Re: Drawing extenders for the full duration of a note

[Kieren MacMillan]

Hi Lucas,

> I’d prefer a solution that doesn’t require eyeballing a close-enough value.

Best Solution: Lilypond should have a switch/parameter to do what you’re asking 
(defaulting to ##f, to mimic current behaviour).

Next Best Solution: Someone could build a Scheme engraver that searches across 
all staves in the current system, and extends all LyricExtenders the correct 
amount.

Manual Solution: Use a NullVoice which holds the "extender-worthy" durations.

%%%%  SNIPPET BEGINS
\version "2.18.2"
\language"english"

upper = {
  c'1 1
}

lower = {
  c'8 d' e' f' g' f' e' d' c'4 g' c'2
}

extenders = {
  c'8( d' e' f' g' f' e' d') c'4 g' c'2
}

theLyrics = \lyricmode {
  a __
}

<<
  \new Staff <<
    \upper
    \new NullVoice = "extenders" \extenders
  >>
    \new Lyrics \lyricsto "extenders" \theLyrics
  \new Staff \lower
>>
% %%%  SNIPPET ENDS

Note that you could almost certainly use the tag system to build "extenders" 
out of existing variables/notes, thus avoiding the need for a whole separate, 
manually-created variable.

Hope this helps!
Kieren.
________________________________

Kieren MacMillan, composer
‣ website: www.kierenmacmillan.info
‣ email: address@hidden