LilyPond wiki - Recent changes [en]

Horizontally aligning stanza numbers of different staves

2026-06-26T15:39:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:39, 26 June 2026
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	It can happen that stanza numbers ~~don't~~ align ~~vertically~~ if the verses are attached to different staves. To fix that, override the <code>self-alignment-X</code> property of the <code>LyricText</code> grob.		It can happen that stanza numbers don’t align horizontally if the verses are attached to different staves. To fix that, override the <code>self-alignment-X</code> property of the <code>LyricText</code> grob.

	<lilypond version="2.24">		<lilypond version="2.24">

LSR 1193

2026-06-26T15:37:38Z

Changed redirect target from Vertically aligning stanza numbers of different staves to Horizontally aligning stanza numbers of different staves

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:37, 26 June 2026
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	#REDIRECT [[~~Vertically~~ aligning stanza numbers of different staves]]		#REDIRECT [[Horizontally aligning stanza numbers of different staves]]

Vertically aligning stanza numbers of different staves

2026-06-26T15:36:53Z

Lemzwerg moved page Vertically aligning stanza numbers of different staves to Horizontally aligning stanza numbers of different staves without leaving a redirect

New page

It can happen that stanza numbers don't align vertically if the verses are attached to different staves. To fix that, override the <code>self-alignment-X</code> property of the <code>LyricText</code> grob.

<lilypond version="2.24">
\markup { default behavior }

<<
\new Staff { b b b b }
\lyrics {
\set stanza = "3."
a a a a
}

\new Staff { b b b b }
\lyrics {
\set stanza = "1."
aaaaaaaaaa a a a
}
\lyrics {
\set stanza = "2."
a a a a
}
>>

\markup \vspace #1
\markup {
using \typewriter "self-alignment-X = #LEFT" }

<<
\new Staff { b b b b }
\new Lyrics \lyricmode {
\set stanza = "3."
a a a a
}

\new Staff { b b b b }
\new Lyrics \lyricmode {
\set stanza = "1."
\once \override LyricText.self-alignment-X = #LEFT
aaaaaaaaaa a a a
}
\new Lyrics \lyricmode {
\set stanza = "2."
a a a a
}
>>
</lilypond>

[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Vocal music]]
[[Category:Included in the official documentation]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Lyrics above the staff they are assigned to

2026-06-26T13:24:06Z

I updated the code for version 2.26 and made some improvements.

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:24, 26 June 2026
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	Lyrics can also be placed above the staff to which they are assigned to. However, in this case you cannot simply place the line with <code>\lyricsto</code> above the staff definition, because at that point the voice to which the lyrics are assigned has not been created. Thus, you have to insert an empty dummy definition		Lyrics can also be placed above the staff to which they are assigned. However, in this case you cannot simply place the line with <code>\lyricsto</code> above the staff definition, because at that point the voice to which the lyrics are assigned has not been created. Thus, you have to insert an empty dummy definition

	<pre> \new Lyrics = "lyricsname" { s4 }		<pre> \new Lyrics = "lyricsname" { s4 }
Line 6:		Line 6:

	<pre> \context Lyrics = "lyricsname" \lyricsto "voicename" \lyricsdefinition</pre>		<pre> \context Lyrics = "lyricsname" \lyricsto "voicename" \lyricsdefinition</pre>
	This snippet is a simple example how to add lyrics above and/or below the staff.		This snippet shows a simple example of how to add lyrics above and/or below the staff.

	<lilypond version="2.24" ~~full~~>		<lilypond version="2.26">
	%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=391		%% Place lyrics above the staff to which they are assigned
			%% https://wiki.lilypond.community/wiki/Lyrics_above_the_staff_they_are_assigned_to
			%% formerly http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=391

	~~%here starts the snippet:~~		notes = \relative c' { c4 d e f \| g a b c \| }
			lyricsAbove = \lyricmode { These ly -- rics placed a -- bove the staff… }
	~~\header { tagline = ##f }~~		lyricsBelow = \lyricmode { These ly -- rics placed be -- low the staff… }

	notes = \relative c' { c4 d e f \| g a b c \|}
	lyricsAbove = \lyricmode { These ly -- rics placed a -- bove the ~~staff...~~ }
	lyricsBelow = \lyricmode { These ly -- rics placed be -- low the ~~staff...~~ }

	\score {		\score {
	% Wrap everything in a parallel music section (otherwise ~~you'll~~ get errors!)		% Wrap everything in a parallel music section (otherwise you’ll get errors!)
	<<		<<
	% ~~create~~ empty dummy lyrics contexts~~, we'll~~ do the actual assignment later		% Create empty dummy lyrics contexts. We’ll do the actual assignment later.
	% Important: The names will later be used to assign the correct placement!		% Important: The names will later be used to assign the correct placement!
	% We ~~can't~~ do the assignment before the voice has been defined, so the		% We can’t do the assignment before the voice has been defined, so the
	% first Lyrics ~~can't~~ be replaced by \lyricsto, because the voice to which		% first Lyrics can’t be replaced by \lyricsto, because the voice to which
	% it is assigned is not yet created there!!!		% it is assigned is not yet created there!!!

	% Lyrics above (because created before the staff)		% Lyrics above (because created before the staff)
	\new Lyrics = "above" { s4 }		\new Lyrics = "above" { s4 }
Line 35:		Line 33:
	% Lyrics below (because created after the staff)		% Lyrics below (because created after the staff)
	\new Lyrics = "below" { s4 }		\new Lyrics = "below" { s4 }

	% Now that we have created the Lyrics objects in the correct order, assign the lyrics		% Now that we have created the Lyrics objects in the correct order, assign the lyrics.
	% Notice the Lyrics = "name", where name is the same as in the above definitions!		% Notice the Lyrics = "name", where name is the same as in the above definitions!
	\context Lyrics = "above" \lyricsto "mainvoice" \lyricsAbove		\context Lyrics = "above" \lyricsto "mainvoice" \lyricsAbove

User:Paolocantamessa

2026-06-20T10:05:25Z

User account Paolocantamessa was created

Curly end barline

2026-06-17T13:21:16Z

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

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:21, 17 June 2026
Line 5:		Line 5:
	% Credits: PPS on March 2015		% Credits: PPS on March 2015

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

	endBarCurlyPath = \markup {		endBarCurlyPath = \markup {

User:JT612

2026-06-15T20:05:24Z

User account JT612 was created

Metric modulation (proportional tempi)

2026-06-13T22:38:39Z

I added links to Yoshiaki Onishi’s solution.

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:38, 13 June 2026
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	This snippet shows how you can typeset a metric modulation as a rehearsal mark. (See [https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-user/2026-05/msg00194.html this thread on the mailing list].) ~~Compare [[Metric modulation with tuplet]].~~		This snippet shows how you can '''typeset a metric modulation as a rehearsal mark'''. (See [https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-user/2026-05/msg00194.html this thread on the mailing list].)

	In the code below, the following commands enable you to to center the = glyph above the bar line.		In the code below, the following commands enable you to '''center the = glyph above the bar line'''.
	# <code>\general-align</code> commands set the center of the <code>myMetricModulation</code> markup to be the center of the equals sign (=). For more information, see [https://lilypond.org/doc/v2.26/Documentation/notation/text-markup-commands#markup-for-text-alignment A.1.2 Markup for text alignment] in the Notation Reference.		# <code>\general-align</code> commands set the center of the <code>myMetricModulation</code> markup to be the center of the equals sign (=). For more information, see [https://lilypond.org/doc/v2.26/Documentation/notation/text-markup-commands#markup-for-text-alignment A.1.2 Markup for text alignment] in the Notation Reference.
	# <code>\put-adjacent</code> commands add elements to the sides of the equals sign without shifting it. See [https://lilypond.org/doc/v2.26/Documentation/notation/text-markup-commands#markup-for-text-alignment A.1.2 Markup for text alignment].		# <code>\put-adjacent</code> commands add elements to the sides of the equals sign without shifting it. See [https://lilypond.org/doc/v2.26/Documentation/notation/text-markup-commands#markup-for-text-alignment A.1.2 Markup for text alignment].
	# Switching off <code>self-alignment-X</code> means that the 0 coordinate of the stencil gets used for alignment with the bar line, without any shifting. ~~Without~~ <code>\tweak self-alignment-X ##f</code>, <code>self-alignment-X = 0</code> ~~would~~ calculate a shift in order to align the center of the markup (rather than the equals sign) to its anchor point.		# Switching off <code>self-alignment-X</code> means that the 0 coordinate of the stencil gets used for alignment with the bar line, without any shifting. (If you do not include <code>\tweak self-alignment-X ##f</code>, then <code>self-alignment-X = 0</code> will calculate a shift in order to align the center of the markup, rather than the equals sign, to its anchor point.)

	The music is from Tomás Luis de Victoria, “O magnum mysterium,” Tenor part ([https://ks15.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/6/69/IMSLP106031-PMLP216234-TENOR.pdf PDF of source]).		The music on this page is from Tomás Luis de Victoria, “O magnum mysterium,” Tenor part ([https://ks15.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/6/69/IMSLP106031-PMLP216234-TENOR.pdf PDF of source]).

			'''Some other approaches to metric modulations:'''
			# [[Metric modulation with tuplet]] shows a way to indicate a metric modulation that refers to a duration within a tuplet.
			# Yoshiaki Onishi’s approaches use <code>\textEndMark</code> and <code>\textMark</code> and print left and right arrows (← →) on each side of the equation, following the example of the scores of composer Elliott Carter. For an explanation, search for “Metric Modulation Equation” in Onishi’s [https://github.com/yoshiakionishi/lilypond-snippets/blob/main/DOCUMENT/YO_SNIPPETS_COOKBOOK_MASTER.pdf LilyPond Contemporary Notation Cookbook]; for the code, see [https://github.com/yoshiakionishi/lilypond-snippets/blob/main/DOCUMENT/metricModulationRegularFlag.ly metricModulationRegularFlag.ly] and [https://github.com/yoshiakionishi/lilypond-snippets/blob/main/DOCUMENT/metricmodulationStraightFlag.ly metricmodulationStraightFlag.ly]. His commands support tuplet note values.

	<lilypond version="2.26">		<lilypond version="2.26">

Talk:Displaying LilyPond's data directory

2026-06-12T11:38:08Z

Gabriel Ellsworth moved page Talk:Displaying LilyPond's data directory to Talk:Displaying LilyPond’s data directory Misspelled title: I changed the tick mark in “LilyPond’s” to curly (typographical) punctuation (a real apostrophe).

New page

== No LilyPond tag on scheme code ==

I purposely did not use the <code><lilypond></code> tag on this code because I didn't want to expose the Wiki's internal structure. If I'm being overly paranoid we can add it later. [[User:Ksnortum|Ksnortum]] ([[User talk:Ksnortum|talk]]) 16:42, 18 February 2026 (UTC)

:Printing the path inside the wiki wouldn't be a problem, but you can't use <code><nowiki><lilypond></nowiki></code> because it doesn't support snippets which don't produce any visual output. I think giving an error in this case is the right default for <code><nowiki><lilypond></nowiki></code> because we want to remind editors that snippets should come with examples, but adding a <code>no-output</code> option to <code><nowiki><lilypond></nowiki></code> could be sensible. [[User:Jean Abou Samra|Jean Abou Samra]] ([[User talk:Jean Abou Samra|talk]]) 15:12, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

Displaying LilyPond's data directory

2026-06-12T11:38:08Z

Gabriel Ellsworth moved page Displaying LilyPond's data directory to Displaying LilyPond’s data directory Misspelled title: I changed the tick mark in “LilyPond’s” to curly (typographical) punctuation (a real apostrophe).

New page

In [[Frescobaldi]], you can install LilyPond while editing the Settings options. However, it is not always clear what directory LilyPond is installed in.

Using the following code will display LilyPond’s data directory in the LilyPond log.

<pre>
\version "2.24"

#(ly:message "The LilyPond data directory is located at: ~a" (ly:get-option 'datadir))
</pre>

(Thanks to Mark Knoop for this code.)

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

Metric modulation (proportional tempi)

2026-06-11T22:03:21Z

Created page with "This snippet shows how you can typeset a metric modulation as a rehearsal mark. (See [https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-user/2026-05/msg00194.html this thread on the mailing list].) Compare Metric modulation with tuplet. In the code below, the following commands enable you to to center the = glyph above the bar line. # <code>\general-align</code> commands set the center of the <code>myMetricModulation</code> markup to be the center of the equals sign (=)...."

New page

This snippet shows how you can typeset a metric modulation as a rehearsal mark. (See [https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-user/2026-05/msg00194.html this thread on the mailing list].) Compare [[Metric modulation with tuplet]].

In the code below, the following commands enable you to to center the = glyph above the bar line.
# <code>\general-align</code> commands set the center of the <code>myMetricModulation</code> markup to be the center of the equals sign (=). For more information, see [https://lilypond.org/doc/v2.26/Documentation/notation/text-markup-commands#markup-for-text-alignment A.1.2 Markup for text alignment] in the Notation Reference.
# <code>\put-adjacent</code> commands add elements to the sides of the equals sign without shifting it. See [https://lilypond.org/doc/v2.26/Documentation/notation/text-markup-commands#markup-for-text-alignment A.1.2 Markup for text alignment].
# Switching off <code>self-alignment-X</code> means that the 0 coordinate of the stencil gets used for alignment with the bar line, without any shifting. Without <code>\tweak self-alignment-X ##f</code>, <code>self-alignment-X = 0</code> would calculate a shift in order to align the center of the markup (rather than the equals sign) to its anchor point.

The music is from Tomás Luis de Victoria, “O magnum mysterium,” Tenor part ([https://ks15.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/6/69/IMSLP106031-PMLP216234-TENOR.pdf PDF of source]).

<lilypond version="2.26">
% Optional: Define markup commands
% to contain shortcuts for the notes
% to typeset in your metric modulation markup.
simpleBreve = \markup {
\override #'(style . baroque)
\note { \breve }
#UP % (stem direction)
}

dottedBreve = \markup {
\override #'(style . baroque)
\note { \breve. }
#UP % (stem direction)
}

thickSpace = \markup \char ##x2004
% Unicode codepoint U+2004 is a
% Three-per-Em space
% (also known as a “thick space”); see
% https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitespace_character#Unicode

% Define a custom markup command
% to typeset an equals sign (=)
% with a thick space on each side.
equals = \markup {
\put-adjacent #X #RIGHT
\put-adjacent #X #LEFT
\general-align #Y #DOWN \char ##x003D
% https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematical_operators_and_symbols_in_Unicode
\thickSpace
\thickSpace
}

% Define a markup that says
% “breve = dotted breve”
% with the = glyph at the
% center of this markup.
myMetricModulation = \markup {
\put-adjacent #X #RIGHT
\put-adjacent #X #LEFT

\general-align #X #CENTER
\general-align #Y #CENTER
\equals

\simpleBreve
\dottedBreve
}

words = \lyricmode {
Ie -- sum Chris -- tum
al -- le -- lu -- ia
al
}

music = \relative {
\key g \dorian
\clef "petrucci-c4"
\override NoteHead.style = #'baroque
\tag #'metronome { \tempo 1 = 60 }
\time 2/1
f\breve | g1 a1 |
\tweak self-alignment-X ##f
\mark \myMetricModulation
\tag #'metronome {
\once \override Score.MetronomeMark.X-offset = #7
\tempo "" 1 = 90
}
\time 3/1
g\breve g1 | d'\breve d1 |
c\breve c1 |
}

\markup { \circle 1 Metric modulation: }
\markup \vspace #0.2
\score {
<<
\new Voice = "tenor"
\removeWithTag #'metronome \music
\new Lyrics \lyricsto "tenor" \words
>>
}

\markup { \circle 2 With metronome marks added: }
\markup \vspace #0.2
\score {
<<
\new Voice = "tenor"
\keepWithTag #'metronome \music
\new Lyrics \lyricsto "tenor" \words
>>
}
</lilypond>
[[Category:Rhythms]]
[[Category:Editorial annotations]]
[[Category:Ancient notation]]
[[Category:Real music]]
[[Category:Snippet]]

Main Page

2026-06-11T21:33:18Z

I created a numbered list to make it easier for readers to understand what they can do on this site.

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:33, 11 June 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	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.		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~~.		You can:
			# Use the search box to look for snippets.
			# Enter a LilyPond Snippet Repository (LSR) number to access a redirection to the corresponding page.
			# View the [[Special:AllPages\|list of all pages]].
			# Browse [[Special:Categories\|snippets by category]].
			# Read the [[Help:Contributing\|guide to contributing new snippets]].

	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!		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!

User:Musicologyman

2026-06-11T16:30:10Z

User account Musicologyman was created

User:Chris

2026-06-11T15:34:28Z

User account Chris was created

Bracketed passages

2026-06-10T18:33:15Z

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

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:33, 10 June 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Code to make Lilypond draw left and right brackets vertically spanning a staff. This is intended to indicate an optional passage of music.		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" ~~full~~>		<lilypond version="2.24">
	%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=377		%% http://lsr.di.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=377

Line 7:		Line 7:
	% spanning an entire staff. It is useful for offseting optional passages of music,		% spanning an entire staff. It is useful for offseting optional passages of music,
	% as shown in the example		% as shown in the example

	~~\paper { tagline = ##f }~~

	% The number next to "th" in (th 0.2) controls thickness of the brackets.		% The number next to "th" in (th 0.2) controls thickness of the brackets.

Talk:Arpeggio bracket

2026-06-10T14:05:30Z

2.26 Conversion Note: new section

New page

== 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)

User:David R

2026-06-03T16:37:11Z

User account David R was created