Re: Stem direction with ties

[David Kastrup]

Per Starbäck <address@hidden> writes:

> With
>
> \version "2.16.2"
>
> \relative c'' {
>   b~ b8 a b4~ b8 c
>   a8 b~ b4 c8 b~ b4
> }
>
> the stems of every b goes downwards. I think it would be better if tied
> notes had the same direction, to make it clearer visually that they belong
> together. Then two of these stems should go up instead.

Well, how would you typeset

\relative c'' {
  e8[ c]~ c a~ a[ f]~ f e
}

with that rule?  So obviously, this kind of rule should only be applied
by looking at a broader context and applying it only where its
application yields actually better results.

This kind of "look at a larger context and choose a global optimum"
decision is pretty hard to do using LilyPond's current architecture.

You're pretty safe doing things like \once\stemUp and similar for
correcting such things: LilyPond will likely obey them in future even if
it ever gains the intelligence to come to the same conclusion all by
itself.

-- 
David Kastrup