Common header elements:
X:
index number, required in some software [e.g. X:1
]T:
title [e.g T: Happy Birthday
]M:
meter, required [e.g. M:C
, M:4/4
, M:3/4
]L:
default note length [e.g. L:1/2
, L:1/4
, L:1/8
]Q:
tempo [e.g. Q:120
, Q:1/8=120
, Q:1/4=60
]K:
key signature, required [e.g. K:G
, K:Gm
]V:
voice, can set the clef [e.g. V:1 name=Violin
, V:2 name=Cello clef=bass
]Common notation elements:
CDEFGAB
, top octave cdefgab
[e.g. C
= middle C]z
rest,
down an octave, '
up an octave [e.g. C,
or c'
]^
sharps, _
flats [e.g. ^c
or _c
]/
dividing number [e.g. a2
or a/2
]a b c
versus abc
]|
barline, |]
double bar, |:
repeats :|
For help, check the ABC Tutorial.