<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<!-- header_tag -->
<html lang="en">
<head>
<title>Dynamics - GNU LilyPond Notation Reference</title>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<meta name="description" content="GNU LilyPond Notation Reference">
<meta name="generator" content="makeinfo 4.11">
<link title="Top" rel="start" href="index.html#Top">
<link rel="up" href="Attached-to-notes.html#Attached-to-notes" title="Attached to notes">
<link rel="prev" href="Articulations-and-ornamentations.html#Articulations-and-ornamentations" title="Articulations and ornamentations">
<link rel="next" href="New-dynamic-marks.html#New-dynamic-marks" title="New dynamic marks">
<link href="http://www.gnu.org/software/texinfo/" rel="generator-home" title="Texinfo Homepage">
<!--
Copyright (C) 1999--2007 by the authors
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this
document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License,
Version 1.1 or any later version published by the Free Software
Foundation; with no Invariant Sections. A copy of the license is
included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation
License''.
-->
<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css">
<style type="text/css"><!--
pre.display { font-family:inherit }
pre.format { font-family:inherit }
pre.smalldisplay { font-family:inherit; font-size:smaller }
pre.smallformat { font-family:inherit; font-size:smaller }
pre.smallexample { font-size:smaller }
pre.smalllisp { font-size:smaller }
span.sc { font-variant:small-caps }
span.roman { font-family:serif; font-weight:normal; }
span.sansserif { font-family:sans-serif; font-weight:normal; }
hr { border:0; height:1; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; }
/* hr {
border: none;
height: 1px;
color: #666666;
background-color: #666666;
}
body {
border-left: 1px solid #666666;
border-right: 1px solid #666666;
color: #332d28;
margin-right: auto;
margin-left: auto;
width: 60em;
list-style-type: square;
font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;
padding-right: 1em;
padding-left: 1em;
}
a {
border-bottom: 1px dashed #344242;
text-decoration: none;
color: #344242;
}
a:link {
text-decoration: none;
}
a:visited {
border-bottom: 1px dashed #666666;
color: #666666;
}
a:active {
border-bottom: 1px solid #00cccc;
color: #00cccc;
}
a:hover {
border-bottom: 1px solid #1d7b85;
color: #1d7b85;
}
blockquote {
border: 1px solid #cccccc;
padding: 3px;
width: 40em;
}
.node {
border-left: 1px solid #666666;
margin: -0.5em 0px 1em;
padding: 2px 1px 0px;
font-style: italic;
}
.node a {
border: none;
text-decoration: underline;
font-style: normal;
font-weight: bold;
}
.verbatim {
font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;
}
.unnumberedsubsubsec {
font-size: large;
color: #1d7b85;
}
.subsubheading {
font-size: large;
color: #3b220d;
}
.contents {
border: 1px dashed #339999;
margin: 3px 2em;
list-style-type: square;
padding-right: 1em;
width: 40em;
background-color: #fcfff9;
}
.contents a {
border-bottom: 1px dashed #423d34;
text-decoration: none;
color: #423d34;
}
.contents a:visited {
border-bottom: 1px dashed #666666;
color: #666666;
}
.contents a:active {
border-bottom: 1px solid #f0d86d;
color: #f0d86d;
}
.contents a:hover {
border-bottom: 1px solid #3b220d;
color: #3b220d;
}
.menu {
border-left: 1px dashed #339999;
margin: 3px 2em 1em;
list-style-type: square;
padding-left: 1.4em;
width: 40em;
}
.unnumbered {
}
h2 {
font-size: x-large;
color: #1d7b85;
}
*/
--></style>
</head>
<BODY BGCOLOR=WHITE TEXT=BLACK>
<div class="node">
<p>
<a name="Dynamics"></a>
Next: <a rel="next" accesskey="n" href="New-dynamic-marks.html#New-dynamic-marks">New dynamic marks</a>,
Previous: <a rel="previous" accesskey="p" href="Articulations-and-ornamentations.html#Articulations-and-ornamentations">Articulations and ornamentations</a>,
Up: <a rel="up" accesskey="u" href="Attached-to-notes.html#Attached-to-notes">Attached to notes</a>
<hr>
</div>
<h5 class="unnumberedsubsubsec">Dynamics</h5>
<p><a name="index-absolute-dynamics-761"></a><a name="index-dynamics-762"></a><a name="index-dynamics_002c-absolute-763"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cppppp-764"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cppppp-765"></a>
<a name="index-ppppp-766"></a><a name="index-ppppp-767"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cpppp-768"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cpppp-769"></a>
<a name="index-pppp-770"></a><a name="index-pppp-771"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cppp-772"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cppp-773"></a>
<a name="index-ppp-774"></a><a name="index-ppp-775"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cpp-776"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cpp-777"></a>
<a name="index-pp-778"></a><a name="index-pp-779"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cp-780"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cp-781"></a>
<a name="index-p-782"></a><a name="index-p-783"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cmp-784"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cmp-785"></a>
<a name="index-mp-786"></a><a name="index-mp-787"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cmf-788"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cmf-789"></a>
<a name="index-mf-790"></a><a name="index-mf-791"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cf-792"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cf-793"></a>
<a name="index-f-794"></a><a name="index-f-795"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cff-796"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cff-797"></a>
<a name="index-ff-798"></a><a name="index-ff-799"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cfff-800"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cfff-801"></a>
<a name="index-fff-802"></a><a name="index-fff-803"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cffff-804"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cffff-805"></a>
<a name="index-ffff-806"></a><a name="index-ffff-807"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cfp-808"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cfp-809"></a>
<a name="index-fp-810"></a><a name="index-fp-811"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005csf-812"></a><a name="index-g_t_005csf-813"></a>
<a name="index-sf-814"></a><a name="index-sf-815"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005csff-816"></a><a name="index-g_t_005csff-817"></a>
<a name="index-sff-818"></a><a name="index-sff-819"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005csp-820"></a><a name="index-g_t_005csp-821"></a>
<a name="index-sp-822"></a><a name="index-sp-823"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cspp-824"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cspp-825"></a>
<a name="index-spp-826"></a><a name="index-spp-827"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005csfz-828"></a><a name="index-g_t_005csfz-829"></a>
<a name="index-sfz-830"></a><a name="index-sfz-831"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005crfz-832"></a><a name="index-g_t_005crfz-833"></a>
<a name="index-rfz-834"></a><a name="index-rfz-835"></a>
<p>Absolute dynamic marks are specified using a command after a note,
such as <code>c4\ff</code>. The available dynamic marks are
<code>\ppppp</code>, <code>\pppp</code>, <code>\ppp</code>, <code>\pp</code>, <code>\p</code>,
<code>\mp</code>, <code>\mf</code>, <code>\f</code>, <code>\ff</code>, <code>\fff</code>,
<code>\ffff</code>, <code>\fp</code>, <code>\sf</code>, <code>\sff</code>, <code>\sp</code>,
<code>\spp</code>, <code>\sfz</code>, and <code>\rfz</code>. The dynamic marks may
be manually placed above or below the staff, see
<a href="Direction-and-placement.html#Direction-and-placement">Direction and placement</a>.
<blockquote>
<pre class="verbatim">
c2\ppp c\mp
c2\rfz c^\mf
c2_\spp c^\ff
</pre>
<p>
<a href="../ae/lily-fe889b09.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0" src="../ae/lily-fe889b09.png" alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a name="index-hairpin-836"></a><a name="index-crescendo-837"></a><a name="index-decrescendo-838"></a><a name="index-g_t_005c_003c-839"></a><a name="index-g_t_005c_003c-840"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005c_003e-841"></a><a name="index-g_t_005c_003e-842"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005c_0021-843"></a><a name="index-g_t_005c_0021-844"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005ccr-845"></a><a name="index-g_t_005ccr-846"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cdecr-847"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cdecr-848"></a>
<p>A <var>crescendo</var> mark is started with <code>\<</code> and
terminated with <code>\!</code>, an absolute dynamic, or an additional
crescendo or decrescendo mark. A <var>decrescendo</var> mark is
started with <code>\></code> and is also terminated with <code>\!</code>, an
absolute dynamic, or another crescendo or decrescendo mark.
<code>\cr</code> and <code>\decr</code> may be used instead of <code>\<</code> and
<code>\></code>. <var>Hairpins</var> are engraved by default using this
notation.
<blockquote>
<pre class="verbatim">
c2\< c\!
d2\< d\f
e2\< e\>
f2\> f\!
e2\> e\mp
d2\> d\>
c1\!
</pre>
<p>
<a href="../c7/lily-518ea750.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0" src="../c7/lily-518ea750.png" alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Spacer rests are needed to engrave multiple marks on one note.
<p><a name="index-multiple-dynamic-marks-on-one-note-849"></a><a name="index-dynamic-marks_002c-multiple-on-one-note-850"></a>
<blockquote>
<pre class="verbatim">
c4\< c\! d\> e\!
<< f1 { s4 s4\< s4\> s4\! } >>
</pre>
<p>
<a href="../cc/lily-f2ec7059.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0" src="../cc/lily-f2ec7059.png" alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a name="index-espressivo-articulation-851"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cespressivo-852"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cespressivo-853"></a>
<a name="index-espressivo-854"></a><a name="index-espressivo-855"></a>
<p>In some situations the <code>\espressivo</code> articulation mark may be
the appropriate choice to indicate a crescendo and decrescendo on
one note:
<blockquote>
<pre class="verbatim">
c2 b4 a
g1\espressivo
</pre>
<p>
<a href="../17/lily-587a0129.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0" src="../17/lily-587a0129.png" alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a name="index-crescendo-856"></a><a name="index-decrescendo-857"></a><a name="index-diminuendo-858"></a><a name="index-g_t_005ccrescTextCresc-859"></a><a name="index-g_t_005ccrescTextCresc-860"></a>
<a name="index-crescTextCresc-861"></a><a name="index-crescTextCresc-862"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cdimTextDecresc-863"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cdimTextDecresc-864"></a>
<a name="index-dimTextDecresc-865"></a><a name="index-dimTextDecresc-866"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cdimTextDecr-867"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cdimTextDecr-868"></a>
<a name="index-dimTextDecr-869"></a><a name="index-dimTextDecr-870"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cdimTextDim-871"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cdimTextDim-872"></a>
<a name="index-dimTextDim-873"></a><a name="index-dimTextDim-874"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005ccrescHairpin-875"></a><a name="index-g_t_005ccrescHairpin-876"></a>
<a name="index-crescHairpin-877"></a><a name="index-crescHairpin-878"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cdimHairpin-879"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cdimHairpin-880"></a>
<a name="index-dimHairpin-881"></a><a name="index-dimHairpin-882"></a>
<p>Crescendos and decrescendos can be engraved as textual markings
instead of hairpins. Dashed lines are printed to indicate their
extent. The built-in commands that enable these text modes are
<code>\crescTextCresc</code>, <code>\dimTextDecresc</code>,
<code>\dimTextDecr</code>, and <code>\dimTextDim</code>. The corresponding
<code>\crescHairpin</code> and <code>\dimHairpin</code> commands will revert
to hairpins again:
<blockquote>
<pre class="verbatim">
\crescTextCresc
c2\< d | e f\!
\dimTextDecresc
e2\> d | c b\!
\crescHairpin
c2\< d | e f\!
\dimHairpin
e2\> d\!
</pre>
<p>
<a href="../93/lily-b0d48487.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0" src="../93/lily-b0d48487.png" alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p>To create new absolute dynamic marks or text that should be
aligned with dynamics, see <a href="New-dynamic-marks.html#New-dynamic-marks">New dynamic marks</a>.
<p><a name="index-dynamics_002c-vertical-positioning-883"></a><a name="index-vertical-positioning-of-dynamics-884"></a><a name="index-DynamicLineSpanner-885"></a><a name="index-DynamicLineSpanner-886"></a>
<p>Vertical positioning of dynamics is handled by
<a name="index-DynamicLineSpanner-887"></a><a href="../lilypond-internals/DynamicLineSpanner.html#DynamicLineSpanner">DynamicLineSpanner</a>.
<p class="noindent">
<h5 class="subsubheading">Predefined commands</h5>
<p><a name="index-g_t_005cdynamicUp-888"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cdynamicUp-889"></a>
<a name="index-dynamicUp-890"></a><a name="index-dynamicUp-891"></a>
<code>\dynamicUp</code>,
<a name="index-g_t_005cdynamicDown-892"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cdynamicDown-893"></a>
<a name="index-dynamicDown-894"></a><a name="index-dynamicDown-895"></a>
<code>\dynamicDown</code>,
<a name="index-g_t_005cdynamicNeutral-896"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cdynamicNeutral-897"></a>
<a name="index-dynamicNeutral-898"></a><a name="index-dynamicNeutral-899"></a>
<code>\dynamicNeutral</code>,
<a name="index-g_t_005ccrescTextCresc-900"></a><a name="index-g_t_005ccrescTextCresc-901"></a>
<a name="index-crescTextCresc-902"></a><a name="index-crescTextCresc-903"></a>
<code>\crescTextCresc</code>,
<a name="index-g_t_005cdimTextDim-904"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cdimTextDim-905"></a>
<a name="index-dimTextDim-906"></a><a name="index-dimTextDim-907"></a>
<code>\dimTextDim</code>,
<a name="index-g_t_005cdimTextDecr-908"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cdimTextDecr-909"></a>
<a name="index-dimTextDecr-910"></a><a name="index-dimTextDecr-911"></a>
<code>\dimTextDecr</code>,
<a name="index-g_t_005cdimTextDecresc-912"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cdimTextDecresc-913"></a>
<a name="index-dimTextDecresc-914"></a><a name="index-dimTextDecresc-915"></a>
<code>\dimTextDecresc</code>,
<a name="index-g_t_005ccrescHairpin-916"></a><a name="index-g_t_005ccrescHairpin-917"></a>
<a name="index-crescHairpin-918"></a><a name="index-crescHairpin-919"></a>
<code>\crescHairpin</code>,
<a name="index-g_t_005cdimHairpin-920"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cdimHairpin-921"></a>
<a name="index-dimHairpin-922"></a><a name="index-dimHairpin-923"></a>
<code>\dimHairpin</code>.
<p class="noindent">
<h5 class="subsubheading">Selected Snippets</h5>
<p><em>Setting hairpin behavior at bar lines</em>
<p>If the note which ends a hairpin falls on a downbeat,
the hairpin stops at the bar line immediately preceding. This behavior
can be controlled by overriding the <code>to-barline</code> property.
<blockquote>
<pre class="verbatim">
\relative c'' {
e4\< e2.
e1\!
\override Hairpin #'to-barline = ##f
e4\< e2.
e1\!
}
</pre>
<p>
<a href="../8f/lily-4eb29d4a.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0" src="../8f/lily-4eb29d4a.png" alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p><em>Setting the minimum length of hairpins</em>
<p>If hairpins are too short, they can be lengthened by modifying the
<code>minimum-length</code> property of the <code>Hairpin</code> object.
<blockquote>
<pre class="verbatim">
\relative c'' {
c4\< c\! d\> e\!
\override Hairpin #'minimum-length = #5
<< f1 { s4 s\< s\> s\! } >>
}
</pre>
<p>
<a href="../0c/lily-bbd3f506.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0" src="../0c/lily-bbd3f506.png" alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a name="index-al-niente-924"></a><a name="index-niente_002c-al-925"></a>
<em>Printing hairpins using al niente notation</em>
<p>Hairpins may be printed with a circled tip (al niente notation) by
setting the <code>circled-tip</code> property of the <code>Hairpin</code> object to
<code>#t</code>.
<blockquote>
<pre class="verbatim">
\relative c'' {
\override Hairpin #'circled-tip = ##t
c2\< c\!
c4\> c\< c2\!
}
</pre>
<p>
<a href="../65/lily-ddd2efae.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0" src="../65/lily-ddd2efae.png" alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p><em>Vertically aligned dynamics and textscripts</em>
<p>By setting the <code>Y-extent</code> property to a suitable value, all
<code>DynamicLineSpanner</code> objects (hairpins and dynamic texts) can be
aligned to a common reference point, regardless of their actual extent.
This way, every element will be vertically aligned, thus producing a
more pleasing output.
<p>The same idea is used to align the text scripts along their baseline.
<blockquote>
<pre class="verbatim">
music = \relative c'' {
c2\p^\markup { gorgeous } c\f^\markup { fantastic }
c4\p c\f\> c c\!\p
}
{
\music \break
\override DynamicLineSpanner #'staff-padding = #2.0
\override DynamicLineSpanner #'Y-extent = #'(-1.5 . 1.5)
\override TextScript #'Y-extent = #'(-1.5 . 1.5)
\music
}
</pre>
<p>
<a href="../1f/lily-50348a76.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0" src="../1f/lily-50348a76.png" alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p><em>Hiding the extender line for text dynamics</em>
<p>Text style dynamic changes (such as cresc. and dim.) are printed with a
dashed line showing their extent. This line can be suppressed in the
following way:
<blockquote>
<pre class="verbatim">
\relative c'' {
\override DynamicTextSpanner #'dash-period = #-1.0
\crescTextCresc
c1\< | d | b | c\!
}
</pre>
<p>
<a href="../9b/lily-2c20c761.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0" src="../9b/lily-2c20c761.png" alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p><em>Changing text and spanner styles for text dynamics</em>
<p>The text used for crescendos and decrescendos can be
changed by modifying the context properties <code>crescendoText</code>
and <code>decrescendoText</code>. The style of the spanner line can
be changed by modifying the <code>'style</code> property of
<code>DynamicTextSpanner</code>. The default value is
<code>'hairpin</code>, and other possible values include
<code>'line</code>, <code>'dashed-line</code>, and
<code>'dotted-line</code>:
<blockquote>
<pre class="verbatim">
\relative c'' {
\set crescendoText = \markup { \italic { cresc. poco } }
\set crescendoSpanner = #'text
\override DynamicTextSpanner #'style = #'dotted-line
a2\< a
a2 a
a2 a
a2 a\mf
}
</pre>
<p>
<a href="../e6/lily-f969e581.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0" src="../e6/lily-f969e581.png" alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="noindent">
<h5 class="subsubheading">See also</h5>
<p class="indent">
<!-- TODO: Add hairpin to glossary. -->
<p>Music Glossary:
<a name="index-crescendo-926"></a><a href="../music-glossary/crescendo.html#crescendo">crescendo</a>,
<a name="index-decrescendo-927"></a><a href="../music-glossary/decrescendo.html#decrescendo">decrescendo</a>.
<p>Learning Manual:
<a name="index-Articulation-and-dynamics-928"></a><a href="../lilypond-learning/Articulation-and-dynamics.html#Articulation-and-dynamics">Articulation and dynamics</a>.
<p>Notation Reference:
<a href="Direction-and-placement.html#Direction-and-placement">Direction and placement</a>,
<a href="New-dynamic-marks.html#New-dynamic-marks">New dynamic marks</a>,
<a href="What-goes-into-the-MIDI-output_003f.html#What-goes-into-the-MIDI-output_003f">What goes into the MIDI output?</a>,
<a href="Controlling-MIDI-dynamics.html#Controlling-MIDI-dynamics">Controlling MIDI dynamics</a>.
<p>Snippets:
<a href="../../../input/lsr/lilypond-snippets/Expressive-marks.html#Expressive-marks">Expressive marks</a>.
<p>Internals Reference:
<a name="index-DynamicText-929"></a><a href="../lilypond-internals/DynamicText.html#DynamicText">DynamicText</a>,
<a name="index-Hairpin-930"></a><a href="../lilypond-internals/Hairpin.html#Hairpin">Hairpin</a>,
<a name="index-DynamicLineSpanner-931"></a><a href="../lilypond-internals/DynamicLineSpanner.html#DynamicLineSpanner">DynamicLineSpanner</a>.
<!-- footer_tag --><br><hr>
<div class="node">
<p>
Next: <a rel="next" accesskey="n" href="New-dynamic-marks.html#New-dynamic-marks">New dynamic marks</a>,
Previous: <a rel="previous" accesskey="p" href="Articulations-and-ornamentations.html#Articulations-and-ornamentations">Articulations and ornamentations</a>,
Up: <a rel="up" accesskey="u" href="Attached-to-notes.html#Attached-to-notes">Attached to notes</a>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #e8ffe8; padding: 2; border: #c0ffc0 1px solid;">
<p>
<font size="-1">
This page is for LilyPond-2.11.57 (development-branch).
<br>
<address>
Report errors to <a href="http://post.gmane.org/post.php?group=gmane.comp.gnu.lilypond.bugs">http://post.gmane.org/post.php?group=gmane.comp.gnu.lilypond.bugs</a>. </address>
<br>
Your <a href="http://lilypond.org/web/devel/participating/documentation-adding">suggestions for the documentation</a> are welcome.
</font>
</p>
</div>
<P>
Other languages: <a href="Dynamics.fr.html">français</a>, <a href="Dynamics.es.html">español</a>, <a href="Dynamics.de.html">deutsch</a>.
<BR>
</P>
</BODY></html>
