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2.13 Printing lyrics

Lyrics are entered by separating each syllable with a space

I want to break free

Consider the melody

     \relative {
       r4 c \times 2/3 { f g g }
       \times 2/3 { g4( a2) }
     }

[image of music]

The lyrics can be set to these notes, combining both with the \addlyrics keyword

     <<
       \relative {
         r4 c \times 2/3 { f g g }
         \times 2/3 { g4( a2) }
       }
       \addlyrics { I want to break free }
     >>

[image of music]

This melody ends on a melisma, a single syllable (`free') sung to more than one note. This is indicated with an extender line. It is entered as two underscores, i.e.,

{ I want to break free __ }

[image of music]

Similarly, hyphens between words can be entered as two dashes, resulting in a centered hyphen between two syllables

Twin -- kle twin -- kle

[image of music]

More options, like putting multiple lines of lyrics below a melody are discussed in Vocal music.

This page is for LilyPond-2.6.3 (stable-branch).

Report errors to <bug-lilypond@gnu.org>.

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