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Articulations and ornamentations

A variety of symbols that denote articulations, ornamentations, and other performance indications can be attached to a note using this syntax:

note\name

The possible values for name are listed in List of articulations. For example:

     
     c4\staccato c\mordent b2\turn
     c1\fermata

[image of music]

Some of these articulations have shorthands for easier entry. Shorthands are appended to the note name, and their syntax consists of a dash - followed by a symbol signifying the articulation. Predefined shorthands exist for marcato, stopped, tenuto, staccatissimo, accent, staccato, and portato. Their corresponding output appears as follows:

     
     c4-^  c-+  c--  c-|
     c4->  c-.  c2-_

[image of music]

The rules for the default placement of articulations are defined in scm/script.scm. Articulations and ornamentations may be manually placed above or below the staff, see Direction and placement.

Selected Snippets

Modifying default values for articulation shorthand notation

The shorthands are defined in ‘ly/script-init.ly’, where the variables dashHat, dashPlus, dashDash, dashBar, dashLarger, dashDot, and dashUnderscore are assigned default values. The default values for the shorthands can be modified. For example, to associate the -+ (dashPlus) shorthand with the trill symbol instead of the default + symbol, assign the value trill to the variable dashPlus:

     
     \relative c'' { c1-+ }
     dashPlus = "trill"
     \relative c'' { c1-+ }

[image of music]

Controlling the vertical ordering of scripts

The vertical ordering of scripts is controlled with the script-priority property. The lower this number, the closer it will be put to the note. In this example, the TextScript (the sharp symbol) first has the lowest priority, so it is put lowest in the first example. In the second, the prall trill (the Script) has the lowest, so it is on the inside. When two objects have the same priority, the order in which they are entered determines which one comes first.

     
     \relative c''' {
       \once \override TextScript #'script-priority = #-100
       a2^\prall^\markup { \sharp }
       
       \once \override Script #'script-priority = #-100
       a2^\prall^\markup { \sharp }
     }

[image of music]

See also

Music Glossary: tenuto, accent, staccato, portato.

Notation Reference: Direction and placement, List of articulations.

Installed Files: scm/script.scm.

Snippets: Expressive marks.

Internals Reference: Script, TextScript.

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