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ABC Music Notation

The input to abcjs is mostly standard ABC Music Notation. That notation is described here:

ABC Notation

Subtractions from the standard

We've made an attempt to be compatible with other ABC software, but there are some exceptions.

Some of the things that are supported by other packages are specific to that package's environment and don't apply to a web-based solution. Those features are not supported.

Here is a list of formatting options that will probably not be supported:

  • %%abc
  • %%abc2pscompat
  • %%abcm2ps
  • %%autoclef
  • %%beginps
  • %%beginsvg
  • %%bgcolor
  • %%break
  • %%breaklimit
  • %%breakoneoln
  • %%clip
  • %%deco
  • %%decoration
  • %%eps
  • %%format
  • %%fullsvg
  • %%map
  • %%micronewps
  • %%pango
  • %%pdfmark
  • %%ps
  • %%select
  • %%tune
  • %%voicemap

Some of the things that are supported by other packages we've just not gotten around to supporting yet. If you run into a feature that you would like to see, let us know.

Additions to the standard

Alternate note heads:

In both the K: and the V: element, you can include the parameter:

style=rhythm
style=harmonic
style=x
style=normal

You can also use the above as a decoration to a single note to affect just that note:

!style=rhythm!

This changes the note heads to a different shape.

Here's a sample:

X:1
T:alternate heads
M:C
L:1/8
U:n=!style=normal!
K:C treble style=rhythm
 "Am" BBBB B2 B>B | "Dm" B2 B/B/B "C" B4 |\
 "Am" B2 nGnB B2 nGnA | "Dm" nDB/B/ nDB/B/ "C" nCB/B/ nCB/B/ |B8| B0 B0 B0 B0 |]
%%text This translates to:
[M:C][K:style=normal]
 [A,EAce][A,EAce][A,EAce][A,EAce] [A,EAce]2 [A,EAce]>[A,EAce] |\
 [DAdf]2 [DAdf]/[DAdf]/[DAdf] [CEGce]4 |\
 [A,EAce]2 GA [A,EAce] GA |\
 D[DAdf]/[DAdf]/ D[DAdf]/[DAdf]/ C [CEGce]/[CEGce]/ C[CEGce]/[CEGce]/ |[CEGce]8 | [CEGce]2 [CEGce]2 [CEGce]2 [CEGce]2 |]
GAB2 !style=harmonic![gb]4|GAB2 [K: style=harmonic]gbgb|
[K: style=x]
C/A,/ C/C/E C/zz2|
w:Rock-y did-n't like that

marcato:

A new decoration is supported:

!marcato!

Chord Break:

If you want to skip a chord, then use one of the following as the chord:

"^break" "^(break)" "^no chord" "^n.c." "^tacet"

These are case-insensitive.