LilyPond Notation Reference: 2.4.2 Guitar

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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.

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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
}

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 Staff.NoteHead.style = #'harmonic-mixed
  d'^\markup { \italic { \fontsize #-2 { "harm. 12" }}} <g b>1
}

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
  }
>>

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.u2do"  = 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
  }
}

Indicating power chords

Power chords and their symbols can be engraved in chord mode or as chord constructs:

ChordsAndSymbols = {
  \chordmode {
    \powerChords
    e,,1:5
    a,,1:5.8
    \set minimumFret = #8
    c,1:5
    f,1:5.8
  }
  \set minimumFret = #5
  <a, e>1
  <g d' g'>1
}
\score {
  <<
    \new ChordNames {
    \ChordsAndSymbols
    }
    \new Staff {
      \clef "treble_8"
      \ChordsAndSymbols
    }
    \new TabStaff {
      \ChordsAndSymbols
    }
  >>
}

Power chord symbols are automatically switched off as soon as one of the other common chord modifier is used:

mixedChords = \chordmode {
  c,1
  \powerChords
  b,,1:5
  fis,,1:5.8
  g,,1:m
}
\score {
  <<
    \new ChordNames {
      \mixedChords
    }
    \new Staff {
      \clef "treble_8"
      \mixedChords
    }
    \new TabStaff {
      \mixedChords
    }
  >>
}

2.4.2 Guitar

Indicating position and barring

See also

Indicating harmonics and dampened notes

See also

Indicating power chords

See also

LilyPond — Notation Reference v2.21.0 (ontwikkelingstak).