5.7.8 Articulations

A variety of symbols can appear above and below notes to indicate different characteristics of the performance. They are added to a note by adding a dash and the character signifying the articulation. They are demonstrated here

The meanings of these shorthands can be changed. See ly/script-init.ly for examples.

The script is automatically placed, but the direction can be forced as well. Like other pieces of LilyPond code, _ will place them below the staff, and ^ will place them above.

     c''4^^ c''4_^

Other symbols can be added using the syntax note\name. Again, they can be forced up or down using ^ and _, e.g.

     c\fermata c^\fermata c_\fermata

Here is a chart showing all scripts available,

The vertical ordering of scripts is controlled with the script-priority property. The lower this number, the closer it will be put to the note. In this example, the TextScript (lilypond-internals) (the sharp symbol) first has the lowest priority, so it is put lowest in the first example. In the second, the prall trill (the Script (lilypond-internals) ) has the lowest, so it on the inside. When two objects have the same priority, the order in which they are entered decides which one comes first.

     \once \override TextScript #'script-priority = #-100
     a4^\prall^\markup { \sharp }
     
     \once \override Script #'script-priority = #-100
     a4^\prall^\markup { \sharp }

See also

Program reference: ScriptEvent (lilypond-internals) , and Script (lilypond-internals) .

Bugs

These signs appear in the printed output but have no effect on the MIDI rendering of the music.