6.5.2 Slurs

A slur indicates that notes are to be played bound or legato. They are entered using parentheses

     
     f( g a) a8 b( a4 g2 f4)
     <c e>2( <b d>2)

The direction of a slur can be specified with \slurDIR, where DIR is either Up, Down, or Neutral (automatically selected).

However, there is a convenient shorthand for forcing slur directions. By adding _ or ^ before the opening parentheses, the direction is also set. For example,

     
     c4_( c) c^( c)

Only one slur can be printed at once. If you need to print a long slur over a few small slurs, please see Phrasing slurs.

Commonly tweaked properties

Some composers write two slurs when they want legato chords. This can be achieved in LilyPond by setting doubleSlurs,

     
     \set doubleSlurs = ##t
     <c e>4 ( <d f> <c e> <d f> )

Predefined commands

\slurUp, \slurDown, \slurNeutral, \slurDashed, \slurDotted, \slurSolid.

See also

Program reference: Slur.

Other languages: French.