LilyPond Notation Reference: 1.3.3 Expressive marks as lines

### 1.3.3 Expressive marks as lines

This section explains how to create various expressive marks that follow a linear path: glissandos, arpeggios, and trills.

#### Glissando

A glissando is created by attaching `\glissando` to a note:

>     g2\glissando g'
>     c2\glissando c,

Different styles of glissandi can be created. For details, see Line styles.

#### Selected Snippets

Contemporary glissando

A contemporary glissando without a final note can be typeset using a hidden note and cadenza timing.

>     \relative c'' {
>       \time 3/4
>       \override Glissando #'style = #'zigzag
>       c4 c
>       \cadenzaOn
>       c4\glissando
>       \hideNotes
>       c,,4
>       \unHideNotes
>       \cadenzaOff
>       \bar "|"
>     }

#### See also

Music Glossary: glissando.

Notation Reference: Line styles.

Snippets: Expressive marks.

Internals Reference: Glissando.

#### Known issues and warnings

Printing text over the line (such as gliss.) is not supported.

#### Arpeggio

An arpeggio on a chord (also known as a broken chord) is denoted by appending `\arpeggio` to the chord construct:

>     <c e g c>1\arpeggio

Different types of arpeggios may be written. `\arpeggioNormal` reverts to a normal arpeggio:

>     <c e g c>2\arpeggio

>     \arpeggioArrowUp
>     <c e g c>2\arpeggio

>     \arpeggioArrowDown
>     <c e g c>2\arpeggio

>     \arpeggioNormal
>     <c e g c>2\arpeggio

Special bracketed arpeggio symbols can be created:

>     <c e g c>2

>     \arpeggioBracket
>     <c e g c>2\arpeggio

>     \arpeggioParenthesis
>     <c e g c>2\arpeggio

>     \arpeggioParenthesisDashed
>     <c e g c>2\arpeggio

>     \arpeggioNormal
>     <c e g c>2\arpeggio

The dash properties of the parenthesis arpeggio are controlled with the `'dash-details` property, which is described at Slurs.

Arpeggios can be explicitly written out with ties. For more information, see Ties.

#### Predefined commands

`\arpeggio`, `\arpeggioArrowUp`, `\arpeggioArrowDown`, `\arpeggioNormal`, `\arpeggioBracket`, `\arpeggioParenthesis` `\arpeggioParenthesisDashed`.

#### Selected Snippets

Creating cross-staff arpeggios in a piano staff

In a `PianoStaff`, it is possible to let an arpeggio cross between the staves by setting the property `PianoStaff.connectArpeggios`.

>     \new PianoStaff \relative c'' <<
>       \set PianoStaff.connectArpeggios = ##t
>       \new Staff {
>         <c e g c>4\arpeggio
>         <g c e g>4\arpeggio
>         <e g c e>4\arpeggio
>         <c e g c>4\arpeggio
>       }
>       \new Staff {
>         \clef bass
>         \repeat unfold 4 {
>           <c,, e g c>4\arpeggio
>         }
>       }
>     >>

Creating cross-staff arpeggios in other contexts

Cross-staff arpeggios can be created in contexts other than `GrandStaff`, `PianoStaff` and `StaffGroup` if the `Span_arpeggio_engraver` is included in the `Score` context.

>     \score {
>       \new ChoirStaff {
>         \set Score.connectArpeggios = ##t
>         <<
>           \new Voice \relative c' {
>             <c e>2\arpeggio
>             <d f>2\arpeggio
>             <c e>1\arpeggio
>           }
>           \new Voice \relative c {
>             \clef bass
>             <c g'>2\arpeggio
>             <b g'>2\arpeggio
>             <c g'>1\arpeggio
>           }
>         >>
>       }
>       \layout {
>         \context {
>           \Score
>           \consists "Span_arpeggio_engraver"
>         }
>       }
>     }

Creating arpeggios across notes in different voices

An arpeggio can be drawn across notes in different voices on the same staff if the `Span_arpeggio_engraver` is added to the `Staff` context:

>     \new Staff \with {
>       \consists "Span_arpeggio_engraver"
>     }
>     \relative c' {
>       \set Staff.connectArpeggios = ##t
>       <<
>         { <e' g>4\arpeggio <d f> <d f>2 }
>         \\
>         { <d, f>2\arpeggio <g b>2 }
>       >>
>     }

#### See also

Music Glossary: arpeggio.

Notation Reference: Slurs, Ties.

Snippets: Expressive marks.

Internals Reference: Arpeggio, Slur, PianoStaff.

#### Known issues and warnings

It is not possible to mix connected arpeggios and unconnected arpeggios in one `PianoStaff` at the same point in time.

The parenthesis-style arpeggio brackets do not work for cross-staff arpeggios.

#### Trills

Short trills without an extender line are printed with `\trill`; see Articulations and ornamentations.

Longer trills with an extender line are made with `\startTrillSpan` and `\stopTrillSpan`:

>     d1\startTrillSpan
>     d1
>     c2\stopTrillSpan
>     r2

A trill spanner crossing a line break will restart exactly above the first note on the new line.

>     d1\startTrillSpan
>     \break
>     d1
>     c2\stopTrillSpan
>     r2

Consecutive trill spans will work without explicit `\stopTrillSpan` commands, since successive trill spanners will automatically become the right bound of the previous trill.

>     d1\startTrillSpan
>     d1
>     b1\startTrillSpan
>     d2\stopTrillSpan
>     r2

Trills can also be combined with grace notes. The syntax of this construct and the method to precisely position the grace notes are described in Grace notes.

>     d1~\afterGrace
>     d1\startTrillSpan { c32[ d]\stopTrillSpan }
>     c2 r2

Trills that require an auxiliary note with an explicit pitch can be typeset with the `\pitchedTrill` command. The first argument is the main note, and the second is the trilled note, printed as a stemless note head in parentheses.

>     \pitchedTrill
>     d2\startTrillSpan fis
>     d2
>     c2\stopTrillSpan
>     r2

Subsequent accidentals of the same note in the same measure will need to be added manually. Only the accidental of the first pitched trill in a measure is printed.

>     \pitchedTrill
>     eis4\startTrillSpan fis
>     eis4\stopTrillSpan
>     \pitchedTrill
>     eis4\startTrillSpan cis
>     eis4\stopTrillSpan
>     \pitchedTrill
>     eis4\startTrillSpan fis
>     eis4\stopTrillSpan
>     \pitchedTrill
>     eis4\startTrillSpan fis!
>     eis4\stopTrillSpan

#### Predefined commands

`\startTrillSpan`, `\stopTrillSpan`.

#### See also

Music Glossary: trill.

Notation Reference: Articulations and ornamentations, Grace notes.

Snippets: Expressive marks.

Internals Reference: TrillSpanner.

Other languages: deutsch, español, français, 日本語.

#### LilyPond — Notation Reference