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6.1.2 Pitches

The most common syntax for pitch entry is used for standard notes and \chordmode modes. In these modes, pitches may be designated by names. The notes are specified by the letters a through g. The octave is formed with notes ranging from c to b. The pitch c is an octave below middle C and the letters span the octave above that C

     
     \clef bass
     a,4 b, c d e f g a b c' d' e' \clef treble f' g' a' b' c''

[image of music]

The optional octave specification takes the form of a series of single quote (`'') characters or a series of comma (`,') characters. Each ' raises the pitch by one octave; each , lowers the pitch by an octave

     
     c' c'' e' g d'' d'

[image of music]

A sharp is formed by adding -is to the end of a pitch name and a flat is formed by adding -es. Double sharps and double flats are obtained by adding -isis or -eses. These names are the Dutch note names. In Dutch, aes is contracted to as, but both forms are accepted. Similarly, both es and ees are accepted

     
     ceses4
     ces
     c
     cis
     cisis
     bes dis, eeses' ais,

[image of music]

There are predefined sets of note names for various other languages. To use them, include the language specific init file. For example: \include "english.ly". The available language files and the note names they define are

                        Note Names               sharp       flat
nederlands.ly  c   d   e   f   g   a   bes b   -is         -es
english.ly     c   d   e   f   g   a   bf  b   -s/-sharp   -f/-flat
                                               -x (double)
deutsch.ly     c   d   e   f   g   a   b   h   -is         -es
norsk.ly       c   d   e   f   g   a   b   h   -iss/-is    -ess/-es
svenska.ly     c   d   e   f   g   a   b   h   -iss        -ess
italiano.ly    do  re  mi  fa  sol la  sib si  -d          -b
catalan.ly     do  re  mi  fa  sol la  sib si  -d/-s       -b
espanol.ly     do  re  mi  fa  sol la  sib si  -s          -b

Commonly tweaked properties

In accordance with standard typesetting rules, a natural sign is printed before a sharp or flat if a previous accidental needs to be cancelled. To change this behaviour, use \set Staff.extraNatural = ##f

     
     ceses4 ces cis c
     \set Staff.extraNatural = ##f
     ceses4 ces cis c

[image of music]

Suggested accidentals (used in notating musica ficta) may be written with suggestAccidentals

     
     \set suggestAccidentals = ##t
     ais4 bis

[image of music]

See also

Program reference: LedgerLineSpanner, NoteHead.

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

Report errors to http://post.gmane.org/post.php?group=gmane.comp.gnu.lilypond.bugs.

Other languages: English.
Using automatic language selection.