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The<score>...</score> element in wikitext displays a musical score out of GNULilyPond (the default) orABC markup syntax. It also produces aMIDI file of the music and optionally displays an audio player that plays the music. It is implemented by theScore extension forMediaWiki, available across Wikipedia languages.
For LilyPond resources, see§ External links. As of August 2021[update], the extension on Wikipedia is using LilyPond v2.22.0 (checkSpecial:Version for the current version). Changes to LilyPond since version 2.18 are documentedhere. Note that LilyPond's full syntax is available when the extension is invoked with the wikitext<scoreraw="1">. A plain<score> invokes a simplified implementation that is not fully consistent with the LilyPond documentation.
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
lang="ABC" | useABC notation (seestandard documentation; many parts newer than 1.6 are unsupported, so preview often) |
lang="lilypond" | use LilyPond notation (default, see#Syntax) |
sound="1" | add an audio player beneath the score image to play an automatically-generatedOgg Vorbis audio file |
raw="1" | interpret the markup within thescore tag as a complete LilyPond file, allowing more complex scores |
midi="1" | obsolete This used to control whether the score image links to an automatically-generatedMIDI file; clicking the score now always shows a JavaScript pop-up with a link to the MIDI file. |
override_midi="…" | deprecated replace the automatically-generated MIDI file by the given one |
override_audio="…" | deprecated replace the automatically-generated audio file by the given one |
override_ogg="…" | deprecated alias foroverride_audio |
vorbis="1" | deprecated alias forsound |
If there is a MIDI file or audio file of superior quality to the MIDI or audio generated by the Score extension, you can provide a[[File::]] wikilink to it after the closing</score> tag.
<score>{c'd'e'f'g'fis'es'cis'c'2}</score>
gives
Equivalent in ABC notation:
<scorelang="ABC">L:1/4CDEF|G^F_E^C|C2</score>
<scoresound="1">\transposecg\relativec'{% display G for C, etc. and one octave higher\keyc\minor\time4/4c4e8eg4g% (text after the % is just a comment)<cesg>2<cesg>% angle brackets create chordses4d(cb)% parentheses create slursa4.r8r8a8~a4% r creates rests; ~ creates tiese--e->e-.g\fermata% accents and other signs\bar"|."}</score>
gives
Equivalent in ABC (pre-transposed due to differing semantics):
<scorelang="ABC">K:GmM:4/4L:1/4G=B/2B/2dd|% a comment[gbd']2[gbd']2|% square brackets create chords (not supported by abc2ly)b(ag^e)|% parentheses create slurs=e3/2z/2z/2c/2-c% z creates rests; – creates ties!tenuto!=BLB.BHB% see standard section "Decorations" (not supported by abc2ly)|]</score>
The score section must be surrounded by<score>...</score>. The notes must be within a set of curly braces{...}.
Comments in the markup start with a percentage sign% and end at the end of the line.
To display a note, type the letter (a b c etc.) Separate each letter with a space. The bare note name refers to the natural note irrespective of key signature (see "setting the key" below).These letters are as in English and Dutch, not as in German and many other continental languages (FYI: continental b means b flat and continental h means b – if you find that confusing, forget it).
Sharps and flats are formed by using the Dutch and German suffixes "is" and "es" respectively. To avoid "ees", the note E♭ is simply written ases. The simpleaccidentals are thusais bis cis dis eis fis gis for the sharps andaes bes ces des es fes ges for the flats. English language editors may prefer to include the line\language "english" in the script, after whichs for sharp andf for flat can be used:as bs cs ds es fs gs andaf bf cf df ef ff gf. Double sharps are formed with the suffixisis and double flats witheses, or in English notation withss orx andff. Semi-sharps, -flats and sesqui-sharps and -flats are also supported in both English and German. See:#Accidentals.
By default, each note name refers to the note below middle C. For example,a would be displayed as
or
.Use the apostrophe (') to go up an octave and a comma (,) to go an octave down. Middle C would bec'
.
<scorelang="lilypond"sound="1">{a,,c,e,a,ceac'% Middle Ce'a'c''e''a''c'''e'''g'''\bar"||"aes''bes''gis''dis''aeses''beses''gisis''disis''\bar"||"aeh''beseh''gih''disih''\bar"||"\language"english"af''bf''gs''ds''aff''bff''gss''bx''\bar"||"aqf''btqf''gqs''dtqs''}</score>
A much easier way is to use relative coding. If you include\relative before the braces, each note will refer to the note closest to the previous one, and the first one will refer to the note closest to the one mentioned after the\relative tag. ("Closest" ignores sharps and flats.) Use' to go up an extra octave and, to go down.
<scorelang="lilypond"sound="1">\relativec'{ef<ceg>2a'4(bc)c,d8ef16gabc4.a8e'fg,fr\autoBeamOffedcb4agb->c2.->r4\bar"|."}</score>
By default there is no key signature (no sharps or flats). You can indicate the key with\key g \major,\key c \minor, or even amode such as\key c \dorian or\key c \mixolydian. The key can be changed at any point.
Keep in mind that even with a key signature,you must still include sharps (-is) and flats (-es) for each individual note name. If you omit one, it will be considered a natural. For example, this is the key of Gb major:
<scorelang="lilypond"sound="1">\relativec'{\keyges\major\time6/8% Notes with -es suffixes indicating flatsdes8esgesaesbesces% Notes without accidentals (naturals)bcdega}</score>
Accidentals may be indicated by following the note name with the appropriate text:
 |  | ♭ |  | ♮ |  | ♯ |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De | eses | eseh | es | eh | ! | ih | is | isih | isis |
| En | ff | tqf | f | qf | qs | s | tqs | ss or x |
Note that E♭ is "es" alone, rather than "ees". "q" and "tq" refer to "quarter" and "three-quarter" (rather than "hf" for "half flat" and "thf" for "three-half flat"), as in "quarter tone". However, the "quarter flat/sharp" is not a quarter of a flat/sharp, but instead half of a flat/sharp, and the "three-quarter flat/sharp" is 1.5 flats not 0.75 flats. Notes outside of the quarter-tone scale are not supported.
German:
<scorelang="lilypond"sound="1">{\omitScore.TimeSignature\relativec''{\time4/4aeses1aesehaesaeha!aihaisaisihaisis}}</score>
English:
<scorelang="lilypond"sound="1">{\omitScore.TimeSignature\relativec''{\time4/4\language"english"aff1atqfafaqfa!aqsasatqsass}}</score>
Both result in:
If, for some reason, a piece needs to be transposed to a different key, it is possible to do so without having to transcribe it manually. This also affects the key signature. The syntax for this is:
\transposefrompitchtopitchmusicexprFor example:
<scorelang="lilypond"sound="1">\transposeces{\relativec'{\keyc\major\time4/4c4defgabc}}</score>
Results in:
MIDI output can be transpositioned with the\transposition <pitch> command. The French horn (in C) motif from the opening of Schubert'slast symphony, transpositioned one octave down:
<scoresound="1">\relativec'{\setStaff.midiInstrument=#"french horn"\setStaff.midiMinimumVolume=#0.7\setStaff.midiMaximumVolume=#1.0\tempo"Andante"\tempo4=80\transpositionc\keyc\major\time2/2c'2->\pd4e4|a,4.->b8c2|f4.->d8e2|g->d4e|a,4.->b8c2|d4.->e8c2|d2.\ppe4|c1}</score>
The\transposition command is mainly intended for scores that involve transposing instruments not set in concert pitch.
<scoresound="1">\newGrandStaff<<\newStaff="violin"\with{instrumentName="Vln"midiInstrument="violin"}\relativec''{% not strictly necessary, but a good reminder\transpositionc'\keyc\majorg4(c8)rcrc4}\newStaff="clarinet"\with{instrumentName=\markup{Cl(B\flat)}midiInstrument="clarinet"}\relativec''{\transpositionbes\keyd\majora4(d8)rdrd4}>></score>
Note duration is indicated by a number following the pitch with no space between (a4 b8). Use the number 1 for a whole note (semibreve), 2 for a half note (minim), 4 for a quarter note (crotchet), 8 for an eighth note (quaver), and so on. If a note does not have an explicit duration, it will either default to a quarter note or use the duration of the note preceding it.
Rests are indicated by using the letterr instead of a pitch. Dotted notes are formed simply by following the duration number with a period (c4.).
Tuplets are indicated using the\times command, for example\times 2/3 {c8 c c} gives a triplet of three eight-notes (quavers).
<scorelang="lilypond"sound="1">\relativec''{b1b2b4b8cr4b4.r8\times2/3{a8gf}}</score>
The defaulttime signature is 4/4. To set another time signature, one may use the\time command. For example to set the time signature to cut-time one would use\time 2/2 and waltz time would be\time 3/4. The time signature may be changed at almost any point.
For some music examples, removing the time signature may be desirable; the code\remove "Time_signature_engraver" can be used in that case:
<score>{\newStaff\with{\remove"Time_signature_engraver"}<d'fis'a'>2}</score>
The code\partial 4 will create a pickup measure (anacrusis) of one quarter note,\partial 4*2 would create a pickup measure of two quarter notes, etc. See an example in the Adding Lyrics section of this article.
The software occasionally combines beamed notes in places that are not desired or look awkward. To override the automatic beams, use\noBeam between the notes that would otherwise be beamed:g a b \noBeam g. To turn off beaming for many notes, use\autoBeamOff and then\autoBeamOn.
<score>\relativec''{\time3/4r4.g8\noBeama8b8}</score>
To manually beam notes, use square brackets inserting the first one after the first note to be beamed:a8 b[ c d e] f. This would beam the notes b, c, d, and e, but leave the first and last notes without beams.
![\relative c''{a8 b[ c d e] f}](/image.pl?url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2f%2fupload.wikimedia.org%2fscore%2ff%2fn%2ffnrum0vdsgo1t7d60fv3mu45mjd16w6%2ffnrum0vd.png&f=jpg&w=240)
You can add lyrics to the score using\addlyrics. See theLilyPond Manual for more information about how to align the lyrics to the score.
<scoreraw="1"lang="lilypond">\header{tagline=""% no footertitle="Good Morning"composer="trad."}\relativeg'{\keyg\major\time3/4\partial4dedgfis2d4eda'g2d4d'bgfisec'bgag2\fermata\bar"|."}\addlyrics{Goodmor--ningtoyou,Goodmor--ningtoyou,Goodmor--ningdearchil--dren,Goodmor--ningtoall.}</score>
Chord names can be added as a separate ChordNames staff as follows:
<scorelang="lilypond"sound="1"><<\newChordNames\chordmode{\setchordChanges=##t% Only display chord when there is a change (e.g., don't repeat the Am here)a4:ma4:m|% measure 1 – A7 would be a:7g2|% measure 2}\newStaff\relativec''{\keya\dorian\time2/4a8a16aa8a16a|% measure 1b8ag4|% measure 2}>></score>
The letters can be used in the ChordNames staff in place ofr (the code for a rest) when there is no chord.
Anr will result in an explicit "No Chord" notation
whereas thes will result in correct spacing, but no chord name notation will appear.
The letters followed by a note duration adds an appropriate amount of whitespace:
Withs4 ands1 | Without whitespace | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Middle C centrally placed on a grand staff | ||
There are a number of symbols to attach to notes, such as-^. There are also{e-> f-- g-+ a-. b\fermata c-_ d-!}
<score>\relativec'{e->f--g-+a-.b\fermatac-_d-!e-^}</score>
producing
<scorelang="lilypond"sound="1">{\omitScore.TimeSignature\relativec'{\cleftreble\time7/4\once\overrideNoteHead.color=#redc4d\once\overrideNoteHead.color=#redef\once\overrideNoteHead.color=#redgab\time2/4c2\bar"||"\time4/4<c,eg>1\bar"||"}}</score>
produces
MIDI instrument sounds can be assigned with\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"instrument" as documented insection A6 of LilyPond'sNotation Reference. Trial and error may be necessary: some instruments may not work unless the # is omitted, and some may not work with or without the #.
| Markup |
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| Renders as |
| Markup |
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| Renders as |
To indicate a repeated section, prefix it with\repeat volta 2. The MIDI and audio will only play once unless you add\unfoldRepeats, which will also "unfold" the score. To avoid this you must duplicate the score, once for layout and once for MIDI, for example:
| Markup |
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|---|---|
| Renders as |
Metronome marks, as shown above, may be hidden with\set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t.
| Markup |
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|---|---|
| Renders as |
Individual staff sizes can be changed with\with{ \magnifyStaff #nn }. Using\with{ \magnifyStaff #2/3 } after each instance of\new Staff, the example above renders as:
For more intricate details, see"Setting the staff size" in the LilyPond manual.
A simpler method to change the overall size of a score is to use theCSS propertyzoom. Using<div>, the above example renders as:
Use{{Image frame}} to align scores to the left, center, or right.
For example:
{{Image frame|content=<score>\relativec'{\cleftreble\time7/4\hideStaff.TimeSignaturec4defgabc2}</score>|width=|caption= Diatonic scale on C, a "white note" scale}}
results in the image to the right.
{{Image frame}} may also be used to group score images together. The text below creates the group of images to the right:
{{Image frame|content=<score>{\omitScore.TimeSignature\relativec'{\cleftreble\time4/4e4^\markup{Enharmonicgenus}fehgesesabcehdesese}}</score><score>{\omitScore.TimeSignature\relativec'{\cleftreble\time4/4e4^\markup{Chromaticgenus}fgesabcdese}}</score><score>{\omitScore.TimeSignature\relativec'{\cleftreble\time4/4e4^\markup{Diatonicgenus}fgabcde}}</score>|width=300|caption=The three genera of the Dorian[[octave species]] on E}}
![\relative c'' { \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"bassoon" \clef treble \numericTimeSignature \time 4/4 \tempo "Lento" 4 = 50 \stemDown c4\fermata(_"solo ad lib." \grace { b16[( c] } b g e b' \times 2/3 { a8)\fermata } }](/image.pl?url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2f%2fupload.wikimedia.org%2fscore%2f9%2f6%2f960zgiksgu1wt1i1wu003iz9n8lbmvn%2f960zgiks.png&f=jpg&w=240)
![\new PianoStaff<< \new Staff \relative{ \tempo 8 = 126 \time 3/16 r16<d'' c a fis d>-! \omit Score.MetronomeMark \tempo 8=40 r\fermata | \tempo 8=126 \time 2/16 r q-! \time 3/16 r q8-! | r16 q8~-! | \time 2/8 q16-!<e c bes g>->-![<cis b aes f>-!<c a fis ees>-!] } \new Staff \relative{ \clef bass \time 3/16 d,16-!<bes'' ees,>^\f-! r\fermata | \time 2/16<d,, d,>-!<bes'' ees,>-! | \time 3/16 d,-!<ees' cis>8-! | r16 q8~-! | \time 2/8 q16^\sf-! q-!->[<d c>-! q-!] } >> \midi{\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"string ensemble 1"}](/image.pl?url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2f%2fupload.wikimedia.org%2fscore%2fp%2fa%2fpayetfdhi2nelh0kkc5jdqubm47axc7%2fpayetfdh.png&f=jpg&w=240)
![{ \new ChoirStaff<< \new Staff<< \new Voice \relative c'' { \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 8 = 120 \stemUp \clef treble \key fis \minor \time 3/8 s4. |<gis' dis>8^.^(<gis dis>^.<gis dis>^.) | s4. |<fis cis>8^.^(<fis cis>^.<fis cis>^.) | s4. | fis16^( eis dis cis)<b' gis>8^. |<a fis>^. r r | s4 } \new Voice \relative c'' { \stemDown cis8[ d] cis | bis4. | b!32_([ cis d16 cis8)] b | ais4. | b8 a![_( gis)] | a fis[_( eis)] | fis \grace { e(} d4) | cis } \addlyrics { Buß - und Reu,– Buß4 und8 Reu– knirscht das Sün- den- herz ent- zwei } \new Staff \relative c { \clef bass \key fis \minor \time 3/8 fis4.~_"Bar 13" | fis8 gis16( fis eis dis) | eis4. | e!8 fis16( e d cis) | d8( cis b) | cis4.~ | cis8 b16( a gis fis) | eis ^"173 bars"} >> >> }](/image.pl?url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2f%2fupload.wikimedia.org%2fscore%2fp%2f8%2fp8byusluqmuhlitahhwdgoqyvdbqb1n%2fp8byuslu.png&f=jpg&w=240)
![{\new ChoirStaff<< \new Staff \with{ \magnifyStaff #2/3 }<< \new Voice \relative c'' { \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 8 = 120 \stemUp \clef treble \key fis \minor \time 3/8 s4. |<gis' dis>8^.^(<gis dis>^.<gis dis>^.) | s4. |<fis cis>8^.^(<fis cis>^.<fis cis>^.) | s4. | fis16^( eis dis cis)<b' gis>8^. |<a fis>^. r r | s4 } \new Voice \relative c'' { \stemDown cis8[ d] cis | bis4. | b!32_([ cis d16 cis8)] b | ais4. | b8 a![_( gis)] | a fis[_( eis)] | fis \grace { e(} d4) | cis } \addlyrics { Buß - und Reu,– Buß4 und8 Reu– knirscht das Sün- den- herz ent- zwei } \new Staff \with{ \magnifyStaff #2/3 } \relative c { \clef bass \key fis \minor \time 3/8 fis4.~_"Bar 13" | fis8 gis16( fis eis dis) | eis4. | e!8 fis16( e d cis) | d8( cis b) | cis4.~ | cis8 b16( a gis fis) | eis ^"173 bars"} >> >> }](/image.pl?url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2f%2fupload.wikimedia.org%2fscore%2fq%2fn%2fqnngtcj3nhu97p0tv1vh0wfjq9wsl1z%2fqnngtcj3.png&f=jpg&w=240)
<score>...</score> is used, orCategory:Pages using the Score extension