6.3.3 Basic polyphony

The easiest way to enter fragments with more than one voice on a staff is to enter each voice as a sequence (with {...}), and combine them simultaneously, separating the voices with \\

     
     \new Staff \relative c' {
       c16 d e f
       <<
         { g4 f e | d2 e2 } \\
         { r8 e4 d c8 ~ | c b16 a b8 g ~ g2 } \\
         { s2. | s4 b4 c2 }
       >>
     }

The separator causes Voice contexts¹ to be instantiated. They bear the names "1", "2", etc. In each of these contexts, vertical direction of slurs, stems, etc., is set appropriately.

These voices are all separate from the voice that contains the notes just outside the << \\ >> construct. This should be noted when making changes at the voice level. This also means that slurs and ties cannot go into or out of a << \\ >> construct. Conversely, parallel voices from separate << \\ >> constructs on the same staff are the the same voice. Here is the same example, with different noteheads for each voice. Note that the change to the note-head style in the main voice does not affect the inside of the << \\ >> constructs. Also, the change to the second voice in the first << \\ >> construct is effective in the second << \\ >>, and the voice is tied across the two constructs.

     
     \new Staff \relative c' {
       \override NoteHead #'style = #'cross
       c16 d e f
       <<
         { g4 f e } \\
         { \override NoteHead #'style = #'triangle
         r8 e4 d c8 ~ }
       >> |
       <<
         { d2 e2 } \\
         { c8 b16 a b8 g ~ g2 } \\
         { \override NoteHead #'style = #'slash s4 b4 c2 }
       >>
     }

Polyphony does not change the relationship of notes within a \relative { } block. Each note is calculated relative to the note immediately preceding it.

\relative { noteA << noteB \\ noteC >> noteD }

noteC is relative to noteB, not noteA; noteD is relative to noteC, not noteB or noteA.

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