Dynamics - GNU LilyPond
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#### 6.5.3 Dynamics

Absolute dynamic marks are specified using a command after a note `c4\ff`. The available dynamic marks are `\ppppp`, `\pppp`, `\ppp`, `\pp`, `\p`, `\mp`, `\mf`, `\f`, `\ff`, `\fff`, `\ffff`, `\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\fp c\sf c\sff c\sp c\spp c\sfz c\rfz

A crescendo mark is started with `\<` and terminated with `\!` or an absolute dynamic. A decrescendo is started with `\>` and is also terminated with `\!` or an absolute dynamic. `\cr` and `\decr` may be used instead of `\<` and `\>`. Because these marks are bound to notes, you must use spacer notes if multiple marks are needed during one note

>          c\< c\! d\> e\!
>          << f1 { s4 s4\< s4\! \> s4\! } >>

A hairpin starts at the left edge of the beginning note and ends on the right edge of the ending note.

In some situations the `\espressivo` articulation mark may be suitable to indicate a crescendo and decrescendo on the one note,

>          c2 b4 a g1\espressivo

This may give rise to very short hairpins. Use `minimum-length` in Voice. Hairpin to lengthen them, for example

    \override Staff.Hairpin #'minimum-length = #5

You can also use a text saying cresc. instead of hairpins

>          \setTextCresc
>          c\< d e f\!
>          \setHairpinCresc
>          e\> d c b\!
>          \setTextDecresc
>          c\> d e f\!
>          \setTextDim
>          e\> d c b\!

You can also supply your own texts

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

To create new dynamic marks or text that should be aligned with dynamics, see New dynamic marks.

##### Commonly tweaked properties

Dynamics that occur at, begin on, or end on, the same note will be vertically aligned. If you want to ensure that dynamics are aligned when they do not occur on the same note, you can increase the `staff-padding` property.

    \override DynamicLineSpanner #'staff-padding = #4

You may also use this property if the dynamics are colliding with other notation.

Crescendi and decrescendi that end on the first note of a new line are not printed. To change this behavior, use

    \override Score.Hairpin #'after-line-breaking = ##t

Text style dynamic changes (such as cresc. and dim.) are printed with a dashed line showing their extent. To surpress printing this line, use

    \override DynamicTextSpanner #'dash-period = #-1.0

##### Predefined commands

`\dynamicUp`, `\dynamicDown`, `\dynamicNeutral`.

##### See also

Program reference: DynamicText, Hairpin. Vertical positioning of these symbols is handled by DynamicLineSpanner.

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

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