Node: Dynamics, Previous: Glissando, Up: Expressive marks



Dynamics

Absolute dynamic marks are specified using an variable after a note: c4\ff. The available dynamic marks are \ppp, \pp, \p, \mp, \mf, \f, \ff, \fff, \fff, \fp, \sf, \sff, \sp, \spp, \sfz, and \rfz:

       c'\ppp c\pp c \p c\mp c\mf c\f c\ff c\fff
       c2\sf c\rfz
     

[picture of music]

A crescendo mark is started with \< and terminated with \!. A decrescendo is started with \> and also terminated with \!. Because these marks are bound to notes, if you must use spacer notes if multiple marks during one note are needed:

       c''\< c''\!   d''\decr e''\rced
       << f''1 { s4 s4\< s4\! \>  s4\! } >>
     

[picture of music]

This may give rise to very short hairpins. Use minimum-length in Voice.Hairpin to lengthen them, for example:
      \property Staff.Hairpin \override #'minimum-length = #5
     

You can also use a text saying cresc. instead of hairpins. Here is an example how to do it:

       c4 \cresc c4 c c c \endcresc c4
     

[picture of music]

You can also supply your own texts:

       \context Voice {
         \property Voice.crescendoText = \markup { \italic "cresc. poco" }
         \property Voice.crescendoSpanner = #'dashed-line
         a'2\< a a a\!\mf
       }
     

[picture of music]

Predefined commands

\dynamicUp, \dynamicDown, \dynamicBoth.

See also

CrescendoEvent, DecrescendoEvent, and AbsoluteDynamicEvent.

Dynamics are objects of DynamicText and Hairpin. Vertical positioning of these symbols is handled by the DynamicLineSpanner object.

If you want to adjust padding or vertical direction of the dynamics, you must set properties for the DynamicLineSpanner object.


This page is for LilyPond-2.0.1 (stable-branch).

Report errors to <bug-lilypond@gnu.org>.