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6.5.3 Dynamics

Absolute dynamic marks are specified using a command after a note c4\ff. The available dynamic marks are \ppp, \pp, \p, \mp, \mf, \f, \ff, \fff, \fff, \fp, \sf, \sff, \sp, \spp, \sfz, and \rfz.

     c\ppp c\pp c \p c\mp c\mf c\f c\ff c\fff
     c2\fp c\sf c\sff c\sp c\spp c\sfz c\rfz

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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. 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\! } >>

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

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

You can also use a text saying cresc. instead of hairpins

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

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You can also supply your own texts

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

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

Predefined commands

\dynamicUp, \dynamicDown, \dynamicNeutral.

See also

Program reference: DynamicText, Hairpin. Vertical positioning of these symbols is handled by DynamicLineSpanner.

This page is for LilyPond-2.6.3 (stable-branch).

Report errors to <bug-lilypond@gnu.org>.

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