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Chord mode overview

Chords can be entered as simultaneous music, as discussed in Chorded notes.

Chords can also be entered in “chord mode”, which is an input mode that focuses on the structures of chords in traditional European music, rather than on specific pitches. This is convenient for those who are familiar with using chord names to describe chords. More information on different input modes can be found at Input modes.

\chordmode { c1 g a g c }

Chords entered using chord mode are music elements, and can be transposed just like chords entered using simultaneous music. \chordmode is absolute, as \relative has no effect on chordmode blocks. However, in \chordmode the absolute pitches are one octave higher than in note mode.

Chord mode and note mode can be mixed in sequential music:

\relative {
  <c' e g>2 <g b d>
  \chordmode { c2 f }
  <c e g>2 <g' b d>
  \chordmode { f2 g }
}

See also

Music Glossary: chord.

Notation Reference: Chorded notes, Input modes.

Snippets: Chords.

Known issues and warnings

Predefined shorthands for articulations and ornaments cannot be used on notes in chord mode, see Articulations and ornamentations.

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[ << Specialist notation ]	[Top][Contents][Index]	[ General input and output >> ]
[ < Chord mode ]	[ Up : Chord mode ]	[ Common chords > ]

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LilyPond Notation Reference v2.25.15 (development-branch).