LilyPond Notation Reference: 1.5.2 Multiple voices

### 1.5.2 Multiple voices

This section discusses simultaneous notes in multiple voices or multiple staves.

#### Single-staff polyphony

Explicitly instantiating voices

The basic structure needed to achieve multiple independent voices in a single staff is illustrated in the following example:

>     \new Staff <<
>       \new Voice = "first"
>         { \voiceOne r8 r16 g e8. f16 g8[ c,] f e16 d }
>       \new Voice= "second"
>         { \voiceTwo d16 c d8~ d16 b c8~ c16 b c8~ c16 b8. }
>     >>

Here, voices are instantiated explicitly and are given names. The `\voiceOne` ... `\voiceFour` commands set up the voices so that first and third voices get stems up, second and fourth voices get stems down, third and fourth voice note heads are horizontally shifted, and rests in the respective voices are automatically moved to avoid collisions. The `\oneVoice` command returns all the voice settings to the neutral default directions.

Temporary polyphonic passages

A temporary polyphonic passage can be created with the following construct:

>     << { \voiceOne ... }
>       \new Voice { \voiceTwo ... }
>     >> \oneVoice

Here, the first expression within a temporary polyphonic passage is placed into the `Voice` context which was in use immediately before the polyphonic passage, and that same `Voice` context continues after the temporary section. Other expressions within the angle brackets are assigned to distinct temporary voices. This allows lyrics to be assigned to one continuing voice before, during and after a polyphonic section:

>     <<
>       \new Voice = "melody" {
>         a4
>         <<
>           {
>             \voiceOne
>             g f
>           }
>           \new Voice {
>             \voiceTwo
>             d2
>           }
>         >>
>         \oneVoice
>         e4
>       }
>       \new Lyrics \lyricsto "melody" {
>       This is my song.
>       }
>     >>

Here, the `\voiceOne` and `\voiceTwo` commands are required to define the settings of each voice.

The double backslash construct

The `<< {...} \\ {...} >>` construct, where the two (or more) expressions are separated by double backslashes, behaves differently to the similar construct without the double backslashes: all the expressions within this construct are assigned to new `Voice` contexts. These new `Voice` contexts are created implicitly and are given the fixed names `"1"`, `"2"`, etc.

The first example could be typeset as follows:

>     <<
>       { r8 r16 g e8. f16 g8[ c,] f e16 d }
>       \\
>       { d16 c d8~ d16 b c8~ c16 b c8~ c16 b8. }
>     >>

This syntax can be used where it does not matter that temporary voices are created and then discarded. These implicitly created voices are given the settings equivalent to the effect of the `\voiceOne` ... `\voiceFour` commands, in the order in which they appear in the code.

In the following example, the intermediate voice has stems up, therefore we enter it in the third place, so it becomes voice three, which has the stems up as desired. Spacer rests are used to avoid printing doubled rests.

>     <<
>       { r8 g g  g g f16 ees f8 d }
>       \\
>       { ees,8 r ees r d r d r }
>       \\
>       { d'8 s c s bes s a s }
>     >>

In all but the simplest works it is advisable to create explicit `Voice` contexts as explained in Contexts and engravers and Explicitly instantiating voices.

Voice order

When entering multiple voices in the input file, use the following order:

>     Voice 1: highest
>     Voice 2: lowest
>     Voice 3: second highest
>     Voice 4: second lowest
>     Voice 5: third highest
>     Voice 6: third lowest
>     etc.

Though this may seem counterintuitive, it simplifies the automatic layout process. Note that the odd-numbered voices are given upstems, and the even-numbered voices are given downstems:

>     \new Staff <<
>       \time 2/4
>       { f''2 }  % 1: highest
>       \\
>       { c'2  }  % 2: lowest
>       \\
>       { d''2 }  % 3: second-highest
>       \\
>       { e'2  }  % 4: second-lowest
>       \\
>       { b'2  }  % 5: third-highest
>       \\
>       { g'2  }  % 6: third-lowest
>     >>

Identical rhythms

In the special case that we want to typeset parallel pieces of music that have the same rhythm, we can combine them into a single `Voice` context, thus forming chords. To achieve this, enclose them in a simple simultaneous music construct within an explicit voice:

>     \new Voice <<
>       { e4 f8 d e16 f g8 d4 }
>       { c4 d8 b c16 d e8 b4 }
>     >>

This method leads to strange beamings and warnings if the pieces of music do not have the same rhythm.

#### Predefined commands

`\voiceOne`, `\voiceTwo`, `\voiceThree`, `\voiceFour`, `\oneVoice`.

#### See also

Learning Manual: Voices contain music, Explicitly instantiating voices.

Notation Reference: Percussion staves, Invisible rests, Stems.

Snippets: Simultaneous notes.

#### Voice styles

Voices may be given distinct colors and shapes, allowing them to be easily identified:

>     <<
>       { \voiceOneStyle d4 c2 b4 }
>       \\
>       { \voiceTwoStyle e,2 e }
>       \\
>       { \voiceThreeStyle b2. c4 }
>       \\
>       { \voiceFourStyle g'2 g }
>     >>

The `\voiceNeutralStyle` command is used to revert to the standard presentation.

#### Predefined commands

`\voiceOneStyle`, `\voiceTwoStyle`, `\voiceThreeStyle`, `\voiceFourStyle`, `\voiceNeutralStyle`.

#### See also

Learning Manual: I'm hearing Voices, Other sources of information.

Snippets: Simultaneous notes.

#### Collision resolution

The note heads of notes in different voices with the same pitch, same note head and opposite stem direction are automatically merged, but notes with different note heads or the same stem direction are not. Rests opposite a stem in a different voice are shifted vertically. The following example shows three different circumstances, on beats 1 and 3 in bar 1 and beat 1 in bar 2, where the automatic merging fails.

>     <<
>       {
>         c8 d e d c d c4
>         g'2 fis
>       } \\ {
>         c2 c8. b16 c4
>         e,2 r
>       } \\ {
>         \oneVoice
>         s1
>         e8 a b c d2
>       }
>     >>

Notes with different note heads may be merged, with the exception of half-note heads and quarter-note heads, as shown below. Here the note heads on beat 1 of bar 1 are now merged:

>     <<
>       {
>         \mergeDifferentlyHeadedOn
>         c8 d e d c d c4
>         g'2 fis
>       } \\ {
>         c2 c8. b16 c4
>         e,2 r
>       } \\ {
>         \oneVoice
>         s1
>         e8 a b c d2
>       }
>     >>

Note heads with different dots as shown in beat 3 of bar 1 may be also be merged:

>     <<
>       {
>         \mergeDifferentlyHeadedOn
>         \mergeDifferentlyDottedOn
>         c8 d e d c d c4
>         g'2 fis
>       } \\ {
>         c2 c8. b16 c4
>         e,2 r
>       } \\ {
>         \oneVoice
>         s1
>         e8 a b c d2
>       }
>     >>

The half note and eighth note at the start of the second measure are incorrectly merged because the automatic merge cannot successfully complete the merge when three or more notes line up in the same note column, and in this case the merged note head is incorrect. To allow the merge to select the correct note head a `\shift` must be applied to the note that should not be merged. Here, `\shiftOn` is applied to move the top g out of the column, and `\mergeDifferentlyHeadedOn` then works properly.

>     <<
>       {
>         \mergeDifferentlyHeadedOn
>         \mergeDifferentlyDottedOn
>         c8 d e d c d c4
>         \shiftOn
>         g'2 fis
>       } \\ {
>         c2 c8. b16 c4
>         e,2 r
>       } \\ {
>         \oneVoice
>         s1
>         e8 a b c d2
>       }
>     >>

The `\shiftOn` command allows (but does not force) the notes in a voice to be shifted. When `\shiftOn` is applied to a voice, a note or chord in that voice is shifted only if its stem would otherwise collide with a stem from another voice, and only if the colliding stems point in the same direction. The `\shiftOff` command prevents this type of shifting from occurring.

By default, the outer voices (normally voices one and two) have `\shiftOff` specified, while the inner voices (three and above) have `\shiftOn` specified. When a shift is applied, voices with upstems (odd-numbered voices) are shifted to the right, and voices with downstems (even-numbered voices) are shifted to the left.

Here is an example to help you visualize how an abbreviated polyphonic expression would be expanded internally.

Note: Note that with three or more voices, the vertical order of voices in your input file should not be the same as the vertical order of voices on the staff!

>     \new Staff \relative c'' {
>       %% abbreviated entry
>       <<
>         { f2  }  % 1: highest
>         \\
>         { g,2 }  % 2: lowest
>         \\
>         { d'2 }  % 3: upper middle
>         \\
>         { b2  }  % 4: lower middle
>       >>
>       %% internal expansion of the above
>       <<
>         \new Voice = "1" { \voiceOne   \shiftOff f'2 }
>         \new Voice = "2" { \voiceTwo   \shiftOff g,2 }
>         \new Voice = "3" { \voiceThree \shiftOn  d'2 } % shifts right
>         \new Voice = "4" { \voiceFour  \shiftOn  b2  } % shifts left
>       >>
>     }

Two additional commands, `\shiftOnn` and `\shiftOnnn` provide further shift levels which may be specified temporarily to resolve collisions in complex situations – see Real music example.

Notes are only merged if they have opposing stem directions (as they have, for example, in voices one and two by default or when the stems are explicitly set in opposite directions).

#### Predefined commands

`\mergeDifferentlyDottedOn`, `\mergeDifferentlyDottedOff`, `\mergeDifferentlyHeadedOn`, `\mergeDifferentlyHeadedOff`.

`\shiftOn`, `\shiftOnn`, `\shiftOnnn`, `\shiftOff`.

#### Selected Snippets

Additional voices to avoid collisions

In some instances of complex polyphonic music, additional voices are necessary to prevent collisions between notes. If more than four parallel voices are needed, additional voices can be added by defining a variable using the Scheme function `context-spec-music`.

>     voiceFive = #(context-spec-music (make-voice-props-set 4) 'Voice)

>     \relative c'' {
>       \time 3/4
>       \key d \minor
>       \partial 2
>       <<
>         {
>           \voiceOne
>           a4. a8
>           e'4 e4. e8
>           f4 d4. c8
>         }
>         \\
>         {
>           \voiceThree
>           f,2
>           bes4 a2
>           a4 s2
>         }
>         \\
>         {
>           \voiceFive
>           s2
>           g4 g2
>           f4 f2
>         }
>         \\
>         \bar "||"{
>           \voiceTwo
>           d2
>           d4 cis2
>           d4 bes2
>         }
>       >>
>     }

Forcing horizontal shift of notes

When the typesetting engine cannot cope, the following syntax can be used to override typesetting decisions. The units of measure used here are staff spaces.

>     \relative c' <<
>       {
>         <d g>2 <d g>
>       }
>       \\
>       {
>         <b f'>2
>         \once \override NoteColumn #'force-hshift = #1.7
>         <b f'>2
>       }
>     >>

#### See also

Music Glossary: polyphony.

Learning Manual: Multiple notes at once, Voices contain music, Real music example.

Snippets: Simultaneous notes.

Internals Reference: NoteColumn, NoteCollision, RestCollision.

#### Automatic part combining

Automatic part combining is used to merge two parts of music onto a staff. It is aimed at typesetting orchestral scores. When the two parts are identical for a period of time, only one is shown. In places where the two parts differ, they are typeset as separate voices, and stem directions are set automatically. Also, solo and a due parts are identified and marked by default.

The syntax for part combining is:

>     \partcombine musicexpr1 musicexpr2

The following example demonstrates the basic functionality of the part combiner: putting parts on one staff and setting stem directions and polyphony. The same variables are used for the independent parts and the combined staff.

>     instrumentOne = \relative c' {
>       c4 d e f
>       R1
>       d'4 c b a
>       b4 g2 f4
>       e1
>     }

>     instrumentTwo = \relative g' {
>       R1
>       g4 a b c
>       d c b a
>       g f( e) d
>       e1
>     }

>     <<
>       \new Staff \instrumentOne
>       \new Staff \instrumentTwo
>       \new Staff \partcombine \instrumentOne \instrumentTwo
>     >>

The notes in the third measure appear only once, although they were specified in both parts. Stem, slur, and tie directions are set automatically, depending whether there is a solo or unison. When needed in polyphony situations, the first part (with context called `one`) always gets up stems, while the second (called `two`) always gets down stems. In solo situations, the first and second parts get marked with “Solo” and “Solo II”, respectively. The unison (a due) parts are marked by default with the text “a2”.

Both arguments to `\partcombine` will be interpreted as `Voice` contexts. If using relative octaves, `\relative` should be specified for both music expressions, i.e.,

>     \partcombine
>       \relative … musicexpr1
>       \relative … musicexpr2

A `\relative` section that is outside of `\partcombine` has no effect on the pitches of `musicexpr1` and `musicexpr2`.

In professional scores, voices are often kept apart for long periods, even if one or two notes actually coincide and could easily be printed as unison. Combining notes into a chord, or showing one voice as solo is therefore not ideal as the `\partcombine` function considers each note separately. For this reason, the `\partcombine` function can be overriden with the following commands:

- `\partcombineApart`, `\partcombineApartOnce`: Keep the notes as two separate voices, even if they can be combined to a chord or unison.
- `\partcombineChords`, `\partcombineChordsOnce`: Combine the notes to a chord.
- `\partcombineUnisono`, `\partcombineUnisonoOnce`: The two voices are unison.
- `\partcombineSoloI`, `\partcombineSoloIOnce`: Show only voice one and mark it as solo.
- `\partcombineSoloII`, `\partcombineSoloIIOnce`: Show only voice two and mark it as solo.
- `\partcombineAutomatic`, `\partcombineAutomaticOnce`: Ends the effect of the special commands above, and returns to the default part combining mechanism.

All commands ending in `...Once` apply only to the following note.

>     instrumentOne = \relative c' {
>       \partcombineApart c2^"apart" e |
>       \partcombineAutomatic e^"auto" e |
>       \partcombineChords e'^"chord" e |
>       \partcombineAutomatic c^"auto" c |
>       \partcombineApart c^"apart" \partcombineChordsOnce e^"chord once" |
>       c c |
>     }
>     instrumentTwo = \relative c' {
>       c2 c |
>       e2 e |
>       a,2 c |
>       c2 c' |
>       c2 c |
>       c2 c |
>     }

>     <<
>       \new Staff { \instrumentOne }
>       \new Staff { \instrumentTwo }
>       \new Staff { \partcombine \instrumentOne \instrumentTwo }
>     >>

#### Selected Snippets

Combining two parts on the same staff

The part combiner tool ( `\partcombine` command ) allows the combination of several different parts on the same staff. Text directions such as “solo” or “a2” are added by default; to remove them, simply set the property `printPartCombineTexts` to `f`. For vocal scores (hymns), there is no need to add “solo/a2” texts, so they should be switched off. However, it might be better not to use it if there are any solos, as they won’t be indicated. In such cases, standard polyphonic notation may be preferable.

This snippet presents the three ways two parts can be printed on a same staff: standard polyphony, `\partcombine` without texts, and `\partcombine` with texts.

>     musicUp = \relative c'' {
>       \time 4/4
>       a4 c4.( g8) a4 |
>       g4 e' g,( a8 b) |
>       c b a2.
>     }

>     musicDown = \relative c'' {
>       g4 e4.( d8) c4 |
>       r2 g'4( f8 e) |
>       d2 \stemDown a
>     }

>     \score {
>       <<
>         <<
>         \new Staff {
>           \set Staff.instrumentName = #"Standard polyphony"
>           << \musicUp \\ \musicDown >>
>         }
>         \new Staff \with { printPartCombineTexts = ##f } {
>           \set Staff.instrumentName = #"PartCombine without texts"
>           \partcombine \musicUp \musicDown
>         }
>         \new Staff {
>           \set Staff.instrumentName = #"PartCombine with texts"
>           \partcombine \musicUp \musicDown
>         }
>         >>
>       >>
>       \layout {
>         indent = 6.0\cm
>         \context {
>           \Score
>           \override SystemStartBar #'collapse-height = #30
>         }
>       }
>     }

Changing partcombine texts

When using the automatic part combining feature, the printed text for the solo and unison sections may be changed:

>     \new Staff <<
>       \set Staff.soloText = #"girl"
>       \set Staff.soloIIText = #"boy"
>       \set Staff.aDueText = #"together"
>       \partcombine
>         \relative c'' {
>           g4 g r r
>           a2 g
>         }
>         \relative c'' {
>           r4 r a( b)
>           a2 g
>         }
>     >>

#### See also

Music Glossary: a due, part.

Notation Reference: Writing parts.

Snippets: Simultaneous notes.

Internals Reference: PartCombineMusic, Voice.

#### Known issues and warnings

`\partcombine` can only accept two voices.

When `printPartCombineTexts` is set, if the two voices play the same notes on and off, the part combiner may typeset `a2` more than once in a measure.

`\partcombine` cannot be inside `\times`.

`\partcombine` cannot be inside `\relative`.

Internally, the `\partcombine` interprets both arguments as `Voice`s and decides when the parts can be combined. When they have different durations they cannot be combined and are given the names `one` and `two`. Consequently, if the arguments switch to differently named Voice contexts, the events in those will be ignored. Likewise, partcombining isn’t designed to work with lyrics; when one of the voices is explicitly named in order to attach lyrics to it, the partcombining stops working.

`\partcombine` only observes onset times of notes. It cannot determine whether a previously started note is playing or not, leading to various problems.

#### Writing music in parallel

Music for multiple parts can be interleaved in input code. The function `\parallelMusic` accepts a list with the names of a number of variables to be created, and a musical expression. The content of alternate measures from the expression become the value of the respective variables, so you can use them afterwards to print the music.

Note: Bar checks `|` must be used, and the measures must be of the same length.

>     \parallelMusic #'(voiceA voiceB voiceC) {
>       % Bar 1
>       r8 g'16 c'' e'' g' c'' e'' r8 g'16 c'' e'' g' c'' e'' |
>       r16 e'8.~   e'4            r16 e'8.~   e'4            |
>       c'2                        c'2                        |

>       % Bar 2
>       r8 a'16 d'' f'' a' d'' f'' r8 a'16 d'' f'' a' d'' f'' |
>       r16 d'8.~   d'4            r16 d'8.~   d'4            |
>       c'2                        c'2                        |

>     }
>     \new StaffGroup <<
>       \new Staff << \voiceA \\ \voiceB >>
>       \new Staff { \clef bass \voiceC }
>     >>

Relative mode may be used. Note that the `\relative` command is not used inside `\parallelMusic` itself. The notes are relative to the preceding note in the voice, not to the previous note in the input – in other words, relative notes for `voiceA` ignore the notes in `voiceB`.

>     \parallelMusic #'(voiceA voiceB voiceC) {
>       % Bar 1
>       r8 g16 c e g, c e r8 g,16 c e g, c e  |
>       r16 e8.~ e4       r16 e8.~  e4        |
>       c2                c                   |

>       % Bar 2
>       r8 a,16 d f a, d f r8 a,16 d f a, d f |
>       r16 d8.~  d4       r16 d8.~  d4       |
>       c2                 c                  |

>      }
>     \new StaffGroup <<
>       \new Staff << \relative c'' \voiceA \\ \relative c' \voiceB >>
>       \new Staff \relative c' { \clef bass \voiceC }
>     >>

This works quite well for piano music. This example maps four consecutive measures to four variables:

>     global = {
>       \key g \major
>       \time 2/4
>     }

>     \parallelMusic #'(voiceA voiceB voiceC voiceD) {
>       % Bar 1
>       a8    b     c   d     |
>       d4          e         |
>       c16 d e fis d e fis g |
>       a4          a         |

>       % Bar 2
>       e8      fis  g     a   |
>       fis4         g         |
>       e16 fis g  a fis g a b |
>       a4           a         |

>       % Bar 3 ...
>     }

>     \score {
>       \new PianoStaff <<
>          \new Staff {
>            \global
>            <<
>              \relative c'' \voiceA
>              \\
>              \relative c'  \voiceB
>            >>
>          }
>          \new Staff {
>            \global \clef bass
>            <<
>              \relative c \voiceC
>              \\
>              \relative c \voiceD
>            >>
>          }
>       >>
>     }

#### See also

Learning Manual: Organizing pieces with variables.

Snippets: Simultaneous notes.

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