Re: Alternate, parenthesised chord names

[Ernie Braganza]

Here's how I've handled it by creating a new Chordnames staff. 

\version "2.24.3"

Harmonies = \chordmode {  

  a1:maj
  a1:maj
  a1:maj
}
AltHarmonies = \chordmode {

\override ChordName.font-size = #-1
s1
b2:m7 e:7
s1
}

\score {
  <<
    \new ChordNames \AltHarmonies
    \new ChordNames \Harmonies
    \new Staff {
      R1
      R1
      R1
    }
  >>
}

For parentheses around Chords, I use this code

%% Parentheses for Chords %%

#(define (left-parenthesis-ignatzek-chord-names in-pitches bass
                                                inversion context)
   (markup #:line ("( " (ignatzek-chord-names in-pitches bass inversion
                                              context))))

#(define (right-parenthesis-ignatzek-chord-names in-pitches bass
                                                 inversion context)
   (markup #:line ((ignatzek-chord-names in-pitches bass inversion
                                         context) " )")))

#(define (parenthesis-ignatzek-chord-names in-pitches bass inversion context)
   (markup #:line ("( " (ignatzek-chord-names in-pitches bass inversion context) " )")))

%aliases

LParen = { \set chordNameFunction = #left-parenthesis-ignatzek-chord-names }
RParen = { \set chordNameFunction = #right-parenthesis-ignatzek-chord-names }
NoParen = { \unset chordNameFunction }
_OneParen_ = { \set chordNameFunction = #parenthesis-ignatzek-chord-names } %Parentheses around a single chord

and call the function like this:

AltHarmonies = \chordmode {
s1
\LParen b2:m7

\RParen e:7

\NoParen
s1
}

On Mon, Nov 27, 2023 at 7:41 PM Laurie Savage <savage.laurie@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi,

In jazz lead sheets one often comes across alternate chord names in parentheses written above the standard chord to signify an alternative harmony that can be played. I have tried doing that using this as a simple example of an alternative IIm7-V7 back to Imaj:

\version "2.25.4"

Harmonies = \chordmode {
  a1:maj
  <<
    { \voiceOne \parenthesize b2:m7 e2:7 }{ \voiceTwo a1:maj }
  >>
  \oneVoice
  a1:maj
}

\score {
  <<
    \new ChordNames \Harmonies
    \new Staff {
      R1
      <<
        {\voiceOne R1}{\voiceTwo R1}
      >>
      \oneVoice R1
    }
  >>
}

but it only produces this (I've also tried the << {..}//{..}>> notation)

Laurie Savage

https://www.queensofthewest.com/

AltChords.png
Description: PNG image