ABC Quick Reference Card Extended Information Fields Text

Version 0.6 – ABC v2.1 & some abcm2ps v6 – Steve Merrony %%abc-creator mxml2abc-0.6 %%text <ABC String> %%endtext
%%abc-version 2.0 % use for pre-2.1 ABC %%textoption <string> %%sep [# # #]
Information & Headers %%abc-charset
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iso-8859-1
mydefs.abh
% default is UTF-8 %%center
%%begintext
<ABC String> %%header
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%abc %abc-2.1 – First Line of file
B:book Formatting
C:composer Misc
D:discography Page Format
F:file URL %%autoclef <logical>
G:group G:flute %%pageheight <length> %%rightmargin <length> %%beginps … %%endps
H:history %%pagewidth <length> %%indent <length> %%bstemdown <logical>
I:instruction %%topmargin <length> %%landscape <logical> %%comball <logical>
K:key [clef] [middle=x] K:G, K:AMix – Last Header* %%botmargin <length> %%staffwidth <length> %%combinevoices <logical>
L:note unit length L:1/8 %%leftmargin <length> %%dateformat <string>
M:metre M:4/4 %%encoding <integer> % 0 – 6 for ISO-Latin-n
m:macro m: ~n2 = (3o/n/m/ n
N:notes
Fonts (Most take a font name and size as parameters) %%EPS
%%exprabove
<string> % include external EPS file
<logical>
O:origin %%exprbelow <logical>
%%titlefont %%measurefont
P:parts P:A, P:ABAC, P:(A2B)3 %%repeatfont %%flatbeams <logical>
%%subtitlefont
Q:tempo Q:"allegro" 1/4=120 %%textfont %%freegchord <logical> % print '#', 'b' and '=' stet
%%composerfont
R:rhythm R:R, R:reel %%voicefont %%gchordbox <logical>
%%partsfont
r:remark %%vocalfont % w: %%graceslurs <logical>
%%tempofont
S:source %%wordsfont % W: %%hyphencont <logical>
%%gchordfont
s:symbol line s: !pp! ** !f! %%infoline <logical> % rhythm & origin on same line
%%headerfont
T:title Second Header The specifiers $1, $2, $3 and %%linebreak $ or ! or <EOL> or <none>
%%historyfont
U:user defined U: T = !trill! $4 can be used to change the %%musiconly <logical> % don't output lyrics
%%footerfont
V:voice V:4 clef=bass** font within an ABC string %%oneperpage <logical>
%%annotationfont
W:words Lyrics after tune %%setfont-1/2/3/4 <ft> <sz> %%partsbox <logical>
%%infofont
w:words Lyrics inline %%postscript <string>
X:reference number First Header %%printparts <logical> % P:
Z:transcriber Also put copyright info here Spacing %%printtempo <logical>
%%topspace <length> %%titlecaps <logical> %%sep <length> <length> <length> % separator
* Clefs %%titlespace <length> %%subtitlespace <length> %%shiftunison <logical>
%%titleleft <logical> %%composerspace <length> %%squarebreve <logical>
treble Treble (default) %%aligncomposer <integer> % -1 left, 0 centre, !1 right %%slurheight <float> % <1.0 to flatten
treble-8 Treble 8ve below eg.tenors %%musicspace <length> % between comp. & 1st staff %%staff <number> % use nth staff
treble+8 Treble 8ve above eg.piccolo %%partsspace <length> %%wordsspace <length> %%staffnonote <logical> % don't show empty staves
bass Bass %%vocalspace <length> %%textspace <length> %%stemheight <float>
bass3 Baritone %%infospace <length> %%straightflags <logical>
alto4 Tenor %%staffsep <length> % between systems %%timewarn <logical> % cautionary time sigs
alto Alto %%sysstaffsep <length> % between staves %%tuplets <integer> <integer> <integer>
alto2 Mezzosoprano %%barsperstaff <integer> %%vocalabove <logical>
alto1 Soprano %%parskipfac <number> % space between parts %%withxrefs <logical> % print X: index in title
none No clef %%lineskipfac <number> % space between lines of text %%writefields <list of field identifiers> [<logical>]
perc Percussion %%stretchstaff <logical> %%stretchlast <logical> %%writehistory <logical>
%%maxshrink <number> % shrinking notes
** Voices %%maxstaffsep <length> %%splittune <logical>

The voice name is a digit or a word followed by:

%%maxsysstaffsep
%%newpage
<length> Notes
clef= clef of the voice %%scale <number> % scale EVERYTHING C,, C, C (middle-C) c c' c''
perc percussion staff %%staves % eg. [(SA) (TB)] for short score
name=xxx name at the left of the first staff %%vksip <length> ^ sharp ( ) slur
sname=xxx name that appears left of later staves ^^ double sharp .- dotted tie
merge indicates that this voice belongs to = natural .( ) dotted slur
the same staff as the previous voice
up or down forces the note stem direction
Measures/Bars _ flat -, tie below
__ double flat (' ) slur above
gstem=up/down/auto forces the grace note stem direction %%measurefirst <integer> % number of 1st measure z rest {/g} grace note
stem=up/down/auto forces the note stem direction %%barnumbers <integer> % numbers every n bars Z bar's rest (3 3 notes in time of 2
dyn=up/down/auto forces the placement of dynamic marks %%measurenb <integer> % same as %%barnumbers x invisible rest (p:q:r p notes in time of q
lyrics=up/down/auto forces the placement of the lyrics %%measurebox <logical> X invisible bar rest for next r notes
middle=<note> specify name of note on middle line %%setbarnb <integer> % set measure # y spacer [ceg] chord
staffscale=n sets the scale of the associated staff %%contbarnb <logical> % repeat numbering - tie & overlay temp voice
stafflines=n sets the number of lines of the staff %%alignbars <integer> % align bars for next n lines
Repeats and Bars Text Annotations 43
44
Cello
Contrabass
86 Lead 6 (voice)
87 Lead 7 (fifths)
| |] || [| |: :| :: "..." 45 Tremolo Strings 88 Lead 8 (bass+lead)
[|] invisible bar line "^..." above staff "_..." below staff 46 Pizzicato Strings 89 Pad 1 (new age)
.| dotted bar line "<..." left of note ">..." right of note 47 Harp 90 Pad 2 (warm)
[1 [2 1st and 2nd time repeats "@x,y ..." explicit offset 48 Timpani 91 Pad 3 (polysynth)
49 String Ensemble 1 92 Pad 4 (choir)
Chord Symbols Fingering & Phrasing 50 String Ensemble 2 93 Pad 5 (bowed)
51 Synth Strings 1 94 Pad 6 (metallic)
m or min minor e.g. "Am7"A2D2 !0! - !5! fingerings 52 Synth Strings 2 95 Pad 7 (halo)
maj major !plus! left-hand pizzicato, or rasp for brass 53 Choir Aahs 96 Pad 8 (sweep)
dim diminished !wedge! small filled-in wedge mark 54 Voice Oohs 97 FX 1 (rain)
aug or + augmented !open! small circle above note indicating 55 Synth Voice 98 FX 2 (soundtrack)
sus sustained open string or harmonic 56 Orchestra Hit 99 FX 3 (crystal)
7, 9 ... 7th, 9th, etc. !thumb! cello thumb symbol 57 Trumpet 100 FX 4 (atmosphere)
!snap! snap-pizzicato mark 58 Trombone 101 FX 5 (brightness)
!turn! a turn mark 59 Tuba 102 FX 6 (goblins)
Lyrics !roll! a roll mark (arc) as used in Irish music 60 Muted Trumpet 103 FX 7 (echoes)
- break between syllables within a word !breath! a breath mark (apostrophe) after note 61 French Horn 104 FX 8 (sci-fi)
_ last syllable is to be held for an extra note !shortphrase! vertical line on the upper part of staff 62 Brass Section 105 Sitar
* one note is skipped !mediumphrase! same, but extending down to the middle 63 Synth Brass 1 106 Banjo
~ appears as a space; puts multiple words under note !longphrase! same, but extending 3/4 of the way down 64 Synth Brass 2 107 Shamisen
\- appears as hyphen; multiple syllables under note !upbow! V mark 65 Soprano Sax 108 Koto
| advances to the next bar !downbow! squared n mark 66 Alto Sax 109 Kalimba
67 Tenor Sax 110 Bagpipe
68 Baritone Sax 111 Fiddle
Repeat/Section Symbols 69 Oboe 112 Shanai
Decorations 70 English Horn 113 Tinkle Bell
!segno! 2 s-like symbols separated by diagonal 71 Bassoon 114 Agogo
Short Forms !coda! a ring with a cross in it 72 Clarinet 115 Steel Drums
!D.S.! the letters D.S. (Da Segno) 73 Piccolo 116 Woodblock
. Staccato S segno !D.C.! the letters D.C. (Da Coda or Da Capo) 74 Flute 117 Taiko Drum
~ Irish roll/turn O coda !dacoda! !dacapo! !fine! 75 Recorder 118 Melodic Tom
T trill J slide 76 Pan Flute 119 Synth Drum
H
L
fermata
accent or emphasis
R
u
roll
upbow Correct Order of Elements 77
78
Blown Bottle
Skakuhachi
120 Reverse Cymbal
121 Guitar Fret Noise
M inverted mordent v downbow 79 Whistle 122 Breath Noise
P mordent <grace notes><chord symbols><decorations><accidentals> 80 Ocarina 123 Seashore
<NOTE><octave><note length><tie> 81 Lead 1 (square) 124 Bird Tweet
Dynamics 82 Lead 2 (sawtooth) 125 Telephone Ring

!crescendo(! or !<(! start of a < crescendo mark

General MIDI Instruments 83
84
Lead 3 (calliope)
Lead 4 (chiff)
126 Helicopter
127 Applause
!crescendo)! or !<)! end of a < crescendo mark, Specify inline with [I: MIDI=program <n - 1>] 85 Lead 5 (charang) 128 Gunshot
placed after the last note
!diminuendo(! or !>(! start of a > diminuendo mark 1 Acoustic Grand 22 Accordion Accented Characters etc.
!diminuendo)! or !>)! end of a > diminuendo mark, 2 Bright Acoustic 23 Harmonica
placed after the last note 3 Electric Grand 24 Tango Accordion Accent Examples Encodings
!pppp! !ppp! !pp! !p! !mp! !mf! !f! !ff! !fff! !ffff! !sfz! 4 Honky-Tonk 25 Acoustic Guitar(nylon)
5 Electric Piano 1 26 Acoustic Guitar(steel) grave À à è ò \`A \`a \`e \`o
Ornaments 6 Electric Piano 2 27 Electric Guitar(jazz) acute Á á é ó \'A \'a \'e \'o
7 Harpsichord 28 Electric Guitar(clean) circumflex  â ê ô \^A \^a \^e \^o
!trill! "tr" trill, also !trill(! and !trill)! 8 Clavinet 29 Electric Guitar(muted) tilde à ã ñ õ \~A \~a \~n \~o
!lowermordent! short squiggle with a line through it 9 Celesta 30 Overdriven Guitar umlaut Ä ä ë ö \"A \"a \"e \"o
!uppermordent! short squiggle 10 Glockenspiel 31 Distortion Guitar cedilla Ç ç \,C \,c
!mordent! same as !lowermordent! 11 Music Box 32 Guitar Harmonics ring Å å \oA \oa
!pralltriller! same as !uppermordent! 12 Vibraphone 33 Acoustic Bass slash Ø ø \/O \/o
!accent! > mark 13 Marimba 34 Electric Bass (finger) breve Ă ă Ĕ ĕ \uA \ua \uE \ue
!>! same as !accent! 14 Xylophone 35 Electric Bass (pick) caron Š š Ž ž \vS \vs \vZ \vz
!emphasis! same as !accent! 15 Tubular Bells 36 Fretless Bass double acute Ő ő Ű ű \HO \Ho \HU \Hu
!fermata! fermata or hold (arc above dot) 16 Dulcimer 37 Slap Bass 1 ligatures ß Æ æ œ \ss \AE \ae \oe
!invertedfermata! 17 Drawbar Organ 38 Slap Bass 2
!tenuto! horizontal bar 18 Percussive Organ 39 Synth Bass 1 copyright © &copy; or \u0022
!trem1/2/3/4! tremolo (on 2nd note) 19 Rock Organ 40 Synth Bass 2 sharp/nat./flat ♯ ♮ ♭ \u266f \u266e \u266d
!xstem! stem up to staff above 20 Church Organ 41 Violin
!slide! !turnx! !invertedturn! ! 21 Reed Organ 42 Viola
invertedturnx! !arpeggio! ©2011 Steve Merrony