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Chords mode

Chord mode is a mode where you can input sets of pitches using common names. It is introduced by the keyword \chords. In chords mode, a chord is entered by the root, which is entered like a common pitch, for example,

       es4.  d8 c2
     
[picture of music]
is the notation for an E-flat major chord.

Other chords may be entered by suffixing a colon, and introducing a modifier, and optionally, a number, for example

     \chords { e1:m e1:7 e1:m7  }
     
[picture of music]
The first number following the root is taken to be the `type' of the chord, thirds are added to the root until it reaches the specified number, for example.
      \chords { c:3 c:5 c:6 c:7 c:8 c:9 c:10 c:11 }
     
[picture of music]

More complex chords may also be constructed adding separate steps to a chord. Additions are added after the number following the colon, and are separated by dots. For example

       \chords { c:5.6 c:3.7.8 c:3.6.13 }
     
[picture of music]
Chord steps can be altered by suffixing a - or + sign to the number, for example:
       \chords { c:7+ c:5+.3-  c:3-.5-.7- }
     
[picture of music]
Removals are specified similarly, and are introduced by a caret. They must come after the additions.
       \chords { c^3 c:7^5 c:9^3.5 }
     
[picture of music]

Modifiers can be used to change pitches. The following modifiers are supported

m
Minor chord. Lowers the 3rd and (if present) the 7th step.
dim
Diminished chord. Lowers the 3rd, 5th and (if present) the 7th step
aug
Augmented chord. Raises the 5th step.
maj
Major 7th chord. Raises the 7th step, if present.
sus
Suspended 4th or 2nd. This modifier removes the 3rd step. Append either 2 or 4 to add the 2nd or 4th step to the chord.
Modifiers can be mixed with additions.
       \chords { c:sus4 c:7sus4 c:dim7 c:m6 }
     
[picture of music]

Since the unaltered 11 does sound well when combined with the unaltered 3, the 11 is removed in this case, unless it is added explicitly). For example,

       \chords { c:13 c:13.11 c:m13 }
     
[picture of music]

An inversion (putting one pitch of the chord on the bottom), as well as bass notes, can be specified by appending /pitch to the chord.

        \chords { c1 c/g c/f }
     
[picture of music]

If you do not want to remove the bass note from the chord, but rather add the note, then you can use /+pitch.

        \chords { c1 c/+g c/+f }
     
[picture of music]

BUGS

Each step can only be present in a chord once. The following simply produces the augmented chord, since 5+ is interpreted last.

       \chords { c:5.5-.5+ }
     
[picture of music]

In chord mode, dashes and carets are used to indicate chord additions and subtractions, so articulation scripts can not be entered.

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Copyright (c) 1997--2002 Han-Wen Nienhuys and Jan Nieuwenhuizen.

Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.


This page was built from LilyPond-1.7.14 (development-branch) by

Buchan Milne <(address unknown)>, Thu Mar 6 21:11:35 2003 CET.