LilyPond Notation Reference: 4.3.7 Using an extra voice for breaks

### 4.3.7 Using an extra voice for breaks

Line- and page-breaking information usually appears within note entry directly.

>     music = \relative c'' { c4 c c c }

>     \score {
>       \new Staff {
>         \repeat unfold 2 { \music } \break
>         \repeat unfold 3 { \music }
>       }
>     }

This makes `\break` and `\pageBreak` commands easy to enter but mixes music entry with information that specifies how music should lay out on the page. You can keep music entry and line- and page-breaking information in two separate places by introducing an extra voice to contain the breaks. This extra voice contains only skips together with `\break`, `pageBreak` and other breaking layout information.

>     music = \relative c'' { c4 c c c }

>     \score {
>       \new Staff <<
>         \new Voice {
>           s1 * 2 \break
>           s1 * 3 \break
>           s1 * 6 \break
>           s1 * 5 \break
>         }
>         \new Voice {
>           \repeat unfold 2 { \music }
>           \repeat unfold 3 { \music }
>           \repeat unfold 6 { \music }
>           \repeat unfold 5 { \music }
>         }
>       >>
>     }

This pattern becomes especially helpful when overriding `line-break-system-details` and the other useful but long properties of `NonMusicalPaperColumnGrob`, as explained in Vertical spacing.

>     music = \relative c'' { c4 c c c }

>     \score {
>       \new Staff <<
>         \new Voice {
>           \overrideProperty "Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
>             #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 0))
>           s1 * 2 \break

>           \overrideProperty "Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
>             #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 35))
>           s1 * 3 \break

>           \overrideProperty "Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
>             #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 70))
>           s1 * 6 \break

>           \overrideProperty "Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
>             #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 105))
>           s1 * 5 \break
>         }
>         \new Voice {
>           \repeat unfold 2 { \music }
>           \repeat unfold 3 { \music }
>           \repeat unfold 6 { \music }
>           \repeat unfold 5 { \music }
>         }
>       >>
>     }

#### See also

Notation Reference: Vertical spacing.

Snippets: Spacing.

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