Note Properties
The properties defined on note level result in a variety of effects and annotations shown in the music sheet. Historically these properties are heavily abbreviated to reduce the text that needs to be written to apply them.
In future alphaTab will likely change to a more verbose, but clearer alternative.
nh​
nh ()
Description: Applies a natural harmonic effect to the note (for fretted instruments).
Example:
:8 3.3{nh} 3.3{ah} 3.3{ph} 3.3{th} 3.3{sh}
ah​
ah value
Description: Applies an artificial harmonic effect to the note (for fretted instruments).
Parameters:
| Name | Description | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
value | The harmonic value determines a relative fret-offset changing the note pitch when played. For natural harmonics the played fret determines the harmonic value. The rules are a bit special but mostly are aligned with the frequency adjustments happening when harmonics are played at respective frets: * 2.4 adds 36 frets* 2.7 adds 34 frets* < 3 adds 0 frets* <= 3.5 adds 31 frets* <= 4 adds 28 frets* <= 5 adds 34 frets* <= 7 adds 19 frets* <= 8.5 adds 36 frets* <= 9 adds 28 frets* <= 10 adds 34 frets* <= 11 adds 0 frets* <= 12 adds 12 frets* < 14 adds 0 frets* <= 15 adds 34 frets* <= 16 adds 28 frets* <= 17 adds 36 frets* <= 18 adds 0 frets* <= 19 adds 19 frets* <= 21 adds 0 frets* <= 22 adds 36 frets* <= 24 adds 24 frets* `other: adds 0 frets | Number | no |
Example:
C4 {volume 8} D4 E4 {tempo 16} F4
th​
th value
Description: Applies a tapped harmonic effect to the note (for fretted instruments).
Parameters:
| Name | Description | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
value | The harmonic value determines a relative fret-offset changing the note pitch when played. For natural harmonics the played fret determines the harmonic value. The rules are a bit special but mostly are aligned with the frequency adjustments happening when harmonics are played at respective frets: * 2.4 adds 36 frets* 2.7 adds 34 frets* < 3 adds 0 frets* <= 3.5 adds 31 frets* <= 4 adds 28 frets* <= 5 adds 34 frets* <= 7 adds 19 frets* <= 8.5 adds 36 frets* <= 9 adds 28 frets* <= 10 adds 34 frets* <= 11 adds 0 frets* <= 12 adds 12 frets* < 14 adds 0 frets* <= 15 adds 34 frets* <= 16 adds 28 frets* <= 17 adds 36 frets* <= 18 adds 0 frets* <= 19 adds 19 frets* <= 21 adds 0 frets* <= 22 adds 36 frets* <= 24 adds 24 frets* `other: adds 0 frets | Number | no |
Example:
:8 3.3{nh} 3.3{ah} 3.3{ph} 3.3{th} 3.3{sh}
ph​
ph value
Description: Applies a pinch harmonic effect to the note (for fretted instruments).
Parameters:
| Name | Description | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
value | The harmonic value determines a relative fret-offset changing the note pitch when played. For natural harmonics the played fret determines the harmonic value. The rules are a bit special but mostly are aligned with the frequency adjustments happening when harmonics are played at respective frets: * 2.4 adds 36 frets* 2.7 adds 34 frets* < 3 adds 0 frets* <= 3.5 adds 31 frets* <= 4 adds 28 frets* <= 5 adds 34 frets* <= 7 adds 19 frets* <= 8.5 adds 36 frets* <= 9 adds 28 frets* <= 10 adds 34 frets* <= 11 adds 0 frets* <= 12 adds 12 frets* < 14 adds 0 frets* <= 15 adds 34 frets* <= 16 adds 28 frets* <= 17 adds 36 frets* <= 18 adds 0 frets* <= 19 adds 19 frets* <= 21 adds 0 frets* <= 22 adds 36 frets* <= 24 adds 24 frets* `other: adds 0 frets | Number | no |
Example:
:8 3.3{nh} 3.3{ah} 3.3{ph} 3.3{th} 3.3{sh}
sh​
sh value
Description: Applies a semi harmonic effect to the note (for fretted instruments).
Parameters:
| Name | Description | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
value | The harmonic value determines a relative fret-offset changing the note pitch when played. For natural harmonics the played fret determines the harmonic value. The rules are a bit special but mostly are aligned with the frequency adjustments happening when harmonics are played at respective frets: * 2.4 adds 36 frets* 2.7 adds 34 frets* < 3 adds 0 frets* <= 3.5 adds 31 frets* <= 4 adds 28 frets* <= 5 adds 34 frets* <= 7 adds 19 frets* <= 8.5 adds 36 frets* <= 9 adds 28 frets* <= 10 adds 34 frets* <= 11 adds 0 frets* <= 12 adds 12 frets* < 14 adds 0 frets* <= 15 adds 34 frets* <= 16 adds 28 frets* <= 17 adds 36 frets* <= 18 adds 0 frets* <= 19 adds 19 frets* <= 21 adds 0 frets* <= 22 adds 36 frets* <= 24 adds 24 frets* `other: adds 0 frets | Number | no |
Example:
:8 3.3{nh} 3.3{ah} 3.3{ph} 3.3{th} 3.3{sh}
fh​
fh value
Description: Applies a feedback harmonic effect to the note (for fretted instruments).
Parameters:
| Name | Description | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
value | The harmonic value determines a relative fret-offset changing the note pitch when played. For natural harmonics the played fret determines the harmonic value. The rules are a bit special but mostly are aligned with the frequency adjustments happening when harmonics are played at respective frets: * 2.4 adds 36 frets* 2.7 adds 34 frets* < 3 adds 0 frets* <= 3.5 adds 31 frets* <= 4 adds 28 frets* <= 5 adds 34 frets* <= 7 adds 19 frets* <= 8.5 adds 36 frets* <= 9 adds 28 frets* <= 10 adds 34 frets* <= 11 adds 0 frets* <= 12 adds 12 frets* < 14 adds 0 frets* <= 15 adds 34 frets* <= 16 adds 28 frets* <= 17 adds 36 frets* <= 18 adds 0 frets* <= 19 adds 19 frets* <= 21 adds 0 frets* <= 22 adds 36 frets* <= 24 adds 24 frets* `other: adds 0 frets | Number | no |
Example:
:8 3.3{fh} 3.3{ah} 3.3{ph} 3.3{th} 3.3{sh}
v​
v ()
Description: Adds a slight vibrato effect to the note.
Example:
3.3{v}
vw​
vw ()
Description: Adds a wide vibrato effect to the note.
Example:
3.3{vw}
sl​
sl ()
Description: Adds a legato slide effect to the note.
Example:
3.3{sl} 4.3 3.3{ss} 4.3 |
3.3{sib} 3.3{sia} 3.3{sou} 3.3{sod} |
3.3{sib sou} 3.3{sib sod} 3.3{sia sod} 3.3{sia sou} |
x.3{psd} 3.3 |
x.3{psu} 3.3 |
ss​
ss ()
Description: Adds a shift slide effect to the note.
Example:
3.3{sl} 4.3 3.3{ss} 4.3 |
3.3{sib} 3.3{sia} 3.3{sou} 3.3{sod} |
3.3{sib sou} 3.3{sib sod} 3.3{sia sod} 3.3{sia sou} |
x.3{psd} 3.3 |
x.3{psu} 3.3 |
sib​
sib ()
Description: Adds a slide effect into the note from below.
Example:
3.3{sl} 4.3 3.3{ss} 4.3 |
3.3{sib} 3.3{sia} 3.3{sou} 3.3{sod} |
3.3{sib sou} 3.3{sib sod} 3.3{sia sod} 3.3{sia sou} |
x.3{psd} 3.3 |
x.3{psu} 3.3 |
sia​
sia ()
Description: Adds a slide effect into the note from above.
Example:
3.3{sl} 4.3 3.3{ss} 4.3 |
3.3{sib} 3.3{sia} 3.3{sou} 3.3{sod} |
3.3{sib sou} 3.3{sib sod} 3.3{sia sod} 3.3{sia sou} |
x.3{psd} 3.3 |
x.3{psu} 3.3 |
sou​
sou ()
Description: Adds a slide effect out from note upwards.
Example:
3.3{sl} 4.3 3.3{ss} 4.3 |
3.3{sib} 3.3{sou} 3.3{sou} 3.3{sod} |
3.3{sib sou} 3.3{sib sod} 3.3{sou sod} 3.3{sou sou} |
x.3{psd} 3.3 |
x.3{psu} 3.3 |
sod​
sod ()
Description: Adds a slide effect out from note downwards.
Example:
3.3{sl} 4.3 3.3{ss} 4.3 |
3.3{sib} 3.3{sod} 3.3{sod} 3.3{sod} |
3.3{sib sod} 3.3{sib sod} 3.3{sod sod} 3.3{sod sod} |
x.3{psd} 3.3 |
x.3{psu} 3.3 |
psu​
psu ()
Description: Adds a pick slide effect out from note upwards.
Example:
3.3{sl} 4.3 3.3{ss} 4.3 |
3.3{sib} 3.3{psu} 3.3{psu} 3.3{psu} |
3.3{sib psu} 3.3{sib psu} 3.3{psu psu} 3.3{psu psu} |
x.3{psd} 3.3 |
x.3{psu} 3.3 |
psd​
psd ()
Description: Adds a pick slide effect out from note downwards.
Example:
3.3{sl} 4.3 3.3{ss} 4.3 |
3.3{sib} 3.3{psd} 3.3{psd} 3.3{psd} |
3.3{sib psd} 3.3{sib psd} 3.3{psd psd} 3.3{psd psd} |
x.3{psd} 3.3 |
x.3{psd} 3.3 |
h​
h ()
Description: Applies a hammer on / pull-off effect to the note.
The fret of the following note on the same string defines whether it is a hammer-on or pull-of.
Example:
3.3{h} 4.3 4.3{h} 3.3 | 3.3{h} 4.3{h} 3.3{h} 4.3
lht​
lht ()
Description: Applies a left-hand-tapped annotation to the note.
Example:
:16 15.1{h} 13.1{h} 12.1{h} 15.2{lht}
g​
g ()
Description: Marks the note as a ghost note.
Example:
3.3{g}
ac​
ac ()
Description: Applies a simple accentuation to the note.
Example:
3.3{ac} 3.3{hac} 3.3{ten}
hac​
hac ()
Description: Applies a heavy accentuation to the note.
Example:
3.3{ac} 3.3{hac} 3.3{ten}
ten​
ten ()
Description: Applies a tenuto accentuation to the note.
Example:
3.3{ac} 3.3{ten} 3.3{ten}
tr​
tr (fret duration)
Description: Applies a trill effect to the note.
Parameters:
| Name | Description | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
fret | The fret on which to trill | Number | yes |
duration | The duration/speed of the trills | 16|32|64 | no 16 |
Parameter Values:
Following parameters have value limitations
| Name | Values | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
duration |
|
Example:
:4 3.3{tr 4} 3.3{tr 4 16} 3.3{tr 5 32} 3.3{tr 6 64}
pm​
pm ()
Description: Applies a palm mute effect to the note.
Example:
3.3{pm} 3.3{pm} 3.3{pm} 3.3{pm}
st​
st ()
Description: Applies a staccato effect to the note.
Example:
3.3{st}
lr​
lr ()
Description: Applies a LetRing effect to the note.
Example:
3.4{lr} 3.3{lr} 3.2{lr} 3.1{lr}
x​
x ()
Description: Marks the note as a dead note.
Example:
x.3 3.3{x}
t​
t ()
Description: Marks the note as a tied note.
This is an alternative syntax to directly specifying the fret as -.
For non stringed instrument it can be a bit more tricky as we cannot use the string to identify which note to tie. There are multiple ways to work around this problem. AlphaTab will try to find the start note for the tie via several rules, if this does not match the desired behavior, you can specify the note value as alternative and indicate the tie via a note effect.
Example:
3.3 -.3 | (1.1 3.2 2.3 0.4) (-.1 -.4)
\tuning piano
.
// If there is a single note on the previous beat, we tie to this one
// Then a simple - is enough for a tie
:2 a4 - |
// Alternatively you can specify a '-' or 't' as note effect to indicate a tie
:2 a4 a4{-} |
:2 a4 a4{t} |
// This also works for chords using correct note ordering
:2 (a4 a3) (- a3) |
:2 (a4 a3) (a4 -) |
// If nothing helps, always the explicit note value and tie effect should allow
// specifying the correct behavior
:2 (a4 a3) (a4{t} a3) |
:4 (a4 a3) (b2 b3) a4{t} a3{-} |
turn​
turn ()
Description: Applies a turn ornament to the note.
Example:
:1 C4{turn} |
iturn​
iturn ()
Description: Applies an inverted turn ornament to the note.
Example:
:1 C4{iturn} |
umordent​
umordent ()
Description: Applies an upper mordent ornament to the note.
Example:
:1 C4{umordent} |
lmordent​
lmordent ()
Description: Applies an lower mordent ornament to the note.
Example:
:1 C4{lmordent} |
string​
string ()
Description: Adds an annotation showing the string number of the note above the staff.
Example:
3.3{string} 3.4{string} 3.5{string}
hide​
hide ()
Description: Hides the note from being displayed in the music sheet.
Example:
:8 3.3 (4.4{hide} 5.5)
b​
// [1]:
b (values)
// [2]:
b (type values)
// [3]:
b (style values)
// [4]:
b (type style values)
Description: Adds a bend effect to the note.
- The
bvariant automatically spreads the values across the duration of the beat. - The
be(exact) variant allows specifying exactly at which offset a value is placed.
It is recommended to rely on the auto-detection of the type and only specify the type explicitly if something is wrong.
Parameters:
| Overload | Name | Description | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
[1] | values | The values of the bend in quarter-tones relative to the original note, decimals supported | Number[] | no |
[2] | type | The type of bend (affects the display). | Ident | yes |
[2] | values | The values of the bend in quarter-tones relative to the original note, decimals supported | Number[] | no |
[3] | style | The style of the bend. | default|gradual|fast | yes |
[3] | values | The values of the bend in quarter-tones relative to the original note, decimals supported | Number[] | no |
[4] | type | The type of bend (affects the display). | Ident | yes |
[4] | style | The style of the bend. | default|gradual|fast | yes |
[4] | values | The values of the bend in quarter-tones relative to the original note, decimals supported | Number[] | no |
Parameter Values:
Following parameters have value limitations
| Overload | Name | Values | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[2] | type |
| ||||||||||||||||||
[3] | style |
| ||||||||||||||||||
[4] | type |
| ||||||||||||||||||
[4] | style |
|
Example:
3.3{b (0 4)} |
3.3{b (0 4 0 8)} |
be​
// [1]:
be (valueAndOffset)
// [2]:
be (type valueAndOffset)
// [3]:
be (style valueAndOffset)
// [4]:
be (type style valueAndOffset)
Description: Adds an exact bend effect to the note.
- The
bvariant automatically spreads the values across the duration of the beat. - The
be(exact) variant allows specifying exactly at which offset a value is placed.
It is recommended to rely on the auto-detection of the type and only specify the type explicitly if something is wrong.
Parameters:
| Overload | Name | Description | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
[1] | valueAndOffset | The offset at which the value becomes valid in range of 0-60 and The value of the bend in quarter-tones relative to the original note. The offset and value are actually two parameters: 3.3 {be (0 0 5 2 30 4)} | Number[] | no |
[2] | type | The type of bend (affects the display). | Ident | yes |
[2] | valueAndOffset | The offset at which the value becomes valid in range of 0-60 and The value of the bend in quarter-tones relative to the original note. The offset and value are actually two parameters: 3.3 {be (0 0 5 2 30 4)} | Number[] | no |
[3] | style | The style of the whammy play style. | default|gradual|fast | yes |
[3] | valueAndOffset | The offset at which the value becomes valid in range of 0-60 and The value of the bend in quarter-tones relative to the original note. The offset and value are actually two parameters: 3.3 {be (0 0 5 2 30 4)} | Number[] | no |
[4] | type | The type of bend (affects the display). | Ident | yes |
[4] | style | The style of the whammy play style. | default|gradual|fast | yes |
[4] | valueAndOffset | The offset at which the value becomes valid in range of 0-60 and The value of the bend in quarter-tones relative to the original note. The offset and value are actually two parameters: 3.3 {be (0 0 5 2 30 4)} | Number[] | no |
Parameter Values:
Following parameters have value limitations
| Overload | Name | Values | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[2] | type |
| ||||||||||||||||||
[3] | style |
| ||||||||||||||||||
[4] | type |
| ||||||||||||||||||
[4] | style |
|
Example:
:1 3.3 {be (0 0 5 2 30 4)}
lf​
lf finger
Description: Adds a left-hand fingering annotation to the note.
Parameters:
| Name | Description | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
finger | The finger | Number | yes |
Parameter Values:
Following parameters have value limitations
| Name | Values | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
finger |
|
Example:
:8 3.3{lf 1} 3.3{lf 2} 3.3{lf 3} 3.3{lf 4} 3.3{lf 5} (2.2{lf 4} 2.3{lf 3} 2.4{lf 2}) |
:8 3.3{rf 1} 3.3{rf 2} 3.3{rf 3} 3.3{rf 4} 3.3{lf 5}
rf​
rf finger
Description: Adds a right-hand fingering annotation to the note.
Parameters:
| Name | Description | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
finger | The finger | Number | yes |
Parameter Values:
Following parameters have value limitations
| Name | Values | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
finger |
|
Example:
:8 3.3{lf 1} 3.3{lf 2} 3.3{lf 3} 3.3{lf 4} 3.3{lf 5} (2.2{lf 4} 2.3{lf 3} 2.4{lf 2}) |
:8 3.3{rf 1} 3.3{rf 2} 3.3{rf 3} 3.3{rf 4} 3.3{lf 5}
acc​
acc mode
Description: Changes the mode to determine the accidentals for this note.
Parameters:
| Name | Description | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
mode | The accidental mode | Ident | yes |
Parameter Values:
Following parameters have value limitations
| Name | Values | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mode |
|
Example:
:8 3.3{lf 1} 3.3{lf 2} 3.3{lf 3} 3.3{lf 4} 3.3{lf 5} (2.2{lf 4} 2.3{lf 3} 2.4{lf 2}) |
:8 3.3{rf 1} 3.3{rf 2} 3.3{rf 3} 3.3{rf 4} 3.3{lf 5}
slur​
// [1]:
slur id
// [2]:
slur id
Description: Marks the start or end of a slur for the note.
Parameters:
| Overload | Name | Description | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
[1] | id | A unique ID to mark the start and end of the slur. | String | yes |
[2] | id | A unique ID to mark the start and end of the slur. | Ident | yes |
Example:
(3.3 {slur s1} 4.4).4 7.3.8 8.3.8 10.3 {slur s1} .8
-​
- ()
Description: Marks the note as a tied note.
This is an alternative syntax to directly specifying the fret as -.
For non stringed instrument it can be a bit more tricky as we cannot use the string to identify which note to tie. There are multiple ways to work around this problem. AlphaTab will try to find the start note for the tie via several rules, if this does not match the desired behavior, you can specify the note value as alternative and indicate the tie via a note effect.
Example:
3.3 -.3 | (1.1 3.2 2.3 0.4) (-.1 -.4)
\tuning piano
.
// If there is a single note on the previous beat, we tie to this one
// Then a simple - is enough for a tie
:2 a4 - |
// Alternatively you can specify a '-' or 't' as note effect to indicate a tie
:2 a4 a4{-} |
:2 a4 a4{t} |
// This also works for chords using correct note ordering
:2 (a4 a3) (- a3) |
:2 (a4 a3) (a4 -) |
// If nothing helps, always the explicit note value and tie effect should allow
// specifying the correct behavior
:2 (a4 a3) (a4{t} a3) |
:4 (a4 a3) (b2 b3) a4{t} a3{-} |