Bar Metadata
For bars various tags can be specified which change information like
clefs, key signatures repeats etc. They follow the format
\tag value value just like the score metadata. Be sure not to
mix the score metadata and the bar metadata of the first bar.
Time Signatures​
Time signatures have the format \ts Numerator Denominator or \ts common
\ts 3 4 | \ts 4 4 | \ts 6 8 | \ts common
Repeats​
Repeats can be started with \ro and
be closed with \rc Count. Count specifies how many times
the bar range is repeated.
\ro 1.3 2.3 3.3 4.3 | 5.3 6.3 7.3 8.3 | \rc 2 1.3 2.3 3.3 4.3 |
\ro \rc 3 1.3 2.3 3.3 4.3
Alternate Endings​
Alternate endings in a repeat range are specified with a list of numbers:
\ae (Repetition Repetition...) or just \ae Repetition if only one number.
Each "Repetition" number specifies in which repetition that ending bar should be played.
\ro 1.3 2.3 3.3 4.3 | \ae (1 2 3) 5.3 6.3 7.3 8.3 | \ae 4 \rc 4 5.3 8.3 7.3 6.3
Key Signatures​
The key signature can be specified with \ks Value.
For major keys, the value is one of Cb, Gb, Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, F, C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, C#.
Their equivalent minor scale can also be used, so Bminor is the same as D etc.
A major scale can also be explicitly written out, like Dmajor.
\ks Cb | \ks C | \ks C# |
\ks Aminor | \ks Dmajor | \ks Bminor
The type of key signatures (major or minor) is derived from the used name.
Clef​
To change the clef simply specify \clef Clef where Clef is one of the following
values: G2, Treble, F4, Bass, C3, Tenor, C4, Alto, N, Neutral
To add ottavia to the clef add \ottava Ottava where Ottava is one of the following
values: 15ma, 8va, regular, 8vb, 15mb.
Clefs are remembered across bars unless explicitly changed.
\clef G2 | \clef F4 | \clef C3 | \clef C4 | \clef N |
\clef Treble | \clef Bass | \clef Tenor | \clef Alto | \clef Neutral |
\clef F4 \ottava 15ma | | \ottava regular | | \clef C3 \ottava 8vb | |
Tempo​
To change the tempo of the score you can specify \tempo BPM.
// score meta also supports \tempo, therefore we skip the score meta with a dot
.
// change tempo in bars
\tempo 30 1.3 2.3 3.3 4.3 |
\tempo 80 1.3 2.3 3.3 4.3
Triplet Feel​
To change the triplet feel of a bar, specify \tf TripletFeel, where TripletFeel is one of the following values:
| TripletFeel | Possible values |
|---|---|
| No Triplet Feel | none, no, 0 |
| Triplet 16th | triplet-16th, t16, 1 |
| Triplet 8th | triplet-8th, t8, 2 |
| Dotted 16th | dotted-16th, d16, 3 |
| Dotted 8th | dotted-8th, d8, 4 |
| Scottish 16th | scottish-16th, s16, 5 |
| Scottish 8th | scottish-8th, s8, 6 |
\tf none 3.3*4 |
\tf triplet-16th 3.3*4 | \tf triplet-8th 3.3*4 |
\tf dotted-16th 3.3*4 | \tf dotted-8th 3.3*4 |
\tf scottish-16th 3.3*4 | \tf scottish-8th 3.3*4 |
\tf no 1.1*4 |
\tf t16 1.1*4 | \tf t8 1.1*4 |
\tf d16 1.1*4 | \tf d8 1.1*4 |
\tf s16 1.1*4 | \tf s8 1.1*4
Anacrusis​
By default bars follow a strict timing defined by the time signature and tempo. Anacrusis (aka. pickup bars) do not follow this rule.
The length of those bars is defined by the actual beats/notes in the bar. Bars can be flagged as anacrusis bars via the \ac bar meta.
\ks D \ts 24 16 \ac r.16 6.3 7.3 9.3 7.3 6.3 | r.16 5.4 7.4 9.4 7.4 5.4 6.3.4{d} 9.6.16 10.6 12.6 10.6 9.6 14.6.4{d} r.16
Sections​
To split your song into individual sections (e.g. intro, chorus, solo etc.)
you can mark a bar as a section start by using \section followed by the section name.
If you want to also specify a marker beside the text, use the format \section Marker Text.
\section Intro // simple section
1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 | 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 |
\section "Chorus 01" // with spaces in name
1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 |
\section S Solo // with marker and section name differently
1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1
Directions​
To specify play directions (jumps and jump targets) use the \jump metadata followed by the respective instruction.
The names should be self explaining if you're familiar with this notation:
Jump Targets
FineSegnoSegnoSegnoCodaDoubleCoda
Jump Instructions
-
DaCapo -
DaCapoAlCoda -
DaCapoAlDoubleCoda -
DaCapoAlFine -
DalSegno -
DalSegnoAlCoda -
DalSegnoAlDoubleCoda -
DalSegnoAlFine -
DalSegnoSegno -
DalSegnoSegnoAlCoda -
DalSegnoSegnoAlDoubleCoda -
DalSegnoSegnoAlFine -
DaCoda -
DaDoubleCoda
.
\ro \rc 2 3.3*4 |
3.3*4 |
\jump Segno 3.3*4 |
\ro \rc 2 3.3*4 |
\jump DaCoda 3.3*4 |
3.3*4 | 3.3*4
\jump DalSegnoAlCoda 3.3*4 |
3.3*4 |
\jump Coda 3.3*4 |
3.3*4 |
3.3*4
Free Time​
To mark bars as free time bars, add the \ft tag to it.
.
:2
C4*2 |
\ft C4*2 |
\ft C4*2 |
C4*2 |
Transpose​
This metadata affects the whole staff, its recommended to specify this only on the first bar of a staff not later.
displayTranspose semitones- Defines the number of semitones to transpose the notes in this staff with. This only affects the display of the notes, not their audio.transpose semitones- Defines the number of semitones to transpose the notes in this staff with. This affects the display and audio.
\track \staff \instrument piano
\displayTranspose -12
C4.4 D4 E4 F4 | r.1
\track \staff \instrument piano
\transpose -12
r.1 | C4.4 D4 E4 F4
Double Bar​
To mark a bar as double bar add \db
\db 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 | 1.1 2.1 3.1 4.1
Simile Marks​
To apply simile marks use the \simile type where type is:
none- No simile mark is appliedsimple- A simple simile mark. The previous bar is repeated.firstofdouble- A double simile mark. This value is assigned to the first bar of the 2 repeat bars.secondofdouble- A double simile mark. This value is assigned to the second bar of the 2 repeat bars.
3.3*4 | \simile simple | 3.3*4 | 4.3*4 | \simile firstofdouble | \simile secondofdouble
Bar Lines​
For some special notation needs, the default bar line can be adjusted on every bar. The bar line styles are aligned with the ones from MusicXML.
\barlineLeftadjusts the left bar line\barlineRightadjusts the right bar line
alphaTab attempts to reuse lines on overlapping styles across bars.
\instrument piano
.
\track "Overlapping"
\staff
\barlineleft dashed
\barlineright dotted
|
\barlineleft heavyheavy
\barlineright heavyheavy
\staff
\barlineleft lightlight
\barlineright lightheavy
|
\barlineleft heavylight
\barlineright dashed
\track "All Styles"
\staff
\barlineright dashed |
\barlineright dotted |
\barlineright heavy |
\barlineright heavyHeavy |
\barlineright heavyLight |
\barlineright lightHeavy |
\barlineright lightlight |
\barlineright none |
\barlineright regular |
\barlineright short |
\barlineright tick |
automatic- Bar lines are determined automatically based on details like repeats and free time (default).dasheddottedheavyheavyheavyheavylightlightheavylightlightnoneregularshorttick