LilyPond Notation Reference: 2.4.2 Guitar

### 2.4.2 Guitar

Most of the notational issues associated with guitar music are covered sufficiently in the general fretted strings section, but there are a few more worth covering here. Occasionally users want to create songbook-type documents having only lyrics with chord indications above them. Since LilyPond is a music typesetter, it is not recommended for documents that have no music notation in them. A better alternative is a word processor, text editor, or, for experienced users, a typesetter like GuitarTeX.

#### Indicating position and barring

This example demonstrates how to include guitar position and barring indications.

>     \relative {
>       \clef "treble_8"
>       b,16 d g b e
>       \textSpannerDown
>       \override TextSpanner.bound-details.left.text = "XII "
>       g16\startTextSpan
>       b16 e g e b g\stopTextSpan
>       e16 b g d
>     }

#### See also

Notation Reference: Text spanners.

Snippets: Fretted strings, Expressive marks.

#### Indicating harmonics and dampened notes

Special note heads can be used to indicate dampened notes or harmonics. Harmonics are normally further explained with a text markup.

>     \relative {
>       \clef "treble_8"
>       \override NoteHead.style = #'harmonic-mixed
>       d'8^\markup { \italic \fontsize #-2 "harm. 12" } <g b>4
>     }

Dampened notes (also called dead notes) are supported within normal and tablature staves:

>     music = \relative {
>       < a\3 \deadNote c\2 a'\1 >4
>       < b\3 \deadNote d\2 b'\1 >
>       < c\3 \deadNote e\2 c'\1 >
>       \deadNotesOn
>       \tuplet 3/2 { g8 b e }
>       \deadNotesOff
>       < a,\3 c\2 e\1 >1
>     }
>     \new StaffGroup <<
>       \new Staff {
>         \clef "treble_8"
>         \music
>       }
>       \new TabStaff {
>         \music
>       }
>     >>

Another playing technique (especially used on electric guitars) is called palm mute. The string is hereby partly muted by the palm of the striking hand (hence the name). LilyPond supports the notation of palm mute-style notes by changing the note head to a triangle shape.

>     \new Voice { % Warning: explicit Voice instantiation is
>                  %    required to have palmMuteOff work properly
>                  %    when palmMuteOn comes at the beginning of
>                  %    the piece.
>       \relative c, {
>         \clef "G_8"
>         \palmMuteOn
>         e8^\markup { \musicglyph "noteheads.u2do"  = palm mute }
>         < e b' e > e
>         \palmMuteOff
>         e e  \palmMute e e e |
>         e8 \palmMute { e e e } e e e e |
>         < \palmMute e b' e >8 \palmMute { e e e } < \palmMute e b' e >2
>       }
>     }

#### See also

Snippets: Fretted strings.

Notation Reference: Special note heads, Note head styles.

#### Indicating power chords

Power chords and their symbols can be engraved in chord mode or as chord constructs. As an exception, the fifth is specified in these chord names, whereas it is usually left out in other chords (e.g. major or minor triads).

>     ChordsAndSymbols = {
>       \chordmode {
>         e,,1:5
>         a,,:5.8
>         \set TabStaff.restrainOpenStrings = ##t
>         \set minimumFret = #8
>         c,:5
>         f,:5.8
>       }
>       \set minimumFret = #2
>       \set restrainOpenStrings = ##f
>       <a, e> <a cis' e'>
>       <g d' g'>
>     }
>     \score {
>       <<
>         \new ChordNames {
>         \ChordsAndSymbols
>         }
>         \new Staff {
>           \clef "treble_8"
>           \ChordsAndSymbols
>         }
>         \new TabStaff {
>           \ChordsAndSymbols
>         }
>       >>
>     }

#### See also

Music Glossary: power chord.

Notation Reference: Extended and altered chords, Printing chord names.

Snippets: Fretted strings.

#### LilyPond — Notation Reference v2.22.2 (stable-branch).