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1.1.4.3 Shape note heads

In shape note head notation, the shape of the note head corresponds to the harmonic function of a note in the scale. This notation was popular in nineteenth-century American song books.

Shape note heads can be produced by setting \aikenHeads or \sacredHarpHeads, depending on the style desired.

     
     \aikenHeads
     c8 d4 e8 a2 g1
     \sacredHarpHeads
     c,8 d4 e8 a2 g1

[image of music]

Shapes are typeset according to the step in the scale, where the base of the scale is determined by the \key command.

Selected Snippets

The shapeNoteStyles property gives you the ability to define various note heads styles for each step of the scale (as defined by the key signature or the "tonic" property).

This property requires a set of symbols, which can be purely arbitrary (geometrical expressions such as triangle, cross, xcircle etc. are allowed) or based on old American engraving tradition (you can use some latin note names as well).

That said, if you're trying to imitate old American song books, you may also want to try LilyPond's predefined note heads styles, through shortcut commands such as \aikenHeads or \sacredHarpHeads.

This example shows different ways to obtain shape note heads, and demonstrates the ability to transpose a melody without losing the correspondance between harmonic functions and note heads styles.

     
     fragment = {
       \key c \major
       c1 d e f g a b c
       \break
     }
     
     \score {
       \new Staff {
         \transpose c d 
         \relative {
           \set shapeNoteStyles = ##(do re mi fa #f la ti)
           \fragment \break
         }
         
         \relative {
           \set shapeNoteStyles  = ##(cross triangle fa #f mensural xcircle diamond)
           \fragment
         }
       }
     }
     

[image of music]

See also

Snippets: Pitches .


Next: , Previous: Easy notation note heads, Up: Note heads

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