GNU LilyPond

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Lexical modes

To simplify entering notes, lyrics, and chords, LilyPond has three special input modes in addition to the default mode: note, lyrics and chords mode. These input modes change the way that normal, unquoted words are interpreted: for example, the word cis may be interpreted as a C-sharp, as a lyric syllable `cis' or as a C-sharp major triad respectively.

A mode switch is entered as a compound music expression

\notes musicexpr
\chords musicexpr
\lyrics musicexpr.

In each of these cases, these expressions do not add anything to the meaning of their arguments. They just instruct the parser in what mode to parse their arguments. The modes are treated in more detail in Lyrics and Chords.

Different input modes may be nested.

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Copyright (c) 1997--2001 Han-Wen Nienhuys and Jan Nieuwenhuizen.

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