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4.2.2 Setting the staff size

The default staff size is 20 points, which corresponds to a staff height of 7.03mm (one point is equal to 100/7227 of an inch, or 2540/7227 mm). The staff size may be changed in three ways:

  1. To set the staff size globally for all scores in a file (or in a \book block, to be precise), use set-global-staff-size: 
    #(set-global-staff-size 14)

    The above example sets the global default staff size to 14pt (4.92mm) and scales all fonts accordingly.

  2. To set the staff size for a single score within a book, use layout-set-staff-size inside that score’s \layout block: 
    \score {
  …
  \layout {
    #(layout-set-staff-size 14)
  }
}
  3. To set the staff size for a single staff within a system, use the \magnifyStaff command. For example, traditionally engraved chamber music scores with piano often used 7mm piano staves while the other staves were typically between 3/5 and 5/7 as large (between 60% and 71%). To achieve the 5/7 proportion, use: 
    \score {
  <<
    \new Staff \with {
      \magnifyStaff #5/7
    } { … }
    \new PianoStaff { … }
  >>
}

    If you happen to know which fontSize you wish to use, you could use the following form: 

    \score {
  <<
    \new Staff \with {
      \magnifyStaff #(magstep -3)
    } { … }
    \new PianoStaff { … }
  >>
}

    To emulate the look of traditional engraving, it is best to avoid reducing the thickness of the staff lines.

Automatic font weight at different sizes

The Emmentaler font provides the set of Feta musical glyphs in eight different sizes; each one tuned for a different staff size. The smaller the glyph size, the “heavier” it becomes, so as to match the relatively thicker staff lines. Recommended glyphs sizes are listed in the following table:

font namestaff height (pt)staff height (mm)use
feta1111.223.9pocket scores
feta1312.604.4
feta1414.145.0
feta1615.875.6
feta1817.826.3song books
feta20207.0standard parts
feta2322.457.9
feta2625.28.9

See also

Notation Reference: Selecting notation font size, The Emmentaler font.

Snippets: Spacing.

Known issues and warnings

When using \magnifyStaff only for some staves in a StaffGroup, BarLine grobs do not align any more, due to the changed BarLine properties thick-thickness, hair-thickness and kern. 

\new StaffGroup
  <<
    \new Staff \with { \magnifyStaff #1/2 } { b1 \bar "|." }
    \new Staff { b }
  >>

[image of music]

You may want to cancel magnifying BarLine grobs, mimick them on the other staves or apply intermediate values for every Staff. 

#(define bar-line-props
  '((BarLine thick-thickness)
    (BarLine hair-thickness)
    (BarLine kern)))

mus = { b1 \bar "|."}

\markup "Cancel \\magnifyStaff for bar lines:"
\new StaffGroup
  <<
    \new Staff
      \with {
        \magnifyStaff
        #1/2 #(revert-props 'magnifyStaff 0 bar-line-props)
      }
      \mus
    \new Staff
      \mus
  >>

\markup "Mimick \\magnifyStaff on other staves:"
\new StaffGroup
  <<
    \new Staff
      \with { \magnifyStaff #1/2 }
      \mus
    \new Staff
      \with {
        #(scale-props 'magnifyStaff 1/2 #t bar-line-props)
      }
      \mus
  >>

\markup "Apply an intermediate value to all staves:"
\new StaffGroup
  <<
    \new Staff
      \with {
        \magnifyStaff #1/2
        #(scale-props 'magnifyStaff 3/2 #t bar-line-props)
      }
      \mus
    \new Staff
      \with {
        #(scale-props 'magnifyStaff 3/4 #t bar-line-props)
      }
      \mus
  >>

[image of music]

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LilyPond — Notation Reference v2.24.4 (stable-branch).