First steps - GNU LilyPond
Description: GNU LilyPond

Next: Running LilyPond for the first time, Up: Tutorial

### 2.1 First steps

The first example demonstrates how to enter the most elementary piece of music, a scale. A note can be entered by typing its name, from ``a`' through ``g`'. So, if you enter

    {
    c d e f g a b
    }

the result looks like this

Every piece of LilyPond input needs to have {curly braces} placed around the input. For the rest of this manual, most examples will omit these braces, but don't forget them in your own music!

In addition, many examples use `relative` mode. This is explained in Octave entry; for now simply be aware that some examples should be placed inside `\relative {` ...music...`}`

Finally, LilyPond input is case sensitive. `{ c d e }` is valid input; `{ C D E }` will produce an error message.

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

    a1 a2 a4 a16 a32

If you do not specify a duration, the duration last entered is used for the next notes. The duration of the first note in input defaults to a quarter

    a a8 a a2 a

A rest is entered just like a note, but with the name ``r`'

    r2 r4 r8 r16

Add a dot ``.`' after the duration to get a dotted note

    a2. a4 a8. a16

The (or time signature) can be set with the `\time` command

    \time 3/4
    \time 6/8
    \time 4/4

The clef can be set using the `\clef` command

    \clef treble
    \clef bass
    \clef alto
    \clef tenor

Remember to enclose the notes and commands in curly braces `{ ... }` to convert it to printable output.

>          \time 3/4
>          \clef bass
>          c2 e4 g2.
>          f4 e d c2 r4

For more information on

> Entering pitches and durations
>   see Pitches, and Durations.
> Clefs
>   see Clef.
> Rests
>   see Rests.
> Time signatures and other timing commands
>   see Time signature.

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

Other languages: English.
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