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1.7.1 Inside the staff

This section discusses how to add emphasis to elements that are inside the staff.

Selecting notation font size
Fingering instructions
Hidden notes
Coloring objects
Parentheses
Stems

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Selecting notation font size

To change the size of the notation without changing the staff size, specify a magnification factor with the \magnifyMusic command:

\new Staff <<
  \new Voice \relative {
    \voiceOne
    <e' e'>4 <f f'>8. <g g'>16 <f f'>8 <e e'>4 r8
  }
  \new Voice \relative {
    \voiceTwo
    \magnifyMusic 0.63 {
      \override Score.SpacingSpanner.spacing-increment = #(* 1.2 0.63)
      r32 c'' a c a c a c r c a c a c a c
      r c a c a c a c a c a c a c a c
    }
  }
>>

The \override in the example above is a bug workaround. See the “Known issues and warnings” at the end of this section.

If a normal sized note head is merged with a smaller one, the size of the smaller note may need to be reset (with ‘\once \normalsize’) so that the stems and accidentals align properly:

\new Staff <<
  \key fis \minor
  \mergeDifferentlyDottedOn
  \new Voice \relative {
    \voiceOne
    \magnifyMusic 0.63 {
      \override Score.SpacingSpanner.spacing-increment = #(* 1.2 0.63)
      \once \normalsize cis'32( cis' gis b a fis \once \normalsize d d'
      \once \normalsize cis, cis' gis b a gis \once \normalsize fis fis'
      \once \normalsize fis, fis' ais, cis b gis \once \normalsize eis eis'
      \once \normalsize a, a' bis, d cis b \once \normalsize gis gis')
    }
  }
  \new Voice \relative {
    \voiceTwo
    cis'8. d16 cis8. fis16 fis8. eis16 a8. gis16
  }
>>

The \magnifyMusic command is not intended for cue notes, grace notes, or ossia staves—there are more appropriate methods of entering each of those constructs. Instead, it is useful when the notation size changes in a single instrumental part on one staff, and where grace notes are not appropriate, such as in cadenza-like passages or in cases such as the above examples. Setting the \magnifyMusic value to 0.63 duplicates the dimensions of the CueVoice context.

Resizing individual layout objects

An individual layout object can be resized by using the \tweak or \override commands to adjust its font-size property:

\relative {
  % resize a note head
  <f' \tweak font-size -4 b e>-5
  % resize a fingering
  bes-\tweak font-size 0 -3
  % resize an accidental
  \once \override Accidental.font-size = -4 bes!-^
  % resize an articulation
  \once \override Script.font-size = 4 bes!-^
}

The default font-size value for each layout object is listed in the Internals Reference. The font-size property can only be set for layout objects that support the font-interface layout interface. If font-size is not specified in the object’s ‘Standard settings’ list, its value is 0. See All layout objects.

Understanding the fontSize property

The fontSize context property adjusts the relative size of all glyph-based notational elements in a context:

\relative {
  \time 3/4
  d''4---5 c8( b a g) |
  \set fontSize = -6
  e'4-- c!8-4( b a g) |
  \set fontSize = 0
  fis4---3 e8( d) fis4 |
  g2.
}

The fontSize value is a number indicating the size relative to the standard size for the current staff height. The default fontSize is 0; adding 6 to any fontSize value doubles the printed size of the glyphs, and subtracting 6 halves the size. Each step increases the size by approximately 12%.

The scheme function magnification->font-size is provided for convenience since the logarithmic units of the font-size property are not entirely intuitive. For example, to adjust the musical notation to 75% of the default size, use:

\set fontSize = #(magnification->font-size 0.75)

The scheme function magstep does the opposite: it converts a font-size value into a magnification factor.

The fontSize property will only affect notational elements that are drawn with glyphs, such as noteheads, accidentals, scripts, etc. It will not affect the size of the staff itself, nor will it scale stems, beams, or horizontal spacing. To scale stems, beams, and horizontal spacing along with the notation size (without changing the staff size), use the \magnifyMusic command discussed above. To scale everything, including the staff size, see Setting the staff size.

Whenever the fontSize context property is set, its value is added to the value of the font-size grob property for individual layout objects, before any glyphs are printed. This can cause confusion when setting individual font-size properties while fontSize is already set:

% the default font-size for NoteHead is 0
% the default font-size for Fingering is -5
c''4-3

\set fontSize = -3
% the effective font size for NoteHead is now -3
% the effective font size for Fingering is now -8
c''4-3

\override Fingering.font-size = 0
% the effective font size for Fingering is now -3
c''4-3

The following shorthand commands are also available:

Command	Equivalent to	Relative size
\teeny	\set fontSize = -3	71%
\tiny	\set fontSize = -2	79%
\small	\set fontSize = -1	89%
\normalsize	\set fontSize = 0	100%
\large	\set fontSize = 1	112%
\huge	\set fontSize = 2	126%

\relative c'' {
  \teeny
  c4.-> d8---3
  \tiny
  c4.-> d8---3
  \small
  c4.-> d8---3
  \normalsize
  c4.-> d8---3
  \large
  c4.-> d8---3
  \huge
  c4.-> d8---3
}

Font size changes are achieved by scaling the design size that is closest to the desired size. The standard font size (for font-size = 0) depends on the standard staff height. For a 20pt staff, an 11pt font is selected.

Predefined commands

\magnifyMusic, \teeny, \tiny, \small, \normalsize, \large, \huge.

See also

Notation Reference: Selecting font and font size, Setting the staff size, Formatting cue notes, Ossia staves.

Installed Files: ‘ly/music-functions-init.ly’, ‘ly/property-init.ly’.

Snippets: Editorial annotations.

Internals Reference: font-interface.

Known issues and warnings

There are currently two bugs that are preventing proper horizontal spacing when using \magnifyMusic. There is only one available workaround, and it is not guaranteed to work in every case. In the example below, replace the mag variable with your own value. You may also try removing one or both of the \newSpacingSection commands, and/or the \override and \revert commands:

\magnifyMusic mag {
  \newSpacingSection
  \override Score.SpacingSpanner.spacing-increment = #(* 1.2 mag)
  [music]
  \newSpacingSection
  \revert Score.SpacingSpanner.spacing-increment
}

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Fingering instructions

Fingering instructions can be entered using ‘note-digit’:

\relative { c''4-1 d-2 f-4 e-3 }

Markup texts or strings may be used for finger changes.

\relative {
  c''4-1 d-2 f\finger \markup \tied-lyric #"4~3" c\finger "2 - 3"
}

A thumb-script can be added (e.g., cello music) to indicate that a note should be played with the thumb.

\relative { <a'_\thumb a'-3>2 <b_\thumb b'-3> }

Fingerings for chords can also be added to individual notes by adding them after the pitches.

\relative {
  <c''-1 e-2 g-3 b-5>2 <d-1 f-2 a-3 c-5>
}

Fingering instructions may be manually placed above or below the staff, see Direction and placement.

Selected Snippets

Controlling the placement of chord fingerings

The placement of fingering numbers can be controlled precisely. For fingering orientation to apply, you must use a chord construct <> even if it is a single note.

\relative c' {
  \set fingeringOrientations = #'(left)
  <c-1 e-3 a-5>4
  \set fingeringOrientations = #'(down)
  <c-1 e-3 a-5>4
  \set fingeringOrientations = #'(down right up)
  <c-1 e-3 a-5>4
  \set fingeringOrientations = #'(up)
  <c-1 e-3 a-5>4
  \set fingeringOrientations = #'(left)
  <c-1>2
  \set fingeringOrientations = #'(down)
  <e-3>2
}

Allowing fingerings to be printed inside the staff

By default, vertically oriented fingerings are positioned outside the staff. However, this behavior can be canceled. Note: you must use a chord construct <>, even if it is only a single note.

\relative c' {
  <c-1 e-2 g-3 b-5>2
  \override Fingering.staff-padding = #'()
  <c-1 e-2 g-3 b-5>4 <g'-0>
}

Avoiding collisions with chord fingerings

Fingerings and string numbers applied to individual notes will automatically avoid beams and stems, but this is not true by default for fingerings and string numbers applied to the individual notes of chords. The following example shows how this default behavior can be overridden.

\relative c' {
  \set fingeringOrientations = #'(up)
  \set stringNumberOrientations = #'(up)
  \set strokeFingerOrientations = #'(up)

  % Default behavior
  r8
  <f c'-5>8
  <f c'\5>8
  <f c'-\rightHandFinger #2 >8

  % No tweak needed
  r8
  <f c'-5>8
  <f c'\5>8
   % Corrected to avoid collisions
  \override StrokeFinger.add-stem-support = ##t
  <f c'-\rightHandFinger #2 >8
}

See also

Notation Reference: Direction and placement.

Snippets: Editorial annotations.

Internals Reference: FingeringEvent, fingering-event, Fingering_engraver, New_fingering_engraver, Fingering.

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Hidden notes

Hidden (or invisible or transparent) notes can be useful in preparing theory or composition exercises.

\relative {
  c''4 d
  \hideNotes
  e4 f
  \unHideNotes
  g a
  \hideNotes
  b
  \unHideNotes
  c
}

Note heads, stems, and flags, and rests are invisible. Beams are invisible if they start on a hidden note. Objects that are attached to invisible notes are still visible.

\relative c'' {
  e8(\p f g a)--
  \hideNotes
  e8(\p f g a)--
}

Predefined commands

\hideNotes, \unHideNotes.

See also

Learning Manual: Visibility and color of objects.

Notation Reference: Invisible rests, Visibility of objects, Hiding staves.

Snippets: Editorial annotations.

Internals Reference: Note_spacing_engraver, NoteSpacing.

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Coloring objects

Individual objects may be assigned colors. Valid color names are listed in the List of colors.

\override NoteHead.color = #red
c''4 c''
\override NoteHead.color = #(x11-color 'LimeGreen)
d''
\override Stem.color = #blue
e''

The full range of colors defined for X11 can be accessed by using the Scheme function x11-color. The function takes one argument; this can be a symbol in the form 'FooBar or a string in the form "FooBar". The first form is quicker to write and is more efficient. However, using the second form it is possible to access X11 colors by the multi-word form of its name.

If x11-color cannot make sense of the parameter then the color returned defaults to black.

\new Staff \with {
  instrumentName = \markup {
    \with-color #(x11-color 'red) "Clarinet"
    }
  }
  \relative c'' {
  \override Staff.StaffSymbol.color = #(x11-color 'SlateBlue2)
  gis8 a
  \override Beam.color = #(x11-color "medium turquoise")
  gis a
  \override Accidental.color = #(x11-color 'DarkRed)
  gis a
  \override NoteHead.color = #(x11-color "LimeGreen")
  gis a
  % this is deliberate nonsense; note that the stems remain black
  \override Stem.color = #(x11-color 'Boggle)
  b2 cis
}

Exact RGB colors can be specified using the Scheme function rgb-color.

\new Staff \with {
  instrumentName = \markup {
    \with-color #(x11-color 'red) "Clarinet"
    }
  }
\relative c'' {
  \override Staff.StaffSymbol.color = #(x11-color 'SlateBlue2)
  \override Stem.color = #(rgb-color 0 0 0)
  gis8 a
  \override Stem.color = #(rgb-color 1 1 1)
  gis8 a
  \override Stem.color = #(rgb-color 0 0 0.5)
  gis4 a
}

See also

Notation Reference: List of colors, The \tweak command.

Snippets: Editorial annotations.

Known issues and warnings

An X11 color is not necessarily exactly the same shade as a similarly named normal color.

Not all X11 colors are distinguishable in a web browser, i.e., a web browser might not display a difference between LimeGreen and ForestGreen. For web use normal colors are recommended (i.e., blue, green, red).

Notes in a chord cannot be separately colored with \override; use \tweak or the equivalent \single\override before the respective note instead, see The \tweak command.

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Parentheses

Objects may be parenthesized by prefixing \parenthesize to the music event. When prefixed to a chord, it parenthesizes every note. Individual notes inside a chord may also be parenthesized.

\relative {
  c''2 \parenthesize d
  c2 \parenthesize <c e g>
  c2 <c \parenthesize e g>
}

Non-note objects may be parenthesized as well. For articulations, a hyphen is needed before the \parenthesize command.

\relative {
  c''2-\parenthesize -. d
  c2 \parenthesize r
}

See also

Snippets: Editorial annotations.

Internals Reference: Parenthesis_engraver, ParenthesesItem, parentheses-interface.

Known issues and warnings

Parenthesizing a chord prints parentheses around each individual note, instead of a single large parenthesis around the entire chord.

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Stems

Whenever a note is found, a Stem object is created automatically. For whole notes and rests, they are also created but made invisible.

Stems may be manually placed to point up or down; see Direction and placement.

Predefined commands

\stemUp, \stemDown, \stemNeutral.

Selected Snippets

Default direction of stems on the center line of the staff

The default direction of stems on the center line of the staff is set by the Stem property neutral-direction.

\relative c'' {
  a4 b c b
  \override Stem.neutral-direction = #up
  a4 b c b
  \override Stem.neutral-direction = #down
  a4 b c b
}

Automatically changing the stem direction of the middle note based on the melody

LilyPond can alter the stem direction of the middle note on a staff so that it follows the melody, by adding the Melody_engraver to the Voice context and overriding the neutral-direction of Stem.

\relative c'' {
  \time 3/4
  a8 b g f b g |
  c  b d c b c |
}

\layout {
  \context {
    \Voice
    \consists "Melody_engraver"
    \autoBeamOff
    \override Stem.neutral-direction = #'()
  }
}

See also

Notation Reference: Direction and placement.

Snippets: Editorial annotations.

Internals Reference: Stem_engraver, Stem, stem-interface.

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LilyPond — Notation Reference v2.21.0 (Vývojářská větev).