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Printing chord names

Chord names are printed in the ChordNames context:

     
     \new ChordNames {
       \chordmode {
         c2 f4. g8
       }
     }

[image of music]

Chords can be entered as simultaneous notes or through the use of chord mode. The displayed chord name will be the same, regardless of the mode of entry, unless there are inversions or added bass notes:

     
     <<
       \new ChordNames {
         <c e g>2  <f bes c>
         <f c' e g>1
         \chordmode {
           c2 f:sus4 c1:/f
         }
       }
       {
         <c e g>2  <f bes c>
         <f, c' e g>1
         \chordmode {
           c2 f:sus4 c1:/f
         }
       }
     >>

[image of music]

\chords { ... } is a shortcut notation for \new ChordNames { \chordmode { ... } }.

     
     \chords {
       c2 f4.:m g8:maj7
     }

[image of music]

     
     \new ChordNames {
       \chordmode {
         c2 f4.:m g8:maj7
       }
     }

[image of music]

Selected Snippets

Showing chords at changes

Chord names can be displayed only at the start of lines and when the chord changes.

     
     harmonies = \chordmode {
       c1:m c:m \break c:m c:m d
     }
     <<
       \new ChordNames {
         \set chordChanges = ##t
         \harmonies
       }
       \new Staff {
         \relative c' { \harmonies }
       }
     >>

[image of music]

Simple lead sheet

When put together, chord names, a melody, and lyrics form a lead sheet:

     
     <<
       \chords { c2 g:sus4 f e }
       \relative c'' {
         a4 e c8 e r4
         b2 c4( d)
       }
       \addlyrics { One day this shall be free __ }
     >>

[image of music]

See also

Music Glossary: chord.

Notation Reference: Writing music in parallel.

Snippets: Chords.

Internals Reference: ChordNames, ChordName, Chord_name_engraver, Volta_engraver, Bar_engraver.

Known issues and warnings

Chords containing inversions or altered bass notes are not named properly if entered using simultaneous music.

This page is for LilyPond-2.11.58 (development-branch).

Report errors to http://post.gmane.org/post.php?group=gmane.comp.gnu.lilypond.bugs.

Your suggestions for the documentation are welcome.

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