Songlib: note notations

written by: Song Li Buser

Revision Date: March 8, 2012

Printable Version

    #define C     0
    #define Cs    1
    #define Db    1
    #define D     2
    #define Ds    3
    #define Eb    3
    #define E     4
    #define F     5
    #define Fs    6
    #define Gb    6
    #define G     7
    #define Gs    8
    #define Ab    8
    #define A     9
    #define As   10
    #define Bb   10
    #define B    11

Here, the "s" appelation denotes a sharp and "b" a flat. These constants are used in conjuction with an octave specification to specify which notes play, chord, and others are to produce.

There are also   absolute   constants defined as well:

    #define C0    0
    #define Cs0   1
    #define Db0   2
    #define D0    2
    ...
    #define B0   11
    #define C1   12
    #define Cs1  13
    #define Db1  13
    #define D1   14
    ...
    ...
    ...
    #define B10  131

These constants are used with the notePlaying? and filters? commands, among others.

Percussion

A special set of note constants is used for playing percussion. By songlib covention, the following notes correspond to the following percussion instruments:

Assuming the notes have been set up properly, one would use these constants thusly:

    drumset = readScale("/usr/local/share/samples/drums/","hydrogen_");

    snplay(Q,drumset,COWBELL);
    snplay(I,drumset,CRASH);

Drums are usually played with the snplay playing function, since the entire note will play but the song will advance only the requested number of beats. There is a version of snplay that randomly introduces some slop into the amplitude, pitch and timing of the note:

    for (i = 0; i < 4; ++i)
	drum(I,drumset,TOM_MIDDLE)

This makes a repetitive series of beats sound less mechanical.