Re: note duration without note name

[Gianmaria Lari]

On 13 April 2018 at 09:47, David Kastrup <address@hidden> wrote:

Gianmaria Lari <address@hidden> writes:

> On 13 April 2018 at 09:15, David Kastrup <address@hidden> wrote:
>
>> Gianmaria Lari <address@hidden> writes:
>>
>> > I would expect the two scores generated by the following code were the
>> > same.
>> >
>> > \version "2.19.81"
>> > {a8 8}
>> > {a 8}
>> >
>> > Why lilypond treats them differently?
>>
>> Because {a8 8} and {a8} are different?  Spaces are not a relevant part
>> of input.  You'd have to write { a8 8 } if they were, wouldn't you?
>>
>
> I thought duration, fingering etc. had not to be space separated from the
> note!

Just a convention for readability.  It would make programming awkward if
spaces were relevant: how'd you write #{ #pitch 8 #} then?

Yes sure, it's clear and now it makes sense. 

Thank you.

P.S. It's not long time I'm using the shortcut that avoid to specify a pitch when it is the same as the previous pitch (i.e. writing a4 4 4 4 to say a4 a4 a4 a4). At beginning I avoided it because I regard with suspicion shortcuts..... 

But after some time I started to use this shortcut. The reasons are that  when you have a pitch repeated consecutively this writing convention 

- less possible mistakes: it is more easy to write {a8 8 4 8 4} than   {a8 a8 a4 a8 a4}

- reading is easier: compare {a8 8 4 8 4} with {a8 a8 a4 a8 a4}

- finally, if you, like me, use absolute (instead of relative) and you have a note with more than one "," or "'" it is appreciable writing {a'''8 8 4 8 4} instead of  {a'''8 a'''8 a'''4 a'''8 a'''4}