Editing Conducting signs, measure grouping signs

Beat grouping within a measure is controlled by the <code>beatStructure</code> context property. Values of <code>beatStructure</code> are established for many time signatures in file <code>scm/time-signature-settings.scm</code>. Values of <code>beatStructure</code> can be changed or set with <code>\set</code>. Alternatively, <code>\time</code> can be used to both set the time signature and establish the beat structure. For this, you specify the internal grouping of beats in a measure as a list of numbers (in Scheme syntax) before the time signature.

<code>\time</code> applies to the <code>Timing</code> context, so it will not reset values of <code>beatStructure</code> or <code>baseMoment</code> that are set in other lower-level contexts, such as <code>Voice</code>.

If the <code>Measure_grouping_engraver</code> is included in one of the display contexts, measure grouping signs will be created. Such signs ease reading rhythmically complex modern music. In the example, the 9/8 measure is grouped in two different patterns using the two different methods, while the 5/8 measure is grouped according to the default setting in <code>scm/time-signature-settings.scm</code>:

<lilypond version="2.24.0">
\score {
  \new Voice \relative c'' {
    \time 9/8
    g8 g d d g g a( bes g) |
    \set Timing.beatStructure = 2,2,2,3
    g8 g d d g g a( bes g) |
    \time 4,5 9/8
    g8 g d d g g a( bes g) |
    \time 5/8
    a4. g4 |
  }
  \layout {
    \context {
      \Staff
      \consists "Measure_grouping_engraver"
    }
  }
}
</lilypond>

[[Category:Rhythms]]
[[Category:Included in the official documentation]]