GNU LilyPond Notation Reference: 1.4.2 Short repeats

### 1.4.2 Short repeats

This section discusses how to input short repeats. Short repeats can take two basic forms: repeats of a single note to two measures, represented by slashes or percent signs; and tremolos.

#### Percent repeats

Repeated short patterns of notes are supported. The music is printed once, and the pattern is replaced with a special sign. Patterns that are shorter than one measure are replaced by slashes, and patterns of one or two measures are replaced by percent-like signs. The syntax is

>     \repeat percent number musicexpr

where musicexpr is a music expression.

>     \repeat percent 4 { c4 }
>     \repeat percent 2 { b4 a g f }
>     \repeat percent 2 { c2 es | f4 fis g c | }

#### Selected Snippets

Percent repeat counter

Measure repeats of more than two repeats can get a counter when the convenient property is switched, as shown in this example:

>     \relative c'' {
>       \set countPercentRepeats = ##t
>       \repeat percent 4 { c1 }
>     }

Percent repeat count visibility

Percent repeat counters can be shown at regular intervals by setting the context property `repeatCountVisibility`.

>     \relative c'' {
>       \set countPercentRepeats = ##t
>       \set repeatCountVisibility = #(every-nth-repeat-count-visible 5)
>       \repeat percent 10 { c1 } \break
>       \set repeatCountVisibility = #(every-nth-repeat-count-visible 2)
>       \repeat percent 6 { c1 d1 }
>     }

Isolated percent repeats

Isolated percents can also be printed. This is done by entering a multi-measure rest with a different print function:

>     \relative c'' {
>       \override MultiMeasureRest #'stencil
>         = #ly:multi-measure-rest::percent
>       \override MultiMeasureRest #'thickness = #0.48
>       R1
>     }

#### See also

Music Glossary: percent repeat, simile.

Snippets: Repeats.

Internals Reference: RepeatSlash, PercentRepeat, DoublePercentRepeat, DoublePercentRepeatCounter, PercentRepeatCounter, PercentRepeatedMusic.

#### Known issues and warnings

Only three kinds of percent repeats are supported: a single slash representing a single beat (regardless of the duration of the repeated notes); a single slash with dots representing one full measure; and two slashes with dots crossing a bar line representing two full measures. Neither multiple slashes representing single beat repeats consisting of sixteenth or shorter notes, nor two slashes with dots representing single beat repeats consisting of notes of varying durations, are supported.

#### Tremolo repeats

Tremolos can take two forms: alternation between two chords or two notes, and rapid repetition of a single note or chord. Tremolos consisting of an alternation are indicated by adding beams between the notes or chords being alternated, while tremolos consisting of the rapid repetition of a single note are indicated by adding beams or slashes to a single note.

To place tremolo marks between notes, use `\repeat` with tremolo style:

>     \repeat tremolo 8 { c16 d }
>     \repeat tremolo 6 { c16 d }
>     \repeat tremolo 2 { c16 d }

The `\repeat tremolo` syntax expects exactly two notes within the braces, and the number of repetitions must correspond to a note value that can be expressed with plain or dotted notes. Thus, `\repeat tremolo 7` is valid and produces a double dotted note, but `\repeat tremolo 9` is not.

The duration of the tremolo equals the duration of the braced expression multiplied by the number of repeats: `\repeat tremolo 8 { c16 d16 }` gives a whole note tremolo, notated as two whole notes joined by tremolo beams.

There are two ways to put tremolo marks on a single note. The `\repeat tremolo` syntax is also used here, in which case the note should not be surrounded by braces:

>     \repeat tremolo 4 c'16

The same output can be obtained by adding ‘`:`[number]’ after the note. The number indicates the duration of the subdivision, and it must be at least 8. A number value of 8 gives one line across the note stem. If the length is omitted, the last value (stored in `tremoloFlags`) is used

>     c2:8 c:32
>     c: c:

#### See also

Snippets: Repeats.

#### Known issues and warnings

Cross-staff tremolos do not work well.

Other languages: español, deutsch.

#### Notation Reference