Re: custom key signatures

[james]

On Sep 2, 2012, at 11:51 PM, james wrote:

> 
> On Sep 2, 2012, at 11:46 PM, Keith OHara wrote:
> 
>> james <james.lilypond <at> googlemail.com> writes:
>> 
>>> I'm looking at the new options for custom key signatures,
>> 
>>> "Accidentals in the key signature may be printed in octaves other than 
>>> their traditional positions, or in multiple octaves, by using the flat-
>>> positions and sharp-positions properties of KeySignature. Entries in 
>>> these properties specify the range of staff-positions where accidentals 
>>> will be printed. If a single position is specified in an entry, the 
>>> accidentals are placed within the octave ending at that staff position."
>> 
>> This feature is new with development version 2.17.1.  It is meant for normal 
>> key signatures, but it also works for custom key signatures of the simpler 
>> type where you do not specify the octave explicitly.
>> 
>>> Does this mean that if a custom key signature is used with, say, 
>>> g-flat and a-flat (for bass clef), the key is c major?
>> 
>> No.  The "\key g\major" (or the individually-specified flats and sharps) 
>> determines the key.  The *-positions adjust where the key-signature 
>> alterations are printed on the staff.
>> 
>> If you define an unusual key signature with G-flat and A-flat
>> 
>> \new Staff { \clef bass
>> \set Staff.keySignature = #`(( 4 . ,FLAT) ( 5 . ,FLAT))
>> f4 ges as b }
>> 
>> normally the flats go at the bottom of the staff, because that is their 
>> position when they live with Bflat Eflat and  Dflat in traditional key 
>> signatures.  This looks a little odd with just the G- and A-flat, so if 
>> you like you cay say "please print flats on this Staff as close as you can 
>> to the first space above the staff (position 5)"
>> 
>> \override Staff.KeySignature #'flat-positions = #'(5)
>> 
> Ah, okay, so the space below the first line is 0, and the rest of the 
> positions are calcluated up from that. Thanks!
> 
Brain fart. the space below the first line is 1, not zero. And the A-flat? 
Assuming I want that on position 2 (space above first line)? Do I specify that 
just substituting the new number?