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Shortcut H:SCORE

The <score>...</score> element in wikitext displays a musical score out of GNU LilyPond (the default) or ABC markup syntax. It also produces a MIDI file of the music and optionally displays an audio player that plays the music. It is implemented by the Score extension for MediaWiki, available across Wikipedia languages.

For LilyPond resources, see § External links. As of August 2021^[update], the extension on Wikipedia is using LilyPond v2.22.0 (check Special:Version for the current version). Changes to LilyPond since version 2.18 are documented here. Note that LilyPond's full syntax is available when the extension is invoked with the wikitext <score raw="1">. A plain <score> invokes a simplified implementation that is not fully consistent with the LilyPond documentation.

If there is a MIDI file or audio file of superior quality to the MIDI or audio generated by the Score extension, you can provide a [[File::]] wikilink to it after the closing </score> tag.

Simple

<score>
{c' d' e' f' g' fis' es' cis' c'2}
</score>

gives

Equivalent in ABC notation:

<score lang="ABC">
L:1/4
CDEF | G^F_E^C | C2
</score>

More elaborate

<score sound="1">
  \transpose c g \relative c' { % display G for C, etc. and one octave higher
  \key c \minor
  \time 4/4
    c4 e8 e g4 g          % (text after the % is just a comment)
    <c es g>2 <c es g>    % angle brackets create chords
    es4 d( c b)         % parentheses create slurs
    a4. r8 r8 a8 ~ a4     % r creates rests; ~ creates ties
    e-- e-> e-. g\fermata % accents and other signs
    \bar "|."
  }
</score>

gives

Equivalent in ABC (pre-transposed due to differing semantics):

<score lang="ABC">
K: Gm 
M: 4/4
L: 1/4
G =B/2B/2 dd |      % a comment
[gbd']2 [gbd']2 |   % square brackets create chords (not supported by abc2ly)
b (ag^e) |          % parentheses create slurs
=e3/2 z/2 z/2 c/2-c % z creates rests; - creates ties
!tenuto!=B LB .B HB % see standard section "Decorations" (not supported by abc2ly)
|]
</score>

The score section must be surrounded by <score>...</score>. The notes must be within a set of curly braces {...}.

Comments in the markup start with a percentage sign % and end at the end of the line.

Pitch

To display a note, type the letter (a b c etc.) Separate each letter with a space. The bare note name refers to the natural note irrespective of key signature (see "setting the key" below). These letters are as in English and Dutch, not as in German and many other continental languages (FYI: continental b means b flat and continental h means b - if you find that confusing, forget it).

Sharps and flats are formed by using the Dutch and German suffixes "is" and "es" respectively. To avoid "ees", the note E♭ is simply written as es. The simple accidentals are thus ais bis cis dis eis fis gis for the sharps and aes bes ces des es fes ges for the flats. English language editors may prefer to include the line \language "english" in the script, after which s for sharp and f for flat can be used: as bs cs ds es fs gs and af bf cf df ef ff gf. Double sharps are formed with the suffix isis and double flats with eses, or in English notation with ss or x and ff. Semi-sharps, -flats and sesqui-sharps and -flats are also supported in both English and German. See: #Accidentals.

By default, each note name refers to the note below middle C. For example, c would be displayed as

or

. Use the apostrophe (') to go up an octave and a comma (,) to go an octave down. Middle C would be c'

.

 <score lang="lilypond" sound="1">
  {
    a,, c, e, a, c e a c' % Middle C
    e' a' c'' e'' a'' c''' e''' g''' \bar "||"
    aes'' bes'' gis'' dis'' aeses'' beses'' gisis'' disis'' \bar "||"
    aeh'' beseh'' gih'' disih''  \bar "||"
    \language "english"
    af'' bf'' gs'' ds'' aff'' bff'' gss'' bx'' \bar "||"
    aqf'' btqf'' gqs'' dtqs''
  }
 </score>

A much easier way is to use relative coding. If you include \relative before the braces, each note will refer to the note closest to the previous one, and the first one will refer to the note closest to the one mentioned after the \relative tag. ("Closest" ignores sharps and flats.) Use ' to go up an extra octave and , to go down.

 <score lang="lilypond" sound="1">
 \relative c' {
  e f <c e g>2
  a'4( b c) c,
  d8 e f16 g a b
  c4. a8 e' f g, f r \autoBeamOff e d c
  b4 a g b-> c2.-> r4
  \bar "|."
  }
 </score>

Setting the key

By default there is no key signature (no sharps or flats). You can indicate the key with \key g \major, \key c \minor, or even a mode such as \key c \dorian or \key c \mixolydian. The key can be changed at any point.

Keep in mind that even with a key signature, you must still include sharps (-is) and flats (-es) for each individual note name. If you omit one, it will be considered a natural. For example, this is the key of Gb major:

<score lang="lilypond" sound="1">
 \relative c' {
   \key ges \major
   \time 6/8

% Notes with -es suffixes indicating flats
   des8 es ges aes bes ces

% Notes without accidentals (naturals)
   b c d e g a
  }
</score>

Accidentals

Accidentals may be indicated by following the note name with the appropriate text:

			♭		♮		♯
De	eses	eseh	es	eh	!	ih	is	isih	isis
En	ff	tqf	f	qf		qs	s	tqs	ss or x

Note that E♭ is "es" alone, rather than "ees". "q" and "tq" refer to "quarter" and "three-quarter" (rather than "hf" for "half flat" and "thf" for "three-half flat"), as in "quarter tone". However, the "quarter flat/sharp" is not a quarter of a flat/sharp, but instead half of a flat/sharp, and the "three-quarter flat/sharp" is 1.5 flats not 0.75 flats. Notes outside of the quarter-tone scale are not supported.

German:

<score lang="lilypond" sound="1"> {

\override Score.TimeSignature
#'stencil = ##f
    \relative c'' {
        \time 4/4
        aeses1 aeseh aes aeh a! aih ais aisih aisis
    }  }
</score>

English:

<score lang="lilypond" sound="1"> {

\override Score.TimeSignature
#'stencil = ##f
    \relative c'' {
        \time 4/4
\language "english"
        aff1 atqf af aqf a! aqs as atqs ass
    }  }
</score>

Both result in:

Transpose and transposition

If, for some reason, a piece needs to be transposed to a different key, it is possible to do so without having to transcribe it manually. This also affects the key signature. The syntax for this is:

\transpose frompitch topitch musicexpr

For example:

<score lang="lilypond" sound="1">\transpose c es {
    \relative c' {
        \key c \major \time 4/4
        c4 d e f g a b c
    }  
}
</score>

Results in:

MIDI output can be transpositioned with the \transposition <pitch> command. The French horn (in C) motif from the opening of Schubert's last symphony, transpositioned one octave down:

<score sound="1">
\relative c' { \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"french horn"
  \set Staff.midiMinimumVolume = #0.7
  \set Staff.midiMaximumVolume = #1.0
  \tempo "Andante"
  \tempo 4 = 80
  \transposition c
  \key c \major
  \time 2/2
  c'2->\p d4 e4 | a,4.-> b8 c2 | f4.-> d8 e2 | g-> d4 e | a,4.-> b8 c2 | d4.-> e8 c2 | d2.\pp e4 | c1
}
</score>

The \transposition command is mainly intended for scores that incolve transposing instruments not set in concert pitch.

<score sound="1">
\new GrandStaff <<
  \new Staff = "violin" \with {
    instrumentName = "Vln"
    midiInstrument = "violin"
  }
  \relative c'' {
    % not strictly necessary, but a good reminder
    \transposition c'
    \key c \major
    g4( c8) r c r c4
  }
  \new Staff = "clarinet" \with {
    instrumentName = \markup { Cl (B\flat) }
    midiInstrument = "clarinet"
  }
  \relative c'' {
    \transposition bes
    \key d \major
    a4( d8) r d r d4
  }
>>
</score>

Rhythm

Note duration is indicated by a number following the pitch with no space between (a4 b8). Use the number 1 for a whole note (semibreve), 2 for a half note (minim), 4 for a quarter note (crotchet), 8 for an eighth note (quaver), and so on. If a note does not have an explicit duration, it will either default to a quarter note or use the duration of the note preceding it.

Rests are indicated by using the letter r instead of a pitch. Dotted notes are formed simply by following the duration number with a period (c4.).

Tuplets are indicated using the \times command, for example \times 2/3 {c8 c c} gives a triplet of three eight-notes (quavers).

 <score lang="lilypond" sound="1">
   \relative c''{b1 b2 b4 b8 c r4 b4. r8 \times 2/3 {a8 g f))
 </score>

Setting the time signature

The default time signature is 4/4. To set another time signature, one may use the \time command. For example to set the time signature to cut-time one would use \time 2/2 and waltz time would be \time 3/4. The time signature may be changed at almost any point.

Removing the time signature

For some music examples, removing the time signature may be desirable; the code \remove "Time_signature_engraver" can be used in that case:

<score>
{
  \new Staff \with { \remove "Time_signature_engraver" }
  <d' fis' a'>2
}
</score>

Pick up measure

The code \partial 4 will create a pickup measure (anacrusis) of one quarter note, \partial 4*2 would create a pickup measure of two quarter notes, etc. See an example in the Adding Lyrics section of this article.

Customizing beams

The software occasionally combines beamed notes in places that are not desired or look awkward. To override the automatic beams, use \noBeam between the notes that would otherwise be beamed: g a b \noBeam g. To turn off beaming for many notes, use \autoBeamOff and then \autoBeamOn.

<score>
  \relative c'' {
     \time 3/4
     r4. g8 \noBeam a8 b8
  }
</score>

To manually beam notes, use square brackets inserting the first one after the first note to be beamed: a8 b[ c d e] f. This would beam the notes b, c, d, and e, but leave the first and last notes without beams.

Adding lyrics

You can add lyrics to the score using \addlyrics. See the LilyPond Manual for more information about how to align the lyrics to the score.

<score raw="1" lang="lilypond">
  \header {
    tagline = "" % no footer
    title = "Good Morning"
    composer = "trad."
  }
  \relative g' {
    \key g \major \time 3/4
    \partial 4 d
     e d g
     fis2 d4
     e d a'
     g2 d4
     d' b g
     fis e c'
     b g a
     g2 \fermata
     \bar "|."
   }
   \addlyrics {
     Good mor -- ning to you,
     Good mor -- ning to you,
     Good mor -- ning dear chil -- dren,
     Good mor -- ning to all.
   }
  </score>

Adding chord names

Chord names can be added as a separate ChordNames staff as follows:

<score lang="lilypond" sound="1">
<<
  \new ChordNames \chordmode {
    \set chordChanges = ##t % Only display chord when there is a change (e.g., don't repeat the Am here)
    a4:m a4:m         |% measure 1 - A7 would be a:7
    g2                |% measure 2
  }
  \new Staff \relative c''{
    \key a \dorian
    \time 2/4
    a8 a16 a a8 a16 a |% measure 1
    b8 a g4           |% measure 2
  }
>>
</score>

The letter s can be used in the ChordNames staff in place of r (the code for a rest) when there is no chord.

An r will result in an explicit "No Chord" notation

whereas the s will result in correct spacing, but no chord name notation will appear.

Adding whitespace

The letter s followed by a note duration adds an appropriate amount of whitespace:

With s4 and s1		Without whitespace
Middle C centrally placed on a grand staff

Accents and other symbols

There are a number of symbols to attach to notes, such as \fermata. There are also {e-> f-- g-+ a-. b-^ c-_ d-!}

<score>
  \relative c' {
  e-> f-- g-+ a-.
  b-^ c-_ d-! e\fermata
  }
</score>

producing

Color

<score lang="lilypond" sound="1">
{
\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f
\relative c' { 
  \clef treble 
  \time 7/4 \once \override NoteHead.color = #red c4 d \once \override NoteHead.color = #red e f \once \override NoteHead.color = #red g a b  \time 2/4 c2 \bar "||"
  \time 4/4 <c, e g>1 \bar "||"
} }
</score>

produces

MIDI instruments

MIDI instrument sounds can be assigned with \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"instrument" as documented in section A6 of LilyPond's Notation Reference. Trial and error may be necessary: some instruments may not work unless the # is omitted, and some may not work with or without the #.

• The sound of each midi-instrument supported by LilyPond can be heard at v:Music/Software/Lilypond/MIDI

From The Rite of Spring

Markup	<score sound="1"> \relative c'' { \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"bassoon" \clef treble \numericTimeSignature \time 4/4 \tempo "Lento" 4 = 50 \stemDown c4\fermata(_"solo ad lib." \grace { b16[( c] } b g e b' \times 2/3 { a8)\fermata } } </score>
Renders as

Markup

<score sound="1"> { \new PianoStaff << \new Staff \relative c'' { \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"violin" \clef treble \tempo 8 = 126 \time 3/16 r16 <d c a fis d>\f-! r16\fermata | \time 2/16 r <d c a fis d>-! \time 3/16 r <d c a fis d>8-! | r16 <d c a fis d>8-! | \time 2/8 <d c a fis>16-! <e c bes g>->-![ <cis b aes f>-! <c a fis ees>-!] } \new Staff \relative c { \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"violin" \clef bass \time 3/16 d,16-! <bes'' ees,>-! r\fermata | \time 2/16 <d,, d,>-! <bes'' ees,>-! | \time 3/16 d16-! <ees cis>8-! | r16 <ees cis>8-! | \time 2/8 d16\sf-! <ees cis>-!->[ <d c>-! <d c>-!] } >> } </score>

Renders as

Repeated sections and MIDI

To indicate a repeated section, prefix it with \repeat volta 2. The MIDI and audio will only play once unless you add \unfoldRepeats, which will also "unfold" the score. To avoid this you must duplicate the score, once for layout and once for MIDI, for example:

Markup	<score raw="1" sound="1"> \header { tagline = "" } \score { \relative c' \repeat volta 2 {c d e f} \layout { } } \score { % "unfold" this score copy so MIDI plays the repeated section twice \unfoldRepeats { \relative c' \repeat volta 2 {c d e f} } \midi { } } </score>
Renders as

Hiding tempo

Metronome marks, as shown above, may be hidden with \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t.

From St Matthew Passion

Markup

<score sound="1"> { \new ChoirStaff << \new Staff << \new Voice \relative c'' { \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 8 = 120 \stemUp \clef treble \key fis \minor \time 3/8 s4. | <gis' dis>8^.^( <gis dis>^. <gis dis>^.) | s4. | <fis cis>8^.^( <fis cis>^. <fis cis>^.) | s4. | fis16^( eis dis cis) <b' gis>8^. | <a fis>^. r r | s4 } \new Voice \relative c'' { \stemDown cis8[ d] cis | bis4. | b!32_([ cis d16 cis8)] b | ais4. | b8 a![_( gis)] | a fis[_( eis)] | fis \grace { e(} d4) | cis } \addlyrics { Buß - und Reu,– Buß4 und8 Reu– knirscht das Sün- den- herz ent- zwei } \new Staff \relative c { \clef bass \key fis \minor \time 3/8 fis4.~_"Bar 13" | fis8 gis16( fis eis dis) | eis4. | e!8 fis16( e d cis) | d8( cis b) | cis4.~ | cis8 b16( a gis fis) | eis ^"173 bars"} >> >> } </score>

Renders as

Individual staff sizes

Individual staff sizes can be changed with \with{ \magnifyStaff #nn } . Using \with{ \magnifyStaff #2/3 } after each instance of \new Staff, the example above renders as:

For more intricate details, see "Setting the staff size" in the LilyPond manual.

Alignment

Diatonic scale on C, a "white note" scale

Use ((Image frame)) to align scores to the left, center, or right.

For example:

((Image frame
|content = <score>
    \relative c' {
        \clef treble \time 7/4 \hide Staff.TimeSignature
        c4 d e f g a b c2
    }
</score>
|width=|caption = Diatonic scale on C, a "white note" scale
))

results in the image to the right.

Grouping

The three genera of the Dorian octave species on E

((Image frame)) may also be used to group score images together. The text below creates the group of images to the right:

((Image frame|content=<score>
{
\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f
\relative c' { 
  \clef treble \time 4/4
  e4^\markup { Enharmonic genus } feh geses a b ceh deses e

} }
</score>

<score>
{
\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f
\relative c' { 
  \clef treble \time 4/4
  e4^\markup { Chromatic genus } f ges a b c des e

} }
</score>

<score>
{
\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f
\relative c' { 
  \clef treble \time 4/4
  e4^\markup { Diatonic genus } f g a b c d e
} }
</score>|width=300|caption=The three genera of the Dorian [[octave species]] on E))

Wikisource has complementary help pages at:

Help:Sheet music

• Wikipedia:Lyrics and poetry
• Special:PagesWithProp/score, pages where <score>...</score> is used, or Category:Pages using the Score extension
• Pages with errors are shown in Category:Pages with score rendering errors
• For some of the history of attempts to add LilyPond support, see Wikipedia:GNU LilyPond support/historical proposal
• Help:Music
• Template ((Music)) that displays a number of music symbols, mainly intended for inline use.
• Sinuhe20/Spielwiese presents dozens of helpful examples, even for those who cannot read the German headings.
• A collection demonstrating some advanced features of LilyPond are at User:Michael Bednarek/LilyPond.

• LilyPond notation documentation
• Complete LilyPond v2.22.0 manual – (in PDF).
• LilyPond code snippets