http://lilypond.org/text-input.en.html

Text input

"Compiling" Music

nereid-shot-small

(click to enlarge)

LilyPond is a compiled system: it is run on a text file describing
the music. The resulting output is viewed on-screen or printed. In
some ways, LilyPond is more similar to a programming language than
graphical score editing software.

You do not write music by dragging notes from a graphical toolbar and
placing them on a dynamically refreshing score; you write music by
typing text. This text is interpreted (or "compiled") by LilyPond,
which produces beautifully engraved sheet music.

People accustomed to graphical user interfaces might need to learn a
new way of working, but the results are definitely worth it!

Note: We present a quick overview of our text input - it's not as
complicated as it sounds! Don't worry about understanding every
detail in these examples; our beginner documentation covers
everything at a much more gradual pace.

It's as simple as A B C

Notes are encoded with letters and numbers. Special commands are
entered with backslashes.

text-input-1-annotatetext-input-1-output

Alterations are made with different names: add -is for sharp, and -es
for flat (these are Dutch note names, other languages are available).
LilyPond figures out where to put accidentals.

text-input-2-annotatetext-input-2-output

Pop music

Put chords and lyrics together to get a lead sheet:

text-input-pop-annotatetext-input-pop-output

Orchestral parts

The input file contains the notes of piece of music. Score and parts
can be made from a single input file, so that changing a note always
affects the score and parts. To be able to include the same music in
multiple places, the music is assigned to a "variable" (a name).

text-input-parts-both-annotate

This variable is then used in a single part (here transposed, with
condensed rests spanning several measures):

text-input-parts-single-annotatetext-input-parts-single-output

The same variable is used in the full score (here in concert pitch):

text-input-score-annotatetext-input-score-output

Beginner Documentation

We realize that many users find this way of entering music a bit odd.
For this reason, we have written extensive documentation to help new
users, beginning with Learning. The Learning Manual is the best place
to start, as many questions are answered before they come up!

Occasionally new users are unnecessarily confused by some aspects of
LilyPond's behaviour. Please read this manual before doubting whether
LilyPond is working correctly.

More in-depth information is available in Manuals.

Ben Lemon, a LilyPond user, has created a range of video tutorials on
his blog and which are aimed at new users.

Easier editing environments

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(click to enlarge)

LilyPond is primarily concerned with producing top-quality engraved
sheet music; creating a Graphical User Interface (GUI) would distract
us from this goal. However, there are other projects aimed at making
it easier to create LilyPond input files.

Some editing environments include syntax highlighting, automatic
command completion, and pre-made templates. Other programs actually
provide a GUI which allows direct manipulation of a graphical score.
For more information, see Easier editing.

Where now?

You are now ready to Download LilyPond. Still not convinced? Read
about Easier editing.

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Other languages: Catala, Cesky, Deutsch, Espanol, Francais, Magyar,
Italiano, Ri Ben Yu , Nederlands, Portugues, Zhong Wen .
About automatic language selection.

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