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<title>GNU LilyPond Notation Reference: 5.3.4 The \tweak command</title>
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<a name="The-tweak-command"></a>
<table class="nav_table">
<tr><td valign="middle" align="left" colspan="1">[<a href="Changing-defaults.de.html#Changing-defaults" title="Beginning of this chapter or previous chapter"> << Changing defaults </a>]</td><td valign="middle" align="center" colspan="3">[<a href="index.de.html#index" title="Cover (top) of document" rel="start">Top</a>][<a href="index_toc.de.html#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>][<a href="LilyPond-command-index.de.html#LilyPond-command-index" title="Index" rel="index">Index</a>][<a href="index_abt.de.html#SEC_About" title="About (help)" rel="help"> ? </a>]</td><td valign="middle" align="right" colspan="1">[<a href="Interfaces-for-programmers.de.html#Interfaces-for-programmers" title="Next chapter"> Interfaces for programmers >> </a>]</td></tr><tr><td valign="middle" align="left" colspan="2">[<a href="The-override-command.de.html#The-override-command" title="Previous section in reading order" accesskey="p" rel="previous"> < The override command </a>]</td><td valign="middle" align="center" colspan="1">[<a href="Modifying-properties.de.html#Modifying-properties" title="Up section" accesskey="u" rel="up"> Up : Modifying properties </a>]</td><td valign="middle" align="right" colspan="2">[<a href="set-versus-override.de.html#set-versus-override" title="Next section in reading order" accesskey="n" rel="next"> set versus override > </a>]</td></tr></table>
<a name="The-tweak-command"></a>
<h3 class="subsection">5.3.4 The <code>\tweak</code> command</h3>
<a name="index-_005ctweak"></a>
<a name="index-_005ctweak-1"></a>
<a name="index-tweaking-1"></a>
<p>In some cases, it is possible to take a short-cut for tuning
graphical objects. For objects that are created directly from
an item in the input file, you can use the <code>\tweak</code> command.
For example:
</p>
<pre class="verbatim">< c
\tweak #'color #red
d
g
\tweak #'duration-log #1
a
> 4
-\tweak #'padding #8
-^
</pre><p>
<a href="../5f/lily-30e0dadf.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0"
src="../5f/lily-30e0dadf.png"
alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
<a name="index-chord_002c-modifying-one-note-in"></a>
<p>But the main use of the <code>\tweak</code> command is to modify just
one of a number of notation elements which start at the same musical
moment, like the notes of a chord, or tuplet brackets which start
at the same time.
</p>
<p>For an introduction to the syntax and uses of the tweak command
see <a name="index-Tweaking-methods-1"></a>
<a href="../lilypond-learning/Tweaking-methods.de.html#Tweaking-methods">Tweaking methods</a>.
</p>
<p>The <code>\tweak</code> command sets a property in the following object
directly, without requiring the grob name or context to be
specified. For this to work, it is necessary for the <code>\tweak</code>
command to remain immediately adjacent to the object to which it is
to apply after the input file has been converted to a music stream.
This is often not the case, as many additional elements are inserted
into the music stream implicitly. For example, when a note which is
not part of a chord is processed, Lilypond implicitly inserts a
<code>ChordEvent</code> event before the note, so separating the tweak
from the note. However, if chord symbols are placed round the
tweak and the note, the <code>\tweak</code> command comes after the
<code>ChordEvent</code> in the music stream, so remaining adjacent to the
note, and able to modify it.
</p>
<p>So, this works:
</p>
<blockquote><pre class="verbatim"><\tweak #'color #red c>4
</pre><p>
<a href="../5f/lily-ce530c43.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0"
src="../5f/lily-ce530c43.png"
alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p>but this does not:
</p>
<blockquote><pre class="verbatim">\tweak #'color #red c4
</pre><p>
<a href="../ed/lily-0b45a382.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0"
src="../ed/lily-0b45a382.png"
alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p>When several similar items are placed at the same musical moment,
the <code>\override</code> command cannot be used to modify just one of
them – this is where the <code>\tweak</code> command must be used.
Items which may appear more than once at the same musical moment
include the following:
</p>
<ul>
<li> note heads of notes inside a chord
</li><li> articulation signs on a single note
</li><li> ties between notes in a chord
</li><li> tuplet brackets starting at the same time
</li></ul>
<p>and <code>\tweak</code> may be used to modify any single occurrence of
these items.
</p>
<p>Notably the <code>\tweak</code> command cannot be used to modify stems,
beams or accidentals directly, since these are generated later by
note heads, rather than by music elements in the input stream.
Nor can a <code>\tweak</code> command be used to modify clefs or time
signatures, since these become separated from any preceding
<code>\tweak</code> command in the input stream by the automatic
insertion of extra elements required to specify the context.
</p>
<p>But the <code>\tweak</code> command can be used as an alternative to
the <code>\override</code> command to modify those notational elements
that do not cause any additional implicit elements to be added
before them in the music stream. For example, slurs may be
modified in this way:
</p>
<blockquote><pre class="verbatim">c-\tweak #'thickness #5 ( d e f)
</pre><p>
<a href="../bf/lily-eb2e4d98.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0"
src="../bf/lily-eb2e4d98.png"
alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Also several <code>\tweak</code> commands may be placed before a
notational element – all affect it:
</p>
<blockquote><pre class="verbatim">c
-\tweak #'style #'dashed-line
-\tweak #'dash-fraction #0.2
-\tweak #'thickness #3
-\tweak #'color #red
\glissando
f'
</pre><p>
<a href="../31/lily-52aebd6d.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0"
src="../31/lily-52aebd6d.png"
alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The music stream which is generated from a section of an input file,
including any automatically inserted elements, may be examined,
see <a href="Displaying-music-expressions.de.html#Displaying-music-expressions">Displaying music expressions</a>. This may be helpful in
determining what may be modified by a <code>\tweak</code> command.
</p>
<a name="See-also-82"></a>
<h4 class="subsubheading">See also</h4>
<p>Learning Manual:
<a name="index-Tweaking-methods-2"></a>
<a href="../lilypond-learning/Tweaking-methods.de.html#Tweaking-methods">Tweaking methods</a>.
</p>
<p>Notation Reference:
<a href="Displaying-music-expressions.de.html#Displaying-music-expressions">Displaying music expressions</a>.
</p>
<a name="Known-issues-and-warnings-10"></a>
<h4 class="subsubheading">Known issues and warnings</h4>
<a name="index-tweaks-in-a-variable"></a>
<p>The <code>\tweak</code> command cannot be used inside a variable.
</p>
<a name="index-tweaks-in-lyrics"></a>
<p>The <code>\tweak</code> commands cannot be used in <code>\lyricmode</code>.
</p>
<a name="index-tweaking-control-points"></a>
<a name="index-control-points_002c-tweaking"></a>
<p>The <code>\tweak</code> command cannot be used to modify the control
points of just one of several ties in a chord, other than the first
one encountered in the input file.
</p>
<hr size="6">
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<h4 class="toc_header"> <a href="index.de.html#index" title="Start of the manual">Notation Reference</a></h4>
<div class="contents">
<ul class="toc">
<li><a name="toc-Musical-notation-1" href="Musical-notation.de.html#Musical-notation">1. Musical notation</a>
<ul class="toc">
<li><a name="toc-Pitches-1" href="Pitches.de.html#Pitches">1.1 Pitches</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Rhythms-1" href="Rhythms.de.html#Rhythms">1.2 Rhythms</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Expressive-marks-1" href="Expressive-marks.de.html#Expressive-marks">1.3 Expressive marks</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Repeats-1" href="Repeats.de.html#Repeats">1.4 Repeats</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Simultaneous-notes-1" href="Simultaneous-notes.de.html#Simultaneous-notes">1.5 Simultaneous notes</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Staff-notation-1" href="Staff-notation.de.html#Staff-notation">1.6 Staff notation</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Editorial-annotations-1" href="Editorial-annotations.de.html#Editorial-annotations">1.7 Editorial annotations</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Text-1" href="Text.de.html#Text">1.8 Text</a> </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a name="toc-Specialist-notation-1" href="Specialist-notation.de.html#Specialist-notation">2. Specialist notation</a>
<ul class="toc">
<li><a name="toc-Vocal-music-1" href="Vocal-music.de.html#Vocal-music">2.1 Vocal music</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Keyboard-and-other-multi_002dstaff-instruments-1" href="Keyboard-and-other-multi_002dstaff-instruments.de.html#Keyboard-and-other-multi_002dstaff-instruments">2.2 Keyboard and other multi-staff instruments</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Unfretted-string-instruments-1" href="Unfretted-string-instruments.de.html#Unfretted-string-instruments">2.3 Unfretted string instruments</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Fretted-string-instruments-1" href="Fretted-string-instruments.de.html#Fretted-string-instruments">2.4 Fretted string instruments</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Percussion-1" href="Percussion.de.html#Percussion">2.5 Percussion</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Wind-instruments-1" href="Wind-instruments.de.html#Wind-instruments">2.6 Wind instruments</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Chord-notation-1" href="Chord-notation.de.html#Chord-notation">2.7 Chord notation</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Ancient-notation-1" href="Ancient-notation.de.html#Ancient-notation">2.8 Ancient notation</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-World-music-1" href="World-music.de.html#World-music">2.9 World music</a> </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a name="toc-General-input-and-output-1" href="General-input-and-output.de.html#General-input-and-output">3. General input and output</a>
<ul class="toc">
<li><a name="toc-Input-structure-1" href="Input-structure.de.html#Input-structure">3.1 Input structure</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Titles-and-headers-1" href="Titles-and-headers.de.html#Titles-and-headers">3.2 Titles and headers</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Working-with-input-files-1" href="Working-with-input-files.de.html#Working-with-input-files">3.3 Working with input files</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Controlling-output-1" href="Controlling-output.de.html#Controlling-output">3.4 Controlling output</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-MIDI-output-1" href="MIDI-output.de.html#MIDI-output">3.5 MIDI output</a> </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a name="toc-Spacing-issues-1" href="Spacing-issues.de.html#Spacing-issues">4. Spacing issues</a>
<ul class="toc">
<li><a name="toc-Paper-and-pages-1" href="Paper-and-pages.de.html#Paper-and-pages">4.1 Paper and pages</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Music-layout-1" href="Music-layout.de.html#Music-layout">4.2 Music layout</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Breaks-1" href="Breaks.de.html#Breaks">4.3 Breaks</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Vertical-spacing-1" href="Vertical-spacing.de.html#Vertical-spacing">4.4 Vertical spacing</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Horizontal-spacing-1" href="Horizontal-spacing.de.html#Horizontal-spacing">4.5 Horizontal spacing</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Fitting-music-onto-fewer-pages-1" href="Fitting-music-onto-fewer-pages.de.html#Fitting-music-onto-fewer-pages">4.6 Fitting music onto fewer pages</a> </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc_current"><a name="toc-Changing-defaults-1" href="Changing-defaults.de.html#Changing-defaults">5. Changing defaults</a>
<ul class="toc">
<li><a name="toc-Interpretation-contexts-1" href="Interpretation-contexts.de.html#Interpretation-contexts">5.1 Interpretation contexts</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Explaining-the-Internals-Reference-1" href="Explaining-the-Internals-Reference.de.html#Explaining-the-Internals-Reference">5.2 Explaining the Internals Reference</a> </li>
<li class="toc_current"><a name="toc-Modifying-properties-1" href="Modifying-properties.de.html#Modifying-properties">5.3 Modifying properties</a>
<ul class="toc">
<li><a name="toc-Overview-of-modifying-properties-1" href="Overview-of-modifying-properties.de.html#Overview-of-modifying-properties">5.3.1 Overview of modifying properties</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-The-_005cset-command" href="The-set-command.de.html#The-set-command">5.3.2 The <code>\set</code> command</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-The-_005coverride-command" href="The-override-command.de.html#The-override-command">5.3.3 The <code>\override</code> command</a> </li>
<li class="toc_current"><a name="toc-The-_005ctweak-command" href="The-tweak-command.de.html#The-tweak-command">5.3.4 The <code>\tweak</code> command</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-_005cset-vs_002e-_005coverride" href="set-versus-override.de.html#set-versus-override">5.3.5 <code>\set</code> vs. <code>\override</code></a> </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a name="toc-Useful-concepts-and-properties-1" href="Useful-concepts-and-properties.de.html#Useful-concepts-and-properties">5.4 Useful concepts and properties</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Advanced-tweaks-1" href="Advanced-tweaks.de.html#Advanced-tweaks">5.5 Advanced tweaks</a> </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a name="toc-Interfaces-for-programmers-1" href="Interfaces-for-programmers.de.html#Interfaces-for-programmers">6. Interfaces for programmers</a>
<ul class="toc">
<li><a name="toc-Music-functions-1" href="Music-functions.de.html#Music-functions">6.1 Music functions</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Programmer-interfaces-1" href="Programmer-interfaces.de.html#Programmer-interfaces">6.2 Programmer interfaces</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Building-complicated-functions-1" href="Building-complicated-functions.de.html#Building-complicated-functions">6.3 Building complicated functions</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Markup-programmer-interface-1" href="Markup-programmer-interface.de.html#Markup-programmer-interface">6.4 Markup programmer interface</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Contexts-for-programmers-1" href="Contexts-for-programmers.de.html#Contexts-for-programmers">6.5 Contexts for programmers</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Scheme-procedures-as-properties-1" href="Scheme-procedures-as-properties.de.html#Scheme-procedures-as-properties">6.6 Scheme procedures as properties</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Using-Scheme-code-instead-of-_005ctweak-1" href="Using-Scheme-code-instead-of-_005ctweak.de.html#Using-Scheme-code-instead-of-_005ctweak">6.7 Using Scheme code instead of <code>\tweak</code></a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Difficult-tweaks-1" href="Difficult-tweaks.de.html#Difficult-tweaks">6.8 Difficult tweaks</a> </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a name="toc-Literature-list-1" href="Literature-list.de.html#Literature-list">A. Literature list</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Notation-manual-tables-1" href="Notation-manual-tables.de.html#Notation-manual-tables">B. Notation manual tables</a>
<ul class="toc">
<li><a name="toc-Chord-name-chart-1" href="Chord-name-chart.de.html#Chord-name-chart">B.1 Chord name chart</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Common-chord-modifiers-1" href="Common-chord-modifiers.de.html#Common-chord-modifiers">B.2 Common chord modifiers</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Predefined-fretboard-diagrams-1" href="Predefined-fretboard-diagrams.de.html#Predefined-fretboard-diagrams">B.3 Predefined fretboard diagrams</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-MIDI-instruments-1" href="MIDI-instruments.de.html#MIDI-instruments">B.4 MIDI instruments</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-List-of-colors-1" href="List-of-colors.de.html#List-of-colors">B.5 List of colors</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-The-Feta-font-1" href="The-Feta-font.de.html#The-Feta-font">B.6 The Feta font</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Note-head-styles-1" href="Note-head-styles.de.html#Note-head-styles">B.7 Note head styles</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Text-markup-commands-1" href="Text-markup-commands.de.html#Text-markup-commands">B.8 Text markup commands</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Text-markup-list-commands-1" href="Text-markup-list-commands.de.html#Text-markup-list-commands">B.9 Text markup list commands</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-List-of-articulations-1" href="List-of-articulations.de.html#List-of-articulations">B.10 List of articulations</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Percussion-notes-1" href="Percussion-notes.de.html#Percussion-notes">B.11 Percussion notes</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-All-context-properties-1" href="All-context-properties.de.html#All-context-properties">B.12 All context properties</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Layout-properties-1" href="Layout-properties.de.html#Layout-properties">B.13 Layout properties</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Identifiers-1" href="Identifiers.de.html#Identifiers">B.14 Identifiers</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-Scheme-functions-1" href="Scheme-functions.de.html#Scheme-functions">B.15 Scheme functions</a> </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a name="toc-Cheat-sheet-1" href="Cheat-sheet.de.html#Cheat-sheet">C. Cheat sheet</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-LilyPond-grammar-1" href="LilyPond-grammar.de.html#LilyPond-grammar">D. LilyPond grammar</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-GNU-Free-Documentation-License-1" href="GNU-Free-Documentation-License.de.html#GNU-Free-Documentation-License">E. GNU Free Documentation License</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-LilyPond-command-index-1" href="LilyPond-command-index.de.html#LilyPond-command-index">F. LilyPond command index</a> </li>
<li><a name="toc-LilyPond-index-1" href="LilyPond-index.de.html#LilyPond-index">G. LilyPond index</a> </li>
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