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1.3.1.2 Dynamics

Absolute dynamic marks are specified using a command after a note, like c4\ff. The available dynamic marks are \ppppp, \pppp, \ppp, \pp, \p, \mp, \mf, \f, \ff, \fff, \ffff, \fp, \sf, \sff, \sp, \spp, \sfz, and \rfz. The dynamic marks can be placed above or below the staff with _ and ^, just like articulation marks.

     
     c2\ppp c\mp
     c\rfz c^\mf
     c_\spp c_\staccato^\ff

[image of music]

A crescendo mark is started with \< and terminated with \! or an absolute dynamic. A decrescendo is started with \> and is also terminated with \! or an absolute dynamic. \cr and \decr may be used instead of \< and \>. They can be engraved either using a graphical sign (a ‘hairpin’), or with textual signs.

Because these marks are bound to notes, you must use spacer notes if multiple marks are needed during one note.

     
     c\< c\! d\> e\!
     << f1 { s4 s4\< s4\! \> s4\! } >>

[image of music]

This may give rise to very short hairpins. To lengthen them, use for example minimum-length in Voice.Hairpin:

\override Voice.Hairpin #'minimum-length = #5

A hairpin normally starts at the left edge of the beginning note and ends on the right edge of the ending note. If the ending note falls on the downbeat, the hairpin ends on the immediately preceding bar line. This may be modified by setting the hairpinToBarline property:

     
     e4\< e2. e1\!
     \set hairpinToBarline = ##f
     e4\< e2. e1\!

[image of music]

In some situations the \espressivo articulation mark may be suitable to indicate a crescendo and decrescendo on the one note:

     
     c2 b4 a g1\espressivo

[image of music]

Hairpins may be printed with a circled tip (al niente notation) by setting the circled-tip property:

     
     \override Hairpin #'circled-tip = ##t
     c2\< c\!
     c4\> c\< c2\!

[image of music]

You can use text saying cresc., decr., or dim. instead of hairpins with the commands \setTextCresc, \setTextDim, and \setTextDecresc. The corresponding \setHairpinCresc, \setHairpinDim, and \setHairpinDecresc will revert to hairpins again:

     
     \setTextCresc
     c\< d e f\!
     \setHairpinCresc
     e\> d c b\!
     \setTextDecresc
     e\> d e f\!
     \setTextDecr
     c\> d e f\!
     \setTextDim
     e\> d c b\!

[image of music]

You can also supply your own texts and change the style of the spanner line with the properties \crescendoText, \crescendoSpanner, \decrescendoText, and \decrescendoSpanner. Available values for the spanner properties are hairpin, line, dashed-line, and dotted-line. If unset, a hairpin crescendo is used:

     
     \set crescendoText = \markup { \italic "cresc. poco" }
     \set crescendoSpanner = #'dotted-line
     a'2\< a a a a a a a\!\mf

[image of music]

To create new dynamic marks or text that should be aligned with dynamics, see New dynamic marks.

Vertical positioning of dynamics is handled by DynamicLineSpanner.

Predefined commands

\dynamicUp, \dynamicDown, \dynamicNeutral.

Selected Snippets

Dynamics that occur at, begin on, or end on the same note will be vertically aligned. If you want to ensure that dynamics are aligned when they do not occur on the same note, you can increase the staff-padding property.

\override DynamicLineSpanner #'staff-padding = #4

You may also use this property if the dynamics are colliding with other notation.

Crescendi and decrescendi that cross a line break will be continued on the second line. If they end on the first note of a new line, nothing will be printed on that line. To change this behavior, use

\override Score.Hairpin #'after-line-breaking = ##t

Text style dynamic changes (such as cresc. and dim.) are printed with a dashed line showing their extent. To surpress printing this line, use

\override DynamicTextSpanner #'dash-period = #-1.0

See also

Music Glossary: hairpin, crescendo, decrescendo.

Learning Manual: Articulation and dynamics.

Snippets: Expressive

Internals Reference: DynamicText, Hairpin. Vertical positioning of these symbols is handled by DynamicLineSpanner.


Previous: Articulations and ornamentations, Up: Attached to notes

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