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| abc:syntax-2.1 [2026/10/04 11:20] – removed table of contents as there is an automatically generated one already ach | abc:syntax-2.1 [2026/10/04 12:05] (current) – fixed formatting improvements ach |
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| ====== The abc music standard 2.1 (Dec 2011) ====== | ====== The abc music standard 2.1 (Dec 2011) ====== |
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| The original source of this standard can be found at https://abcnotation.com/wiki/abc:standard:v2.1. | //The original source of this standard can be found at [[https://abcnotation.com/wiki/abc:standard:v2.1]].// |
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| ** Chris Walshaw ** \\ | ** Chris Walshaw ** \\ |
| Bar line symbols are notated as follows: | Bar line symbols are notated as follows: |
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| ^ **Symbol** ^ **Meaning** ^ | ^ Symbol ^ Meaning ^ |
| | ''|'' | bar line | | | ''|'' | bar line | |
| | ''|]'' | thin-thick double bar line | | | ''|]'' | thin-thick double bar line | |
| These can be simply coded with the notation ''(2ab'' for a duplet, ''(3abc'' for a triplet or ''(4abcd'' for a quadruplet, etc, up to ''(9''. The musical meanings are: | These can be simply coded with the notation ''(2ab'' for a duplet, ''(3abc'' for a triplet or ''(4abcd'' for a quadruplet, etc, up to ''(9''. The musical meanings are: |
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| ^ **Symbol** ^ **Meaning** ^ | ^ Symbol ^ Meaning ^ |
| | ''(2'' | 2 notes in the time of 3 | | | ''(2'' | 2 notes in the time of 3 | |
| | ''(3'' | 3 notes in the time of 2 | | | ''(3'' | 3 notes in the time of 2 | |
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| A number of shorthand decoration symbols are available: | A number of shorthand decoration symbols are available: |
| . staccato mark | |
| ~ Irish roll | ^ Symbol ^ Meaning ^ |
| H fermata | | ''.'' | staccato mark | |
| L accent or emphasis | | ''~'' | Irish roll | |
| M lowermordent | | ''H'' | fermata | |
| O coda | | ''L'' | accent or emphasis | |
| P uppermordent | | ''M'' | lowermordent | |
| S segno | | ''O'' | coda | |
| T trill | | ''P'' | uppermordent | |
| u up-bow | | ''S'' | segno | |
| v down-bow | | ''T'' | trill | |
| | | ''u'' | up-bow | |
| | | ''v'' | down-bow | |
| Decorations should be placed before the note which they decorate - see [[#order of abc constructs|order of abc constructs]] | Decorations should be placed before the note which they decorate - see [[#order of abc constructs|order of abc constructs]] |
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| The currently defined symbols are: | The currently defined symbols are: |
| !trill! "tr" (trill mark) | |
| !trill(! start of an extended trill | ^ Symbol ^ Meaning ^ |
| !trill)! end of an extended trill | | ''!trill!'' | "tr" (trill mark) | |
| !lowermordent! short /|/|/ squiggle with a vertical line through it | | ''!trill(!'' | start of an extended trill | |
| !uppermordent! short /|/|/ squiggle | | ''!trill)!'' | end of an extended trill | |
| !mordent! same as !lowermordent! | | ''!lowermordent!'' | short ''%%/|/|/%%'' squiggle with a vertical line through it | |
| !pralltriller! same as !uppermordent! | | ''!uppermordent!'' | short ''%%/|/|/%%'' squiggle | |
| !roll! a roll mark (arc) as used in Irish music | | ''!mordent!'' | same as ''!lowermordent!'' | |
| !turn! a turn mark (also known as gruppetto) | | ''!pralltriller!'' | same as ''!uppermordent!'' | |
| !turnx! a turn mark with a line through it | | ''!roll!'' | a roll mark (arc) as used in Irish music | |
| !invertedturn! an inverted turn mark | | ''!turn!'' | a turn mark (also known as gruppetto) | |
| !invertedturnx! an inverted turn mark with a line through it | | ''!turnx!'' | a turn mark with a line through it | |
| !arpeggio! vertical squiggle | | ''!invertedturn!'' | an inverted turn mark | |
| !>! > mark | | ''!invertedturnx!'' | an inverted turn mark with a line through it | |
| !accent! same as !>! | | ''!arpeggio!'' | vertical squiggle | |
| !emphasis! same as !>! | | ''!>!'' | ''>'' mark | |
| !fermata! fermata or hold (arc above dot) | | ''!accent!'' | same as ''!>!'' | |
| !invertedfermata! upside down fermata | | ''!emphasis!'' | same as ''!>!'' | |
| !tenuto! horizontal line to indicate holding note for full duration | | ''!fermata!'' | fermata or hold (arc above dot) | |
| !0! - !5! fingerings | | ''!invertedfermata!'' | upside down fermata | |
| !+! left-hand pizzicato, or rasp for French horns | | ''!tenuto!'' | horizontal line to indicate holding note for full duration | |
| !plus! same as !+! | | ''!0!'' - ''!5!'' | fingerings | |
| !snap! snap-pizzicato mark, visually similar to !thumb! | | ''!+!'' | left-hand pizzicato, or rasp for French horns | |
| !slide! slide up to a note, visually similar to a half slur | | ''!plus!'' | same as ''!+!'' | |
| !wedge! small filled-in wedge mark | | ''!snap!'' | snap-pizzicato mark, visually similar to ''!thumb!'' | |
| !upbow! V mark | | ''!slide!'' | slide up to a note, visually similar to a half slur | |
| !downbow! squared n mark | | ''!wedge!'' | small filled-in wedge mark | |
| !open! small circle above note indicating open string or harmonic | | ''!upbow!'' | V mark | |
| !thumb! cello thumb symbol | | ''!downbow!'' | squared n mark | |
| !breath! a breath mark (apostrophe-like) after note | | ''!open!'' | small circle above note indicating open string or harmonic | |
| !pppp! !ppp! !pp! !p! dynamics marks | | ''!thumb!'' | cello thumb symbol | |
| !mp! !mf! !f! !ff! more dynamics marks | | ''!breath!'' | a breath mark (apostrophe-like) after note | |
| !fff! !ffff! !sfz! more dynamics marks | | ''!pppp!'' ''!ppp!'' ''!pp!'' ''!p!'' | dynamics marks | |
| !crescendo(! start of a < crescendo mark | | ''!mp!'' ''!mf!'' ''!f!'' ''!ff!'' | more dynamics marks | |
| !<(! same as !crescendo(! | | ''!fff!'' ''!ffff!'' ''!sfz!'' | more dynamics marks | |
| !crescendo)! end of a < crescendo mark, placed after the last note | | ''!crescendo(!'' | start of a ''<'' crescendo mark | |
| !<)! same as !crescendo)! | | ''!<(!'' | same as ''!crescendo(!'' | |
| !diminuendo(! start of a > diminuendo mark | | ''!crescendo)!'' | end of a ''<'' crescendo mark, placed after the last note | |
| !>(! same as !diminuendo(! | | ''!<)!'' | same as ''!crescendo)!'' | |
| !diminuendo)! end of a > diminuendo mark, placed after the last note | | ''!diminuendo(!'' | start of a ''>'' diminuendo mark | |
| !>)! same as !diminuendo)! | | ''!>(!'' | same as ''!diminuendo(!'' | |
| !segno! 2 ornate s-like symbols separated by a diagonal line | | ''!diminuendo)!'' | end of a ''>'' diminuendo mark, placed after the last note | |
| !coda! a ring with a cross in it | | ''!>)!'' | same as ''!diminuendo)!'' | |
| !D.S.! the letters D.S. (=Da Segno) | | ''!segno!'' | 2 ornate s-like symbols separated by a diagonal line | |
| !D.C.! the letters D.C. (=either Da Coda or Da Capo) | | ''!coda!'' | a ring with a cross in it | |
| !dacoda! the word "Da" followed by a Coda sign | | ''!D.S.!'' | the letters D.S. (=Da Segno) | |
| !dacapo! the words "Da Capo" | | ''!D.C.!'' | the letters D.C. (=either Da Coda or Da Capo) | |
| !fine! the word "fine" | | ''!fine!'' | the word "fine" | |
| !shortphrase! vertical line on the upper part of the staff | | ''!shortphrase!'' | vertical line on the upper part of the staff | |
| !mediumphrase! same, but extending down to the centre line | | ''!mediumphrase!'' | same, but extending down to the centre line | |
| !longphrase! same, but extending 3/4 of the way down | | ''!longphrase!'' | same, but extending 3/4 of the way down | |
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| Here is a picture of most decorations: | Here is a picture of most decorations: |
| The chord has the format //<note><accidental><type></bass>//, where //<note>// can be ''A-G'', the optional //<accidental>// can be ''b'', ''#'', the optional //<type>// is one or more of | The chord has the format //<note><accidental><type></bass>//, where //<note>// can be ''A-G'', the optional //<accidental>// can be ''b'', ''#'', the optional //<type>// is one or more of |
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| m or min minor | ^ Type ^ Meaning ^ |
| maj major | | m or min | minor | |
| dim diminished | | maj | major | |
| aug or + augmented | | dim | diminished | |
| sus suspended | | aug or + | augmented | |
| 7, 9 ... 7th, 9th, etc. | | sus | suspended | |
| | | 7, 9 ... | 7th, 9th, etc. | |
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| and //</bass>// is an optional bass note. | and //</bass>// is an optional bass note. |
| The lyrics lines are treated as [[#text string definition|text strings]]. Within the lyrics, the words should be separated by one or more spaces and to correctly align them the following symbols may be used: | The lyrics lines are treated as [[#text string definition|text strings]]. Within the lyrics, the words should be separated by one or more spaces and to correctly align them the following symbols may be used: |
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| ^ **Symbol** ^ **Meaning** ^ | ^ Symbol ^ Meaning ^ |
| | ''-'' | (hyphen) break between syllables within a word | | | ''-'' | (hyphen) break between syllables within a word | |
| | ''_'' | (underscore) previous syllable is to be held for an extra note | | | ''_'' | (underscore) previous syllable is to be held for an extra note | |
