Re: string numbers (fingering instructions) as roman numerals?

[David Raleigh Arnold]

On Mon, 30 Jun 2014 19:32:44 +0000 (UTC)
philip <address@hidden> wrote:

> Hi,
> I was wondering if anyone knows how to override the 
> default numbering format for string numbers 
> (default is circled arabic numbers) and use roman 
> numerals instead. 
> An example would be something like this:
> { e''\2 } which is an e played on the second 
> string. The default shows a circled 2 above the 
> staff. I would like to show a roman numeral II 
> instead, so there is no confusion between string 
> and fingering indications. Since roman numerals for 
> strings are a common convention, i am guessing 
> there is a setting in lilypond for it that I havent 
> found.
> What i have learned so far is that the StringNumber 
> is written by the New fingering engraver and has 
> both a stencil and text property,  but i have not 
> been able to figure out how to change them to roman 
> numerals. 
It's in a book by a self-styled expert on music notation.
There is no such thing as an expert on music notation.
It's a terrible idea. The ring around the string number
is much better, and the ring around the pitch of the
string is better yet. Villa Lobos used the latter for
guitar music, and it is better, because there are too
many numbers in guitar music already. It's better for
violin etc. too, and string players are used to 
referencing the ``a'' string, etc..

How do I indicate strings by letter-pitch instead of
numbers, the way Villa Lobos did? Regards, Rale

-- 
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