GNU LilyPond

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Node:Time signature, Next:Unmetered music, Previous:Clef, Up:Staff notation

Time signature

The time signature is set or changed by the \time command. Syntax:

  \time n/d

\property Score.timeSignatureFraction = #'(n . d)
\property Score.beatLength = #(make-moment 1 d)
\property Score.measureLength = #(make-moment n d)

These properties timeSignatureFraction determine where bar lines should be inserted, and how automatic beams should be generated.

Changing the value of timeSignatureFraction also causes a fraction to be printed. This grob is TimeSignature .

The actual symbol that's printed can be customized with the style property.

\time 3/4 s2
\property Staff.TimeSignature \override #'style = #'C
\time 4/4 s2
\property Staff.TimeSignature \override #'style = #'()
\time 4/4 s2
\property Staff.TimeSignature \override #'style = #'C
\time 2/2 s2

There are many more options for the layout of this grob. They are selected through the style grob property.

See input/test/time.ly for examples.

Partial

Partial measures, for example in upbeats, are entered using the \partial command:

  \partial duration

Internally, this is a shortcut for

  \property Score.measurePosition = -length of duration

The property measurePosition contains a rational number indicating how much of the measure has passed at this point.

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

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