LilyPond Syntax

You can use any valid LilyPond syntax with astro-lilypond. This page covers the most common patterns.

Pitches and octave markers

Note names run from a to g. Inside \relative, each pitch is chosen to be as close as possible to the previous note — within a fourth above or below. Use ' to raise by one octave and , to lower.

\relative c' {
  c4 d e f | g a b c |
  c' b a g | f e d c |
}

Rhythms and durations

Notes inherit the previous note’s duration by default. A new duration can be set by appending a number to the note:

Syntax	Duration	Name
`1`	Whole	Semibreve
`2`	Half	Minim
`4`	Quarter	Crotchet
`8`	Eighth	Quaver
`16`	Sixteenth	Semiquaver
`32`	Thirty-second	Demisemiquaver

\relative c' {
  c4 c8 c c16 c c c c32 c c c c c c c
}

Append dots to extend by half the note’s value. Double-dotting adds three-quarters:

Syntax	Duration
`c4.`	Dotted quarter
`c4..`	Double-dotted quarter

\relative c' {
  c4. c8 c4 r |
  c2. c4 |
  c4.. c16 c2 |
}

Rests

r is an ordinary rest, R is a full-measure rest displayed centred in the bar, and s reserves time without printing anything.

\relative c' {
  c4 r4 c4 r4 |
  r2 c2 |
  R1 |
}

Accidentals

Accidentals are written as is and es suffixes appended to the note name.

Syntax	Meaning	Example
`is`	Sharp	`cis` = C♯
`es`	Flat	`bes` = B♭
`isis`	Double sharp	`cisis` = C𝄪
`eses`	Double flat	`ceses` = C𝄫

\relative c' {
  c4 cis d dis | e f fis g |
  g4 ges f fes | e es d des |
}

Key and time signatures

Set the key with \key and the time signature with \time. Both take effect from where they appear.

\relative c' {
  \key g \major
  \time 3/4
  g4 a b | c b a | g2. |
}

Barlines

LilyPond inserts single barlines automatically. Use \bar to override:

Syntax	Description
`\bar "\|\|"`	Double barline
`\bar "\|."`	Final barline
`\bar ".\|:"`	Start repeat
`\bar ":\|."`	End repeat

\relative c' {
  c1 \bar "||"
  c1 \bar ".|:"
  c1 \bar ":|."
  c1 \bar "|."
}

Chords

Write a chord by wrapping notes in angle brackets. All notes in the brackets share the same duration.

\relative c' {
  <c e g>4 <d f a> <e g b> <c e g> |
  <f a c>2 <g b d> |
}

Articulations

Attach articulations after the note with a dash and a symbol:

Syntax	Shorthand	Name
`\staccato`	`-.`	Staccato
`\tenuto`	`--`	Tenuto
`\accent`	`->`	Accent
`\marcato`	`-^`	Marcato
`\staccatissimo`	`-!`	Staccatissimo
`\portato`	`-_`	Portato

\relative c'' {
  c4-. c-- c-> c-^ |
  c4-! c-_ c2 |
}

Dynamics

Syntax	Name
`\ppp`	Pianississimo
`\pp`	Pianissimo
`\p`	Piano
`\mp`	Mezzo-piano
`\mf`	Mezzo-forte
`\f`	Forte
`\ff`	Fortissimo
`\fff`	Fortississimo
`\sfz`	Sforzando

Use \< to begin a crescendo hairpin and \> for a diminuendo; close either with \!.

\relative c'' {
  c4\pp c c c |
  c4\< c c c\! |
  c4\ff c\> c c\! |
  c4\mp c\mf c c |
}

Slurs and ties

A slur spans from ( to ). A tie connects two notes of the same pitch with ~.

\relative c'' {
  c4( d e f) |
  g2~ g4 f |
  e4( f~ f2) |
}

Grace notes

\grace places a small unmetered note before the main note. Use braces for multiple grace notes.

\relative c'' {
  \grace e8 d4 c2. |
  \grace { d16 e } f4 e2. |
}

Tuplets

\tuplet groups notes into a ratio. The most common case is triplets (\tuplet 3/2), where three notes occupy the space of two.

\relative c'' {
  \tuplet 3/2 { c4 d e } f2 |
  \tuplet 3/2 { g8 f e } \tuplet 3/2 { d c b } c2 |
}

Multiple voices

Use << and >> to stack voices on the same staff. \voiceOne and \voiceTwo set stem directions automatically. Separate voices with \\.

\new Staff <<
  \new Voice {
    \voiceOne
    \relative c'' { c4 b a g }
  }
  \new Voice {
    \voiceTwo
    \relative c' { e4 d c b }
  }
>>