LilyPond Notation Reference: 4.2.2 Setting the staff size

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4.2.2 Setting the staff size

The default staff size is 20 points, which corresponds to a staff height of 7.03mm (one point is equal to 100/7227 of an inch, or 2540/7227 mm). The staff size may be changed in three ways:

To set the staff size globally for all scores in a file (or in a \book block, to be precise), use set-global-staff-size:
```
#(set-global-staff-size 14)
```
The above example sets the global default staff size to 14pt (4.92mm) and scales all fonts accordingly.
To set the staff size for a single score within a book, use layout-set-staff-size inside that score’s \layout block:
```
\score {
 …
 \layout {
 #(layout-set-staff-size 14)
 }
}
```
To set the staff size for a single staff within a system, use the \magnifyStaff command. For example, traditionally engraved chamber music scores with piano often used 7mm piano staves while the other staves were typically between 3/5 and 5/7 as large (between 60% and 71%). To achieve the 5/7 proportion, use:
```
\score {
 <<
 \new Staff \with {
 \magnifyStaff #5/7
 } { … }
 \new PianoStaff { … }
 >>
}
```
If you happen to know which fontSize you wish to use, you could use the following form:
```
\score {
 <<
 \new Staff \with {
 \magnifyStaff #(magstep -3)
 } { … }
 \new PianoStaff { … }
 >>
}
```
To emulate the look of traditional engraving, it is best to avoid reducing the thickness of the staff lines.

Automatic font weight at different sizes

The Emmentaler font provides the set of Feta musical glyphs in eight different sizes; each one tuned for a different staff size. The smaller the glyph size, the “heavier” it becomes, so as to match the relatively thicker staff lines. Recommended glyphs sizes are listed in the following table:

font name staff height (pt) staff height (mm) use

feta11 11.22 3.9 pocket scores

feta13 12.60 4.4

feta14 14.14 5.0

feta16 15.87 5.6

feta18 17.82 6.3 song books

feta20 20 7.0 standard parts

feta23 22.45 7.9

feta26 25.2 8.9

4.2.2 Setting the staff size

Automatic font weight at different sizes

See also

LilyPond — Notation Reference v2.21.82 (development-branch).