Repeats, endings, and navigation
Barlines
| is a plain barline, || a double barline, and ||| a final barline. Keep the pipes touching. Spaced | | includes an empty bar between two barlines.
4C5 D E F || 1G |||
Canonical spelling
4C5 D E F || 1G |||
Repeated sections
|: opens a repeat; :| closes it. The repeat sign already includes its double-bar geometry. Do not add another double bar beside it. The checker reports redundant pipes and the formatter removes them. :|: closes one repeat where the next begins. At the end of a collection, its opening side belongs to the next numbered bar of that same part or voice. It does not add a silent bar. If no following bar exists, remove the opening side or write that bar.
|: 4C5 D E F | 1G :|
Canonical spelling
|: 4C5 D E F | 1G :|
Repeat or borrow a measure
A measure containing only && repeats the preceding bar and prints a simile sign. &&! repeats it with the notes written out. &&4 repeats four bars. These forms must occupy a bar on their own and need earlier music to borrow.
4C5 D E F | && | &&! | &&2
Example notes (1)
- measure 2 repeats m2 written out; the painter draws its borrowed notes
Canonical spelling
4C5 D E F | && | &&! | &&2
% borrows the preceding bar as written-out notes. %m1 borrows the addressed earlier measure. Write it inside the destination collection, for example m2 { %m1 }. Named range assignments reuse longer passages. The borrowed rhythm must fit the destination meter.
m1 {
4C5 D E F
}
m2 {
m2 { %m1 }
}
Example notes (1)
- measure 1 repeats m1 written out; the painter draws its borrowed notes
Canonical spelling
m1 {
4C5 D E F
}
m2 {
m2 { %m1 }
}
First and second endings
[1..] opens a first ending and [2..] the second. [1,2..] names several passes. The closing repeat closes the first ending. A final ending can close at an explicit double or final barline; without one it follows the length of the ending it parallels. An ending opener written after a bar's last note belongs to the following bar, including when the row wraps there.
4C5 D E F | [1..] 1G :| [2..] C, |||
Canonical spelling
4C5 D E F | [1..] 1G :| [2..] C, |||
Navigation words
Use bracketed musical instructions: [segno], [coda], [to coda], [fine], [D.C.], [D.C. al Fine], or [D.S. al Coda]. Navigation is case-insensitive and periods are optional: [DC], [dc], and [D.C.] all mean da capo; [DS], [ds], and [D.S.] mean dal segno. A deliberately named boxed label is [[DC]], not a jump; prefer actual measure-number rehearsal maps such as RH {m5, m9, m13} for ordinary landmarks.
[segno] 4C5 D E F | 1G [fine]
Canonical spelling
[segno] 4C5 D E F | 1G [fine]
Printed navigation and a playback itinerary are separate acceptance checks. Inspect and listen to the finished work; do not assume that a renderer showing an instruction proves every player follows its return path.