
  \change Staff = "up"
  \repeat unfold 4 d''2
}
aI = {
  \voiceTwo
  \repeat unfold 4 a'2
  \voiceOne
  \repeat unfold 4 b'2
  \convUpStaffBarLine
  \voiceTwo
  \repeat unfold 4 g'2
}
aII = {
  s1*2
  \voiceTwo
  \repeat unfold 4 g'2
}
ten = {
  \voiceOne
  \repeat unfold 4 c'2
  \repeat unfold 4 d'2
  \repeat unfold 4 c'2
}
bas = {
  \voiceTwo
  \repeat unfold 4 f2
  \repeat unfold 4 g2
  \repeat unfold 4 c2
}

\score {
  <<
    \new ChoirStaff <<
      \new Staff = up \with {
        instrumentName = "SI SII"
        shortInstrumentName = "SI SII"
      } {
        s1*4
      }

      \new Staff = shared \with {
        instrumentName = "S A"
        shortInstrumentName = "S A"
      } <<
        \new Voice = sopI \sI
        \new Voice = sopII \sII
        \new Voice = altI \aI
        \new Voice = altII \aII
      >>
      \new Lyrics \with {
        alignBelowContext = up
      }
      \lyricsto sopII { e f g h }
      \new Lyrics \lyricsto altI { a b c d e f g h i j k l }

      \new Staff = men \with {
        instrumentName = "T B"
        shortInstrumentName = "T B"
      } <<
        \clef F
        \new Voice = ten \ten
        \new Voice = bas \bas
      >>
      \new Lyrics \lyricsto bas { a b c d e f g h i j k l }
    >>
  >>
  \layout {
    \context {
      \Staff \RemoveEmptyStaves
      \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-first = ##t
    }
  }
}

[image of music]


Adding orchestral cues to a vocal score

This shows one approach to simplify adding many orchestral cues to the piano reduction in a vocal score. The music function \cueWhile takes four arguments: the music from which the cue is to be taken, as defined by \addQuote, the name to be inserted before the cue notes, then either #UP or #DOWN to specify either \voiceOne with the name above the staff or \voiceTwo with the name below the staff, and finally the piano music in parallel with which the cue notes are to appear. The name of the cued instrument is positioned to the left of the cued notes. Many passages can be cued, but they cannot overlap each other in time.

cueWhile =
#(define-music-function
   (instrument name dir music)
   (string? string? ly:dir? ly:music?)
   #{
     \cueDuring $instrument #dir {
       \once \override TextScript.self-alignment-X = #RIGHT
       \once \override TextScript.direction = $dir
       <>-\markup { \tiny #name }
       $music
     }
   #})

flute = \relative c'' {
  \transposition c'
  s4 s4 e g
}
\addQuote "flute" { \flute }

clarinet = \relative c' {
  \transposition bes
  fis4 d d c
}
\addQuote "clarinet" { \clarinet }

singer = \relative c'' { c4. g8 g4 bes4 }
words = \lyricmode { here's the lyr -- ics }

pianoRH = \relative c'' {
  \transposition c'
  \cueWhile "clarinet" "Clar." #DOWN { c4. g8 }
  \cueWhile "flute" "Flute" #UP { g4 bes4 }
}
pianoLH = \relative c { c4 <c' e> e, <g c> }

\score {
  <<
    \new Staff {
      \new Voice = "singer" {
        \singer
      }
    }
    \new Lyrics {
      \lyricsto "singer"
      \words
    }
    \new PianoStaff <<
      \new Staff {
        \new Voice {
          \pianoRH
        }
      }
      \new Staff {
        \clef "bass"
        \pianoLH
      }
    >>
  >>
}

[image of music]


Adding timing marks to long glissandi

Skipped beats in very long glissandi are sometimes indicated by timing marks, often consisting of stems without noteheads. Such stems can also be used to carry intermediate expression markings.

If the stems do not align well with the glissando, they may need to be repositioned slightly.

glissandoSkipOn = {
  \override NoteColumn.glissando-skip = ##t
  \hide NoteHead
  \override NoteHead.no-ledgers = ##t
}

glissandoSkipOff = {
  \revert NoteColumn.glissando-skip
  \undo \hide NoteHead
  \revert NoteHead.no-ledgers
}

\relative c'' {
  r8 f8\glissando
  \glissandoSkipOn
  f4 g a a8\noBeam
  \glissandoSkipOff
  a8

  r8 f8\glissando
  \glissandoSkipOn
  g4 a8
  \glissandoSkipOff
  a8 |

  r4 f\glissando \<
  \glissandoSkipOn
  a4\f \>
  \glissandoSkipOff
  b8\! r |
}

[image of music]


Alternative bar numbering

Two alternative methods for bar numbering can be set, especially for when using repeated music.

\relative c'{
  \set Score.alternativeNumberingStyle = #'numbers
  \repeat volta 3 { c4 d e f | }
    \alternative {
      { c4 d e f | c2 d \break }
      { f4 g a b | f4 g a b | f2 a | \break }
      { c4 d e f | c2 d }
    }
  c1 \break
  \set Score.alternativeNumberingStyle = #'numbers-with-letters
  \repeat volta 3 { c,4 d e f | }
    \alternative {
      { c4 d e f | c2 d \break }
      { f4 g a b | f4 g a b | f2 a | \break }
      { c4 d e f | c2 d }
    }
  c1
}

[image of music]


Ambitus after key signature

By default, ambitus are positioned at the left of the clef. The \ambitusAfter function allows for changing this placement. Syntax is \ambitusAfter grob-interface (see Graphical Object Interfaces for a list of possible values for grob-interface.)

A common use case is printing the ambitus between key signature and time signature.

\new Staff \with {
  \consists Ambitus_engraver
} \relative {
  \ambitusAfter key-signature
  \key d \major
  es'8 g bes cis d2
}

[image of music]


Centered measure numbers

Scores of large ensemble works often have bar numbers placed beneath the system, centered horizontally on the measure’s extent. This snippet shows how the Measure_counter_engraver may be used to simulate this notational practice. Here, the engraver has been added to a Dynamics context.

This snippet presents a legacy method: starting from LilyPond 2.23.3, \set Score.centerBarNumbers = ##t is enough.

\layout {
  \context {
    \Dynamics
    \consists #Measure_counter_engraver
    \override MeasureCounter.direction = #DOWN
    \override MeasureCounter.font-encoding = #'latin1
    \override MeasureCounter.font-shape = #'italic
    % to control the distance of the Dynamics context from the staff:
    \override VerticalAxisGroup.nonstaff-relatedstaff-spacing.padding = #2
  }
  \context {
    \Score
    \remove "Bar_number_engraver"
  }
}

pattern = \repeat unfold 7 { c'4 d' e' f' }

\new StaffGroup <<
  \new Staff {
    \pattern
  }
  \new Staff {
    \pattern
  }
  \new Dynamics {
    \startMeasureCount
    s1*7
    \stopMeasureCount
  }
>>

[image of music]


Changing the default bar lines

Default bar lines can be changed when re-defined in a score context.

% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=964
%%=> http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-user/2014-03/msg00126.html
%%=> http://lilypond.1069038.n5.nabble.com/Changing-the-default-end-repeat-bracket-tc169357.html

\layout {
  \context {
    \Score
    %% Changing the defaults from engraver-init.ly
    measureBarType = #"!"
    startRepeatBarType = #"[|:"
    endRepeatBarType = #":|]"
    doubleRepeatBarType = #":|][|:"
  }
}

%% example:
{
  c'1
  \repeat volta 2 { \repeat unfold 2 c' }
  \repeat volta 2 { \repeat unfold 2 c' }
  \alternative {
    { c' }
    {
      %% v2.18 workaround
      \once\override Score.VoltaBracket.shorten-pair = #'(1 . -1)
      c'
    }
  }
  \bar "|."
}

[image of music]


Changing the number of lines in a staff

The number of lines in a staff may changed by overriding the StaffSymbol property line-count.

upper = \relative c'' {
  c4 d e f
}

lower = \relative c {
  \clef bass
  c4 b a g
}

\score {
  \context PianoStaff <<
    \new Staff {
      \upper
    }
    \new Staff {
      \override Staff.StaffSymbol.line-count = #4
      \lower
    }
  >>
}

[image of music]


Changing the staff size

Though the simplest way to resize staves is to use #(set-global-staff-size xx), an individual staff’s size can be changed by scaling the properties 'staff-space and fontSize.

<<
  \new Staff {
    \relative c'' {
      \dynamicDown
      c8\ff c c c c c c c
    }
  }
  \new Staff \with {
    fontSize = #-3
    \override StaffSymbol.staff-space = #(magstep -3)
  } {
    \clef bass
    c8 c c c c\f c c c
  }
>>

[image of music]


Creating blank staves

To create blank staves, generate empty measures then remove the Bar_number_engraver from the Score context, and the Time_signature_engraver, Clef_engraver and Bar_engraver from the Staff context.

#(set-global-staff-size 20)

\score {
  {
    \repeat unfold 12 { s1 \break }
  }
  \layout {
    indent = 0\in
    \context {
      \Staff
      \remove "Time_signature_engraver"
      \remove "Clef_engraver"
      \remove "Bar_engraver"
    }
    \context {
      \Score
      \remove "Bar_number_engraver"
    }
  }
}

% uncomment these lines for "letter" size
%{
\paper {
  #(set-paper-size "letter")
  ragged-last-bottom = ##f
  line-width = 7.5\in
  left-margin = 0.5\in
  bottom-margin = 0.25\in
  top-margin = 0.25\in
}
%}

% uncomment these lines for "A4" size
%{
\paper {
  #(set-paper-size "a4")
  ragged-last-bottom = ##f
  line-width = 180
  left-margin = 15
  bottom-margin = 10
  top-margin = 10
}
%}

[image of music]


Creating custom key signatures

LilyPond supports custom key signatures. In this example, print for D minor with an extended range of printed flats.

\new Staff \with {
  \override StaffSymbol.line-count = #8
  \override KeySignature.flat-positions = #'((-7 . 6))
  \override KeyCancellation.flat-positions = #'((-7 . 6))
  % presumably sharps are also printed in both octaves
  \override KeySignature.sharp-positions = #'((-6 . 7))
  \override KeyCancellation.sharp-positions = #'((-6 . 7))

  \override Clef.stencil = #
  (lambda (grob)(grob-interpret-markup grob
  #{ \markup\combine
    \musicglyph "clefs.C"
    \translate #'(-3 . -2)
    \musicglyph "clefs.F"
   #}))
    clefPosition = #3
    middleCPosition = #3
    middleCClefPosition = #3
}

{
  \key d\minor
  f bes, f bes,
}

[image of music]


Creating double-digit fingerings

Creating fingerings larger than 5 is possible.

\relative c' {
  c1-10
  c1-50
  c1-36
  c1-29
}

[image of music]


Cross staff stems

This snippet shows the use of the Span_stem_engraver and \crossStaff to connect stems across staves automatically.

The stem length need not be specified, as the variable distance between noteheads and staves is calculated automatically.

\layout {
  \context {
    \PianoStaff
    \consists "Span_stem_engraver"
  }
}

{
  \new PianoStaff <<
    \new Staff {
      <b d'>4 r d'16\> e'8. g8 r\!
      e'8 f' g'4 e'2
    }
    \new Staff {
      \clef bass
      \voiceOne
      \autoBeamOff
      \crossStaff { <e g>4 e, g16 a8. c8} d
      \autoBeamOn
      g8 f g4 c2
    }
  >>
}

[image of music]


Display bracket with only one staff in a system

If there is only one staff in one of the staff types ChoirStaff or StaffGroup, by default the bracket and the starting bar line will not be displayed. This can be changed by overriding collapse-height to set its value to be less than the number of staff lines in the staff.

Note that in contexts such as PianoStaff and GrandStaff where the systems begin with a brace instead of a bracket, another property has to be set, as shown on the second system in the example.

\score {
  \new StaffGroup <<
    % Must be lower than the actual number of staff lines
    \override StaffGroup.SystemStartBracket.collapse-height = #4
    \override Score.SystemStartBar.collapse-height = #4
    \new Staff {
      c'1
    }
  >>
}
\score {
  \new PianoStaff <<
    \override PianoStaff.SystemStartBrace.collapse-height = #4
    \override Score.SystemStartBar.collapse-height = #4
    \new Staff {
      c'1
    }
  >>
}

[image of music]


Extending a TrillSpanner

For TrillSpanner, the minimum-length property becomes effective only if the set-spacing-rods procedure is called explicitly.

To do this, the springs-and-rods property should be set to ly:spanner::set-spacing-rods.

\relative c' {
\key c\minor
  \time 2/4
  c16( as') c,-. des-.
  \once\override TrillSpanner.minimum-length = #15
  \once\override TrillSpanner.springs-and-rods = #ly:spanner::set-spacing-rods
  \afterGrace es4
  \startTrillSpan { d16[( \stopTrillSpan es)] }
  c( c' g es c g' es d
  \hideNotes
  c8)
}

[image of music]


Extending glissandi across repeats

A glissando which extends into several \alternative blocks can be simulated by adding a hidden grace note with a glissando at the start of each \alternative block. The grace note should be at the same pitch as the note which starts the initial glissando. This is implemented here with a music function which takes the pitch of the grace note as its argument.

Note that in polyphonic music the grace note must be matched with corresponding grace notes in all other voices.

repeatGliss = #(define-music-function (grace)
  (ly:pitch?)
  #{
    % the next two lines ensure the glissando is long enough
    % to be visible
    \once \override Glissando.springs-and-rods
      = #ly:spanner::set-spacing-rods
    \once \override Glissando.minimum-length = #3.5
    \once \hideNotes
    \grace $grace \glissando
  #})

\score {
  \relative c'' {
    \repeat volta 3 { c4 d e f\glissando }
    \alternative {
      { g2 d }
      { \repeatGliss f g2 e }
      { \repeatGliss f e2 d }
    }
  }
}

music =  \relative c' {
  \voiceOne
  \repeat volta 2 {
    g a b c\glissando
  }
  \alternative {
    { d1 }
    { \repeatGliss c \once \omit StringNumber e1\2 }
  }
}

\score {
  \new StaffGroup <<
    \new Staff <<
      \new Voice { \clef "G_8" \music }
    >>
    \new TabStaff  <<
      \new TabVoice { \clef "moderntab" \music }
    >>
  >>
}

[image of music]


Flat Ties

The function takes the default Tie.stencil as an argument, calculating the result relying on the extents of this default.

Further tweaking is possible by overriding Tie.details.height-limit or with \shape. It’s also possible to change the custom-definition on the fly.

%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=1031

#(define ((flared-tie coords) grob)

  (define (pair-to-list pair)
     (list (car pair) (cdr pair)))

  (define (normalize-coords goods x y dir)
    (map
      (lambda (coord)
        ;(coord-scale coord (cons x (* y dir)))
        (cons (* x (car coord)) (* y dir (cdr coord))))
      goods))

  (define (my-c-p-s points thick)
    (make-connected-path-stencil
      points
      thick
      1.0
      1.0
      #f
      #f))

  ;; outer let to trigger suicide
  (let ((sten (ly:tie::print grob)))
    (if (grob::is-live? grob)
        (let* ((layout (ly:grob-layout grob))
               (line-thickness (ly:output-def-lookup layout 'line-thickness))
               (thickness (ly:grob-property grob 'thickness 0.1))
               (used-thick (* line-thickness thickness))
               (dir (ly:grob-property grob 'direction))
               (xex (ly:stencil-extent sten X))
               (yex (ly:stencil-extent sten Y))
               (lenx (interval-length xex))
               (leny (interval-length yex))
               (xtrans (car xex))
               (ytrans (if (> dir 0)(car yex) (cdr yex)))
               (uplist
                 (map pair-to-list
                      (normalize-coords coords lenx (* leny 2) dir))))

   (ly:stencil-translate
       (my-c-p-s uplist used-thick)
     (cons xtrans ytrans)))
   '())))

#(define flare-tie
  (flared-tie '((0 . 0)(0.1 . 0.2) (0.9 . 0.2) (1.0 . 0.0))))

\layout {
  \context {
    \Voice
    \override Tie.stencil = #flare-tie
  }
}

\paper { ragged-right = ##f }

\relative c' {
  a4~a
  \override Tie.height-limit = 4
  a'4~a
  a'4~a
  <a,, c e a c e a c e>~ q

  \break

  a'4~a
  \once \override Tie.details.height-limit = 14
  a4~a

  \break

  a4~a
  \once \override Tie.details.height-limit = 0.5
  a4~a

  \break

  a4~a
  \shape #'((0 . 0) (0 . 0.4) (0 . 0.4) (0 . 0)) Tie
  a4~a

  \break

  a4~a
  \once \override Tie.stencil =
    #(flared-tie '((0 . 0)(0.1 . 0.4) (0.9 . 0.4) (1.0 . 0.0)))
  a4~a

  a4~a
  \once \override Tie.stencil =
    #(flared-tie '((0 . 0)(0.06 . 0.1) (0.94 . 0.1) (1.0 . 0.0)))
  a4~a
}

[image of music]


Forcing measure width to adapt to MetronomeMark’s width

By default, metronome marks do not influence horizontal spacing.

This can be solved through a simple override, as shown in the second half of the example.

example = {
  \tempo "Allegro"
  R1*6
  \tempo "Rall."
  R1*2
  \tempo "A tempo"
  R1*8
}

{
  \compressMMRests {
    \example
    R1
    R1
    \override Score.MetronomeMark.extra-spacing-width = #'(-3 . 0)
    \example
  }
}

[image of music]


Glissandi can skip grobs

NoteColumn grobs can be skipped over by glissandi.

\relative c' {
  a2 \glissando
  \once \override NoteColumn.glissando-skip = ##t
  f''4 d,
}

[image of music]


Incipit

When transcribing mensural music, an incipit at the beginning of the piece is useful to indicate the original key and tempo. While today musicians are used to bar lines in order to faster recognize rhythmic patterns, bar lines were not yet invented during the period of mensural music; in fact, the meter often changed after every few notes. As a compromise, bar lines are often printed between the staves rather than on the staves.

%% With 2.23. this throws:
%% programming error: Loose column does not have right side to attach to.
%% Likely "Hidden BarLine during note yields programming error"
%% https://gitlab.com/lilypond/lilypond/-/issues/4084
%%  --Harm

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
% A short excerpt from the Jubilate Deo by Orlande de Lassus
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

global = {
  \set Score.skipBars = ##t
  \key g \major
  \time 4/4

  % the actual music
  \skip 1*8

  % let finis bar go through all staves
  \override Staff.BarLine.transparent = ##f

  % finis bar
  \bar "|."
}

discantusIncipit = {
  \clef "neomensural-c1"
  \key f \major
  \time 2/2
  c''1.
}

discantusNotes = {
  \transpose c' c'' {
    \clef "treble"
    d'2. d'4 |
    b e' d'2 |
    c'4 e'4.( d'8 c' b |
    a4) b a2 |
    b4.( c'8 d'4) c'4 |
    \once \hide NoteHead
    c'1 |
    b\breve |
  }
}

discantusLyrics = \lyricmode {
  Ju -- bi -- la -- te De -- o,
  om -- nis ter -- ra, __ om-
  "..."
  -us.
}

altusIncipit = {
  \clef "neomensural-c3"
  \key f \major
  \time 2/2
  r1 f'1.
}

altusNotes = {
  \transpose c' c'' {
    \clef "treble"
    r2 g2. e4 fis g |
    a2 g4 e |
    fis g4.( fis16 e fis4) |
    g1 |
    \once \hide NoteHead
    g1 |
    g\breve |
  }
}

altusLyrics = \lyricmode {
  Ju -- bi -- la -- te
  De -- o, om -- nis ter -- ra,
  "..."
  -us.
}

tenorIncipit = {
  \clef "neomensural-c4"
  \key f \major
  \time 2/2
  r\longa
  r\breve
  r1 c'1.
}

tenorNotes = {
  \transpose c' c' {
    \clef "treble_8"
    R1 |
    R1 |
    R1 |
    % two measures
    r2 d'2. d'4 b e' |
    \once \hide NoteHead
    e'1 |
    d'\breve |
  }
}

tenorLyrics = \lyricmode {
  Ju -- bi -- la -- te
  "..."
  -us.
}

bassusIncipit = {
  \clef "mensural-f"
  \key f \major
  \time 2/2
  r\maxima
  f1.
}

bassusNotes = {
  \transpose c' c' {
    \clef "bass"
    R1 |
    R1 |
    R1 |
    R1 |
    g2. e4 |
    \once \hide NoteHead
    e1 |
    g\breve |
  }
}

bassusLyrics = \lyricmode {
  Ju -- bi-
  "..."
  -us.
}

\score {
  <<
    \new StaffGroup = choirStaff <<
      \new Voice = "discantusNotes" <<
        \set Staff.instrumentName = "Discantus"
        \incipit \discantusIncipit
        \global
        \discantusNotes
      >>
      \new Lyrics \lyricsto discantusNotes { \discantusLyrics }
      \new Voice = "altusNotes" <<
        \set Staff.instrumentName = "Altus"
        \global
        \incipit \altusIncipit
        \altusNotes
      >>
      \new Lyrics \lyricsto altusNotes { \altusLyrics }
      \new Voice = "tenorNotes" <<
        \set Staff.instrumentName = "Tenor"
        \global
        \incipit \tenorIncipit
        \tenorNotes
      >>
      \new Lyrics \lyricsto tenorNotes { \tenorLyrics }
      \new Voice = "bassusNotes" <<
        \set Staff.instrumentName = "Bassus"
        \global
        \incipit \bassusIncipit
        \bassusNotes
      >>
      \new Lyrics \lyricsto bassusNotes { \bassusLyrics }
    >>
  >>
  \layout {
    \context {
      \Score
      %% no bar lines in staves or lyrics
      \hide BarLine
    }
    %% the next two instructions keep the lyrics between the bar lines
    \context {
      \Lyrics
      \consists "Bar_engraver"
      \consists "Separating_line_group_engraver"
    }
    \context {
      \Voice
      %% no slurs
      \hide Slur
      %% Comment in the below "\remove" command to allow line
      %% breaking also at those bar lines where a note overlaps
      %% into the next measure.  The command is commented out in this
      %% short example score, but especially for large scores, you
      %% will typically yield better line breaking and thus improve
      %% overall spacing if you comment in the following command.
      %%\remove "Forbid_line_break_engraver"
    }
    indent = 6\cm
    incipit-width = 4\cm
  }
}

[image of music]


Inserting score fragments above a staff, as markups

The \markup command is quite versatile. In this snippet, it contains a \score block instead of texts or marks.

tuning = \markup {
  \score {
    \new Staff \with { \remove "Time_signature_engraver" }
    {
      \clef bass
      <c, g, d g>1
    }
    \layout { ragged-right = ##t  indent = 0\cm }
  }
}

\header {
  title = "Solo Cello Suites"
  subtitle = "Suite IV"
  subsubtitle = \markup { Originalstimmung: \raise #0.5 \tuning }
}

\layout { ragged-right = ##f }

\relative c'' {
  \time 4/8
  \tuplet 3/2 { c8 d e } \tuplet 3/2 { c d e }
  \tuplet 3/2 { c8 d e } \tuplet 3/2 { c d e }
  g8 a g a
  g8 a g a
}

[image of music]


Let TabStaff print the topmost string at bottom

In tablatures usually the first string is printed topmost. If you want to have it at the bottom change the stringOneTopmost-context-property. For a context-wide setting this could be done in layout as well.

%\layout {
%  \context {
%    \Score
%    stringOneTopmost = ##f
%  }
%  \context {
%    \TabStaff
%    tablatureFormat = #fret-letter-tablature-format
%  }
%}

m = {
  \cadenzaOn
  e, b, e gis! b e'
  \bar "||"
}

<<
  \new Staff { \clef "G_8" <>_"default" \m <>_"italian (historic)"\m }
  \new TabStaff
  {
    \m
    \set Score.stringOneTopmost = ##f
    \set TabStaff.tablatureFormat = #fret-letter-tablature-format
    \m
  }
>>

[image of music]


Letter tablature formatting

Tablature can be formatted using letters instead of numbers.

music = \relative c {
  c4 d e f
  g4 a b c
  d4 e f g
}

<<
  \new Staff {
    \clef "G_8"
    \music
  }
  \new TabStaff \with {
    tablatureFormat = #fret-letter-tablature-format
  }
  {
    \music
  }
>>

[image of music]


Making glissandi breakable

Setting the breakable property to #t in combination with after-line-breaking allows a glissando to break if it occurs at a line break:

glissandoSkipOn = {
  \override NoteColumn.glissando-skip = ##t
  \hide NoteHead
  \override NoteHead.no-ledgers = ##t
}

\relative c'' {
  \override Glissando.breakable = ##t
  \override Glissando.after-line-breaking = ##t
  f1\glissando |
  \break
  a4 r2. |
  f1\glissando
  \once \glissandoSkipOn
  \break
  a2 a4 r4 |
}

[image of music]


Making some staff lines thicker than the others

For educational purposes, a staff line can be thickened (e.g., the middle line, or to emphasize the line of the G clef). This can be achieved by adding extra lines very close to the line that should be emphasized, using the line-positions property of the StaffSymbol object.

{
  \override Staff.StaffSymbol.line-positions =
    #'(-4 -2 -0.2 0 0.2 2 4)
  d'4 e' f' g'
}

[image of music]


Measure counter

This snippet provides a workaround for emitting measure counters using transparent percent repeats.

<<
  \context Voice = "foo" {
    \clef bass
    c4 r g r
    c4 r g r
    c4 r g r
    c4 r g r
  }
  \context Voice = "foo" {
    \set countPercentRepeats = ##t
    \hide PercentRepeat
    \override PercentRepeatCounter.staff-padding = #1
    \repeat percent 4 { s1 }
  }
>>

[image of music]


Mensurstriche layout (bar lines between the staves)

Mensurstriche, bar lines between but not through staves, can be printed by setting measureBarType to "-span|" and using a grouping context that allows span bars, such as StaffGroup.

\layout {
  \context {
    \Staff
    measureBarType = "-span|"
  }
}

music = \fixed c'' {
  c1
  d2 \section e2
  f1 \fine
}

\new StaffGroup <<
  \new Staff \music
  \new Staff \music
>>

[image of music]


Modifying the Ottava spanner slope

It is possible to change the slope of the Ottava spanner.

\relative c'' {
  \override Staff.OttavaBracket.stencil = #ly:line-spanner::print
  \override Staff.OttavaBracket.bound-details =
    #`((left . ((Y . 0)
                (attach-dir . ,LEFT)
                (padding . 0)
                (stencil-align-dir-y . ,CENTER)))
       (right . ((Y . 5.0) ; Change the number here
                 (padding . 0)
                 (attach-dir . ,RIGHT)
                 (text . ,(make-draw-dashed-line-markup
                           (cons 0 -1.2))))))
  \override Staff.OttavaBracket.left-bound-info =
     #ly:horizontal-line-spanner::calc-left-bound-info-and-text
  \override Staff.OttavaBracket.right-bound-info =
     #ly:horizontal-line-spanner::calc-right-bound-info
  \ottava #1
  c1
  c'''1
}

[image of music]


Nesting staves

The property systemStartDelimiterHierarchy can be used to make more complex nested staff groups. The command \set StaffGroup.systemStartDelimiterHierarchy takes an alphabetical list of the number of staves produced. Before each staff a system start delimiter can be given. It has to be enclosed in brackets and takes as much staves as the brackets enclose. Elements in the list can be omitted, but the first bracket takes always the complete number of staves. The possibilities are SystemStartBar, SystemStartBracket, SystemStartBrace, and SystemStartSquare.

\new StaffGroup
\relative c'' <<
  \override StaffGroup.SystemStartSquare.collapse-height = #4
  \set StaffGroup.systemStartDelimiterHierarchy
    = #'(SystemStartSquare (SystemStartBrace (SystemStartBracket a
                             (SystemStartSquare b)  ) c ) d)
  \new Staff { c1 }
  \new Staff { c1 }
  \new Staff { c1 }
  \new Staff { c1 }
  \new Staff { c1 }
>>

[image of music]


Non-traditional key signatures

The commonly used \key command sets the keyAlterations property, in the Staff context.

To create non-standard key signatures, set this property directly. The format of this command is a list:

\set Staff.keyAlterations =
  #`(((octave . step) . alter) ((octave . step) . alter) ...)

where, for each element in the list, octave specifies the octave (0 being the octave from middle C to the B above), step specifies the note within the octave (0 means C and 6 means B), and alter is ,SHARP ,FLAT ,DOUBLE-SHARP etc.

Alternatively, using the more concise format for each item in the list (step . alter) specifies the same alteration holds in all octaves.

For microtonal scales where a “sharp” is not 100 cents, alter refers to the alteration as a proportion of a 200-cent whole tone.

\include "arabic.ly"
\relative do' {
  \set Staff.keyAlterations = #`((0 . ,SEMI-FLAT)
                                 (1 . ,SEMI-FLAT)
                                 (2 . ,FLAT)
                                 (5 . ,FLAT)
                                 (6 . ,SEMI-FLAT))
%\set Staff.extraNatural = ##f
  re reb \dwn reb resd
  dod dob dosd \dwn dob |
  dobsb dodsd do do |
}

[image of music]


Numbering groups of measures

This snippet demonstrates the use of the Measure_counter_engraver to number groups of successive measures. Any stretch of measures may be numbered, whether consisting of repetitions or not.

The engraver must be added to the appropriate context. Here, a Staff context is used; another possibility is a Dynamics context.

The counter is begun with \startMeasureCount and ended with \stopMeasureCount. Numbering will start by default with 1, but this behavior may be modified by overriding the count-from property.

When a measure extends across a line break, the number will appear twice, the second time in parentheses.

\layout {
  \context {
    \Staff
    \consists #Measure_counter_engraver
  }
}

\new Staff {
  \startMeasureCount
  \repeat unfold 7 {
    c'4 d' e' f'
  }
  \stopMeasureCount
  \bar "||"
  g'4 f' e' d'
  \override Staff.MeasureCounter.count-from = #2
  \startMeasureCount
  \repeat unfold 5 {
    g'4 f' e' d'
  }
  g'4 f'
  \bar ""
  \break
  e'4 d'
  \repeat unfold 7 {
    g'4 f' e' d'
  }
  \stopMeasureCount
}

[image of music]


Orchestra, choir and piano template

This template demonstrates the use of nested StaffGroup and GrandStaff contexts to sub-group instruments of the same type together, and a way to use \transpose so that variables hold music for transposing instruments at concert pitch.

#(set-global-staff-size 17)
\paper {
  indent = 3.0\cm  % add space for instrumentName
  short-indent = 1.5\cm  % add less space for shortInstrumentName
}

fluteMusic = \relative c' { \key g \major g'1 b }

% Pitches as written on a manuscript for Clarinet in A
% are transposed to concert pitch.

clarinetMusic = \transpose c' a
  \relative c'' { \key bes \major bes1 d }

trumpetMusic = \relative c { \key g \major g''1 b }

% Key signature is often omitted for horns

hornMusic = \transpose c' f
  \relative c { d'1 fis }

percussionMusic = \relative c { \key g \major g1 b }

sopranoMusic = \relative c'' { \key g \major g'1 b }

sopranoLyrics = \lyricmode { Lyr -- ics }

altoIMusic = \relative c' { \key g \major g'1 b }

altoIIMusic = \relative c' { \key g \major g'1 b }

altoILyrics =  \sopranoLyrics

altoIILyrics = \lyricmode { Ah -- ah }

tenorMusic = \relative c' { \clef "treble_8" \key g \major g1 b }

tenorLyrics = \sopranoLyrics

pianoRHMusic = \relative c { \key g \major g''1 b }

pianoLHMusic = \relative c { \clef bass \key g \major g1 b }

violinIMusic = \relative c' { \key g \major g'1 b }

violinIIMusic = \relative c' { \key g \major g'1 b }

violaMusic = \relative c { \clef alto \key g \major g'1 b }

celloMusic = \relative c { \clef bass \key g \major g1 b }

bassMusic = \relative c { \clef "bass_8" \key g \major g,1 b }

\score {
  <<
    \new StaffGroup = "StaffGroup_woodwinds" <<
      \new Staff = "Staff_flute" \with { instrumentName = "Flute" }
      \fluteMusic

      \new Staff = "Staff_clarinet" \with {
        instrumentName = \markup { \concat { "Clarinet in B" \flat } }
      }

      % Declare that written Middle C in the music
      % to follow sounds a concert B flat, for
      % output using sounded pitches such as MIDI.
      %\transposition bes

      % Print music for a B-flat clarinet
      \transpose bes c' \clarinetMusic
    >>

    \new StaffGroup = "StaffGroup_brass" <<
      \new Staff = "Staff_hornI" \with { instrumentName = "Horn in F" }
       % \transposition f
        \transpose f c' \hornMusic

      \new Staff = "Staff_trumpet" \with { instrumentName = "Trumpet in  C" }
      \trumpetMusic

    >>
    \new RhythmicStaff = "RhythmicStaff_percussion"
    \with { instrumentName = "Percussion" }
    <<
      \percussionMusic
    >>
    \new PianoStaff \with { instrumentName = "Piano" }
    <<
      \new Staff { \pianoRHMusic }
      \new Staff { \pianoLHMusic }
    >>
    \new ChoirStaff = "ChoirStaff_choir" <<
      \new Staff = "Staff_soprano" \with { instrumentName = "Soprano" }
      \new Voice = "soprano"
      \sopranoMusic

      \new Lyrics \lyricsto "soprano" { \sopranoLyrics }
      \new GrandStaff = "GrandStaff_altos"
      \with { \accepts Lyrics } <<
        \new Staff = "Staff_altoI"  \with { instrumentName = "Alto I" }
        \new Voice = "altoI"
        \altoIMusic

        \new Lyrics \lyricsto "altoI" { \altoILyrics }
        \new Staff = "Staff_altoII" \with { instrumentName = "Alto II" }
        \new Voice = "altoII"
        \altoIIMusic

        \new Lyrics \lyricsto "altoII" { \altoIILyrics }
      >>

      \new Staff = "Staff_tenor" \with { instrumentName = "Tenor" }
        \new Voice = "tenor"
        \tenorMusic

      \new Lyrics \lyricsto "tenor" { \tenorLyrics }
    >>
    \new StaffGroup = "StaffGroup_strings" <<
      \new GrandStaff = "GrandStaff_violins" <<
        \new Staff = "Staff_violinI" \with { instrumentName = "Violin I" }
        \violinIMusic

        \new Staff = "Staff_violinII" \with { instrumentName = "Violin II" }
        \violinIIMusic
      >>

      \new Staff = "Staff_viola" \with { instrumentName = "Viola" }
      \violaMusic

      \new Staff = "Staff_cello" \with { instrumentName = "Cello" }
      \celloMusic

      \new Staff = "Staff_bass" \with { instrumentName = "Double Bass" }
      \bassMusic
    >>
  >>
  \layout { }
}

[image of music]


Print ChordNames with same root and different bass as slash and bass-note

To print subsequent ChordNames only differing in its bass note as slash and bass note use the here defined engraver. The behaviour may be controlled in detail by the chordChanges context property.

#(define Bass_changes_equal_root_engraver
  (lambda (ctx)
  "For sequential @code{ChordNames} with same root, but different bass, the root
markup is dropped: D D/C D/B  -> D /C /B
The behaviour may be controlled by setting the @code{chordChanges}
context-property."
    (let ((chord-pitches '())
          (last-chord-pitches '())
          (bass-pitch #f))
      (make-engraver
        ((initialize this-engraver)
          (let ((chord-note-namer (ly:context-property ctx 'chordNoteNamer)))
            ;; Set 'chordNoteNamer, respect user setting if already done
            (ly:context-set-property! ctx 'chordNoteNamer
              (if (procedure? chord-note-namer)
                  chord-note-namer
                  note-name->markup))))
        (listeners
          ((note-event this-engraver event)
            (let* ((pitch (ly:event-property event 'pitch))
                   (pitch-name (ly:pitch-notename pitch))
                   (pitch-alt (ly:pitch-alteration pitch))
                   (bass (ly:event-property event 'bass #f))
                   (inversion (ly:event-property event 'inversion #f)))
            ;; Collect notes of the chord
            ;;  - to compare inversed chords we need to collect the bass note
            ;;    as usual member of the chord, whereas an added bass must be
            ;;    treated separate from the usual chord-notes
            ;;  - notes are stored as pairs containing their
            ;;    pitch-name (an integer), i.e. disregarding their octave and
            ;;    their alteration
            (cond (bass (set! bass-pitch pitch))
                  (inversion
                    (set! bass-pitch pitch)
                    (set! chord-pitches
                          (cons (cons pitch-name pitch-alt) chord-pitches)))
                  (else
                    (set! chord-pitches
                          (cons (cons pitch-name pitch-alt) chord-pitches)))))))
        (acknowledgers
          ((chord-name-interface this-engraver grob source-engraver)
            (let ((chord-changes (ly:context-property ctx 'chordChanges #f)))
              ;; If subsequent chords are equal apart from their bass,
              ;; reset the 'text-property.
              ;; Equality is done by comparing the sorted lists of this chord's
              ;; elements and the previous chord. Sorting is needed because
              ;; inverted chords may have a different order of pitches.
              ;; `chord-changes' needs to be true
              (if (and bass-pitch
                       chord-changes
                       (equal?
                         (sort chord-pitches car<)
                         (sort last-chord-pitches car<)))
                  (ly:grob-set-property! grob 'text
                    (make-line-markup
                      (list
                        (ly:context-property ctx 'slashChordSeparator)
                        ((ly:context-property ctx 'chordNoteNamer)
                         bass-pitch
                         (ly:context-property ctx 'chordNameLowercaseMinor))))))
              (set! last-chord-pitches chord-pitches)
              (set! chord-pitches '())
              (set! bass-pitch #f))))
        ((finalize this-engraver)
          (set! last-chord-pitches '()))))))

myChords = \chordmode {
  %\germanChords

  \set chordChanges = ##t
  d2:m d:m/cis

  d:m/c
  \set chordChanges = ##f
  d:m/b

  e1:7
  \set chordChanges = ##t
  e
  \break
  \once \set chordChanges = ##f
  e1/f
  e2/gis e/+gis e e:m/f d:m d:m/cis d:m/c
  \set chordChanges = ##f
  d:m/b
}

<<
  \new ChordNames
    \with { \consists #Bass_changes_equal_root_engraver }
    \myChords
  \new Staff \myChords
>>

[image of music]


Putting lyrics inside the staff

Lyrics can be moved vertically to place them inside the staff. The lyrics are moved with \override LyricText.extra-offset = #'(0 . dy) and there are similar commands to move the extenders and hyphens. The offset needed is established with trial and error.

<<
  \new Staff <<
    \new Voice = "voc" \relative c' { \stemDown a bes c8 b c4 }
  >>
  \new Lyrics \with {
    \override LyricText.extra-offset = #'(0 . 8.6)
    \override LyricExtender.extra-offset = #'(0 . 8.6)
    \override LyricHyphen.extra-offset = #'(0 . 8.6)
  } \lyricsto "voc" { La la -- la __ _ la }
>>

[image of music]


Quoting another voice

The quotedEventTypes property determines the music event types which should be quoted. The default value is (note-event rest-event tie-event beam-event tuplet-span-event), which means that only the notes, rests, ties, beams and tuplets of the quoted voice will appear in the \quoteDuring expression.

In the following example, a 16th rest is not quoted since rest-event is not in quotedEventTypes.

For a list of event types, consult the “Music classes” section of the Internals Reference.

quoteMe = \relative c' {
  fis4 r16 a8.-> b4\ff c
}
\addQuote quoteMe \quoteMe

original = \relative c'' {
  c8 d s2
  \once \override NoteColumn.ignore-collision = ##t
  es8 gis8
}

<<
  \new Staff \with { instrumentName = "quoteMe" }
  \quoteMe

  \new Staff \with { instrumentName = "orig" }
  \original

  \new Staff \with {
    instrumentName = "orig+quote"
    quotedEventTypes = #'(note-event articulation-event)
  }
  \relative c''
  <<
    \original
    \new Voice {
      s4
      \set fontSize = #-4
      \override Stem.length-fraction = #(magstep -4)
      \quoteDuring "quoteMe" { \skip 2. }
    }
  >>
>>

[image of music]


Quoting another voice with transposition

Quotations take into account the transposition of both source and target. In this example, all instruments play sounding middle C; the target is an instrument in F. The target part may be transposed using \transpose. In this case, all the pitches (including the quoted ones) are transposed.

\addQuote clarinet {
  \transposition bes
  \repeat unfold 8 { d'16 d' d'8 }
}

\addQuote sax {
  \transposition es'
  \repeat unfold 16 { a8 }
}

quoteTest = {
  % french horn
  \transposition f
  g'4
  << \quoteDuring "clarinet" { \skip 4 } s4^"clar." >>
  << \quoteDuring "sax" { \skip 4 } s4^"sax." >>
  g'4
}

{
  \new Staff \with {
    instrumentName = \markup { \column { Horn "in F" } }
  }
  \quoteTest
  \transpose c' d' << \quoteTest s4_"up a tone" >>
}

[image of music]


Removing brace on first line of piano score

This snippet removes the first brace from a PianoStaff or a GrandStaff.

It may be useful when cutting and pasting the engraved image into existing music.

It uses \alterBroken.

someMusic =  {
  \once \override Staff.Clef.stencil = ##f
  \once \override Staff.TimeSignature.stencil = ##f
  \repeat unfold 3 c1 \break
  \repeat unfold 5 c1 \break
  \repeat unfold 5 c1
}

\score {
  \new PianoStaff
  <<
    \new Staff = "right" \relative c'' \someMusic
    \new Staff = "left" \relative c' { \clef F \someMusic }
  >>
  \layout {
    indent=75
    \context {
      \PianoStaff
      \alterBroken transparent #'(#t) SystemStartBrace
    }
  }
}

[image of music]


Removing the first empty line

The first empty staff can also be removed from the score by setting the VerticalAxisGroup property remove-first. This can be done globally inside the \layout block, or locally inside the specific staff that should be removed. In the latter case, you have to specify the context (Staff applies only to the current staff) in front of the property.

The lower staff of the second staff group is not removed, because the setting applies only to the specific staff inside of which it is written.

\layout {
  \context {
    \Staff \RemoveEmptyStaves
    % To use the setting globally, uncomment the following line:
    % \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-first = ##t
  }
}
\new StaffGroup <<
  \new Staff \relative c' {
    e4 f g a \break
    c1
  }
  \new Staff {
    % To use the setting globally, comment this line,
    % uncomment the line in the \layout block above
    \override Staff.VerticalAxisGroup.remove-first = ##t
    R1 \break
    R
  }
>>
\new StaffGroup <<
  \new Staff \relative c' {
    e4 f g a \break
    c1
  }
  \new Staff {
    R1 \break
    R
  }
>>

[image of music]


Setting system separators

System separators can be inserted between systems. Any markup can be used, but \slashSeparator has been provided as a sensible default.

\paper {
  system-separator-markup = \slashSeparator
  line-width = 120
}

notes = \relative c' {
  c1 | c \break
  c1 | c \break
  c1 | c
}

\book {
  \score {
    \new GrandStaff <<
      \new Staff \notes
      \new Staff \notes
    >>
  }
}

[image of music]


Tick bar lines

’Tick’ bar lines are often used in music where the bar line is used only for coordination and is not meant to imply any rhythmic stress.

\relative c' {
  \set Score.measureBarType = #"'"
  c4 d e f
  g4 f e d
  c4 d e f
  g4 f e d
  \bar "|."
}

[image of music]


Time signature in parentheses

The time signature can be enclosed within parentheses.

\relative c'' {
  \override Staff.TimeSignature.stencil = #(lambda (grob)
    (bracketify-stencil (ly:time-signature::print grob) Y 0.1 0.2 0.1))
  \time 2/4
  a4 b8 c
}

[image of music]


Time signature in parentheses - method 3

Another way to put the time signature in parenthesis

\relative c'' {
  \override Staff.TimeSignature.stencil = #(lambda (grob)
    (parenthesize-stencil (ly:time-signature::print grob) 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.1 ))
  \time 2/4
  a4 b8 c
}

[image of music]


Tweaking clef properties

Changing the Clef glyph, its position, or the ottavation does not change the position of subsequent notes on the staff. To get key signatures on their correct staff lines middleCClefPosition must also be specified, with positive or negative values moving middle C up or down respectively, relative to the staff’s center line.

For example, \clef "treble_8" is equivalent to setting the clefGlyph, clefPosition (the vertical position of the clef itself on the staff), middleCPosition and clefTransposition. Note that when any of these properties (except middleCPosition) are changed a new clef symbol is printed.

The following examples show the possibilities when setting these properties manually. On the first line, the manual changes preserve the standard relative positioning of clefs and notes, whereas on the second line, they do not.

{
  % The default treble clef
  \key f \major
  c'1
  % The standard bass clef
  \set Staff.clefGlyph = #"clefs.F"
  \set Staff.clefPosition = #2
  \set Staff.middleCPosition = #6
  \set Staff.middleCClefPosition = #6
  \key g \major
  c'1
  % The baritone clef
  \set Staff.clefGlyph = #"clefs.C"
  \set Staff.clefPosition = #4
  \set Staff.middleCPosition = #4
  \set Staff.middleCClefPosition = #4
  \key f \major
  c'1
  % The standard choral tenor clef
  \set Staff.clefGlyph = #"clefs.G"
  \set Staff.clefPosition = #-2
  \set Staff.clefTransposition = #-7
  \set Staff.middleCPosition = #1
  \set Staff.middleCClefPosition = #1
  \key f \major
  c'1
  % A non-standard clef
  \set Staff.clefPosition = #0
  \set Staff.clefTransposition = #0
  \set Staff.middleCPosition = #-4
  \set Staff.middleCClefPosition = #-4
  \key g \major
  c'1 \break

  % The following clef changes do not preserve
  % the normal relationship between notes, key signatures
  % and clefs:

  \set Staff.clefGlyph = #"clefs.F"
  \set Staff.clefPosition = #2
  c'1
  \set Staff.clefGlyph = #"clefs.G"
  c'1
  \set Staff.clefGlyph = #"clefs.C"
  c'1
  \set Staff.clefTransposition = #7
  c'1
  \set Staff.clefTransposition = #0
  \set Staff.clefPosition = #0
  c'1

  % Return to the normal clef:

  \set Staff.middleCPosition = #0
  c'1
}

[image of music]


Two \partCombine pairs on one staff

The \partCombine function takes two music expressions each containing a part, and distributes them among four Voices named “two”, “one”, “solo”, and “chords” depending on when and how the parts are merged into a common voice. The voices output from \partCombine can have their layout properties adjusted in the usual way. Here we define extensions of \partCombine to make it easier to put four voices on a staff.

soprano = { d'4 | cis'  b  e'  d'8 cis' | cis'2 b }
alto = { fis4 | e8 fis gis ais b4 b | b ais fis2 }
tenor = { a8 b | cis' dis' e'4 b8 cis' d'4 | gis cis' dis'2 }
bass = { fis8 gis | a4 gis g fis | eis fis b,2 }

\new Staff <<
  \key b\minor
  \clef alto
  \partial 4
  \transpose b b'
  \partCombineUp \soprano \alto
  \partCombineDown \tenor \bass
>>
\layout {
  \context {
    \Staff
    \accepts "VoiceBox"
  }
  \context {
    \name "VoiceBox"
    \type "Engraver_group"
    \defaultchild "Voice"
    \accepts "Voice"
    \accepts "NullVoice"
  }
}

customPartCombineUp =
#(define-music-function (partOne partTwo)
  (ly:music? ly:music?)
"Take the music in @var{partOne} and @var{partTwo} and return
a @code{VoiceBox} named @q{Up} containing @code{Voice}s
that contain @var{partOne} and @var{partTwo} merged into one
voice where feasible.  This variant sets the default voicing
in the output to use upward stems."
#{
  \new VoiceBox = "Up" <<
    \context Voice = "one" { \voiceOne }
    \context Voice = "two" { \voiceThree }
    \context Voice = "shared" { \voiceOne }
    \context Voice = "solo" { \voiceOne }
    \context NullVoice = "null" {}
    \partCombine #partOne #partTwo
  >>
#})

customPartCombineDown = #
(define-music-function (partOne partTwo)
  (ly:music? ly:music?)
"Take the music in @var{partOne} and @var{partTwo} and return
a @code{VoiceBox} named @q{Down} containing @code{Voice}s
that contain @var{partOne} and @var{partTwo} merged into one
voice where feasible.  This variant sets the default voicing
in the output to use downward stems."
#{
  \new VoiceBox = "Down" <<
    \set VoiceBox.soloText = #"Solo III"
    \set VoiceBox.soloIIText = #"Solo IV"
    \context Voice ="one" { \voiceFour }
    \context Voice ="two" { \voiceTwo }
    \context Voice ="shared" { \voiceFour }
    \context Voice ="solo" { \voiceFour }
    \context NullVoice = "null" {}
    \partCombine #partOne #partTwo
  >>
#})

soprano = { d'4 | cis'  b  e'  d'8 cis' | cis'2 b }
alto = { fis4 | e8 fis gis ais b4 b | b ais fis2 }
tenor = { a8 b | cis' dis' e'4 b8 cis' d'4 | gis cis' dis'2 }
bass = { fis8 gis | a4 gis g fis | eis fis b,2 }

\new Staff <<
  \key b\minor
  \clef alto
  \partial 4
  \transpose b b'
  \customPartCombineUp \soprano \alto
  \customPartCombineDown \tenor \bass
>>

[image of music]


Use square bracket at the start of a staff group

The system start delimiter SystemStartSquare can be used by setting it explicitly in a StaffGroup or ChoirStaff context.

\score {
  \new StaffGroup { <<
  \set StaffGroup.systemStartDelimiter = #'SystemStartSquare
    \new Staff { c'4 d' e' f' }
    \new Staff { c'4 d' e' f' }
  >> }
}

[image of music]


Using autochange with more than one voice

Using autochange with more than one voice.

\score
{
  \new PianoStaff
  <<
    \new Staff = "up" {
      <<
        \set Timing.beamExceptions = #'()
        \set Timing.beatStructure = #'(4)
        \new Voice {
          \voiceOne
          \autoChange
          \relative c' {
            g8 a b c d e f g
            g,8 a b c d e f g
          }
        }

        \new Voice {
          \voiceTwo
          \autoChange
          \relative c' {
            g8 a b c d e f g
            g,,8 a b c d e f g
          }
        }
      >>
    }

    \new Staff = "down" {
      \clef bass
    }
  >>
}

[image of music]


Using marklines in a Frenched score

Using MarkLine contexts (such as in LSR1010) in a Frenched score can be problematic if all the staves between two MarkLines are removed in one system. The Keep_alive_together_engraver can be used within each StaffGroup to keep the MarkLine alive only as long as the other staves in the group stay alive.

bars = {
  \tempo "Allegro" 4=120
  s1*2
  \repeat unfold 5 { \mark \default s1*2 }
  \bar "||"
  \tempo "Adagio" 4=40
  s1*2
  \repeat unfold 8 { \mark \default s1*2 }
  \bar "|."
}
winds = \repeat unfold 120 { c''4 }
trumpet = { \repeat unfold 8 g'2 R1*16 \repeat unfold 4 g'2 R1*8 }
trombone = { \repeat unfold 4 c'1 R1*8 d'1 R1*17 }
strings = \repeat unfold 240 { c''8 }

#(set-global-staff-size 16)
\paper {
  systems-per-page = 5
  ragged-last-bottom = ##f
}

\layout {
  indent = 15\mm
  short-indent = 5\mm
  \context {
    \name MarkLine
    \type Engraver_group
    \consists Output_property_engraver
    \consists Axis_group_engraver
    \consists Mark_engraver
    \consists Metronome_mark_engraver
    \consists Staff_collecting_engraver
    \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-empty = ##t
    \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-layer = #'any
    \override VerticalAxisGroup.staff-affinity = #DOWN
    \override VerticalAxisGroup.nonstaff-relatedstaff-spacing.padding = 1
    keepAliveInterfaces = #'()
  }
  \context {
    \Staff
    \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-empty = ##t
    \override VerticalAxisGroup.remove-layer = ##f
  }
  \context {
    \StaffGroup
    \accepts MarkLine
    \consists Keep_alive_together_engraver
  }
  \context {
    \Score
    \remove Mark_engraver
    \remove Metronome_mark_engraver
    \remove Staff_collecting_engraver
  }
}

\score {
  <<
    \new StaffGroup = "winds" \with {
      instrumentName = "Winds"
      shortInstrumentName = "Winds"
    } <<
      \new MarkLine \bars
      \new Staff \winds
    >>
    \new StaffGroup = "brass" <<
      \new MarkLine \bars
      \new Staff = "trumpet" \with {
        instrumentName = "Trumpet"
        shortInstrumentName = "Tpt"
      } \trumpet
      \new Staff = "trombone" \with {
        instrumentName = "Trombone"
        shortInstrumentName = "Tbn"
      } \trombone
    >>
    \new StaffGroup = "strings" \with {
      instrumentName = "Strings"
      shortInstrumentName = "Strings"
    } <<
      \new MarkLine \bars
      \new Staff = "strings" { \strings }
    >>
  >>
}

[image of music]


Vertical aligned StaffGroups without connecting SystemStartBar

This snippet shows how to achieve vertically aligned StaffGroups with a SystemStartBar for each StaffGroup, but without connecting them.

#(set-global-staff-size 18)

\paper {
  indent = 0
  ragged-right = ##f
  print-all-headers = ##t
}

\layout {
  \context {
    \StaffGroup
    \consists Text_mark_engraver
    \consists Staff_collecting_engraver
    systemStartDelimiterHierarchy =
      #'(SystemStartBrace (SystemStartBracket a b))
  }

  \context {
    \Score
    \remove Text_mark_engraver
    \remove Staff_collecting_engraver
    \override SystemStartBrace.style = #'bar-line
    \omit SystemStartBar
    \override SystemStartBrace.padding = #-0.1
    \override SystemStartBrace.thickness = #1.6
    \override StaffGrouper.staffgroup-staff-spacing.basic-distance = #15
  }
}

%%%% EXAMPLE

txt =
\lyricmode {
  Wer4 nur den lie -- ben Gott läßt wal2 -- ten4
  und4 hof -- fet auf ihn al -- le Zeit2.
}

% First StaffGroup "exercise"

eI =
\relative c' {
        \textMark \markup {
                \bold Teacher:
                This is a simple setting of the choral. Please improve it.
                }
        \key a \minor
        \time 4/4
        \voiceOne

        \partial 4
        e4
        a b c b
        a b gis2
        e4\fermata g! g f
        e a a gis
        a2.\fermata
        \bar ":|."
}

eII =
\relative c' {
        \key a \minor
        \time 4/4
        \voiceTwo
        \partial 4
        c4
        e e e gis
        a f e2
        b4 b d d
        c c d d
        c2.
        \bar ":|."
}

eIII =
\relative c' {
        \key a \minor
        \time 4/4
        \clef bass
        \voiceOne

        \partial 4
        a4
        c b a b
        c d b2
        gis4 g g b
        c a f e
        e2.
}

eIV =
\relative c' {
        \key a \minor
        \time 4/4
        \clef bass
        \voiceTwo

        \partial 4
        a,4
        a' gis a e
        a, d e2
        e,4\fermata e' b g
        c f d e
        a,2.\fermata
        \bar ":|."
}

exercise =
\new StaffGroup = "exercise"
<<

  \new Staff
    <<
      \new Voice \eI
      \new Voice \eII
    >>

  \new Lyrics \txt

  \new Staff
    <<
      \new Voice \eIII
      \new Voice \eIV
    >>
>>

% Second StaffGroup "simple Bach"

sbI =
\relative c' {
        \textMark \markup { \bold" Pupil:" Here's my version! }
        \key a \minor
        \time 4/4
        \voiceOne

        \partial 4
        e4
        a b c b
        a b gis2
        e4\fermata g! g f
        e a a gis
        a2.\fermata
        \bar ":|."
}

sbII =
\relative c' {
        \key a \minor
        \time 4/4
        \voiceTwo
        \partial 4
        c8 d
        e4 e e8 f g4
        f f e2
        b4 b8 c d4 d
        e8 d c4 b8 c d4
        c2.
        \bar ":|."
}

sbIII =
\relative c' {
        \key a \minor
        \time 4/4
        \clef bass
        \voiceOne

        \partial 4
        a8 b
        c4 b a b8 c
        d4 d8 c b2
        gis4 g g8 a b4
        b a8 g f4 e
        e2.
}

sbIV =
\relative c' {
        \key a \minor
        \time 4/4
        \clef bass
        \voiceTwo

        \partial 4
        a,4
        a' gis a e
        f8 e d4 e2
        e,4\fermata e' b a8 g
        c4 f8 e d4 e
        a,2.\fermata
        \bar ":|."
}

simpleBach =
\new StaffGroup = "simple Bach"
<<

  \new Staff
    <<
      \new Voice \sbI
      \new Voice \sbII
    >>

  \new Lyrics \txt

  \new Staff
    <<
      \new Voice \sbIII
      \new Voice \sbIV
    >>
>>

% Third StaffGroup "chromatic Bach"

cbI =
\relative c' {
        \textMark \markup {
          \bold "Teacher:"
          \column {
            "Well, you simply copied and transposed a version of J.S.Bach."
            "Do you know this one?"
          }
        }
        \key a \minor
        \time 4/4
        \voiceOne

        \partial 4
        e4
        a b c b
        a b gis4. fis8
        e4\fermata g! g f
        e a a8 b gis4
        a2.\fermata
        \bar ":|."
}

cbII =
\relative c' {
        \key a \minor
        \time 4/4
        \voiceTwo
        \partial 4
        c8 d
        e4 e e8 fis gis4
        a8 g! f!4 e2
        b4 e e d
        d8[ cis] d dis e fis e4
        e2.
        \bar ":|."
}

cbIII =
\relative c' {
        \key a \minor
        \time 4/4
        \clef bass
        \voiceOne

        \partial 4
        a8 b
        c[ b] a gis8 a4 d,
        e8[ e'] d c b4. a8
        gis4 b c d8 c
        b[ a] a b c b b c16 d
        c2.
}

cbIV =
\relative c' {
        \key a \minor
        \time 4/4
        \clef bass
        \voiceTwo

        \partial 4
        a4
        c, e a, b
        c d e2
        e4\fermata e a b8 c
        gis[ g] fis f e dis e4
        a,2.\fermata
        \bar ":|."
}

chromaticBach =
\new StaffGroup = "chromatic Bach"
<<

  \new Staff
    <<
      \new Voice \cbI
      \new Voice \cbII
    >>

  \new Lyrics \txt

  \new Staff
    <<
      \new Voice \cbIII
      \new Voice \cbIV
    >>
>>


% Score

\score {
        <<
        \exercise
        \simpleBach
        \chromaticBach
        >>
        \header {
                title = \markup
                           \column {
                             \combine \null \vspace #1
                             "Exercise: Improve the given choral"
                             " "
                            }
        }
        \layout {
                \context {
                        \Lyrics
                        \override LyricText.X-offset = #-1
                }
        }
}

[image of music]


Volta below chords

By adding the Volta_engraver to the relevant staff, volte can be put under chords.

\score {
  <<
    \chords {
      c1
      c1
    }
    \new Staff \with {
      \consists "Volta_engraver"
    }
    {
      \repeat volta 2 { c'1 }
      \alternative { c' }
    }
  >>
  \layout {
    \context {
      \Score
      \remove "Volta_engraver"
    }
  }
}

[image of music]


Volta multi staff

By adding the Volta_engraver to the relevant staff, volte can be put over staves other than the topmost one in a score.

voltaMusic = \relative c'' {
  \repeat volta 2 {
    c1
  }
  \alternative {
    d1
    e1
  }
}

<<
  \new StaffGroup <<
    \new Staff \voltaMusic
    \new Staff \voltaMusic
  >>
  \new StaffGroup <<
    \new Staff \with { \consists "Volta_engraver" }
      \voltaMusic
    \new Staff \voltaMusic
  >>
>>

[image of music]


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