Re: number of staff lines

[David Kastrup]

Nils <address@hidden> writes:

> Hello,
>
> I would like to ask for a quick confirmation, since I never worked
> with an even-numbered staff line count.
>
> If you reduce your stafflines with 
> \override StaffSymbol #'line-count = #3 
> or #1 or any odd number there is no question. With a treble clef the
> b' is on the middle line and lines are removed/added above and below.
>
> with even numbers like #2 or #4 the b' is not on a line anymore but
> all stafflines move one step down so a' and c'' are now on the lines.
>
> Is this correct and common engraver practice?

Anything but a line count of 5 is not common engraver practice with
modern clefs.  The various clefs have a dedicated _line_ they are
focused on.  G for the treble clef, F for the bass clef, C for the viola
(tenor?) clef.  For square chant notation, you tend to have four lines
and an older clef pointing out the C.

Personally, I don't know the vertical position of the standard clefs
when using four lines, but I would be very much surprised if they lost
the fixed relation to their "key" line.

-- 
David Kastrup