GNU LilyPond Notation Reference: 5.3.4 The \tweak command

### 5.3.4 The `\tweak` command

In some cases, it is possible to take a short-cut for tuning graphical objects. For objects that are created directly from an item in the input file, you can use the `\tweak` command. For example:

    < c
      \tweak #'color #red
      d
      g
      \tweak #'duration-log #1
      a
    > 4
    -\tweak #'padding #8
    -^

But the main use of the `\tweak` command is to modify just one of a number of notation elements which start at the same musical moment, like the notes of a chord, or tuplet brackets which start at the same time.

For an introduction to the syntax and uses of the tweak command see Tweaking methods.

The `\tweak` command sets a property in the following object directly, without requiring the grob name or context to be specified. For this to work, it is necessary for the `\tweak` command to remain immediately adjacent to the object to which it is to apply after the input file has been converted to a music stream. This is often not the case, as many additional elements are inserted into the music stream implicitly. For example, when a note which is not part of a chord is processed, Lilypond implicitly inserts a `ChordEvent` event before the note, so separating the tweak from the note. However, if chord symbols are placed round the tweak and the note, the `\tweak` command comes after the `ChordEvent` in the music stream, so remaining adjacent to the note, and able to modify it.

So, this works:

>     <\tweak #'color #red c>4

but this does not:

>     \tweak #'color #red c4

When several similar items are placed at the same musical moment, the `\override` command cannot be used to modify just one of them – this is where the `\tweak` command must be used. Items which may appear more than once at the same musical moment include the following:

- note heads of notes inside a chord
- articulation signs on a single note
- ties between notes in a chord
- tuplet brackets starting at the same time

and `\tweak` may be used to modify any single occurrence of these items.

Notably the `\tweak` command cannot be used to modify stems, beams or accidentals directly, since these are generated later by note heads, rather than by music elements in the input stream. Nor can a `\tweak` command be used to modify clefs or time signatures, since these become separated from any preceding `\tweak` command in the input stream by the automatic insertion of extra elements required to specify the context.

But the `\tweak` command can be used as an alternative to the `\override` command to modify those notational elements that do not cause any additional implicit elements to be added before them in the music stream. For example, slurs may be modified in this way:

>     c-\tweak #'thickness #5 ( d e f)

Also several `\tweak` commands may be placed before a notational element – all affect it:

>     c
>     -\tweak #'style #'dashed-line
>     -\tweak #'dash-fraction #0.2
>     -\tweak #'thickness #3
>     -\tweak #'color #red
>      \glissando
>     f'

The music stream which is generated from a section of an input file, including any automatically inserted elements, may be examined, see Displaying music expressions. This may be helpful in determining what may be modified by a `\tweak` command.

#### See also

Learning Manual: Tweaking methods.

Notation Reference: Displaying music expressions.

#### Known issues and warnings

The `\tweak` command cannot be used inside a variable.

The `\tweak` commands cannot be used in `\lyricmode`.

The `\tweak` command cannot be used to modify the control points of just one of several ties in a chord, other than the first one encountered in the input file.

Other languages: français, español.

#### Notation Reference