11.5.3 Changing horizontal spacing

Horizontal spacing may be altered with the base-shortest-duration property. Here we compare the same music; once without altering the property, and then altered. Larger values of ly:make-moment will produce smaller music. Note that ly:make-moment constructs a duration, so 1 4 is a longer duration than 1 16.

\score {
  \relative c'' {
    g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 d e f | g4 g g2 |
    g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 e g g | c,1 |
    d4 d d d | d4 e f2 | e4 e e e | e4 f g2 |
    g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 e g g | c,1 |
  }
}

\score {
  \relative c'' {
    g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 d e f | g4 g g2 |
    g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 e g g | c,1 |
    d4 d d d | d4 e f2 | e4 e e e | e4 f g2 |
    g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 e g g | c,1 |
  }
  \layout {
    \context {
      \Score
      \override SpacingSpanner
                #'base-shortest-duration = #(ly:make-moment 1 16)
    }
  }
}

Commonly tweaked properties

By default, spacing in tuplets depends on various non-duration factors (such as accidentals, clef changes, etc). To disregard such symbols and force uniform equal-duration spacing, use Score.SpacingSpanner #'uniform-stretching. This property can only be changed at the beginning of a score,

     
     \new Score \with {
       \override SpacingSpanner #'uniform-stretching = ##t
     } <<
       \new Staff{
         \times 4/5 {
           c8 c8 c8 c8 c8
         }
         c8 c8 c8 c8
       }
       \new Staff{
         c8 c8 c8 c8
         \times 4/5 {
           c8 c8 c8 c8 c8
         }
       }
     >>

When strict-note-spacing is set, notes are spaced without regard for clefs, bar lines, and grace notes,

     
     \override Score.SpacingSpanner #'strict-note-spacing = ##t
     \new Staff { c8[ c \clef alto c \grace { c16[ c] } c8 c c]  c32[ c32] }