LilyPond wiki - User contributions [en]

Metronome marks with parentheses

2026-07-31T17:11:01Z

Ksnortum: Metronome marks with parentheses and no tempo name

When you use the <code>\tempo</code> command, you can add a metronome mark to it. If you want just the metronome mark, leave out the tempo name. This gives you a metronome mark without parentheses. If you want the parentheses around the metronome mark, use an empty string <code>""</code> for the tempo name.

<lilypond version="2.26">
{
\tempo "Allegro" 4 = 132
c'1 1
\tempo 4 = 100
1
\tempo "" 4 = 120
1
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Really simple]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Guitar barre

2026-07-25T20:31:11Z

Ksnortum: No need for full layout

This snippet shows three ways to get barré and half barré chords.

<lilypond version="2.24">
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=952
% added by P.P.Schneider on Sept.2014.
% revised by Harm
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Prefix = \markup {
%% uncomment/comment these lines for C, C slashed, B or B slashed prefix :
\roman C
%\combine \roman C \translate #'(0.65 . -0.25) \override #'(thickness . 1.2) \draw-line #'(0 . 1.8)
%\roman B
%\combine \roman B \translate #'(0.65 . -0.25) \override #'(thickness . 1.2) \draw-line #'(0 . 1.8)
%%%%%%%%%%%%
\hspace #0.2
}

#(define-markup-command (prefix layout props string-qty) (integer?)
(interpret-markup layout props
(if (member string-qty (iota 4 2 1))
#{
\markup {
\override #'(font-family . typewriter)
\concat {
\fontsize #-4 {
\raise #.5 #(number->string string-qty)
\hspace #-.2
\raise #.2 "/"
\hspace #-.2
"6"
}
\Prefix
}
}
#}
#{ \markup\Prefix #})))

startBarre =
#(define-event-function (arg-string-qty str)
((integer?) markup?)
(let* ((pre-fix
(if arg-string-qty #{ \markup \prefix #arg-string-qty #} Prefix))
(mrkp (markup #:upright #:concat (pre-fix str #:hspace 0.3))))

(define (width grob text-string)
(interval-length
(ly:stencil-extent
(grob-interpret-markup grob (markup text-string))
X)))
#{
\tweak after-line-breaking
#(lambda (grob)
(let* ((mrkp-width (width grob mrkp))
(line-thickness (ly:staff-symbol-line-thickness grob)))
(ly:grob-set-nested-property!
grob
'(bound-details left padding)
(+ (/ mrkp-width -4) (* line-thickness 2)))))
\tweak font-size -2
\tweak style #'line
\tweak bound-details.left.text #mrkp
\tweak bound-details.left.attach-dir -1
\tweak bound-details.left-broken.text ##f
\tweak bound-details.left-broken.attach-dir -1
%% adjust the numeric values to fit your needs:
\tweak bound-details.left-broken.padding 1.5
\tweak bound-details.right-broken.padding 0
\tweak bound-details.right.padding 0.25
\tweak bound-details.right.attach-dir 2
\tweak bound-details.right-broken.text ##f
\tweak bound-details.right.text
\markup
\with-dimensions #'(0 . 0) #'(-.3 . 0)
\draw-line #'(0 . -1)
\startTextSpan
#}))

#(define startHalfBarre startBarre)

startModernBarre =
#(define-event-function (fretnum partial)
(number? number?)
#{
\tweak bound-details.left.text
\markup
\small \bold \concat {
%\Prefix
#(format #f "~@r" fretnum)
\hspace #.2
\lower #.3 \fontsize #-2 #(number->string partial)
\hspace #.5
}
\tweak font-size -1
\tweak font-shape #'upright
\tweak style #'dashed-line
\tweak dash-fraction #0.3
\tweak dash-period #1
\tweak bound-details.left.stencil-align-dir-y #0.35
\tweak bound-details.left.padding 0.25
\tweak bound-details.left.attach-dir -1
\tweak bound-details.left-broken.text ##f
\tweak bound-details.left-broken.attach-dir -1
%% adjust the numeric values to fit your needs:
\tweak bound-details.left-broken.padding 1.5
\tweak bound-details.right-broken.padding 0
\tweak bound-details.right.padding 0.25
\tweak bound-details.right.attach-dir 2
\tweak bound-details.right-broken.text ##f
\tweak bound-details.right.text
\markup
\with-dimensions #'(0 . 0) #'(-.3 . 0)
\draw-line #'(0 . -1)
\startTextSpan
#})

stopBarre = \stopTextSpan

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%% EXAMPLES
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Standard Barrï¿½ function

%% Syntax: note \startBarre "text" notes \stopBarre (text = any fret number)

\markup \column \italic { "Standard notation:" \vspace #.5 }

{
\clef "G_8"
\key d\minor
<<
\new Voice {
\voiceOne a'16[ \startBarre "III" bes d' bes f'8] \stopBarre
}
\new Voice { \voiceTwo d2 }
>>
}

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Half Barrï¿½ function with prefix

%% Syntax: note \startHalfBarre #'string quantity' "text" notes \stopBarre (text = any fret number)

\markup
\column \italic { \vspace #1 "With string position prefix:" \vspace #.5 }

{
\clef "G_8"
\key d\minor
<<
\new Voice {
\voiceOne a'16[ \startHalfBarre #3 "III" bes d' bes f'8] \stopBarre
}
\new Voice { \voiceTwo d2 }
>>
}

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Modern Barrï¿½ function

%% Syntax: note \startModernBarre fret-number string-number notes \stopBarre

\markup \column \italic { \vspace #1 "A more modern approach:" \vspace #.5 }
{
\clef "G_8"
\key d\minor
<<
\new Voice {
\voiceOne a'16[ \startModernBarre #3 #3 bes d' bes f'8] \stopBarre
}
\new Voice { \voiceTwo d2 }
>>
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Fretted strings]]
[[Category:Chords]]
[[Category:Editorial annotations]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Table of contents section command

2026-07-17T14:55:40Z

Ksnortum: Replace LSR URL with Wiki link

If you have several pieces in several files, you might want to build a book from that. Assume you have a master file which includes the pieces:

<pre>
\include "tune1.ly"
\include "tune2.ly"
</pre>
In your piece-files you might have <code>\tocItem</code> commands to build the table of contents.

With the following snippet, you can replace those <code>\tocItem</code> commands with <code>#(set-toc-section! "''section''")</code> in the master file:

<pre>#(set-toc-section! "tunes")
\include "tune1.ly"
\include "tune2.ly"
#(set-toc-section! "parts")
\include "part1.ly"
\include "part2.ly"</pre>
Now every section is introduced with a section line in the table of contents only if the section title was set before. If you reorder the parts (includes), the sections will still appear in the right place. This is meant for compiling a collection of pieces, which also compile themselves. For a complete opus with pieces, see [[Ready-to-use LilyPond macros: advanced layout and titles, using a special stylesheet]].

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=738
%% see also http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=368

% define toc-section commands
#(begin
(define-public (set-toc-section! text) #f)
(define-public (get-toc-section text) #f)
(let ((toc-section #f))
(set! set-toc-section! (lambda (text)(set! toc-section text)))
(set! get-toc-section (lambda ()(begin toc-section)))))

% define section-aware piece-toc-item-command
piece = #(define-music-function (text) (markup?)
(begin
(if (get-toc-section) (add-toc-item! 'tocCollMarkup (get-toc-section)))
(set-toc-section! #f)
(add-toc-item! 'tocPartMarkup text)))

\paper {
#(set-paper-size "a5 landscape")
% this will not know the page number!
tocCollMarkup = \markup { \fill-line { \bold \fromproperty #'toc:text \vspace #1 \null } }
tocPartMarkup = \markup { \fill-line { \concat { \hspace #2 \fromproperty #'toc:text } \vspace #0 \fromproperty #'toc:page } }
}

% some music pieces ...
\bookpart {
\markuplist {
\override-lines #'(baseline-skip . 2.3)
\table-of-contents
}
}
#(set-toc-section! "section 1")
\bookpart {
\piece \markup { "piece 1" }
\score {
\relative c' {
c d e f g
}
}
}
\bookpart {
\piece \markup { "piece 2" }
\score {
\relative c' {
c d e f
}
}
}
#(set-toc-section! "section 2")
\bookpart {
\piece \markup { "piece 1" }
\score {
\relative c' {
c d e f
}
}
}
\bookpart {
\piece \markup { "piece 2" }
\score {
\relative c' {
c d e f
}
}
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Titles]]
[[Category:Paper and layout]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Table of contents section command

2026-07-17T14:53:17Z

Ksnortum: Rework a confusing sentence

If you have several pieces in several files, you might want to build a book from that. Assume you have a master file which includes the pieces:

<pre>
\include "tune1.ly"
\include "tune2.ly"
</pre>
In your piece-files you might have <code>\tocItem</code> commands to build the table of contents.

With the following snippet, you can replace those <code>\tocItem</code> commands with <code>#(set-toc-section! "''section''")</code> in the master file:

<pre>#(set-toc-section! "tunes")
\include "tune1.ly"
\include "tune2.ly"
#(set-toc-section! "parts")
\include "part1.ly"
\include "part2.ly"</pre>
Now every section is introduced with a section line in the table of contents only if the section title was set before. If you reorder the parts (includes), the sections will still appear in the right place. This is meant for compiling a collection of pieces, which also compile themselves. For a complete opus with pieces Please see snippet [http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=368 368]

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=738
%% see also http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=368

% define toc-section commands
#(begin
(define-public (set-toc-section! text) #f)
(define-public (get-toc-section text) #f)
(let ((toc-section #f))
(set! set-toc-section! (lambda (text)(set! toc-section text)))
(set! get-toc-section (lambda ()(begin toc-section)))))

% define section-aware piece-toc-item-command
piece = #(define-music-function (text) (markup?)
(begin
(if (get-toc-section) (add-toc-item! 'tocCollMarkup (get-toc-section)))
(set-toc-section! #f)
(add-toc-item! 'tocPartMarkup text)))

\paper {
#(set-paper-size "a5 landscape")
% this will not know the page number!
tocCollMarkup = \markup { \fill-line { \bold \fromproperty #'toc:text \vspace #1 \null } }
tocPartMarkup = \markup { \fill-line { \concat { \hspace #2 \fromproperty #'toc:text } \vspace #0 \fromproperty #'toc:page } }
}

% some music pieces ...
\bookpart {
\markuplist {
\override-lines #'(baseline-skip . 2.3)
\table-of-contents
}
}
#(set-toc-section! "section 1")
\bookpart {
\piece \markup { "piece 1" }
\score {
\relative c' {
c d e f g
}
}
}
\bookpart {
\piece \markup { "piece 2" }
\score {
\relative c' {
c d e f
}
}
}
#(set-toc-section! "section 2")
\bookpart {
\piece \markup { "piece 1" }
\score {
\relative c' {
c d e f
}
}
}
\bookpart {
\piece \markup { "piece 2" }
\score {
\relative c' {
c d e f
}
}
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Titles]]
[[Category:Paper and layout]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

User:Ksnortum/Sandbox

2026-07-17T14:43:39Z

Ksnortum:

{{Convert-ly-devel}} {{Convert-ly-2.26}} {{Convert-ly-stable}}

[[Ready-to-use LilyPond macros: advanced layout and titles, using a special stylesheet]]

<code>#(set-toc-section! "</code><code>''section''</code><code>")</code>

<code>#(set-toc-section! "''section''")</code>

User:Ksnortum/Sandbox

2026-07-17T14:28:43Z

Ksnortum:

{{Convert-ly-devel}} {{Convert-ly-2.26}} {{Convert-ly-stable}}

[[Ready-to-use LilyPond macros: advanced layout and titles, using a special stylesheet]]

Footnotes and remarks in the footer

2026-07-16T13:58:17Z

Ksnortum: Misspelling: ork -> work

Place a numbered annotation in the footer. First we define a scheme-function to add an annotation (add-foot!) wich adds a markup to a foot-item-list and returns a label-event and a TextScriptEvent. Now we define a music-function, wich utilizes the scheme-function. Then we define a markup-command, wich returns the footnotes/annotations of the current page. Now we can use this markup-command in [odd|even]FooterMarkup in the paper block.

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=728

% Trying to get small(!) footnotes with excerpts from define-markup-commands.scm and toc-init.ly
% TODO parameter for markup styles in paper{} (like 'tocItemMarkup)
% TODO * items, not numbers
% PROBLEM if there are X pages and Y footnotes, the footer-items markup has to loop X*Y through the list of notes!
% TODO collect notes in props ('pageN) on first page, then assoc get -> O( X + Y ) ??

% define the footnote counter
#(define footnr 0)
% to be defined in a closure later (see toc-init.ly)
#(define-public (add-foot-item! dir text) #f)
#(define-public (foot-items) #f)

% define add item and get list functions (taken from toc-init.ly - add-toc-item!)
#(let ((foot-item-list (list)))
(set! add-foot-item!
(lambda (dir text)
(let ((label (gensym "foot")))
(set! footnr (+ footnr 1))
(set! foot-item-list
(cons (list label text footnr)
foot-item-list))
(make-music 'EventChord
'page-marker #t
'page-label label
'elements (list
(make-music 'LabelEvent 'page-label label)
(make-music 'TextScriptEvent 'direction dir 'text (markup #:super #:italic (number->string footnr)))
)))))
(set! foot-items (lambda ()
(reverse foot-item-list))))

% conditionally add text markup, if we are on the right page - helper function for the markup command
#(define (runfi pagelist cur-page table label text fnnr)
(let ((label-page (and (list? table) (assoc label table))))
(if (and label-page (= cur-page (cdr label-page)))
(markup pagelist #:super #:italic (number->string fnnr) text)
pagelist
)
)
)

% define markup command to be used in footerMarkup
% delayed stencil-evaluation like in page-ref - so we know the pagenumber of the label and the current page
% needs 'gauge'-stencil --- is calculated from <code>'line-width - reserve</code>
#(define-markup-command (footer-items layout props reserve)(number?)
"markup footer items"
(let* ((line-width (- (ly:output-def-lookup layout 'line-width) reserve))
(gauge-stencil (interpret-markup layout props (markup #:super "1" "X" #:draw-line (cons line-width 0) )))
(x-ext (ly:stencil-extent gauge-stencil X))
(y-ext (ly:stencil-extent gauge-stencil Y)))
(ly:make-stencil
`(delay-stencil-evaluation
,(delay (ly:stencil-expr

(let* ((table (ly:output-def-lookup layout 'label-page-table))
(cur-page (inexact->exact (string->number (chain-assoc-get 'page:page-number-string props))))
(pagelist (markup))
(page-number -1))
(map (lambda (fn)
(let ((label (car fn))
(text (cadr fn))
(fnnr (caddr fn)))
(set! pagelist (runfi pagelist cur-page table label text fnnr))
)
) (foot-items))
(interpret-markup layout props (markup pagelist))
)

)
)) x-ext y-ext)))

% the footnote function
% takes direction (UP/DOWN) and markup
% other layout properties can be set via [\once] \override TextScript #'... = ...
addfoot = #(define-music-function (dir text)(integer? markup?)
(begin (add-foot-item! dir text)
))

\paper {
#(set-paper-size "a5" 'landscape)
oddHeaderMarkup = ""
evenHeaderMarkup = ""
oddFooterMarkup = \markup { \fill-line {
% fill in footer-items, reserve 6mm for page-number
\footer-items #(* (magstep mm) 6)
\fromproperty #'page:page-number-string
}
}
evenFooterMarkup = \markup { \fill-line {
\fromproperty #'page:page-number-string
% fill in footer-items, reserve 6mm for page-number
\footer-items #(* (magstep mm) 6)
}
}
}

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
% some really boaring music with \addfoot

notenA = \relative c' {
\addfoot #UP \markup { "The C in the beginning is not confirmed!" }
\repeat unfold 24 { c d e f }
\addfoot #UP \markup { "This is started on G" }
{ g( f e d) }
\repeat unfold 23 { c d e f }
\bar "|."
}

\bookpart {
\score {
\new Staff \new Voice { \notenA }
}
\score {
\relative c' {
\repeat unfold 10 { c d e f }
\addfoot #0 \markup { "Test3" }
\repeat unfold 10 { c d e f }
\bar "|."
}
}
}
\bookpart {
\score {
<<
\new Staff \new Voice = "voc" {
\relative c' {
\repeat unfold 10 { c d e f }
% override TextScript properties to move the number
\once \override TextScript.self-alignment-X = #RIGHT
\once \override TextScript.X-offset = #2
\once \override TextScript.extra-offset = #'(0 . -1)
\addfoot #DOWN \markup { \italic "mi = \"la\" in ancient work" }
\repeat unfold 10 { c d e f }
\bar "|."
}
}
\new Lyrics \lyricsto "voc" {
\repeat unfold 10 { la la la la }
\repeat unfold 10 { mi mi mi mi }
} >>
\header {
piece = "third"
}
}
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Text]]
[[Category:Editorial annotations]]
[[Category:Text]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Creating a short ossia section with lyrics

2026-07-14T13:59:49Z

Ksnortum: Issue #1551 has been fixed for a while now

In vocal scores for a chorus the music for the soloists is sometimes omitted. In such cases a vocal cue can be inserted as a short ossia section.

<lilypond version="2.24">
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=846

\score {
\new ChoirStaff = "choirStaff" <<
\new Staff = "sopranoStaff" {
\new Voice = "sopranoVoice" {
\compressEmptyMeasures
R1*5
<<
R1
\new Staff = "soloStaff"
\with {
\remove "Time_signature_engraver"
alignAboveContext = #"sopranoStaff"
fontSize = #-3
\override StaffSymbol.staff-space = #(magstep -3)
\override StaffSymbol.thickness = #(magstep -3)
}
\new CueVoice = "soloVoice" {
\relative c'' {
c4 c c c16 c c c |
}
}
\new Lyrics = "soloLyrics"
\with {
alignBelowContext = "soloStaff"
\override LyricText.font-size = #-3
}
\lyricsto "soloVoice"
{ Rea -- dy choir! Go for it now! }
>>
\relative c'' {
b4 b b b |
c4 c c c |
}
}
}
\new Lyrics = "sopranoLyrics" \lyricsto "sopranoVoice" {
and here we are! La la la la
}
\new Staff = "altoStaff" {
\new Voice = "altoVoice" {
\relative c'' {
R1*5
R1
b4 b b b |
c4 c c c |
}
}
}
>>
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Vocal music]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Using lyrics as markup text

2026-07-13T14:44:12Z

Ksnortum: Use paper height to bring the LilyPond code closer to the rendering

The snippet allows to re-use the lyrics as a markup, e.g., for extracting a libretto. It defines a <code>\verse</code> markup command to include <code>\lyricmode</code> text. You can decide to use a linebreak character or wrap lines in the marked places.

<pre>words = \lyricmode {
Du lil -- le \markup \italic fis -- \markup \italic ker \nl
Du \markup \italic lil -- \markup \italic le fis -- ker
}
\markup {
\override #'(line-width . 40) % set the line width
\override #'(display-nl . #t) % show a newline character or break lines (default)
\override #`(make-line . ,make-wordwrap-markup) % use word-wrapped and left aligned
% or justified (default) lines/paragraphs
\verse #words
}</pre>

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=744

#(define linebreakindicator "\\")

% \nl command that inserts the placeholder event into a lyrics
nl = #(make-music 'LineBreakEvent)

%% Function to extract strings from lyrics.
%
#(define (lyrics->list lyrics)
"Return only syllables and hyphens from @code{lyrics}."
(if (ly:music? lyrics)
(cond
((music-is-of-type? lyrics 'lyric-event)
(let* ((art (ly:music-property lyrics 'articulations))
(hyphen?
(not (null?
(filter
(lambda (m)
(music-is-of-type? m 'hyphen-event))
art))))
(text (ly:music-property lyrics 'text)))
(if hyphen? (list text hyphen?) (list text))))
((music-is-of-type? lyrics 'line-break-event)
(list linebreakindicator))
(else
(let ((elt (ly:music-property lyrics 'element))
(elts (ly:music-property lyrics 'elements)))
(if (ly:music? elt)
(lyrics->list elt)
(if (null? elts)
'()
(map
(lambda(x) (lyrics->list x))
elts))))))
'()))

#(define (flatten-nonmarkup-list x)
"Unnest list one level, but don't flatten markup constructs!"
;; The check for markup? is likely not needed
;; We let it in for clarity
(append-map (lambda (e) (if (markup? e) e `(,@e))) x))

#(define (reduce-hyphens text)
(if (not (null? text))
(let eat ((wd (car text)) (wds (cdr text)))
(cond
((null? wds) (list wd))
((and (boolean? (car wds))
(not (null? (cdr wds))))
(eat (markup #:concat (wd (cadr wds)))
(cddr wds)))
(else (cons wd (eat (car wds) (cdr wds))))))
'()))

#(define-markup-command (verse layout props lyrics) (ly:music?)
#:properties ((display-nl #f)
(make-line make-justify-markup))
"Verse command that marks up a column of \\nl-separated lines"
(let* ((unnested-lyr-ls
(reduce-hyphens (flatten-nonmarkup-list (lyrics->list lyrics))))
(split-cond?
(lambda (a)
(and (not display-nl)
(equal? a linebreakindicator))))
(list-of-lines
(map
(lambda (l) (make-line l))
(split-list-by-separator unnested-lyr-ls split-cond?))))
(if (null? unnested-lyr-ls)
(begin
(ly:warning "lyrics is empty, returning empty-stencil")
empty-stencil)
(interpret-markup layout props (make-column-markup list-of-lines)))))

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\paper {
tagline = ##f
paper-height = 3\in
}

mus = \relative c'' { \partial 4. g8 a g e c r4 r8 g' a g | f[ d] }

words = \lyricmode {
\override LyricHyphen.minimum-distance = #1.2
Du lil -- le \markup \italic fis -- \markup \italic ker \nl
Du \markup \italic lil -- \markup \italic le fis -- ker
}

%{
<<
\new Voice = "mel" \mus
\new Lyrics \lyricsto "mel" \words
>>
%}

\mus
\addlyrics { \words }

\markup \line \bold { With line breaks (no overrides) }
\markup { \verse #words }

\markup \vspace #1

\markup \line \bold { With visible line break character }
\markup { \override #'(display-nl . #t) \verse #words }
%{
%% To have left-aligned word-wrapping with
%% long lines, use
\markup { \override #`(make-line . ,make-wordwrap-markup) \verse #words }
%% (the default is make-justify-markup)
%}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Text]]
[[Category:Vocal music]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Ossia staves with clefs and time signatures

2026-07-11T14:12:14Z

Ksnortum: Add paper-height so that the extra space between the rendering and code is decreased

Under Notation Reference > Staff notation > Modifying single staves (section 1.6.2) > Ossia staves, one technique is given in which a separate staff is created for the ossia, and <code>\context Staff="ossia"</code> places notes on the ossia staff.

The technique recommends removing the time signature engraver and making clefs transparent. If there is a key signature, then the "Key_engraver" may also need to be removed.

<pre> \remove "Time_signature_engraver"
\override Clef #'transparent = ##t</pre>
Problem: If there is a meter, clef, or key change in the middle of an ossia passage, those will be invisible.

Solution: Instead of removing the engravers, override the relevant stencils to be <code>#f</code>, hiding them where they are not needed. Then it's easy to <code>\once \revert</code> the stencil(s) where needed.

In this example, the change to 3/4 time appears in the ossia staff at the end of the first system, and both the clef and meter appear at the beginning of the second system (whereas they are hidden at the start of the first system).

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=774

%here starts the snippet:

%LSR modified by P.P.Schneider on Feb.2014

showMeter = { \once \revert Staff.TimeSignature.stencil }

outline = {
\time 4/4 s1*2
\showMeter \time 3/4 s2.
\showMeter \time 4/4 s1*2
}

\score {
<<
\new Staff = "ossia" \with {
\override Clef.stencil = ##f
\override KeySignature.stencil = ##f
\override TimeSignature.stencil = ##f
fontSize = #-3
\override StaffSymbol.staff-space = #(magstep -3)
\override StaffSymbol.thickness = #(magstep -3)
} {
\stopStaff
\outline
}
\new Staff <<
\outline
{
\repeat unfold 16 { b'16 }
<<
{ \repeat unfold 60 { b'16 } }
\context Staff="ossia" {
\revert Staff.Clef.stencil
\startStaff
\repeat unfold 22 { b'8 }
\override Clef.stencil = ##f
\stopStaff
}
>>
}
>>
>>
}

\paper {
tagline = ##f
paper-height = 3\in
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Staff notation]]
[[Category:Contexts and engravers]]
[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Ossia staves with clefs and time signatures

2026-07-11T14:08:00Z

Ksnortum: Remove unnecessary include file

Under Notation Reference > Staff notation > Modifying single staves (section 1.6.2) > Ossia staves, one technique is given in which a separate staff is created for the ossia, and <code>\context Staff="ossia"</code> places notes on the ossia staff.

The technique recommends removing the time signature engraver and making clefs transparent. If there is a key signature, then the "Key_engraver" may also need to be removed.

<pre> \remove "Time_signature_engraver"
\override Clef #'transparent = ##t</pre>
Problem: If there is a meter, clef, or key change in the middle of an ossia passage, those will be invisible.

Solution: Instead of removing the engravers, override the relevant stencils to be <code>#f</code>, hiding them where they are not needed. Then it's easy to <code>\once \revert</code> the stencil(s) where needed.

In this example, the change to 3/4 time appears in the ossia staff at the end of the first system, and both the clef and meter appear at the beginning of the second system (whereas they are hidden at the start of the first system).

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=774

%here starts the snippet:

%LSR modified by P.P.Schneider on Feb.2014

showMeter = { \once \revert Staff.TimeSignature.stencil }

outline = {
\time 4/4 s1*2
\showMeter \time 3/4 s2.
\showMeter \time 4/4 s1*2
}

\score {
<<
\new Staff = "ossia" \with {
\override Clef.stencil = ##f
\override KeySignature.stencil = ##f
\override TimeSignature.stencil = ##f
fontSize = #-3
\override StaffSymbol.staff-space = #(magstep -3)
\override StaffSymbol.thickness = #(magstep -3)
} {
\stopStaff
\outline
}
\new Staff <<
\outline
{
\repeat unfold 16 { b'16 }
<<
{ \repeat unfold 60 { b'16 } }
\context Staff="ossia" {
\revert Staff.Clef.stencil
\startStaff
\repeat unfold 22 { b'8 }
\override Clef.stencil = ##f
\stopStaff
}
>>
}
>>
>>
}

\paper { tagline = ##f }
</lilypond>

[[Category:Staff notation]]
[[Category:Contexts and engravers]]
[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Curly end barline

2026-06-17T13:21:16Z

Ksnortum: Decrease paper size so there is less white space between the rendered image and the code

Curly end barline supports svg output.

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=984
% Credits: PPS on March 2015

% Paper block variables can be removed
\paper {
#(set-paper-size '(cons (* 75 mm) (* 50 mm)))
tagline = ##f
}

endBarCurlyPath = \markup {
\with-dimensions #'(0 . 0) #'(0 . 0)
\override #'(filled . #t)
\path #0.01
#'((moveto -0.01 -1.95)
(curveto 0.05 -1.10 0.02 -1.50 0.12 0.00)
(curveto 0.18 0.80 0.25 1.63 0.38 1.63)
(curveto 0.51 1.63 0.52 0.80 0.59 0.00)
(curveto 0.66 -0.90 0.70 -1.54 0.91 -1.54)
(curveto 1.04 -1.54 1.08 -1.10 1.23 0.00)
(curveto 1.35 1.00 1.46 1.00 1.49 1.00)
(curveto 1.57 1.00 1.59 0.69 1.63 0.00)
(curveto 1.68 -0.70 1.75 -1.08 1.90 -1.08)
(curveto 2.05 -1.08 2.05 -0.80 2.12 -0.30)
(curveto 2.20 0.20 2.22 0.43 2.30 0.43)
(curveto 2.36 0.43 2.37 0.20 2.43 0.00)
(curveto 2.49 -0.20 2.51 -0.33 2.76 -0.34)
(curveto 2.96 -0.34 3.20 -0.20 3.25 -0.07)
(curveto 3.27 -0.01 3.24 0.00 3.23 0.00)
(curveto 3.15 0.00 3.05 -0.30 2.80 -0.31)
(curveto 2.67 -0.31 2.64 -0.27 2.55 0.05)
(curveto 2.46 0.40 2.50 0.48 2.30 0.48)
(curveto 2.15 0.48 2.10 0.00 2.07 -0.25)
(curveto 2.00 -0.70 1.98 -1.02 1.92 -1.02)
(curveto 1.82 -1.02 1.83 -0.60 1.80 0.05)
(curveto 1.78 0.55 1.74 1.04 1.50 1.04)
(curveto 1.30 1.04 1.25 0.65 1.16 0.00)
(curveto 1.02 -1.20 0.96 -1.48 0.91 -1.48)
(curveto 0.82 -1.48 0.82 -0.70 0.80 -0.25)
(curveto 0.71 0.90 0.68 1.68 0.40 1.68)
(curveto 0.15 1.68 0.12 1.00 -0.01 -0.40)
(closepath))
}

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

endBarCurlyTab = {
\once \override Staff.BarLine.stencil =
#(lambda (grob)
(ly:stencil-combine-at-edge
(ly:bar-line::print grob)
X RIGHT
(grob-interpret-markup grob
#{
\markup
\scale #'(1.8 . 1.8)
\endBarCurlyPath
#})
0))
\bar "||"
}

%%% EXAMPLE %%%
#(set-global-staff-size 30)

\new Staff {
c'1 \endBarCurly
}

\new TabStaff {
c'1 \endBarCurlyTab
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Symbols and glyphs]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Bracketed passages

2026-06-10T18:33:15Z

Ksnortum: Doesn't need "full" indicator, or removing the tag line

Code to make Lilypond draw left and right brackets vertically spanning a staff. This is intended to indicate an optional passage of music.

<lilypond version="2.24">
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=377

% The below, invented by Mats Bengtsson, creates left and right brackets vertically
% spanning an entire staff. It is useful for offseting optional passages of music,
% as shown in the example

% The number next to "th" in (th 0.2) controls thickness of the brackets.
#(define-markup-command (left-bracket layout props) ()
"Draw left hand bracket"
(let* ((th 0.2) ;; todo: take from GROB
(width (* 2.5 th)) ;; todo: take from GROB
(ext '(-2.8 . 2.8))) ;; todo: take line-count into account
(ly:bracket Y ext th width)))

leftBracket = {
\once\override BreathingSign.text = #(make-left-bracket-markup)
\once\override BreathingSign.break-visibility = #end-of-line-invisible
\once\override BreathingSign.Y-offset = ##f
% Trick to print it after barlines and signatures:
\once\override BreathingSign.break-align-symbol = #'custos
\breathe
}

#(define-markup-command (right-bracket layout props) ()
"Draw right hand bracket"
(let* ((th .2);;todo: take from GROB
(width (* 2.5 th)) ;; todo: take from GROB
(ext '(-2.8 . 2.8))) ;; todo: take line-count into account
(ly:bracket Y ext th (- width))))

rightBracket = {
\once\override BreathingSign.text = #(make-right-bracket-markup)
\once\override BreathingSign.Y-offset = ##f
\breathe
}

%example of use:
\score {
\relative c'{
\set Score.timing=##f \key f \major
f8( g4 a2 a8-- g4 f8 g4 f g f8[ e] f4 e2 f4 e2
\leftBracket
g4. a8 bes2 a4 g a bes16[ a g8 a bes] c2
\bar""
\break
bes8[ a] g4 bes a2 g8[ a bes c a] bes2 a4.$ bes8$ a4 g g8_-[ f16 g] a4 g f g2)
\rightBracket
g8([ bes a g a bes])
}
\layout{
\context{
\Staff
\remove "Time_signature_engraver"
}
}
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Staff notation]]
[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Symbols and glyphs]]
[[Category:Workaround]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Talk:Arpeggio bracket

2026-06-10T14:05:30Z

Ksnortum: /* 2.26 Conversion Note */ new section

== 2.26 Conversion Note ==

When this is converted to 2.26, it should use <code>\nonArpeggiato</code>. [[User:Ksnortum|Ksnortum]] ([[User talk:Ksnortum|talk]]) 14:05, 10 June 2026 (UTC)

Talk:Repeats headword

2026-05-26T14:24:53Z

Ksnortum: /* New property for initial repeat bar */ new section

== New property for initial repeat bar ==

I believe this snippet should change in 2.26 as there is now a property <code>\set Score.printInitialRepeatBar = ##t\</code> [[User:Ksnortum|Ksnortum]] ([[User talk:Ksnortum|talk]]) 14:24, 26 May 2026 (UTC)

Automatically coloring grobs to indicate when their direction has been manually set

2026-05-25T14:57:46Z

Ksnortum: Doesn't need "full" layout

When editing a piece of music, it can be helpful to see when the directions of slurs, stems, or other grobs have been manually set (as opposed to being automatically set by LilyPond). This snippet changes the color of grobs when their direction has been manually set. Red indicates up, and blue indicates down. It can be applied to all grobs, or just to certain types of grob (i.e. just <code>Slur</code>, or just <code>Slur</code> and <code>TextScript</code>).

<lilypond version="2.24">
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?u=1&id=889

%LSR thanks to David Kastrup for this code snippet.
%=> http://lilypond.1069038.n5.nabble.com/Catch-direction-operators-td151552i20.html

\paper { tagline = ##f }

colorizeDir =
#(define-music-function (item)
(symbol-list-or-music?)
(define (grob-colorize-dir grob)
(let ((ev (event-cause grob)))
(case (and ev (ly:event-property ev 'direction))
((1) red)
((-1) blue)
(else '()))))
;; updaters note for 2.20:
;; \tweak was changed in 2.20, thus switching to \override
;; (\override works for 2.18 as well)
#{ \override $item . color = #grob-colorize-dir #})

mapList =
#(define-music-function (fun lst)
(ly:music-function? list?)
#{ $@(map (lambda (s) #{ $fun $s #}) lst) #})

music =
{
a2-( b)
a^( b)
a''_( b)

c''-3\4-"xy"
c''_3^\4^"xy"
c''^3_\4_"xy"
}

% only color Slur and TextScript grobs
\new Voice \with { \mapList #colorizeDir Slur.TextScript }
{ \music }

% color all grobs
\new Voice \with { \mapList #colorizeDir #(map car all-grob-descriptions) }
{ \music }
</lilypond>

[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Scheme]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

User talk:Ksnortum

2026-05-17T19:05:36Z

Ksnortum: Questions about the convert-ly templates

== Please be careful while using 'Edit' ==

Hello Knute! There is currently a bug in the 'Edit' mode: If you only change some details in the description (i.e., not touching the LilyPond code), the <code><lilypond></code> block gets ‘destroyed’ and is no longer rendered as an image. Please use 'Edit source' instead for the time being to avoid that. -- [[User:Lemzwerg|Lemzwerg]] ([[User talk:Lemzwerg|talk]]) 17:26, 8 April 2026 (UTC)

:Got it, thanks. [[User:Ksnortum|Ksnortum]] ([[User talk:Ksnortum|talk]]) 19:34, 8 April 2026 (UTC)
:...and thanks for cleaning up the mess! [[User:Ksnortum|Ksnortum]] ([[User talk:Ksnortum|talk]]) 14:58, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
::You're welcome! -- [[User:Lemzwerg|Lemzwerg]] ([[User talk:Lemzwerg|talk]]) 15:44, 10 April 2026 (UTC)

== Templates for convert-ly ==

I noticed that there are templates for convert-ly-stable (pointing to 2.24) and convery-ly-devel (pointing to 2.25). Should these be changed to 2.26 and 2.27 respectively? The template for convert-ly-devel is only used in a handful of places and convert-ly-stable doesn't look like it's used at all. --[[User:Ksnortum|Ksnortum]] ([[User talk:Ksnortum|talk]]) 19:05, 17 May 2026 (UTC)

User:Ksnortum/Sandbox

2026-05-17T18:53:30Z

Ksnortum: Playing with templates for convert-ly

User:Ksnortum

2026-05-17T15:19:04Z

Ksnortum: Add link to Sandbox

I am a neurotic programmer/musician and an Admin here at the LilyPond wiki. If you want to learn more about me, see [https://snortum.net/knute/ my webpage]. (Please note that I am ''not'' a web designer!) You can see the scores I've done in [https://github.com/search?q=owner%3Aksnortum+lilypond&type=repositories LilyPond on GitHub] and [https://www.mutopiaproject.org/cgibin/make-table.cgi?searchingfor=snortum&Composer=&Instrument=&Style=&timelength=1&timeunit=week&lilyversion=&preview=1 The Mupotia Project].

[[/Sandbox]]

Main Page

2026-04-25T13:57:55Z

Ksnortum: 2.24 is no longer the current stable release

Welcome to the LilyPond wiki! This is a place where you can find and contribute commented code snippets for the [https://lilypond.org GNU LilyPond] music typesetting program.

Use the search box to look for snippets, view the [[Special:AllPages|list of all pages]], or read the [[Help:Contributing|editing help]]. You might also enter a LilyPond Snippet Repository (LSR) number to access a redirection to the corresponding page.

Most snippets are set up to use the stable LilyPond release 2.24 (the intended version is always shown in the snippet). To use a newer version, don't forget to call {{Convert-ly-devel}} on the snippet since the syntax might have changed!

Chord with ties and interval bigger than a fifth (tie fix)

2026-04-15T20:11:17Z

Ksnortum: "Full" layout not necessary

Ties in three or more note chords, on legerlines and interval of a fifth or more. 
The tie/s encroach upon the note column space, when they shouldn't. 
Gould, p. 64, ex. (a) shows tie not going to centre of notehead, where notehead is and there's an interval bigger than a fifth. 
This is bug issue 1126 Tie positioning not as expected.

<lilypond version="2.24">
\paper { tagline = ##f }

% adapted from the solution at the link below
% https://gitlab.com/lilypond/lilypond/-/issues/1126
\relative c'' { \mark without <g d g,>4~ <g, d' g> r2 |
<g' d g,>1~ |
<g, d' g>1 |
}

\relative c'' { \mark with <g d g,>4~ <g d \tweak transparent ##t b g> r2 |
<g,~ \tweak transparent ##t b d~ g~>1 |
<g \tweak transparent ##t b d g>1 |
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Workaround]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

User talk:Ksnortum

2026-04-10T14:58:19Z

Ksnortum: /* Please be careful while using 'Edit' */ Reply

User talk:Ksnortum

2026-04-08T19:34:21Z

Ksnortum: /* Please be careful while using 'Edit' */ Reply

Clef change at the beginning of a piece

2026-04-08T16:47:08Z

Ksnortum: Add "See also"

When changing the clef at the beginning of the first measure, Lilypond just changes the clef for the staff. This is how to keep the staff clef and add an extra clef after the time signature and before the first note. See also [[Clef change at the beginning of a piece (alternative)]] and [[Initial clef change]].


\version "2.24"

%% <nowiki>http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=792</nowiki>
%% see also <nowiki>http://lilypond.org/doc/stable/Documentation/notation/displaying-pitches</nowiki>

% Append markup in the text property to the grob
#(define (append-markup grob old-stencil)
(ly:stencil-combine-at-edge
old-stencil X RIGHT (ly:text-interface::print grob)))

trebleToBass = {
\clef bass
% Fake staff clef appearance
\once \override Staff.Clef.glyph-name = #"clefs.G"
\once \override Staff.Clef.Y-offset = #-1
% Make sure any key signatures will printed with respect to
% correct middle c position expected for treble clef
\once \set Staff.middleCClefPosition = -6
% Append change clef to the time signature
\once \override Staff.TimeSignature.text = \markup {
\hspace #1.2
\raise #1
\musicglyph "clefs.F_change"
}
\once \override Staff.TimeSignature.stencil = #(lambda (grob)
(append-markup grob (ly:time-signature::print grob)))
}

bassToTreble = {
\clef treble
% Fake staff clef appearance
\once \override Staff.Clef.glyph-name = #"clefs.F"
\once \override Staff.Clef.Y-offset = #1
% Make sure any key signatures will printed with respect to
% correct middle c position expected for bass clef
\once \set Staff.middleCClefPosition = 6
% Append change clef to the time signature
\once \override Staff.TimeSignature.text = \markup {
\hspace #1.2
\lower #1
\musicglyph "clefs.G_change"
}
\once \override Staff.TimeSignature.stencil = #(lambda (grob)
(append-markup grob (ly:time-signature::print grob)))
}

\relative c {
\trebleToBass
\key f \major
c4 d e f
% This should not be visible
\clef bass
g a b c
% This should be visible
\clef treble
d e f g
}


[[Category:Staff notation]]
[[Category:Staff notation]]
[[Category:Pitches]]
[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Initial clef change

2026-04-08T16:45:47Z

Ksnortum: Add "See also"

This snippet handles initial clef changes with a custom engraver. This engraver checks whether there is a difference between the initial clef (as given by <code>\with { \clef ... }</code> and the clef at the first timestep. If any difference is encountered a new clef (spaced like a cue clef) is created, while the original clef and any key signatures are modified to look like the initial clef values. See also [[Clef change at the beginning of a piece]] and [[Clef change at the beginning of a piece (alternative)]].


\version "2.24"

%%% This engraver records the initial clef properties (e.g. what is set by \with { \clef ... })
%%% If in the first timestep these changed, engrave the original clef, and change formatting and break
%%% alignment of the actual clef to mimic a clef change clef. Duplicates some procedure from clef engraver
%%% and could easily be integrated.
<nowiki>#</nowiki>(define (initial-clef-change-engraver context)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (let ((initial-clef-properties #f) (cclef #f) (keysigs '()))
<nowiki> </nowiki> ; macro for checking if any clef property has changed
<nowiki> </nowiki> (define (clef-changed)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (>
<nowiki> </nowiki> (length initial-clef-properties)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (length
<nowiki> </nowiki> (filter
<nowiki> </nowiki> (lambda (x) (equal? (cdr x) (ly:context-property context (car x))))
<nowiki> </nowiki> initial-clef-properties))))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (make-engraver
<nowiki> </nowiki> ; Record initials propertis
<nowiki> </nowiki> ((initialize engraver)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (set!
<nowiki> </nowiki> initial-clef-properties
<nowiki> </nowiki> `((clefGlyph . ,(ly:context-property context 'clefGlyph))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (clefPosition . ,(ly:context-property context 'clefPosition))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (middleCClefPosition . ,(ly:context-property context 'middleCClefPosition))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (clefTransposition . ,(ly:context-property context 'clefTransposition)))))
<nowiki> </nowiki> ; Record the actual clef to adjust. Use details.muted to not acknowledge clef created by this engraver.
<nowiki> </nowiki> (acknowledgers
<nowiki> </nowiki> ((clef-interface engraver grob source-engraver)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (if (not (assoc-get 'muted (ly:grob-property grob 'details) #f))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (set! cclef grob)))
<nowiki> </nowiki> ((key-signature-interface engraver grob source-engraver)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (set! keysigs (cons grob keysigs))))
<nowiki> </nowiki> ; Create a clef if necessary
<nowiki> </nowiki> ((process-music engraver)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (if (and initial-clef-properties (clef-changed))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (let ((clef (ly:engraver-make-grob engraver 'Clef '())))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (ly:grob-set-property! clef 'staff-position (assoc-get 'clefPosition initial-clef-properties))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (ly:grob-set-property! clef 'glyph (assoc-get 'clefGlyph initial-clef-properties))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (ly:grob-set-nested-property! clef '(details muted) #t)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (if ((lambda (x) (and (number? x) (not (= 0 x))))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (assoc-get 'clefTransposition initial-clef-properties 0))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (let ((mod (ly:engraver-make-grob engraver 'ClefModifier '()))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (formatter (ly:context-property context 'clefTranspositionFormatter))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (style (ly:context-property context 'clefTranspositionStyle))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (dir (sign (assoc-get 'clefTransposition initial-clef-properties 0)))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (abs_trans (1+ (abs (assoc-get 'clefTransposition initial-clef-properties 0)))))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (if (procedure? formatter)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (ly:grob-set-property! mod 'text (formatter (number->string abs_trans) style)))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (ly:grob-set-object! mod 'side-support-elements (ly:grob-list->grob-array (list clef)))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (ly:grob-set-parent! mod X clef)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (ly:grob-set-parent! mod Y clef)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (ly:grob-set-property! mod 'direction dir))))))
<nowiki> </nowiki> ; Adjust the actual clef and key signatures
<nowiki> </nowiki> ((process-acknowledged engraver)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (if (and cclef initial-clef-properties (clef-changed))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (begin

<nowiki> </nowiki> ; Key signatures need to be handled if they appear before the cue-clef
<nowiki> </nowiki> ; This requires the break alignment information, so this only sets a
<nowiki> </nowiki> ; hook which will be processed during `before-line-breaking` of the
<nowiki> </nowiki> ; BreakAlignGroups
<nowiki> </nowiki> (for-each
<nowiki> </nowiki> (lambda (keysig)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (let ((det (ly:grob-property keysig 'details))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (initial-clef-properties initial-clef-properties))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (ly:grob-set-property!
<nowiki> </nowiki> keysig
<nowiki> </nowiki> 'details
<nowiki> </nowiki> (acons
<nowiki> </nowiki> 'break-alignment-handler
<nowiki> </nowiki> (lambda (grob break-alignment)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (let ((start-of-line
<nowiki> </nowiki> (vector-ref
<nowiki> </nowiki> (ly:grob-property break-alignment 'break-align-orders)
<nowiki> </nowiki> 2)))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (if (member 'cue-clef (or (member 'key-signature start-of-line) '()))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (ly:grob-set-property!
<nowiki> </nowiki> grob 'c0-position
<nowiki> </nowiki> (assoc-get 'middleCClefPosition initial-clef-properties)))))
<nowiki> </nowiki> det))))
<nowiki> </nowiki> keysigs)

<nowiki> </nowiki> (ly:grob-set-property! cclef 'non-default #t)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (ly:grob-set-property! cclef 'break-align-symbol 'cue-clef)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (if (not (eq? #t (ly:grob-property cclef 'full-size-change)))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (ly:grob-set-property! cclef 'glyph-name
<nowiki> </nowiki> (format #f "~a_change" (ly:grob-property cclef 'glyph)))))))
<nowiki> </nowiki> ; Unset parameters
<nowiki> </nowiki> ((stop-translation-timestep engraver)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (set! initial-clef-properties #f)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (set! clef #f)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (set! keysigs '())))))

\layout {
<nowiki> </nowiki> \context {
<nowiki> </nowiki> \Staff
<nowiki> </nowiki> \consists #initial-clef-change-engraver
<nowiki> </nowiki> }
<nowiki> </nowiki> \context {
<nowiki> </nowiki> \Score
<nowiki> </nowiki> \override BreakAlignGroup.before-line-breaking =
<nowiki> </nowiki> #(lambda (grob)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (let ((grobs (ly:grob-object grob 'elements))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (break-alignment (ly:grob-parent grob X)))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (if (not (null? grobs))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (set! grobs (ly:grob-array->list grobs)))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (for-each
<nowiki> </nowiki> (lambda (grob)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (let* ((det (ly:grob-property grob 'details))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (handler (assoc-get 'break-alignment-handler det)))
<nowiki> </nowiki> (if (procedure? handler)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (handler grob break-alignment))))
<nowiki> </nowiki> grobs)))
<nowiki> </nowiki> }
}

\new Staff \with { \clef "bass^15" } {
<nowiki> </nowiki> \key bes\major
<nowiki> </nowiki> \clef "treble_8"
<nowiki> </nowiki> c'1 c'1
<nowiki> </nowiki> \clef bass
<nowiki> </nowiki> c'1
}

\score {
<nowiki> </nowiki> \layout {
<nowiki> </nowiki> \context {
<nowiki> </nowiki> \Score
<nowiki> </nowiki> \override BreakAlignment.break-align-orders =
<nowiki> </nowiki> ##((staff-ellipsis
<nowiki> </nowiki> left-edge
<nowiki> </nowiki> cue-end-clef
<nowiki> </nowiki> ambitus
<nowiki> </nowiki> breathing-sign
<nowiki> </nowiki> optional-material-end-bracket
<nowiki> </nowiki> signum-repetitionis
<nowiki> </nowiki> clef
<nowiki> </nowiki> cue-clef
<nowiki> </nowiki> staff-bar
<nowiki> </nowiki> key-cancellation
<nowiki> </nowiki> key-signature
<nowiki> </nowiki> time-signature
<nowiki> </nowiki> optional-material-start-bracket
<nowiki> </nowiki> custos)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (staff-ellipsis
<nowiki> </nowiki> left-edge
<nowiki> </nowiki> optional-material-end-bracket
<nowiki> </nowiki> cue-end-clef
<nowiki> </nowiki> ambitus
<nowiki> </nowiki> breathing-sign
<nowiki> </nowiki> signum-repetitionis
<nowiki> </nowiki> clef
<nowiki> </nowiki> cue-clef
<nowiki> </nowiki> staff-bar
<nowiki> </nowiki> key-cancellation
<nowiki> </nowiki> key-signature
<nowiki> </nowiki> time-signature
<nowiki> </nowiki> optional-material-start-bracket
<nowiki> </nowiki> custos)
<nowiki> </nowiki> (staff-ellipsis
<nowiki> </nowiki> left-edge
<nowiki> </nowiki> optional-material-end-bracket
<nowiki> </nowiki> ambitus
<nowiki> </nowiki> breathing-sign
<nowiki> </nowiki> signum-repetitionis
<nowiki> </nowiki> clef
<nowiki> </nowiki> cue-clef
<nowiki> </nowiki> key-cancellation
<nowiki> </nowiki> key-signature
<nowiki> </nowiki> time-signature
<nowiki> </nowiki> staff-bar
<nowiki> </nowiki> optional-material-start-bracket
<nowiki> </nowiki> custos))
<nowiki> </nowiki> }
<nowiki> </nowiki> }
<nowiki> </nowiki> \new Staff \with { \clef "bass^15" } {
<nowiki> </nowiki> \key bes\major
<nowiki> </nowiki> \clef "treble_8"
<nowiki> </nowiki> c'1 c'1
<nowiki> </nowiki> \clef bass
<nowiki> </nowiki> c'1
<nowiki> </nowiki> }
}

% Basic usage:
\score {
<nowiki> </nowiki> <<
<nowiki> </nowiki> % Just the treble clef
<nowiki> </nowiki> \new Staff {
<nowiki> </nowiki> \key bes \major
<nowiki> </nowiki> c<nowiki>''</nowiki>1
<nowiki> </nowiki> }
<nowiki> </nowiki>
<nowiki> </nowiki> % Just the bass clef
<nowiki> </nowiki> \new Staff \with { \clef bass } {
<nowiki> </nowiki> \key bes \major
<nowiki> </nowiki> c1
<nowiki> </nowiki> }
<nowiki> </nowiki>
<nowiki> </nowiki> % Initial treble clef, then bass clef
<nowiki> </nowiki> \new Staff {
<nowiki> </nowiki> \key bes \major
<nowiki> </nowiki> \clef bass
<nowiki> </nowiki> c1
<nowiki> </nowiki> }
<nowiki> </nowiki>
<nowiki> </nowiki> % Initial bass clef, then treble clef
<nowiki> </nowiki> \new Staff \with { \clef bass } {
<nowiki> </nowiki> \key bes \major
<nowiki> </nowiki> \clef treble
<nowiki> </nowiki> c<nowiki>''</nowiki>1
<nowiki> </nowiki> }
<nowiki> </nowiki> >>

<nowiki> </nowiki> \layout {
<nowiki> </nowiki> \context {
<nowiki> </nowiki> \Staff
<nowiki> </nowiki> \consists #initial-clef-change-engraver
<nowiki> </nowiki> }
<nowiki> </nowiki> }
}


[[Category:Contexts and engravers]]
[[Category:Scheme]]
[[Category:Staff notation]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Clef change at the beginning of a piece (alternative)

2026-04-08T16:44:01Z

Ksnortum: Add "See also"

When changing the clef at the beginning of the first measure, Lilypond just changes the clef for the staff. This is how to keep the staff clef and add an extra clef after the time signature and before the first note. See also [[Initial clef change]] and [[Clef change at the beginning of a piece]].


\version "2.24"

\relative c' {
%% Start with a bass clef :
\clef bass
%% Use a hidden grace note:
\once\hideNotes\grace c64
%% Adjust the clef spacing:
\once\override Staff.Clef.X-extent = #'(1 . 2)
%% Put in the treble clef:
\clef treble
c4 c c c | c1
}


[[Category:Staff notation]]
[[Category:Pitches]]
[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Splitting chords

2026-04-06T22:09:35Z

Ksnortum: Node -> Note

This snippet is a 2009 contribution by Gilles Thibault in [https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-user/2009-01/msg00685.html lilypond-user]. It provides two functions to split a chord sequence into two separate voices, also preserving articulations and slurs: <code>\keepOnlyFirstNote</code> extracts the first note (as given in the input; this is usually the lowest one) of every chord, and <code>\deleteFirstNote</code> collects the remaining notes.

Note that these function don't support <samp>q</samp> to repeat the last chord.


\version "2.24"

#(define (has-duration? music)
(ly:duration? (ly:music-property music 'duration)))

#(define (not-has-duration? music)
(not (has-duration? music)))

keepOnlyFirstNote =
#(define-music-function (parser location music) (ly:music?)
(music-map
(lambda (evt)
(when (eq? 'EventChord (ly:music-property evt 'name))
(let ((elts (ly:music-property evt 'elements)))
(when (has-duration? (car elts))
(ly:music-set-property!
evt 'elements
(cons (car elts)
(filter not-has-duration? (cdr elts)))))))
evt)
music))

deleteFirstNote =
#(define-music-function (parser location music) (ly:music?)
(music-map
(lambda (evt)
(when (eq? 'EventChord (ly:music-property evt 'name))
(let ((elts (ly:music-property evt 'elements)))
(when (has-duration? (car elts))
(ly:music-set-property! evt 'elements (cdr elts)))))
evt)
music))

music = \relative c' {
<c e>4-> <d f>( <nowiki>) <c e>-. g2 c2</nowiki>
}

\markup { Music with chords }
\new Staff \music

\markup { Music split into two staffs }
<<
\new Staff \deleteFirstNote \music
\new Staff \keepOnlyFirstNote \music
>>


[[category:Chords]]
[[category:Scheme]]
[[category:Really cool]]

Piano “half sustain pedal” indications

2026-03-19T20:18:43Z

Ksnortum: Formatting

When playing the piano, there a quite a few songs that require you to only press the sustain pedal half way (or even a quarter of the way in some cases).

There is currently not a way to show these indications on the generated music in an intuitive way. This snippet provides functions that allow you to easily do this.

The implementation is quite complicated, but basically there are two music functions that get defined, <code>sustainHalfOn</code> and <code>sustainHalfOff</code>. You can use these just like you would normally use <code>sustainOn</code> and <code>sustainOff</code>. You can use any of the sustain pedal styles, and everything will work as expected. You do need to add an explicit call to <code>sustainHalfOff</code> when you want the half pedal to end. Calling <code>sustainOn</code> does not automatically turn off <code>sustainHalfOn</code>.

Under the covers, this works by representing sustain half on/half off as Una Corda pedal events. The logic temporarily changes the rendering of Una Corda pedals when you call <code>sustainHalfOn</code>, and changes it back when you call <code>sustainHalfOff</code>. We also temporarily change the value of <code>Staff.unaCordaPedalStyle</code> to match the value of <code>Staff.sustainPedalStyle</code> for the duration of the half sustain event so that the intended sustain pedal style will be used.

<lilypond version="2.24">
%% This snippet defines functions that enable "1/2" pedal indications
%% to be used. Using this is quite easy, just add \sustainHalfOn
%% in place of \sustainOn and \sustainHalfOff in place of \sustainOff
%%
%% This implementation fully supports 'mixed, 'text, and 'bracket pedal modes
%%
%% The new functions will honor the value of Staff.sustainPedalStyle when
%% doing the rendering.
%%
%% The implementation of these functions is a bit complicated. In order to
%% force a new pedal indication when changing from half pedal to full pedal
%% or vice versa in mixed or bracket mode, internally this implementation
%% represents the half pedal events as UnaCorda pedal events. Basically,
%% when \sustainHalfOn is called, we temporarily change the rendering
%% of the UnaCorda pedal indications so they look like a half pedal.
%% When \sustainHalfOff is called, they are changed back. A side effect of
%% this is that having the UnaCorda pedal and 1/2 pedal active at the
%% same time is not possible with this implementation.

%% Definitions of half-pedal functions. Moving these to a Lilypond include file is recommended.

#(define (half-pedal-stencil grob)
(grob-interpret-markup
grob
(markup #:raise 0.1 "½" #:hspace -0.5 #:musicglyph "pedal.Ped")))

#(define (add-sustain-on note-event)
(set! (ly:music-property note-event 'articulations)
(cons
(make-music 'UnaCordaEvent 'span-direction -1)
(ly:music-property note-event 'articulations)))
note-event)

#(define (override-una-corda-strings)
(context-spec-music
(make-sequential-music
(list
(make-property-set 'pedalUnaCordaStrings (list "Ped." "*Ped." "*"))
(make-apply-context
(lambda (context)
(ly:context-set-property!
context
'pedalUnaCordaStyle
(ly:context-property context 'pedalSustainStyle))))))
'Staff))

#(define (revert-una-corda-strings)
(context-spec-music
(make-sequential-music
(list
(make-property-unset 'pedalUnaCordaStrings)
(make-property-unset 'pedalUnaCordaStyle)))
'Staff))

#(define (add-sustain-off note-event)
(set! (ly:music-property note-event 'articulations)
(cons
(make-music 'UnaCordaEvent 'span-direction 1)
(ly:music-property note-event 'articulations)))
note-event)

#(define (use-half-pedal-stencil)
(context-spec-music
(make-grob-property-set
'UnaCordaPedal
'stencil
half-pedal-stencil)
'Staff))

#(define (revert-pedal-stencil)
(context-spec-music
(make-grob-property-revert
'UnaCordaPedal
'stencil)
'Staff))

sustainHalfOn =
#(define-music-function
(note)
(ly:music?)

(make-sequential-music
(list
(override-una-corda-strings)
(use-half-pedal-stencil)
(add-sustain-on note))))

sustainHalfOff =
#(define-music-function
(note)
(ly:music?)
(make-sequential-music
(list
(revert-pedal-stencil)
(add-sustain-off note)
(revert-una-corda-strings))))

%% Half Pedal Example

\new Staff {
\set Staff.pedalSustainStyle = #'mixed
\sustainHalfOn
b'16 c' d' e'
\sustainHalfOff
f'
\sustainOn
g' a' a' a' a' a' c'
\sustainOff
a' a'
\sustainOn
a' a'
\sustainOff\sustainOn
a' a' a' a'
\sustainOff
\set Staff.pedalSustainStyle = #'text
a'
\sustainHalfOn
a' a' a' a'
\sustainHalfOff
a'
\sustainOn
a' a' a' a' a'
\sustainOff
a'
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Scheme]]
[[Category:Contexts and engravers]]
[[Category:Expressive marks]]
[[Category:Workaround]]
[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Talk:Airy tone

2026-03-18T16:40:56Z

Ksnortum: /* Circles not displaying in Wiki */ new section

== Circles not displaying in Wiki ==

The circles are not displaying in the Wiki. However, if I copy and paste the code and compile it locally, the circles do display. Does anyone know how to fix this? [[User:Ksnortum|Ksnortum]] ([[User talk:Ksnortum|talk]]) 16:40, 18 March 2026 (UTC)

Key signatures for small staves

2026-03-18T16:10:58Z

Ksnortum: Does not need full page layout

Traditionally, smaller staves key signature spacing is slightly different than full size staves ones.

Here's a function that automatically calculates the right key signature spacing according to the staff size.

<lilypond version="2.24">
%% => http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=1094

%% This extends \staffSize as defined in
%% "Changing the size of a staff with a music function"
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=862
staffSize = #(define-music-function (new-size) (number?)
#{
\set fontSize = #new-size
\override StaffSymbol.staff-space = #(magstep new-size)
\override StaffSymbol.thickness = #(magstep new-size)
\override KeySignature.padding = #(* 2/3 (- 1 (magstep new-size)))
#})

keyTest = { \key cis\major s4*4 \bar "" }

\markup\italic "Default output:"
<<
\new Staff \with {
fontSize = #-3
\override StaffSymbol.staff-space = #(magstep -3)
\override StaffSymbol.thickness = #(magstep -3)
} \keyTest
\new Staff \keyTest

>>

\markup\italic "Traditional output:"
<<
\new Staff \with { \staffSize #-3 } \keyTest
\new Staff \keyTest

>>

%{
% For v.2.19 and higher:

scaleStaff = #(define-music-function (scaleFac) (number?)
#{
\magnifyStaff #scaleFac
\override KeySignature.padding = #(* 2/3 (- 1 scaleFac))
#})

sizeTest = #5/7
keyTest = { \key cis\major s4*4 \bar "" }

<<
\new Staff \with { \scaleStaff #sizeTest } \keyTest
\new Staff \keyTest
>>
%}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Staff notation]]
[[Category:Vocal music]]
[[Category:Spacing]]
[[Category:Contexts and engravers]]
[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Specific notation]]
[[Category:Workaround]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Box around notes

2026-03-16T21:46:51Z

Ksnortum: Fix cropping problem

This snippet demonstrates how to add boxes around/behind notes. Boxes are automatically sized.

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
#(define-event-class 'music-boxer-event 'span-event)

#(define-event-class 'box-event 'music-event)

#(define (add-grob-definition grob-name grob-entry)
(set! all-grob-descriptions
(cons ((@@ (lily) completize-grob-entry)
(cons grob-name grob-entry))
all-grob-descriptions)))

#(add-grob-definition
'LyricWord
`(;(stencil . ,ly:lyric-word::print)
(meta . ((class . Spanner)
(interfaces . (lyric-hyphen-interface
lyric-word-interface
text-interface))))))

#(define (make-box thick padding xext yext)
(let ((xext (interval-widen xext padding))
(yext (interval-widen yext padding)))
(ly:stencil-add
(make-filled-box-stencil xext (cons (- (car yext) thick) (car yext)))
(make-filled-box-stencil xext (cons (cdr yext) (+ (cdr yext) thick)))
(make-filled-box-stencil (cons (cdr xext) (+ (cdr xext) thick)) yext)
(make-filled-box-stencil (cons (- (car xext) thick) (car xext)) yext))))

#(define (music-boxer-stencil grob)
(let* ((elts (ly:grob-object grob 'elements))
(refp-X (ly:grob-common-refpoint-of-array grob elts X))
(X-ext (ly:relative-group-extent elts refp-X X))
(refp-Y (ly:grob-common-refpoint-of-array grob elts Y))
(Y-ext (ly:relative-group-extent elts refp-Y Y))
(padding (ly:grob-property grob 'padding 0.3))
(stil (make-box 0.1 padding X-ext Y-ext))
(offset (ly:grob-relative-coordinate grob refp-X X)))
(ly:stencil-translate-axis stil (- offset) X)))

#(define box-stil music-boxer-stencil)

#(add-grob-definition
'Box
`(
(stencil . ,box-stil)
(meta . ((class . Item)
(interfaces . ())))))

#(add-grob-definition
'MusicBoxer
`(
(stencil . ,music-boxer-stencil)
(meta . ((class . Spanner)
(interfaces . ())))))

#(define box-types
'(
(BoxEvent
. ((description . "A box encompassing music at a single timestep.")
(types . (general-music box-event music-event event))
))
))

#(define music-boxer-types
'(
(MusicBoxerEvent
. ((description . "Used to signal where boxes encompassing music start and stop.")
(types . (general-music music-boxer-event span-event event))
))
))

#(set!
music-boxer-types
(map (lambda (x)
(set-object-property! (car x)
'music-description
(cdr (assq 'description (cdr x))))
(let ((lst (cdr x)))
(set! lst (assoc-set! lst 'name (car x)))
(set! lst (assq-remove! lst 'description))
(hashq-set! music-name-to-property-table (car x) lst)
(cons (car x) lst)))
music-boxer-types))

#(set!
box-types
(map (lambda (x)
(set-object-property! (car x)
'music-description
(cdr (assq 'description (cdr x))))
(let ((lst (cdr x)))
(set! lst (assoc-set! lst 'name (car x)))
(set! lst (assq-remove! lst 'description))
(hashq-set! music-name-to-property-table (car x) lst)
(cons (car x) lst)))
box-types))

#(set! music-descriptions
(append music-boxer-types music-descriptions))

#(set! music-descriptions
(append box-types music-descriptions))

#(set! music-descriptions
(sort music-descriptions alist<?))

#(define (add-bound-item spanner item)
(if (null? (ly:spanner-bound spanner LEFT))
(ly:spanner-set-bound! spanner LEFT item)
(ly:spanner-set-bound! spanner RIGHT item)))

musicBoxerEngraver =
#(lambda (context)
(let ((span '())
(finished '())
(current-event '())
(event-start '())
(event-stop '()))

`((listeners
(music-boxer-event .
,(lambda (engraver event)
(if (= START (ly:event-property event 'span-direction))
(set! event-start event)
(set! event-stop event)))))

(acknowledgers
(note-column-interface .
,(lambda (engraver grob source-engraver)
(if (ly:spanner? span)
(begin
(ly:pointer-group-interface::add-grob span 'elements grob)
(add-bound-item span grob)))
(if (ly:spanner? finished)
(begin
(ly:pointer-group-interface::add-grob finished 'elements grob)
(add-bound-item finished grob)))))

(inline-accidental-interface .
,(lambda (engraver grob source-engraver)
(if (ly:spanner? span)
(begin
(ly:pointer-group-interface::add-grob span 'elements grob)))
(if (ly:spanner? finished)
(ly:pointer-group-interface::add-grob finished 'elements grob))))

(script-interface .
,(lambda (engraver grob source-engraver)
(if (ly:spanner? span)
(begin
(ly:pointer-group-interface::add-grob span 'elements grob)))
(if (ly:spanner? finished)
(ly:pointer-group-interface::add-grob finished 'elements grob))))

(finger-interface .
,(lambda (engraver grob source-engraver)
(if (ly:spanner? span)
(begin
(ly:pointer-group-interface::add-grob span 'elements grob)))
(if (ly:spanner? finished)
(ly:pointer-group-interface::add-grob finished 'elements grob))))

;; add additional interfaces to acknowledge here

)

(process-music .
,(lambda (trans)
(if (ly:stream-event? event-stop)
(if (null? span)
(ly:warning "No start to this box.")
(begin
(set! finished span)
(ly:engraver-announce-end-grob trans finished event-start)
(set! span '())
(set! event-stop '()))))
(if (ly:stream-event? event-start)
(begin
(set! span (ly:engraver-make-grob trans 'MusicBoxer event-start))
(set! event-start '())))))

(stop-translation-timestep .
,(lambda (trans)
(if (and (ly:spanner? span)
(null? (ly:spanner-bound span LEFT)))
(ly:spanner-set-bound! span LEFT
(ly:context-property context 'currentMusicalColumn)))
(if (ly:spanner? finished)
(begin
(if (null? (ly:spanner-bound finished RIGHT))
(ly:spanner-set-bound! finished RIGHT
(ly:context-property context 'currentMusicalColumn)))
(set! finished '())
(set! event-start '())
(set! event-stop '())))))

(finalize
(lambda (trans)
(if (ly:spanner? finished)
(begin
(if (null? (ly:spanner-bound finished RIGHT))
(set! (ly:spanner-bound finished RIGHT)
(ly:context-property context 'currentMusicalColumn)))
(set! finished '())))
(if (ly:spanner? span)
(begin
(ly:warning "unterminated box :-(")
(ly:grob-suicide! span)
(set! span '()))))))))

boxEngraver =
#(lambda (context)
(let ((box '())
(ev '()))

`((listeners
(box-event .
,(lambda (engraver event)
(set! ev event))))

(acknowledgers
(note-column-interface .
,(lambda (engraver grob source-engraver)
(if (ly:grob? box)
(begin
; (set! (ly:grob-parent box X) grob) ;; ??
(set! (ly:grob-parent box Y) grob)
(ly:pointer-group-interface::add-grob box 'elements grob)))))

(inline-accidental-interface .
,(lambda (engraver grob source-engraver)
(if (ly:item? box)
(ly:pointer-group-interface::add-grob box 'elements grob))))

(script-interface .
,(lambda (engraver grob source-engraver)
(if (ly:item? box)
(ly:pointer-group-interface::add-grob box 'elements grob))))

(finger-interface .
,(lambda (engraver grob source-engraver)
(if (ly:item? box)
(ly:pointer-group-interface::add-grob box 'elements grob))))

;; add additional interfaces to acknowledge here

)

(process-music .
,(lambda (trans)
(if (ly:stream-event? ev)
(begin
(set! box (ly:engraver-make-grob trans 'Box ev))
(set! ev '())))))
(stop-translation-timestep .
,(lambda (trans)
(set! box '()))))))

musicBoxerStart =
#(make-span-event 'MusicBoxerEvent START)

musicBoxerEnd =
#(make-span-event 'MusicBoxerEvent STOP)

box = #(make-music 'BoxEvent)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% EXAMPLE %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

melody = \relative c'' {
\set fingeringOrientations = #'(left)
%1
\repeat volta 2 {
\once\override Score.Box.padding = 0.5
\box <g-3 c-2 f-1>1
\musicBoxerStart d8-4 g,-0 d' g, d'-4 g,-0 d' \musicBoxerEnd g,
}

%2
\repeat volta 2 {
\box <d'-4 c'-2 f-1>1\f\fermata
\musicBoxerStart g8-3 d-0 g d g8-4 d-0 g \musicBoxerEnd d\accent
}
}

\score {
\new Staff \melody
}

%% The following is only for display purposes only and can be removed
\paper {
paper-height = 3.5\cm
tagline = ##f
indent = #0
}

\layout {
\context {
\Global
\grobdescriptions #all-grob-descriptions
}
\context {
\Score
\consists \musicBoxerEngraver % for spans
\consists \boxEngraver
}
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Education]]
[[Category:Editorial annotations]]
[[Category:Paper and layout]]
[[Category:Scheme]]
[[Category:Specific notation]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Flip

2026-03-16T21:24:32Z

Ksnortum: Full page layout not needed

<code>\scale #'(-1 . 1)</code> workaround.

<lilypond version="2.24">
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=905

% by P.P.Schneider on March 2014.

\paper { tagline = ##f }

%here starts the snippet:

%%%% \flip:
#(define-markup-command (flip layout props arg) (markup?)
(interpret-markup layout props
(markup
#:concat (
#:null
#:scale (cons -1 1)
#:line (arg)))))
%%%% end \flip.

myScr= { c'1 }

\markuplist {
\italic\concat {
"This markup uses "
\typewriter "\scale #'(-1 . 1)"
" to flip a score"
\hspace #0.3 ":"
}
\vspace #0.2
\line {
\concat {
"This flipped score"
\hspace#.3
":"
}
\raise #1
\scale #'(-1 . 1)
\score {
\myScr
\layout {
indent = 0
}
}
" is mine."
}
\vspace#1
\concat\italic {
"Here's the side-effect when starting a markup with "
\typewriter "\scale #'(-1 . 1)"
\hspace #0.3
":"
}
\vspace#.2
\line {
\scale #'(-1 . 1)
\score {
\myScr
\layout {
indent = 0
}
}
\lower #1
\concat {
" My beloved score is leaving"
\hspace #0.3
"!"
}
}
\vspace#1
\concat\italic {
"Here's a possible workaround using "
\typewriter "\left-align"
\hspace #0.3
":"
}
\vspace#.2
\left-align
\line {
\scale #'(-1 . 1)
\score {
\myScr
\layout {
indent = 0
}
}
\lower #1
\concat {
" It's coming back"
\hspace #0.3
"!"
}
}
\vspace#1
\concat\italic {
"And this one uses a simple "
\typewriter "\flip"
" command that avoids using "
\typewriter "\left-align"
\hspace #0.3
":"
}
\vspace#.2
\line {
\flip
\score {
\myScr
\layout {
indent = 0
}
}
\lower #1
\concat {
" Now it's home."
}
}
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Text]]
[[Category:Scheme]]
[[Category:Workaround]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Combining pedal notes with clef changes

2026-03-16T21:16:25Z

Ksnortum: Full page layout not needed

In piano music, you may occasionally come across a staff in which a held (pedal) note is followed by a clef change and further polyphonic notation.

With a little bit of work involving clef settings, you can overcome this problematic situation.

In the first figure, we can see that a clef change in one voice messes with the pedal note in a lower voice; the tie appears to have changed voices.

You can create a “fake” treble clef which has the properties of a bass clef by overriding the following properties:

<code>\set Staff.clefGlyph = #"clefs.G"</code> - show a G clef

<code>\set Staff.clefPosition = #-2</code> - set the staff position two half spaces below centre line (i.e., on G)

<code>\set Staff.middleCPosition = #6</code> - set middle C to the same position as a bass clef

The second figure shows the solution as applied to the final bar of a Wolf lied. The pedal note E flat is followed by a treble clef and a high octave E flat. Since we are effectively still in the bass clef, we have to input the octave E flat as an octave G to produce the required output. Using <code>\tag</code> splits the musical layout and MIDI so you can use <code>\keepWithTag #'midi</code> in a MIDI <code>\score</code> block.

The third figure shows a more extended example from Debussy's ''L'Isle joyeuse'' in which the bass clef is faked.

Finally, the fourth figure shows the same Debussy excerpt with an additional feature you may encounter: the pedal note is preceded by a small cautionary clef printed after the barline.

<lilypond version="2.24">
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=326

% Treble clef with properties of bass clef
fakeTrebleClef = {
\set Staff.clefGlyph = #"clefs.G"
\set Staff.clefPosition = #-2
\set Staff.middleCPosition = #6
}

% Bass clef with properties of treble clef
fakeBassClef = {
\set Staff.clefGlyph = #"clefs.F"
\set Staff.clefPosition = #2
\set Staff.middleCPosition = #-6
}

% Similar to above, but lower and positioned after barline
fakeBassClefShift = {
% Change default prefatory item order so that clef is printed after barline
\override Score.BreakAlignment.break-align-orders =
#(make-vector 3 '(span-bar
breathing-sign
staff-bar
clef
key
time-signature))
\set Staff.clefGlyph = #"clefs.F"
\set Staff.clefPosition = #-8
\set Staff.middleCPosition = #-6
}

\markup {
1. Without tweaking clef properties, output is nonsensical }
\score {
\new Staff \relative c {
\clef bass \voiceTwo
c2 ~
<<
{ c | }
\new Voice \relative c'' {
\clef treble \voiceOne
c8 c g' g |
}
>>
}
}

\markup {
2. Final bar of
\italic "Gesegnet sei, durch den die Welt entstund..."
from Wolf's \italic "Italienisches Liederbuch" }
\score {
\new PianoStaff <<
\new Staff \relative c' {
\key es \major
\override DynamicLineSpanner.padding = #2.5
<bes es g>8\ppp <bes es g>
<bes es g>[ <bes es g>] ~ <bes es g>2\fermata \bar "||"
}
\new Staff \relative c \keepWithTag #'layout {
\clef bass \key es \major
r8. \stemDown <es es,>16 <es es,>4 ~
<<
{ \voiceTwo <es es,>2 }
\new Voice {
% The faked clef and notes
\voiceOne \tag #'layout { \fakeTrebleClef <g g'>\fermata }
% The real notes for MIDI output
\tag #'midi { <es'' es'> }
}
>> \bar "|."
}
>>
}

\markup {
3. Bars 148 - 151 from Debussy's \italic "L'Isle joyeuse" }
\score {
\new PianoStaff <<
\new Staff \relative c' {
\time 3/8
\set subdivideBeams = ##t
\override TupletNumber.stencil = ##f
\override TupletBracket.stencil = ##f
\tieDotted
<<
{
\voiceOne
\tuplet 3/2 {
fis16( e d \repeat unfold 5 { c d e fis e d } c d e) }
}
\new Voice {
\voiceTwo
bes4. ~ |
bes |
bes ~ |
bes |
}
>>

<>^\markup {
4. As above, but with small clefs on pedal notes }
<<
{
\tuplet 3/2 {
fis'16( e d \repeat unfold 5 { c d e fis e d } c d e) }
}
\new Voice {
\voiceTwo
bes4. ~ |
bes |
bes ~ |
bes |
}
>>
}

\new Staff \relative c'' \keepWithTag #'layout {
\time 3/8
<<
{
\voiceOne
bes8\rest \clef treble as16( c as8)
as16( c as8) as16( c)
bes( d bes8. d16)
bes8.( d16 bes8)
}
\new Voice {
\voiceTwo
\tag #'layout {
\fakeBassClef
a,4. ~ |
a ~ |
a ~ |
a |
}
\tag #'midi {
c,, ~ |
c ~ |
c ~ |
c |
}
}
>>
% Make clefs visible for each bar, except at end of system
\override Staff.Clef.break-visibility = #end-of-line-invisible
<<
{
\voiceOne
bes'8\rest \clef treble as16( c as8)
as16( c as8) as16( c)
bes( d bes8. d16)
bes8.( d16 bes8)
}
\new Voice {
\voiceTwo
\tag #'layout {
\fakeBassClef
a,4. ~ |
% Shrink clef to small size
\override Staff.Clef.font-size = #-5
% We want to prevent clef size changing,
% otherwise first clef is smaller
\override Staff.Clef.full-size-change = ##t
% The faked bass clef, printed after the barline and next
% to the pedal note
\fakeBassClefShift
a ~ |
% Because we have overridden break-visibility,
% the cautionary clef is also displayed here...
a ~ |
% ...and here
a |
% Return to default clef properties
\revert Score.BreakAlignment.break-align-orders
\revert Staff.Clef.font-size
\revert Staff.Clef.full-size-change
}
\tag #'midi {
c,, ~ |
c ~ |
c ~ |
c |
}
}
>>
}
>>

\layout {
\context {
\Score
\remove "Bar_number_engraver"
}
}
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Instrument-specific]]
[[Category:Pitches]]
[[Category:Keyboards]]
[[Category:Specific notation]]
[[Category:Really cool]]
[[Category:Real music]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Feta font chart

2026-03-16T21:04:10Z

Ksnortum: No need for full page layout

This chart shows all articulations or scripts that LilyPond's “feta” font contains.

<lilypond version="2.24">
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=132

\score {
<<
\override Score.LyricText.font-family = #'typewriter
\override Score.LyricText.font-shape = #'upright
\context Staff {
\set Score.timing = ##f
\set Score.forbidBreakBetweenBarLines = ##f
\override Staff.BarLine.transparent = ##t
c''\accent c''\marcato c''\staccatissimo
c''\staccato c''\tenuto c''\portato
c''\upbow c''\downbow c''\flageolet
c''\thumb c''^\lheel c''\rheel
c''^\ltoe c''\rtoe c''\open
c''\stopped c''\turn c''\reverseturn
c''\trill c''\prall c''\mordent
c''\prallprall c''\prallmordent c''\upprall
c''\downprall c''\upmordent c''\downmordent
c''\pralldown c''\prallup c''\lineprall
c''\signumcongruentiae c''\shortfermata c''\fermata
c''\longfermata c''\verylongfermata c''\segno
c''\coda c''\varcoda
}
\context Lyrics \lyricmode {
accent__ marcato__ staccatissimo__
staccato__ tenuto__ portato__
upbow__ downbow__ flageolet__
thumb__ lheel__ rheel__
ltoe__ rtoe__ open__
stopped__ turn__ reverseturn__
trill__ prall__ mordent__
prallprall__ prallmordent__ upprall__
downprall__ upmordent__ downmordent__
pralldown__ prallup__ lineprall__
signumcongruentiae__ shortfermata__ fermata__
longfermata__ verylongfermata__ segno__
coda__ varcoda__
}
>>
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Symbols and glyphs]]
[[Category:Expressive marks]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Positioning a \fermata over the last bar line

2026-03-15T16:07:16Z

Ksnortum: Remove old syntax from text

To position a \fermata sign over the last bar line, you must use a specially modified rehearsal mark.

<lilypond version="2.24">
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=1

\relative c'' {
\override Score.RehearsalMark.break-visibility = #begin-of-line-invisible
c1 \mark \markup { \musicglyph "scripts.ufermata" }
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Expressive marks]]
[[Category:Breaks]]
[[Category:Staff notation]]
[[Category:Workaround]]
[[Category:Symbols and glyphs]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Manipulating slurs via 'positions and 'extra-offset

2026-03-12T21:43:58Z

Ksnortum: Undo revision 6450 by Ksnortum (talk)

There is a command to change slurs, <code>\override Slur.positions</code>. Actually the influence of this command is limited, e.g. if you like the shape of the slur and you want to shift it a little bit, 
<code>\override Slur.positions</code> does not exactly what you want. 
<code>slurShift</code> shifts the slur exactly the amount you want without changing the shape, <code>slurShiftx</code> combines <code>slurShift</code> and <code>Slur.positions</code>.

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
\paper { tagline = ##f }

slurShift=
#(define-music-function (amount)
(pair?)
#{
\once \override Slur.extra-offset = $amount
#})

slurShiftx=
#(define-music-function (amount offsets)
(pair? pair?)
#{
\once \override Slur.positions = $offsets
\once \override Slur.extra-offset = $amount
#})

\relative c, {
\clef bass
c8(-"default slur" g'' e' g, c g c g )
\slurShift #'(0 . 1)
c,,8(-"slurShift #'(0 . 1)" g'' e' g, c g c g )
\slurShiftx #'(2 . 2) #'(0 . 6)
c,,8(-"slurShiftx #'(2 . 2) #'(0 . 6)"
g'' e' g, c g c g )
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Scheme]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Manipulating slurs via 'positions and 'extra-offset

2026-03-12T21:40:29Z

Ksnortum: Does not need full page layout

There is a command to change slurs, <code>\override Slur.positions</code>. Actually the influence of this command is limited, e.g. if you like the shape of the slur and you want to shift it a little bit, 
<code>\override Slur.positions</code> does not exactly what you want. 
<code>slurShift</code> shifts the slur exactly the amount you want without changing the shape, <code>slurShiftx</code> combines <code>slurShift</code> and <code>Slur.positions</code>.

<lilypond version="2.24">
slurShift=
#(define-music-function (amount)
(pair?)
#{
\once \override Slur.extra-offset = $amount
#})

slurShiftx=
#(define-music-function (amount offsets)
(pair? pair?)
#{
\once \override Slur.positions = $offsets
\once \override Slur.extra-offset = $amount
#})

\relative c, {
\clef bass
c8(-"default slur" g'' e' g, c g c g )
\slurShift #'(0 . 1)
c,,8(-"slurShift #'(0 . 1)" g'' e' g, c g c g )
\slurShiftx #'(2 . 2) #'(0 . 6)
c,,8(-"slurShiftx #'(2 . 2) #'(0 . 6)"
g'' e' g, c g c g )
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Scheme]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Automatic beams two per two in 4/4 or 2/2 time signature

2026-03-12T16:24:15Z

Ksnortum: Use modern syntax for beaming exceptions

In a simple time signature of 2/2 or 4/4, 8th notes are beamed by default as two sets of four.

Using a macro which overrides the autobeaming behavior, this snippet changes the beaming to quarter note beats.

<lilypond version="2.24">
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=605

% Automatic beams two per two in 4/4 or 2/2 time signature
% _____
% Default | | | |
% _ _
% Required | | | |

% LSR: The good way adapted from David Bobroff

% macro for beamed two per two in 2/2 and 4/4 time signature
qBeam = {
\set beamExceptions = \beamExceptions{ 8[ 8] 8[ 8] 8[ 8] 8[ 8] }
}

\score {
<<
\new Staff {
\relative c'' {
\time 4/4
g8-"without the macro" g g g g g g g
g8 g g g4 g8 g g
}
}
%Use the macro
\new Staff {
\relative c'' {
\time 4/4
\qBeam
g8-"with the macro" g g g g g g g
g8 g g g4 g8 g g
}
}
>>
\layout {
\context {
\Staff
\numericTimeSignature
}
}
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Rhythms]]
[[Category:Version-specific]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Adding the current date to the tagline

2026-03-10T19:58:15Z

Ksnortum: Use https protocol: missed one in the text

There are a couple ways to get the current date in your score - using Scheme and a header that suits you (as you may find in the “Adding the current date to a score” example), or placing the same Scheme code in a <code>\markup</code> block.

One more option is to place the date in the tagline. This places the date at the bottom of the last page and appears like this -

Engraved on April 26, 2009 with Lilypond 2.12.2 (https://lilypond.org)

The format of the date can be changed according to these parameters:

* %a - is replaced by the locale's abbreviated weekday name.
* %A - is replaced by the locale's full weekday name.
* %b - is replaced by the locale's abbreviated month name.
* %B - is replaced by the locale's full month name.
* %c - is replaced by the locale's appropriate date and time representation.
* %d - is replaced by the day of the month as a decimal number [01,31].
* %I - is replaced by the hour (12-hour clock) as a decimal number [01,12].
* %j - is replaced by the day of the year as a decimal number [001,366].
* %m - is replaced by the month as a decimal number [01,12].
* %M - is replaced by the minute as a decimal number [00,59].
* %p - is replaced by the locale's equivalent of either a.m. or p.m.
* %U - is replaced by the week number of the year (Sunday as the first day of the week) as a decimal number [00,53].
* %w - is replaced by the weekday as a decimal number [0,6], with 0 representing Sunday.
* %W - is replaced by the week number of the year (Monday as the first day of the week) as a decimal number [00,53]. All days in a new year preceding the first Monday are considered to be in week 0.
* %x - is replaced by the locale's appropriate date representation.
* %X - is replaced by the locale's appropriate time representation.
* %y - is replaced by the year without century as a decimal number [00,99].
* %Y - is replaced by the year with century as a decimal number.
* %Z - is replaced by the timezone name or abbreviation, or by no bytes if no timezone information exists.

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=563

\header {
title = "Title"
composer = "Composer"
arranger = "Arranger"
tagline = \markup {
Engraved on
#(strftime "%x at %X" (localtime (current-time)))
with
\with-url "https://lilypond.org" {
LilyPond #(lilypond-version) (https://lilypond.org)
}
}
}

\paper {
paper-height = 6\cm
}

\relative c' {
c4 d e f
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Text]]
[[Category:Scheme]]
[[Category:Titles]]
[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Adding the current date to the tagline

2026-03-10T19:55:42Z

Ksnortum: Remove redundant category

There are a couple ways to get the current date in your score - using Scheme and a header that suits you (as you may find in the “Adding the current date to a score” example), or placing the same Scheme code in a <code>\markup</code> block.

One more option is to place the date in the tagline. This places the date at the bottom of the last page and appears like this -

Engraved on April 26, 2009 with Lilypond 2.12.2 (http://lilypond.org)

The format of the date can be changed according to these parameters:

* %a - is replaced by the locale's abbreviated weekday name.
* %A - is replaced by the locale's full weekday name.
* %b - is replaced by the locale's abbreviated month name.
* %B - is replaced by the locale's full month name.
* %c - is replaced by the locale's appropriate date and time representation.
* %d - is replaced by the day of the month as a decimal number [01,31].
* %I - is replaced by the hour (12-hour clock) as a decimal number [01,12].
* %j - is replaced by the day of the year as a decimal number [001,366].
* %m - is replaced by the month as a decimal number [01,12].
* %M - is replaced by the minute as a decimal number [00,59].
* %p - is replaced by the locale's equivalent of either a.m. or p.m.
* %U - is replaced by the week number of the year (Sunday as the first day of the week) as a decimal number [00,53].
* %w - is replaced by the weekday as a decimal number [0,6], with 0 representing Sunday.
* %W - is replaced by the week number of the year (Monday as the first day of the week) as a decimal number [00,53]. All days in a new year preceding the first Monday are considered to be in week 0.
* %x - is replaced by the locale's appropriate date representation.
* %X - is replaced by the locale's appropriate time representation.
* %y - is replaced by the year without century as a decimal number [00,99].
* %Y - is replaced by the year with century as a decimal number.
* %Z - is replaced by the timezone name or abbreviation, or by no bytes if no timezone information exists.

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=563

\header {
title = "Title"
composer = "Composer"
arranger = "Arranger"
tagline = \markup {
Engraved on
#(strftime "%x at %X" (localtime (current-time)))
with
\with-url "https://lilypond.org" {
LilyPond #(lilypond-version) (https://lilypond.org)
}
}
}

\paper {
paper-height = 6\cm
}

\relative c' {
c4 d e f
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Text]]
[[Category:Scheme]]
[[Category:Titles]]
[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Adding the current date to the tagline

2026-03-10T19:54:14Z

Ksnortum: Use https protocol in URL

There are a couple ways to get the current date in your score - using Scheme and a header that suits you (as you may find in the “Adding the current date to a score” example), or placing the same Scheme code in a <code>\markup</code> block.

One more option is to place the date in the tagline. This places the date at the bottom of the last page and appears like this -

Engraved on April 26, 2009 with Lilypond 2.12.2 (http://lilypond.org)

The format of the date can be changed according to these parameters:

* %a - is replaced by the locale's abbreviated weekday name.
* %A - is replaced by the locale's full weekday name.
* %b - is replaced by the locale's abbreviated month name.
* %B - is replaced by the locale's full month name.
* %c - is replaced by the locale's appropriate date and time representation.
* %d - is replaced by the day of the month as a decimal number [01,31].
* %I - is replaced by the hour (12-hour clock) as a decimal number [01,12].
* %j - is replaced by the day of the year as a decimal number [001,366].
* %m - is replaced by the month as a decimal number [01,12].
* %M - is replaced by the minute as a decimal number [00,59].
* %p - is replaced by the locale's equivalent of either a.m. or p.m.
* %U - is replaced by the week number of the year (Sunday as the first day of the week) as a decimal number [00,53].
* %w - is replaced by the weekday as a decimal number [0,6], with 0 representing Sunday.
* %W - is replaced by the week number of the year (Monday as the first day of the week) as a decimal number [00,53]. All days in a new year preceding the first Monday are considered to be in week 0.
* %x - is replaced by the locale's appropriate date representation.
* %X - is replaced by the locale's appropriate time representation.
* %y - is replaced by the year without century as a decimal number [00,99].
* %Y - is replaced by the year with century as a decimal number.
* %Z - is replaced by the timezone name or abbreviation, or by no bytes if no timezone information exists.

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=563

\header {
title = "Title"
composer = "Composer"
arranger = "Arranger"
tagline = \markup {
Engraved on
#(strftime "%x at %X" (localtime (current-time)))
with
\with-url "https://lilypond.org" {
LilyPond #(lilypond-version) (https://lilypond.org)
}
}
}

\paper {
paper-height = 6\cm
}

\relative c' {
c4 d e f
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Text]]
[[Category:Text]]
[[Category:Scheme]]
[[Category:Titles]]
[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Adding the current date to the tagline

2026-03-10T19:52:30Z

Ksnortum: Shorten paper height so that the tagline is more obvious

There are a couple ways to get the current date in your score - using Scheme and a header that suits you (as you may find in the “Adding the current date to a score” example), or placing the same Scheme code in a <code>\markup</code> block.

One more option is to place the date in the tagline. This places the date at the bottom of the last page and appears like this -

Engraved on April 26, 2009 with Lilypond 2.12.2 (http://lilypond.org)

The format of the date can be changed according to these parameters:

* %a - is replaced by the locale's abbreviated weekday name.
* %A - is replaced by the locale's full weekday name.
* %b - is replaced by the locale's abbreviated month name.
* %B - is replaced by the locale's full month name.
* %c - is replaced by the locale's appropriate date and time representation.
* %d - is replaced by the day of the month as a decimal number [01,31].
* %I - is replaced by the hour (12-hour clock) as a decimal number [01,12].
* %j - is replaced by the day of the year as a decimal number [001,366].
* %m - is replaced by the month as a decimal number [01,12].
* %M - is replaced by the minute as a decimal number [00,59].
* %p - is replaced by the locale's equivalent of either a.m. or p.m.
* %U - is replaced by the week number of the year (Sunday as the first day of the week) as a decimal number [00,53].
* %w - is replaced by the weekday as a decimal number [0,6], with 0 representing Sunday.
* %W - is replaced by the week number of the year (Monday as the first day of the week) as a decimal number [00,53]. All days in a new year preceding the first Monday are considered to be in week 0.
* %x - is replaced by the locale's appropriate date representation.
* %X - is replaced by the locale's appropriate time representation.
* %y - is replaced by the year without century as a decimal number [00,99].
* %Y - is replaced by the year with century as a decimal number.
* %Z - is replaced by the timezone name or abbreviation, or by no bytes if no timezone information exists.

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=563

\header {
title = "Title"
composer = "Composer"
arranger = "Arranger"
tagline = \markup {
Engraved on
#(strftime "%x at %X" (localtime (current-time)))
with
\with-url "http://lilypond.org/web/" {
LilyPond #(lilypond-version) (http://lilypond.org/)
}
}
}

\paper {
paper-height = 6\cm
}

\relative c' {
c4 d e f
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Text]]
[[Category:Text]]
[[Category:Scheme]]
[[Category:Titles]]
[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Extracting text from markup

2026-03-10T19:40:10Z

Ksnortum: Use newer \relative syntax

This scheme function extracts a string from markup, removing any formatting information.

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=747

#(define-markup-command (plain-text layout props arg)(markup?)
(interpret-markup layout props (markup (markup->string arg))))

ttt = \markup {
\normal-text { good day and \concat { hello \bold { world } } \italic { and moon } }
}

\header {
title = \ttt
subtitle = \markup { \normal-text { \italic { \plain-text \ttt } } }
tagline = ##f
}

\paper {
paper-height = 5\cm
}

\relative {
c'
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Text]]
[[Category:Scheme]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Extracting text from markup

2026-03-10T19:39:00Z

Ksnortum: Remove redundant category

This scheme function extracts a string from markup, removing any formatting information.

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=747

#(define-markup-command (plain-text layout props arg)(markup?)
(interpret-markup layout props (markup (markup->string arg))))

ttt = \markup {
\normal-text { good day and \concat { hello \bold { world } } \italic { and moon } }
}

\header {
title = \ttt
subtitle = \markup { \normal-text { \italic { \plain-text \ttt } } }
tagline = ##f
}

\paper {
paper-height = 5\cm
}

\relative c' {
c
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Text]]
[[Category:Scheme]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Extracting text from markup

2026-03-10T19:35:20Z

Ksnortum: Needs full page layout to be able to see the headers

This scheme function extracts a string from markup, removing any formatting information.

<lilypond version="2.24" full>
%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=747

#(define-markup-command (plain-text layout props arg)(markup?)
(interpret-markup layout props (markup (markup->string arg))))

ttt = \markup {
\normal-text { good day and \concat { hello \bold { world } } \italic { and moon } }
}

\header {
title = \ttt
subtitle = \markup { \normal-text { \italic { \plain-text \ttt } } }
tagline = ##f
}

\paper {
paper-height = 5\cm
}

\relative c' {
c
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Text]]
[[Category:Text]]
[[Category:Scheme]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Repeat with brackets

2026-03-07T15:49:09Z

Ksnortum: Clearer text

This snippet adds brackets with the number of repetitions above a bar or a group of bars. This is very useful when dealing with minimal music, for instance. To execute it, simply use <code>\repeatBracket <var>N</var> music</code>, where <var>N</var> is the number of repetitions. Example: <code>\repeatBracket 7 { c'2 e' }</code>

<lilypond version="2.24">
% LSR based on the wonderful spanner by David Nalesnik; see
% LSR http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-user/2014-10/msg00446.html

#(define (test-stencil grob text)
(let* ((orig (ly:grob-original grob))
(siblings (ly:spanner-broken-into orig)) ; have we been split?
(refp (ly:grob-system grob))
(left-bound (ly:spanner-bound grob LEFT))
(right-bound (ly:spanner-bound grob RIGHT))
(elts-L (ly:grob-array->list (ly:grob-object left-bound 'elements)))
(elts-R (ly:grob-array->list (ly:grob-object right-bound 'elements)))
(break-alignment-L
(filter
(lambda (elt) (grob::has-interface elt 'break-alignment-interface))
elts-L))
(break-alignment-R
(filter
(lambda (elt) (grob::has-interface elt 'break-alignment-interface))
elts-R))
(break-alignment-L-ext (ly:grob-extent (car break-alignment-L) refp X))
(break-alignment-R-ext (ly:grob-extent (car break-alignment-R) refp X))
(num
(markup text))
(num
(if (or (null? siblings)
(eq? grob (car siblings)))
num
(make-parenthesize-markup num)))
(num (grob-interpret-markup grob num))
(num-stil-ext-X (ly:stencil-extent num X))
(num-stil-ext-Y (ly:stencil-extent num Y))
(num (ly:stencil-aligned-to num X CENTER))
(num
(ly:stencil-translate-axis
num
(+ (interval-length break-alignment-L-ext)
(* 0.5
(- (car break-alignment-R-ext)
(cdr break-alignment-L-ext))))
X))
(bracket-L
(markup
#:path
0.1 ; line-thickness
`((moveto 0.5 ,(* 0.5 (interval-length num-stil-ext-Y)))
(lineto ,(* 0.5
(- (car break-alignment-R-ext)
(cdr break-alignment-L-ext)
(interval-length num-stil-ext-X)))
,(* 0.5 (interval-length num-stil-ext-Y)))
(closepath)
(rlineto 0.0
,(if (or (null? siblings) (eq? grob (car siblings)))
-1.0 0.0)))))
(bracket-R
(markup
#:path
0.1
`((moveto ,(* 0.5
(- (car break-alignment-R-ext)
(cdr break-alignment-L-ext)
(interval-length num-stil-ext-X)))
,(* 0.5 (interval-length num-stil-ext-Y)))
(lineto 0.5
,(* 0.5 (interval-length num-stil-ext-Y)))
(closepath)
(rlineto 0.0
,(if (or (null? siblings) (eq? grob (last siblings)))
-1.0 0.0)))))
(bracket-L (grob-interpret-markup grob bracket-L))
(bracket-R (grob-interpret-markup grob bracket-R))
(num (ly:stencil-combine-at-edge num X LEFT bracket-L 0.4))
(num (ly:stencil-combine-at-edge num X RIGHT bracket-R 0.4)))
num))

#(define-public (Measure_attached_spanner_engraver context)
(let ((span '())
(finished '())
(event-start '())
(event-stop '()))
(make-engraver
(listeners ((measure-counter-event engraver event)
(if (= START (ly:event-property event 'span-direction))
(set! event-start event)
(set! event-stop event))))
((process-music trans)
(if (ly:stream-event? event-stop)
(if (null? span)
(ly:warning "You're trying to end a measure-attached spanner but you haven't started one.")
(begin (set! finished span)
(ly:engraver-announce-end-grob trans finished event-start)
(set! span '())
(set! event-stop '()))))
(if (ly:stream-event? event-start)
(begin (set! span (ly:engraver-make-grob trans 'MeasureCounter event-start))
(set! event-start '()))))
((stop-translation-timestep trans)
(if (and (ly:spanner? span)
(null? (ly:spanner-bound span LEFT))
(moment<=? (ly:context-property context 'measurePosition) ZERO-MOMENT))
(ly:spanner-set-bound! span LEFT
(ly:context-property context 'currentCommandColumn)))
(if (and (ly:spanner? finished)
(moment<=? (ly:context-property context 'measurePosition) ZERO-MOMENT))
(begin
(if (null? (ly:spanner-bound finished RIGHT))
(ly:spanner-set-bound! finished RIGHT
(ly:context-property context 'currentCommandColumn)))
(set! finished '())
(set! event-start '())
(set! event-stop '()))))
((finalize trans)
(if (ly:spanner? finished)
(begin
(if (null? (ly:spanner-bound finished RIGHT))
(set! (ly:spanner-bound finished RIGHT)
(ly:context-property context 'currentCommandColumn)))
(set! finished '())))
(if (ly:spanner? span)
(begin
(ly:warning "I think there's a dangling measure-attached spanner :-(")
(ly:grob-suicide! span)
(set! span '())))))))

% necessary layout options
% note that you can have more than one single layout block
% (some of them may even be outside and some inside \score)
\layout {
\context {
\Staff
\consists #Measure_attached_spanner_engraver
\override MeasureCounter.font-encoding = #'latin1
\override MeasureCounter.font-size = 0
\override MeasureCounter.outside-staff-padding = 2
\override MeasureCounter.outside-staff-horizontal-padding = #0
}
}

% function itself
repeatBracket = #(define-music-function
(N note)
(number? ly:music?)
#{
\override Staff.MeasureCounter.stencil =
#(lambda (grob) (test-stencil grob #{ #(string-append(number->string N) "×") #} ))
\startMeasureCount
\repeat volta #N { $note }
\stopMeasureCount
#}
)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% EXAMPLE %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

{
\repeatBracket 7 {c'1}
\repeatBracket 32 {d' g}
\repeatBracket 14 {e' f g}
\repeatBracket 29 {f' a bes \break cis' e''}
\repeatBracket 1048 {g'1}
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Repeats]]
[[Category:Automatic notation]]
[[Category:Contemporary notation]]
[[Category:Specific notation]]
[[Category:Contexts and engravers]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Repeat with brackets

2026-03-07T15:37:27Z

Ksnortum: No need for full page

This snippet adds brackets with the number of repetitions above a bar or a group of bar. Very useful when dealing with minimal music, for instance. To summon it, simply use <code>\repeatBracket </code><code>N</code><code> </code><code>music</code>, where <code>N</code> is the number of repetitions. Example: <code>\repeatBracket 7 { c'2 e' }</code>

<lilypond version="2.24">
% repeatBracket snippet
% will add .----Nx----. above a bar, where N is the number of repetitions
% based on the wonderful spanner by David Nalesnik (see: http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-user/2014-10/msg00446.html )

#(define (test-stencil grob text)
(let* ((orig (ly:grob-original grob))
(siblings (ly:spanner-broken-into orig)) ; have we been split?
(refp (ly:grob-system grob))
(left-bound (ly:spanner-bound grob LEFT))
(right-bound (ly:spanner-bound grob RIGHT))
(elts-L (ly:grob-array->list (ly:grob-object left-bound 'elements)))
(elts-R (ly:grob-array->list (ly:grob-object right-bound 'elements)))
(break-alignment-L
(filter
(lambda (elt) (grob::has-interface elt 'break-alignment-interface))
elts-L))
(break-alignment-R
(filter
(lambda (elt) (grob::has-interface elt 'break-alignment-interface))
elts-R))
(break-alignment-L-ext (ly:grob-extent (car break-alignment-L) refp X))
(break-alignment-R-ext (ly:grob-extent (car break-alignment-R) refp X))
(num
(markup text))
(num
(if (or (null? siblings)
(eq? grob (car siblings)))
num
(make-parenthesize-markup num)))
(num (grob-interpret-markup grob num))
(num-stil-ext-X (ly:stencil-extent num X))
(num-stil-ext-Y (ly:stencil-extent num Y))
(num (ly:stencil-aligned-to num X CENTER))
(num
(ly:stencil-translate-axis
num
(+ (interval-length break-alignment-L-ext)
(* 0.5
(- (car break-alignment-R-ext)
(cdr break-alignment-L-ext))))
X))
(bracket-L
(markup
#:path
0.1 ; line-thickness
`((moveto 0.5 ,(* 0.5 (interval-length num-stil-ext-Y)))
(lineto ,(* 0.5
(- (car break-alignment-R-ext)
(cdr break-alignment-L-ext)
(interval-length num-stil-ext-X)))
,(* 0.5 (interval-length num-stil-ext-Y)))
(closepath)
(rlineto 0.0
,(if (or (null? siblings) (eq? grob (car siblings)))
-1.0 0.0)))))
(bracket-R
(markup
#:path
0.1
`((moveto ,(* 0.5
(- (car break-alignment-R-ext)
(cdr break-alignment-L-ext)
(interval-length num-stil-ext-X)))
,(* 0.5 (interval-length num-stil-ext-Y)))
(lineto 0.5
,(* 0.5 (interval-length num-stil-ext-Y)))
(closepath)
(rlineto 0.0
,(if (or (null? siblings) (eq? grob (last siblings)))
-1.0 0.0)))))
(bracket-L (grob-interpret-markup grob bracket-L))
(bracket-R (grob-interpret-markup grob bracket-R))
(num (ly:stencil-combine-at-edge num X LEFT bracket-L 0.4))
(num (ly:stencil-combine-at-edge num X RIGHT bracket-R 0.4)))
num))

#(define-public (Measure_attached_spanner_engraver context)
(let ((span '())
(finished '())
(event-start '())
(event-stop '()))
(make-engraver
(listeners ((measure-counter-event engraver event)
(if (= START (ly:event-property event 'span-direction))
(set! event-start event)
(set! event-stop event))))
((process-music trans)
(if (ly:stream-event? event-stop)
(if (null? span)
(ly:warning "You're trying to end a measure-attached spanner but you haven't started one.")
(begin (set! finished span)
(ly:engraver-announce-end-grob trans finished event-start)
(set! span '())
(set! event-stop '()))))
(if (ly:stream-event? event-start)
(begin (set! span (ly:engraver-make-grob trans 'MeasureCounter event-start))
(set! event-start '()))))
((stop-translation-timestep trans)
(if (and (ly:spanner? span)
(null? (ly:spanner-bound span LEFT))
(moment<=? (ly:context-property context 'measurePosition) ZERO-MOMENT))
(ly:spanner-set-bound! span LEFT
(ly:context-property context 'currentCommandColumn)))
(if (and (ly:spanner? finished)
(moment<=? (ly:context-property context 'measurePosition) ZERO-MOMENT))
(begin
(if (null? (ly:spanner-bound finished RIGHT))
(ly:spanner-set-bound! finished RIGHT
(ly:context-property context 'currentCommandColumn)))
(set! finished '())
(set! event-start '())
(set! event-stop '()))))
((finalize trans)
(if (ly:spanner? finished)
(begin
(if (null? (ly:spanner-bound finished RIGHT))
(set! (ly:spanner-bound finished RIGHT)
(ly:context-property context 'currentCommandColumn)))
(set! finished '())))
(if (ly:spanner? span)
(begin
(ly:warning "I think there's a dangling measure-attached spanner :-(")
(ly:grob-suicide! span)
(set! span '())))))))

% necessary layout options
% note that you can have more than one single layout block (some of them may even be outside and some inside \score)
\layout {
\context {
\Staff
\consists #Measure_attached_spanner_engraver
\override MeasureCounter.font-encoding = #'latin1
\override MeasureCounter.font-size = 0
\override MeasureCounter.outside-staff-padding = 2
\override MeasureCounter.outside-staff-horizontal-padding = #0
}
}

% function itself
repeatBracket = #(define-music-function
(N note)
(number? ly:music?)
#{
\override Staff.MeasureCounter.stencil =
#(lambda (grob) (test-stencil grob #{ #(string-append(number->string N) "×") #} ))
\startMeasureCount
\repeat volta #N { $note }
\stopMeasureCount
#}
)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% EXAMPLE %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

{
\repeatBracket 7 {c'1}
\repeatBracket 32 {d' g}
\repeatBracket 14 {e' f g}
\repeatBracket 29 {f' a bes \break cis' e''}
\repeatBracket 1048 {g'1}
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Repeats]]
[[Category:Automatic notation]]
[[Category:Contemporary notation]]
[[Category:Specific notation]]
[[Category:Contexts and engravers]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Expect a warning several times

2026-03-02T15:24:49Z

Ksnortum: Add Category

There are times when your LilyPond source file prints warnings when compiled and you may want to suppress these warnings from the output. LilyPond has a Scheme function for this: <code>ly:expect-warning</code>. However, there are times when the same warning is printed several times and <code>ly:expect-warning</code> will only hide one warning at a time. Typing this function several times in a row is tedious.

The [https://lilypond.org/doc/v2.24/Documentation/internals/scheme-functions Scheme function] below takes a string that will match some part of the warning, just like <code>ly:expect-warning</code>, but it also takes an integer for the number of times the warning is printed.

<pre>
#(define (expect-warning-times n . arg)
(for-each (lambda _ (apply ly:expect-warning arg))
(iota n)))
</pre>

A usage example:

<code>#(expect-warning-times 4 "omitting tuplet bracket")</code>

[[Category:Scheme]]

Expect a warning several times

2026-02-28T14:52:05Z

Ksnortum: Inline the Scheme function URL and change to version 2.24

Expect a warning several times

2026-02-28T14:46:25Z

Ksnortum: args -> arg

There are times when your LilyPond source file prints warnings when compiled and you may want to suppress these warnings from the output. LilyPond has a Scheme function for this: <code>ly:expect-warning</code>. However, there are times when the same warning is printed several times and <code>ly:expect-warning</code> will only hide one warning at a time. Typing this function several times in a row is tedious.

The Scheme function below takes a string that will match some part of the warning, just like <code>ly:expect-warning</code>, but it also takes an integer for the number of times the warning is printed.

<pre>
#(define (expect-warning-times n . arg)
(for-each (lambda _ (apply ly:expect-warning arg))
(iota n)))
</pre>

A usage example:

<code>#(expect-warning-times 4 "omitting tuplet bracket")</code>

The hint from the documentation: [https://lilypond.org/doc/v2.25/Documentation/internals/scheme-functions scheme-functions]