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2.1.2 Simple notation
LilyPond will add some notation elements automatically. In the next example, we have only specified four pitches, but LilyPond has added a clef, time signature, and rhythms.
{ c' e' g' e' }
This behavior may be altered, but in most cases these automatic values are useful.
Pitches
Music Glossary: pitch, interval, scale, middle C, octave, accidental.
The easiest way to enter notes is by using \relative
mode.
In this mode, the octave is chosen automatically by assuming the
following note is always to be placed closest to the previous
note, i.e., it is to be placed in the octave which is within three
staff spaces of the previous note. We begin by entering the most
elementary piece of music, a scale, in which every note
is within just one staff space of the previous note.
% set the starting point to middle C \relative c' { c d e f g a b c }
The initial note is middle C. Each successive note is
placed closest to the previous note – in other words, the first
c
is the closest C to middle C. This is followed by the
closest D to the previous note. We can create melodies which have
larger intervals, still using only \relative
mode:
\relative c' { d f a g c b f d }
It is not necessary for the first note of the melody to start on
the note which specifies the starting pitch. In the previous
example, the first note – the d
– is the closest D to
middle C.
By adding (or removing) quotes '
or commas ,
from
the \relative c' {
command, we can change the starting
octave:
% one octave above middle C \relative c'' { e c a c }
Relative mode can be confusing initially, but is the easiest way to enter most melodies. Let us see how this relative calculation works in practice. Starting from a B, which is on the middle line in a treble clef, you can reach a C, D and E within 3 staff spaces going up, and an A, G and F within 3 staff spaces going down. So if the note following a B is a C, D or E it will be assumed to be above the B, and an A, G or F will be assumed to be below.
\relative c'' { b c % c is 1 staff space up, so is the c above b d % d is 2 up or 5 down, so is the d above b e % e is 3 up or 4 down, so is the e above b a % a is 6 up or 1 down, so is the a below b g % g is 5 up or 2 down, so is the g below b f % f is 4 up or 3 down, so is the f below }
Exactly the same happens even when any of these notes are sharpened or flattened. Accidentals are totally ignored in the calculation of relative position. Precisely the same staff space counting is done from a note at any other position on the staff.
To add intervals that are larger than three staff spaces, we can
raise the octave by adding a single quote '
(or
apostrophe) to the note name. We can lower the octave by adding a
comma ,
to the note name.
\relative c'' { a a, c' f, g g'' a,, f' }
To change a note by two (or more!) octaves, we use multiple
''
or ,,
– but be careful that you use two single
quotes ''
and not one double quote "
! The
initial value in \relative c'
may also be modified like
this.
Durations (rhythms)
Music Glossary: beam, duration, whole note, half note, quarter note, dotted note.
The duration of a note is specified by a number after
the note name. 1
for a whole note, 2
for
a half note, 4
for a quarter note and
so on. Beams are added automatically.
If you do not specify a duration, the previous duration is used for the next note. The duration of the first note defaults to a quarter.
\relative c'' { a1 a2 a4 a8 a a16 a a a a32 a a a a64 a a a a a a a a2 }
To create dotted notes, add a dot .
to the
duration number. The duration of a dotted note must be stated
explicitly (i.e., with a number).
\relative c'' { a a a4. a8 a8. a16 a a8. a8 a4. }
Rests
Music Glossary: rest.
A rest is entered just like a note with the name
r
:
\relative c'' { a r r2 r8 a r4 r4. r8 }
Time signature
Music Glossary: time signature.
The time signature can be set with the \time
command:
\relative c'' { \time 3/4 a4 a a \time 6/8 a4. a \time 4/4 a4 a a a }
Clef
Music Glossary: clef.
The clef can be set using the \clef
command:
\relative c' { \clef treble c1 \clef alto c1 \clef tenor c1 \clef bass c1 }
All together
Here is a small example showing all these elements together:
\relative c, { \time 3/4 \clef bass c2 e8 c' g'2. f4 e d c4 c, r4 }
See also
Notation Reference: Writing pitches, Writing rhythms, Writing rests, Time signature, Clef.
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