Re: horizontal synchronisation of notation in drum mode

[Andrew Tucker]

On Aug 23, 2009, at 6:12 PM, Brian Lloyd wrote:

> Dear Colleagues,
>
> A relative newcomer to Lilypond, I am v. pleased to be able to  
> notate drums in drum mode, and / but—
>
> Need your guidance on getting notation on beat in upper and lower  
> voice to same horizontal location.

> I am typesetting swing-feel cymr in the upper voice and writing  
> figures involving bd, sn & hhp in the lower voice.
>
> Decided to use simple eighths notation in upper voice to reduce  
> problems, but still some ambiguity in placement of notes, even when  
> eights in both upper and lower voice.
>
> Things getting slightly more out of hand when typesetting triplet  
> figures in lower voice, and need to do this.

Great to see another drummer here! A sample of what you're working on  
would be helpful -- here's what I made up, hoping it addresses some of  
your issues:

\version "2.13.3"

drh = \drummode {
        \repeat unfold 8 { cymr4 cymr8 cymr }   
}

drl = \drummode {
        bd4 <bd hhp sn> bd <bd hhp sn> |
        bd8 sn <hhp sn> bd  \times 2/3 { sn4 sn sn }  |
  \times 2/3 { bd4 <hhp sn>8 sn bd4 } \times 2/3 { <hhp sn>8 sn bd4  
<hhp sn>8 sn } |
  \times 2/3 { sn8 sn sn } \times 2/3 { <hhp sn>8 bd bd }
  \times 2/3 { sn8 bd bd } \times 2/3 { <hhp sn>8 sn bd } |
}

\score {
                \new DrumStaff          <<
                        \set Staff.instrumentName = #"drums"                  
                        \new DrumVoice { \voiceOne      \drh }
                        \new DrumVoice {        \voiceTwo \drl }
                >>
}

drums_example.pdf
Description: Adobe PDF document

> Also— how to introduce slightly more space to make things more  
> legible? I want to simply s-t-r-e-t-c-h things out a little.

NR 4.5.5 "Proportional Notation" looks like maybe what you're after  
here - though I'd advise starting with the percussion notation  
sections (below) first...
http://lilypond.org/doc/v2.13/Documentation/user/lilypond/Proportional-notation#Proportional-notation

> Have checked documentation, but still a little unclear.
>
> Directions to relevant sections would be most appreciated, if that's  
> all it takes.

Notation Reference 2.5.1 "Common Notation for Percussion" - see  
"Percussion Staves"
http://lilypond.org/doc/v2.13/Documentation/user/lilypond/Common-notation-for-percussion#Percussion-staves


> Your help would be appreciated.
>
> Sekantombi

Hope this is a start!
-Tucker