ABC notation/headers

This chapter explains headers for ABC notation. A header begins with a letter followed by a column ':' and information like below. Q: "Andante" list of headers Symbol Field name Explanation C: composer K: key key signature like G Dur L: note length default note length, like 1/4 stands for Crotchet for default length M: metre musical metre N: note textual notes O: origin geographical origin like Irish and Swedish Q: tempo the tempo of a tune like 1/8=120 and "Allegro" T: title title of the music X: index number a tune's index number is used like the track number in a recording explanations key A key signature is indicated by the 'K:' header. G Dur is indicated by 'K:G'. Sharp and flat is expressed by '#' and 'b' respectively. So, Fis Dur and As Dur is indicated by 'K:F#' and 'K:Ab' respectively. Dur is assumed, but we can specify it by 'maj' like 'K:Gmaj'. Moll is indicated by 'm' or 'min' like 'K:Gm' or 'K:Gmin'. default note length The header 'L:' indicates default note length. The length of a note which is not followed by a note length is this default note length. Minim, crotchet and quaver as a default length is indicated by 'L:1/2', 'L:1/4' and 'L:1/8'. Note length is expressed by multiple of the default length. The below is example. X:1 K:G L:1/4 M:C cdef|gabz|c1/2d1/2e1/2f1/2|g1/2a1/2b1/2z1/2| L:1/16 cdef|gabz|c4d4e4f4|g4a4b4z4| thumb|alt=note length|note length musical metre Musical metre is denoted by the 'M:' header. Example metres are described in the table below. SymbolmeaningM:4/44/4M:12/1612/16M:Ccommon time, same as M:4/4M:C| cut time, same as M:2/2M:nonefree metre, no time signature and no cheking We can put a musical metre in the middle of a line by using square bracket. The example is below. X:1 K:C L:1/4 M:C cdef|gabz| M:C| L:1/2 cd|ef|ga|bz| M:4/4 L:1/4 cdef|gabz| [M:12/16] c1/4d1/4e1/4 f1/4g1/4a1/4 b1/4z1/2 z3/4| thumb|alt=musical metre|musical metre tempo The 'Q:' header indicates the tempo of a music like described in the below table. symbolexplanationQ:1/4=120note and countQ:120count onlyQ:"Andante"tempo is expressed by a letter "Andante"