LilyPond Notation Reference: 2.3.1 Common notation for unfretted strings

### 2.3.1 Common notation for unfretted strings

There is little specialist notation for unfretted string instruments. The music is notated on a single staff, and usually only a single voice is required. Two voices might be required for some double-stopped or divisi passages.

#### References for unfretted strings

Most of the notation which is useful for orchestral strings and other bowed instruments is covered elsewhere:

- Textual indications such as “pizz.” and “arco” are added as simple text – see Text scripts.
- Fingerings, including the thumb indication, are described in Fingering instructions.
- String numbers may be added (generally in roman numbers for bowed instruments) as explained in String number indications.
- Double stopping is normally indicated by writing a chord, see Chorded notes. Directives for playing chords may be added, see Arpeggio.
- Templates for string quartets can be found in String quartet templates. Others are shown in the snippets.

#### See also

Learning Manual: String quartet templates.

Notation Reference: Text scripts, Fingering instructions, Chorded notes, Arpeggio.

Snippets: Unfretted strings.

#### Bowing indications

Bowing indications are created as articulations, which are described in Articulations and ornamentations.

The bowing commands, `\upbow` and `\downbow`, are used with slurs as follows:

>     \relative { c''4(\downbow d) e(\upbow f) }

Roman numerals can be used for string numbers (rather than the default circled Arabic numbers), as explained in String number indications.

Alternatively, string indications may be printed using markup commands; articulation scripts may also indicate open strings.

>     a'4 \open
>     \romanStringNumbers
>     a'\2
>     a'2^\markup { \small "sul A" }

#### Predefined commands

`\downbow`, `\upbow`, `\open`, `\romanStringNumbers`.

#### See also

Notation Reference: Articulations and ornamentations, String number indications, Slurs.

#### Harmonics

Natural harmonics

Natural harmonics can be notated in several ways. A diamond-shaped note head generally means to touch the string where you would stop the note if it were not a diamond.

>     \relative d'' {
>       d4 e4.
>       \harmonicsOn
>       d8 e e
>       d4 e4.
>       \harmonicsOff
>       d8 e e
>     }

Alternatively a normal note head is shown at the pitch to be sounded together with a small circle to indicate it should be played as a harmonic:

>     d''2^\flageolet d''_\flageolet

A smaller circle may be created, see the snippet list in References for unfretted strings.

Artificial harmonics

Artificial harmonics are notated with two notes, one with a normal note head indicating the stopped position and one with an open diamond note head to indicate the harmonic position.

Artificial harmonics indicated with `\harmonic` do not show the dots. The context property `harmonicDots` should be set if dots are required.

>     \relative e' {
>       <e a\harmonic>2.  <c g'\harmonic>4
>       \set harmonicDots = ##t
>       <e a\harmonic>2.  <c g'\harmonic>4
>     }

#### See also

Music Glossary: harmonics.

Notation Reference: Special note heads, References for unfretted strings.

#### Snap (Bartók) pizzicato

A snap pizzicato (also known as “Bartok pizz”) is a type of pizzicato where the string is deliberately plucked upwards (rather than sideways) such that it hits the fingerboard.

>     \relative {
>       c'4\snappizzicato
>       <c' e g>4\snappizzicato
>       <c' e g>4^\snappizzicato
>       <c, e g>4_\snappizzicato
>     }

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