Pitches - GNU LilyPond
Description: GNU LilyPond

Next: Cautionary accidentals, Previous: Notes, Up: Note entry

#### 6.1.2 Pitches

The most common syntax for pitch entry is used for standard notes and `\chordmode` modes. In these modes, pitches may be designated by names. The notes are specified by the letters `a` through `g`. The octave is formed with notes ranging from `c` to `b`. The pitch `c` is an octave below middle C and the letters span the octave above that C

>          \clef bass
>          a,4 b, c d e f g a b c' d' e' \clef treble f' g' a' b' c''

The optional octave specification takes the form of a series of single quote (``'`') characters or a series of comma (``,`') characters. Each `'` raises the pitch by one octave; each `,` lowers the pitch by an octave

>          c' c'' e' g d'' d'

A sharp is formed by adding `-is` to the end of a pitch name and a flat is formed by adding `-es`. Double sharps and double flats are obtained by adding `-isis` or `-eses`. These names are the Dutch note names. In Dutch, `aes` is contracted to `as`, but both forms are accepted. Similarly, both `es` and `ees` are accepted

>          ceses4
>          ces
>          c
>          cis
>          cisis
>          bes dis, eeses' ais,

There are predefined sets of note names for various other languages. To use them, include the language specific init file. For example: `\include "english.ly"`. The available language files and the note names they define are

                            Note Names               sharp       flat
    nederlands.ly  c   d   e   f   g   a   bes b   -is         -es
    english.ly     c   d   e   f   g   a   bf  b   -s/-sharp   -f/-flat
                                                   -x (double)
    deutsch.ly     c   d   e   f   g   a   b   h   -is         -es
    norsk.ly       c   d   e   f   g   a   b   h   -iss/-is    -ess/-es
    svenska.ly     c   d   e   f   g   a   b   h   -iss        -ess
    italiano.ly    do  re  mi  fa  sol la  sib si  -d          -b
    catalan.ly     do  re  mi  fa  sol la  sib si  -d/-s       -b
    espanol.ly     do  re  mi  fa  sol la  sib si  -s          -b

##### Commonly tweaked properties

In accordance with standard typesetting rules, a natural sign is printed before a sharp or flat if a previous accidental needs to be cancelled. To change this behaviour, use `\set Staff.extraNatural = ##f`

>          ceses4 ces cis c
>          \set Staff.extraNatural = ##f
>          ceses4 ces cis c

Suggested accidentals (used in notating musica ficta) may be written with `suggestAccidentals`

>          \set suggestAccidentals = ##t
>          ais4 bis

##### See also

Program reference: LedgerLineSpanner, NoteHead.

This page is for LilyPond-2.8.8 (stable-branch).

Other languages: English.
Using automatic language selection.