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3.3.3 Clef

The clef indicates which lines of the staff correspond to which pitches.

The clef can be set or changed with the \clef command

     \key f\major  c''2 \clef alto g'2

[image of music]

Supported clef-names include

treble, violin, G, G2
G clef on 2nd line
alto, C
C clef on 3rd line
tenor
C clef on 4th line.
bass, F
F clef on 4th line
french
G clef on 1st line, so-called French violin clef
soprano
C clef on 1st line
mezzosoprano
C clef on 2nd line
baritone
C clef on 5th line
varbaritone
F clef on 3rd line
subbass
F clef on 5th line
percussion
percussion clef
tab
tablature clef

By adding _8 or ^8 to the clef name, the clef is transposed one octave down or up, respectively, and _15 and ^15 transposes by two octaves. The argument clefname must be enclosed in quotes when it contains underscores or digits. For example,

     \clef "G_8" c4

[image of music]

This command is equivalent to setting clefGlyph, clefPosition (which controls the Y position of the clef), centralCPosition and clefOctavation. A clef is printed when any of these properties are changed.

See also

Program reference: the object for this symbol is Clef.

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