LilyPond Notation Reference: 2.6 Wind instruments

Breathing can be specified by rests or Breath marks.
Legato playing is indicated by Slurs.
Different types of tonguings, ranging from legato to non-legato to staccato are usually shown by articulation marks, sometimes combined with slurs, see Articulations and ornamentations and List of articulations.
Flutter tonguing is usually indicated by placing a tremolo mark and a text markup on the note. See Tremolo repeats.

Other aspects of musical notation that can apply to wind instruments:

Many wind instruments are transposing instruments, see Instrument transpositions.
Slide glissandi are characteristic of the trombone, but other winds may perform keyed or valved glissandi. See Glissando.
Harmonic series glissandi, which are possible on all brass instruments but common for French Horns, are usually written out as Grace notes.
Pitch inflections at the end of a note are discussed in Falls and doits.
Key slaps or valve slaps are often shown by the cross style of Special note heads.
Woodwinds can overblow low notes to sound harmonics. These are shown by the flageolet articulation. See List of articulations.
The use of brass mutes is usually indicated by a text markup, but where there are many rapid changes it is better to use the stopped and open articulations. See Articulations and ornamentations and List of articulations.
Stopped horns are indicated by the stopped articulation. See Articulations and ornamentations.

Selected Snippets

Changing \flageolet mark size

To make the \flageolet circle smaller use the following tweak.

smallFlageolet = \tweak font-size -3 \flageolet

\layout { ragged-right = ##f }

\relative c'' {
  d4^\flageolet_\markup { default size } d_\flageolet
  c4^\smallFlageolet_\markup { smaller } c_\smallFlageolet
}

Fingerings

All wind instruments other than the trombone require the use of several fingers to produce each pitch. Some fingering examples are shown in the snippets below.

Woodwind diagrams can be produced and are described in Woodwind diagrams.

Selected Snippets

Fingering symbols for wind instruments

Special symbols can be achieved by combining existing glyphs, which is useful for wind instruments.

centermarkup = {
  \once \override TextScript.self-alignment-X = #CENTER
  \once \override TextScript.X-offset =#(lambda (g)
  (+ (ly:self-alignment-interface::centered-on-x-parent g)
     (ly:self-alignment-interface::x-aligned-on-self g)))
}

\score {
  \relative c'{
    g\open
    \once \override TextScript.staff-padding = #-1.0
    \centermarkup
    g^\markup {
      \combine
        \musicglyph "scripts.open"
        \musicglyph "scripts.tenuto"
    }
    \centermarkup
    g^\markup {
      \combine
        \musicglyph "scripts.open"
        \musicglyph "scripts.stopped"
    }
    g\stopped
  }
}

Recorder fingering chart

The following example demonstrates how fingering charts for wind instruments can be realized.

% range chart for paetzold contrabass recorder

centermarkup = {
  \once \override TextScript.self-alignment-X = #CENTER
  \once \override TextScript.X-offset =#(lambda (g)
  (+ (ly:self-alignment-interface::centered-on-x-parent g)
     (ly:self-alignment-interface::x-aligned-on-self g)))
}

\score {
  \new Staff \with {
    \remove "Time_signature_engraver"
    \omit Stem
    \omit Flag
    \consists "Horizontal_bracket_engraver"
  }
  {
    \clef bass
    \set Score.timing = ##f
    f,1*1/4 \glissando
    \clef violin
    gis'1*1/4
    \stemDown a'4^\markup {1)}
    \centermarkup
    \once \override TextScript.padding = #2
    bes'1*1/4_\markup {\override #'(baseline-skip . 1.7) \column
      { \fontsize #-5 \slashed-digit #0 \finger 1 \finger 2 \finger 3 \finger 4
    \finger 5 \finger 6 \finger 7} }
    b'1*1/4
    c''4^\markup {1)}
    \centermarkup
    \once \override TextScript.padding = #2
    cis''1*1/4
    deh''1*1/4
    \centermarkup
    \once \override TextScript.padding = #2
    \once \override Staff.HorizontalBracket.direction = #UP
    e''1*1/4_\markup {\override #'(baseline-skip . 1.7) \column
      { \fontsize #-5 \slashed-digit #0 \finger 1 \finger 2 \finger 4
    \finger 5} }\startGroup
    f''1*1/4^\markup {2)}\stopGroup
  }
}

2.6.2 Bagpipes

This section discusses notation common bagpipes.

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Bagpipe definitions

LilyPond contains special definitions for Scottish, Highland Bagpipe music; to use them, add

\include "bagpipe.ly"

to the top of your input file. This lets you add the special grace notes common to bagpipe music with short commands. For example, you could write \taor instead of

\grace { \small G32[ d G e] }

‘bagpipe.ly’ also contains pitch definitions for the bagpipe notes in the appropriate octaves, so you do not need to worry about \relative or \transpose.

\include "bagpipe.ly"
{ \grg G4 \grg a \grg b \grg c \grg d \grg e \grg f \grA g A }

Bagpipe music nominally uses the key of D Major (even though that isn’t really true). However, since that is the only key that can be used, the key signature is normally not written out. To set this up correctly, always start your music with \hideKeySignature. If you for some reason want to show the key signature, you can use \showKeySignature instead.

Some modern music use cross fingering on c and f to flatten those notes. This can be indicated by c-flat or f-flat. Similarly, the piobaireachd high g can be written g-flat when it occurs in light music.

Bagpipe example

This is what the well known tune Amazing Grace looks like in bagpipe notation.

\include "bagpipe.ly"
\layout {
  indent = 0.0\cm
  \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" }
}

\header {
  title = "Amazing Grace"
  meter = "Hymn"
  arranger = "Trad. arr."
}

{
  \hideKeySignature
  \time 3/4
  \grg \partial 4 a8. d16
  \slurd d2 \grg f8[ e32 d16.]
  \grg f2 \grg f8 e
  \thrwd d2 \grg b4
  \grG a2 \grg a8. d16
  \slurd d2 \grg f8[ e32 d16.]
  \grg f2 \grg e8. f16
  \dblA A2 \grg A4
  \grg A2 f8. A16
  \grg A2 \hdblf f8[ e32 d16.]
  \grg f2 \grg f8 e
  \thrwd d2 \grg b4
  \grG a2 \grg a8. d16
  \slurd d2 \grg f8[ e32 d16.]
  \grg f2 e4
  \thrwd d2.
  \slurd d2
  \bar "|."
}

2.6.3 Woodwinds

This section discusses notation specifically for woodwind instruments.

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2.6.3.1 Woodwind diagrams

Woodwind diagrams can be used to indicate the fingering to be used for specific notes and are available for the following instruments:

piccolo
flute
oboe
clarinet
bass clarinet
saxophone
bassoon
contrabassoon

Woodwind diagrams are created as markups:

c''1^\markup {
  \woodwind-diagram #'piccolo #'((lh . (gis))
                                 (cc . (one three))
                                 (rh . (ees)))
}

Keys can be open, partially-covered, ring-depressed, or fully covered:

\textLengthOn
c''1^\markup {
  \center-column {
    "one quarter"
    \woodwind-diagram #'flute #'((cc . (one1q))
                                 (lh . ())
                                 (rh . ()))
  }
}

c''1^\markup {
  \center-column {
    "one half"
    \woodwind-diagram #'flute #'((cc . (one1h))
                                 (lh . ())
                                 (rh . ()))
  }
}

c''1^\markup {
  \center-column {
    "three quarter"
    \woodwind-diagram #'flute #'((cc . (one3q))
                                 (lh . ())
                                 (rh . ()))
  }
}

c''1^\markup {
  \center-column {
    "ring"
    \woodwind-diagram #'flute #'((cc . (oneR))
                                 (lh . ())
                                 (rh . ()))
  }
}

c''1^\markup {
  \center-column {
    "full"
    \woodwind-diagram #'flute #'((cc . (oneF two))
                                 (lh . ())
                                 (rh . ()))
  }
}

Trills are indicated as shaded keys:

c''1^\markup {
  \woodwind-diagram #'bass-clarinet
                    #'((cc . (threeT four))
                       (lh . ())
                       (rh . (b fis)))
}

A variety of trills can be displayed:

\textLengthOn
c''1^\markup {
  \center-column {
    "one quarter to ring"
    \woodwind-diagram #'flute #'((cc . (one1qTR))
                                 (lh . ())
                                 (rh . ()))
  }
}

c''1^\markup {
  \center-column {
    "ring to shut"
    \woodwind-diagram #'flute #'((cc . (oneTR))
                                 (lh . ())
                                 (rh . ()))
  }
}

c''1^\markup {
  \center-column {
    "ring to open"
    \woodwind-diagram #'flute #'((cc . (oneRT))
                                 (lh . ())
                                 (rh . ()))
  }
}

c''1^\markup {
  \center-column {
    "open to shut"
    \woodwind-diagram #'flute #'((cc . (oneT))
                                 (lh . ())
                                 (rh . ()))
  }
}

c''1^\markup {
  \center-column {
    "one quarter to three quarters"
    \woodwind-diagram #'flute #'((cc . (one1qT3q))
                                 (lh . ())
                                 (rh . ()))
  }
}

The list of all possible keys and settings for a given instrument can be displayed on the console using #(print-keys-verbose 'flute) or in the log file using #(print-keys-verbose 'flute (current-error-port)), although they will not show up in the music output.

Creating new diagrams is possible, although this will require Scheme ability and may not be accessible to all users. The patterns for the diagrams are in ‘scm/define-woodwind-diagrams.scm’ and ‘scm/display-woodwind-diagrams.scm’.

Predefined commands

Selected Snippets

Woodwind diagrams listing

The following music shows all of the woodwind diagrams currently defined in LilyPond.

\layout {
  indent = 0
}

\relative c' {
  \textLengthOn
  c1^
  \markup {
    \center-column {
      'tin-whistle
      " "
       \woodwind-diagram
                  #'tin-whistle
                  #'()
    }
  }

  c1^
  \markup {
    \center-column {
      'piccolo
      " "
       \woodwind-diagram
                  #'piccolo
                  #'()
    }
  }

  c1^
  \markup {
    \center-column {
       'flute
       " "
       \woodwind-diagram
          #'flute
          #'()
    }
  }
  c1^\markup {
    \center-column {
      'oboe
      " "
      \woodwind-diagram
        #'oboe
        #'()
    }
  }

  c1^\markup {
    \center-column {
      'clarinet
      " "
      \woodwind-diagram
        #'clarinet
        #'()
    }
  }

  c1^\markup {
    \center-column {
      'bass-clarinet
      " "
      \woodwind-diagram
        #'bass-clarinet
        #'()
    }
  }

  c1^\markup {
    \center-column {
      'saxophone
      " "
      \woodwind-diagram
        #'saxophone
        #'()
    }
  }

  c1^\markup {
    \center-column {
      'bassoon
      " "
      \woodwind-diagram
        #'bassoon
        #'()
    }
  }

  c1^\markup {
    \center-column {
      'contrabassoon
      " "
      \woodwind-diagram
        #'contrabassoon
        #'()
    }
  }
}

Graphical and text woodwind diagrams

In many cases, the keys other than the central column can be displayed by key name as well as by graphical means.

\relative c'' {
  \textLengthOn
  c1^\markup
    \woodwind-diagram
      #'piccolo
      #'((cc . (one three))
         (lh . (gis))
         (rh . (ees)))

  c^\markup
    \override #'(graphical . #f) {
      \woodwind-diagram
        #'piccolo
        #'((cc . (one three))
           (lh . (gis))
           (rh . (ees)))
    }
}

Changing the size of woodwind diagrams

The size and thickness of woodwind diagrams can be changed.

\relative c'' {
  \textLengthOn
  c1^\markup
    \woodwind-diagram
      #'piccolo
      #'()

  c^\markup
    \override #'(size . 1.5) {
      \woodwind-diagram
        #'piccolo
        #'()
    }
  c^\markup
    \override #'(thickness . 0.15) {
      \woodwind-diagram
        #'piccolo
        #'()
    }
}

Woodwind diagrams key lists

The snippet below produces a list of all possible keys and key settings for woodwind diagrams as defined in scm/define-woodwind-diagrams.scm. The list will be displayed in the log file, but not in the music. If output to the console is wanted, omit the (current-error-port) from the commands.

#(print-keys-verbose 'piccolo (current-error-port))
#(print-keys-verbose 'flute (current-error-port))
#(print-keys-verbose 'flute-b-extension (current-error-port))
#(print-keys-verbose 'tin-whistle (current-error-port))
#(print-keys-verbose 'oboe (current-error-port))
#(print-keys-verbose 'clarinet (current-error-port))
#(print-keys-verbose 'bass-clarinet (current-error-port))
#(print-keys-verbose 'low-bass-clarinet (current-error-port))
#(print-keys-verbose 'saxophone (current-error-port))
#(print-keys-verbose 'soprano-saxophone (current-error-port))
#(print-keys-verbose 'alto-saxophone (current-error-port))
#(print-keys-verbose 'tenor-saxophone (current-error-port))
#(print-keys-verbose 'baritone-saxophone (current-error-port))
#(print-keys-verbose 'bassoon (current-error-port))
#(print-keys-verbose 'contrabassoon (current-error-port))

\score {c''1}

2.6 Wind instruments

2.6.1 Common notation for wind instruments

References for wind instruments

Selected Snippets

See also

Fingerings

Selected Snippets

See also

2.6.2 Bagpipes

Bagpipe definitions

See also

Bagpipe example

See also

2.6.3 Woodwinds

2.6.3.1 Woodwind diagrams

Predefined commands

Selected Snippets

See also