Editing Slurs with stemless note heads

If you do not want your notes to have stems, <code>\omit Stem</code> is very useful. But you may find that LilyPond positions the start or end points of some slurs incorrectly.

By setting <code>\override NoteHead.stem-attachment = #'(0 . 0)</code> you can move the stem attachment point to the center of the note head, which results in better slur positioning for stemless note heads.

Source of music: [https://archive.org/details/manualofgregoria00dela/page/266/mode/1up A manual of Gregorian chant compiled from the Solesmes books and from ancient manuscripts].

<lilypond version="2.24">
chant = \relative c' {
  \key d \dorian
  \slurUp
  
  \time 18/4
  d( a') g( f g) a( bes) a2
  a4 g( f) g( f) d2( f) | \bar ","
  
  \time 17/4 a4 a( g f) g( f a) a2
  a4 c( b g) b( c a2) | \bar "'"
  
  \time 20/4
  d4( c b g) b( c a) ~
  a( g f) g( a d,) ~
  d( c f) e( d) d2 | \bar "||"
}

words = \lyricmode {
  Ad -- o -- ré -- mus
  in ae -- tér -- num
  sanc -- tís -- si -- mum
  Sa -- cra -- _ _ _ _ mén -- tum.
}

% Top-level layout (applying to all scores):
\layout {
  \set Score.forbidBreakBetweenBarLines = ##f
  \omit Score.TimeSignature
  \context {
    \Voice
    \consists Melody_engraver
    \omit Stem
  }
}

scoreContent = << \new Voice = "chant" \chant
   \new Lyrics \lyricsto chant \words >>

\markup { \circle 1 LilyPond’s default: }
\score {
  \scoreContent
}

\markup { \circle 2 With adjustment to stem-attachment: }
\score {
  % score-specific layout:
  \layout {
    \context {
      \Voice
      \override NoteHead.stem-attachment = #'(0 . 0)
    }
  }
  \scoreContent
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Ancient notation]]
[[Category:Connecting notes]]
[[Category:Expressive marks]]
[[Category:Real music]]
[[Category:Snippet]]
[[Category:Tweaks and overrides]]
[[Category:Vocal music]]