Structure
If the core LCR format is the flesh, we need a skeleton to hang that flesh on. Let's us explore some structure facilities at our disposal.
Fields
Right after the title we may add a number of arbitrary fields. Each field is
on its own line and has a name and a value, separated by an equal sign: =
.
They will be displayed under the title in a table-like format:
Scarborough Fair
Authors = Simon & Garfunkel
Meter = 3/4
Key = Em
Sections
It is also useful to divide a song into sections, and give each section its
own title and description. Sections are delimited by markers on their own line,
with three dashes at the beginning: ---
. Each section marker adds some space:
| Em~ Are ` ` you | going ` ` to | D~ Scar- ` \ bo- ` rough | Em~ Fair? ` ` |
...
---
| Em~ Tell ` her ` to | make ` me ` a | D~ ca- ` \ am- ` bric | Em~ shirt ` ` |
...
and it also allows us to add a title and description to each section. Title
and description, on the same line, are separated by an equal sign again: =
.
Differently from fields, though, either the title or the description may be
absent (but not both):
---
Verse 1 =
| Em~ Are ` ` you | going ` ` to | D~ Scar- ` \ bo- ` rough | Em~ Fair? ` ` |
...
---
= description of verse 2
| Em~ Tell ` her ` to | make ` me ` a | D~ ca- ` \ am- ` bric | Em~ shirt ` ` |
...
---
Verse 3 = description of verse 3
| Em~ Tell ` her ` to | find ` me ` an | D~ a- ` cre ` \ of | Em~ land ` ` |
...
The descriptions are useful for things like tempo and meter changes, repeat indications, and anything else.
Columns
Arranging the output in columns may help with using the available page estate.
The song marker, like the section one, lives at the beginning of its own line
and is made of three characters, this time three vertical bars: |
. Here is
an example:
Scarborough Fair
---
Verse 1 =
| Em~ Are ` ` you | going ` ` to | D~ Scar- ` \ bo- ` rough | Em~ Fair? ` ` |
...
|||
Verse 2 =
| Em~ Tell ` her ` to | make ` me ` a | D~ ca- ` \ am- ` bric | Em~ shirt ` ` |
...
Note that the column marker also works as a section marker: this way sections do not end up split between two columns.
Songs
Keeping a number of songs in one file is often useful. The song marker also
lives at the beginning of its own line, and is made of three equal signs: =
:
Scarborough Fair
Authors = Simon & Garfunkel
...
===
Bridge over Troubled Water
Authors = Simon & Garfunkel
...
The song marker also works as a page marker: each song will always begin at the top of a page.