Re: [tablatures] harmonics in tablature

[Marc Hohl <marc@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Patrick, hello all,

Patrick Schmidt schrieb:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm having difficulties to indicate in tablature where to place a 
> finger to get harmonics other than the first harmonic (see Ex. 1). The 
> first harmonic is normally produced in the 12th fret and sounds in the 
> same octave as if the string were stopped in the 12th fret (one octave 
> above open string). In the case of other harmonics the pitch or the 
> octave of a fretted note isn't necessarily the same as the pitch of 
> the resulting harmonic.  Of course LilyPond calculates the fret number 
> of a given pitch name so it's no surprise that in Ex. 2–4 the fret 
> numbers in tablature differ from those indicated in the text markups. 
> I would like to engrave the sounding pitch of a harmonic in standard 
> notation and the place where to put one's fingers in tablature. Is 
> there a way to adjust fret numbers in Ex. 2–4? Or is it possible in 
> Ex. 5–6 to get rid off the note head for the stopped position in 
> standard notation and typeset the fret number(s) in single angle 
> brackets in tablature?
>
> Thanks for any hint!
> patrick
I don't have a hint, but generally, it would be a useful enhancement to 
have a better input
possibility for harmonics. I'd propose two functions, say

\harmonic-by-ratio <ratio> <note>
and
\harmonic-by-fret <fret> <note>

so, for example, you can code

\harmonic-by ratio 1/3 e,,4 and get the second harmonic (h,4) on the 
seventh fret: <7>,
whereas
\harmonic-by ratio 2/3 e,,4 would yield to the same harmonic note played 
on the 21th fret.

The same result would be available by saying
\harmonic-by fret 7 e,,4 or \harmonic-by-fret 21 e,,4

Harmonics over the fifth partial tone cannot be coded directly in 
lilypond, because
fret numbers like 2.6 or 2.1 are not supported yet.
I am not sure whether I can implement this, but I would give it a try.

What do you think?


Marc