[ << Common notation ]	[Top][Contents][Index]	[ Fundamental concepts >> ]
[ < Songs ]	[ Up : Songs ]	[ Aligning lyrics to a melody > ]

---

3.3.1 Setting simple songs

Music Glossary: lyrics.

Here is the start of the melody to a nursery rhyme, Girls and boys come out to play.

\relative {
  \key g \major
  \time 6/8
  d''4 b8 c4 a8 | d4 b8 g4
}

The lyrics can be set to these notes, combining both with the \addlyrics keyword. Lyrics are entered by separating each syllable with a space.

<<
  \relative {
    \key g \major
    \time 6/8
    d''4 b8 c4 a8 | d4 b8 g4
  }
  \addlyrics {
    Girls and boys come out to play,
  }
>>

Note the double angle brackets << … >> around the whole piece to show that the music and lyrics are to occur at the same time.