Re: [PATCH] Add scheme engraver for StaffTab notation

[Ricardo Wurmus]

Werner LEMBERG writes:

> Just having a quick look (since I don't understand Tab notation at
> all) I ask you the same as almost everybody else who commits a patch
> the first time: Please try to limit the line length to 80 characters!

The line length in the patch is already limited to 80 characters.  I use
fci-mode in Emacs to display the fill column and it is set to 70
characters and is crossed at only one point.  Do you want me to change
the maximum length from 70 to 80?

The example (which is not part of the patch) has no strict length
restrictions.

StaffTab notation is very much unlike common tab notation, so
familiarity with guitar tabs would not help.  Familiarity with the
Chapman Stick, however, would help.  It is primarily like regular
notation with a few additions and a few modifications:

- the shape of the note head indicates what finger is to be used to play
  the note.  A perfectly circular disc-shaped note head indicates that
  the first/index finger is to be used; a diamond-shaped note head
  indicates the second finger; a triangle the third finger; a rectangle
  the fourth.

- as the Stick has 10 to 12 strings the note lines can be abused to
  represent strings.  In a grand staff with two systems the upper staff
  represents the first string group (the melody strings to be played
  with the right hand), the lower staff represents the second string
  group (the bass strings to be played with the left hand).  String
  markers (somewhat faint, wide rectangles) are added onto the note
  lines if a string number is provided in the sources.  The markers are
  somewhat spread horizontally to show an approximation of the chord
  shape.

- fret numbers are computed from the string number and pitch; they are
  collected for all notes at a timestep and string group, joined by a
  dot, and printed over (for strings in the upper staff) or under (for
  bass strings) the note.

That's pretty much all there is to it.

~~ Ricardo