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Polymetric notation

Polymetric notation is supported, either explicitly or by modifying the visible time signature symbol and scaling the note durations.

Staves with different time signatures, equal measure lengths

This notation can be created by setting a common time signature for each staff but replacing the symbol manually by setting timeSignatureFraction to the desired fraction and scaling the printed durations in each staff to the common time signature; see Time signature. The scaling is done with \scaleDurations, which is used in a similar way to \times, but does not create a tuplet bracket; see Scaling durations.

In this example, music with the time signatures of 3/4, 9/8, and 10/8 are used in parallel. In the second staff, shown durations are multiplied by 2/3, as 2/3 * 9/8 = 3/4, and in the third staff, shown durations are multiplied by 3/5, as 3/5 * 10/8 = 3/4. It will often be necessary to insert beams manually, as the duration scaling affects the autobeaming rules.

     
     \relative c' <<
       \new Staff {
         \time 3/4
         c4 c c |
         c c c |
       }
       \new Staff {
         \time 3/4
         \set Staff.timeSignatureFraction = #'(9 . 8)
         \scaleDurations #'(2 . 3)
         \repeat unfold 6 { c8[ c c] }
       }
       \new Staff {
         \time 3/4
         \set Staff.timeSignatureFraction = #'(10 . 8)
         \scaleDurations #'(3 . 5) {
           \repeat unfold 2 { c8[ c c] }
           \repeat unfold 2 { c8[ c] } |
           c4. c4. \times 2/3 { c8[ c c] } c4
         }
       }
     >>

[image of music]

Staves with different time signatures, unequal bar lengths

Each staff can be given its own independent time signature by moving the Timing_translator and the Default_bar_line_engraver to the Staff context.

     
     \layout {
       \context {
         \Score
         \remove "Timing_translator"
         \remove "Default_bar_line_engraver"
       }
       \context {
         \Staff
         \consists "Timing_translator"
         \consists "Default_bar_line_engraver"
       }
     }
     
     % Now each staff has its own time signature.
     
     \relative c' <<
       \new Staff {
         \time 3/4
         c4 c c |
         c c c |
       }
       \new Staff {
         \time 2/4
         c4 c |
         c c |
         c c |
       }
       \new Staff {
         \time 3/8
         c4. |
         c8 c c |
         c4. |
         c8 c c |
       }
     >>

[image of music]

Selected Snippets

Compound time signatures

Odd 20th century time signatures (such as "5/8") can often be played as compound time signatures (e.g. "3/8 + 2/8"), which combine two or more inequal metrics. LilyPond can make such music quite easy to read and play, by explicitly printing the compound time signatures and adapting the automatic beaming behavior. (Graphic measure grouping indications can also be added; see the appropriate snippet in this database.)

     
     #(define ((compound-time one two num) grob)
       (grob-interpret-markup grob
         (markup #:override '(baseline-skip . 0) #:number
           (#:line (
               (#:column (one num))
               #:vcenter "+"
               (#:column (two num))))
           )))
     
     \relative c' {
       \override Staff.TimeSignature #'stencil = #(compound-time "2" "3" "8")
       \time 5/8
       #(override-auto-beam-setting '(end 1 8 5 8) 1 4)
       c8 d e fis gis
       c8 fis, gis e d
       c8 d e4 gis8
     }

[image of music]

See also

Music Glossary: polymetric, polymetric time signature, meter.

Notation Reference: Time signature, Scaling durations.

Snippets: Rhythms.

Internals Reference: TimeSignature, Timing_translator, Default_bar_line_engraver, Staff.

Known issues and warnings

When using different time signatures in parallel, notes at the same moment will be be placed at the same horizontal location. However, the bar lines in the different staves will cause the note spacing to be less regular in each of the individual staves than would be normal without the different time signatures.

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