GNU LilyPond Notation Reference: 2.4.2 Guitar

### 2.4.2 Guitar

Most of the notational issues associated with guitar music are covered sufficiently in the general fretted strings section, but there are a few more worth covering here. Occasionally users want to create songbook-type documents having only lyrics with chord indications above them. Since Lilypond is a music typesetter, it is not recommended for documents that have no music notation in them. A better alternative is a word processor, text editor, or, for experienced users, a typesetter like GuitarTeX.

#### Indicating position and barring

This example demonstrates how to include guitar position and barring indications.

>     \clef "treble_8"
>     b16 d g b e
>     \textSpannerDown
>     \override TextSpanner #'(bound-details left text) = #"XII "
>       g16\startTextSpan
>       b16 e g e b g\stopTextSpan
>     e16 b g d

#### See also

Notation Reference: Text spanners.

Snippets: Fretted strings, Expressive marks.

#### Indicating harmonics and dampened notes

Special note heads can be used to indicate dampened notes or harmonics. Harmonics are normally further explained with a text markup.

>     \relative c' {
>       \clef "treble_8"
>       \override Staff.NoteHead #'style = #'cross
>       g8 a b c b4
>       \override Staff.NoteHead #'style = #'harmonic-mixed
>       d^\markup { \italic { \fontsize #-2 { "harm. 12" }}} <g b>1
>     }

#### See also

Snippets: Fretted strings.

Notation Reference: Special note heads, Note head styles.

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#### Notation Reference