3.8. Metronome marks

Standard metronome marks can be displayed using the metronome element. It also affects the default tempo in playback.

metronome      ::=  (metronome { noteType {ticksPerMinute | noteType} | ticksPerMinute }
                               [parenthesis] [noVisible] )
noteType       ::=  note duration, a letter with optional dots, as in notes/rest
ticksPerMinute ::=  number

To set the tempo in playback without printing anything on the score, make the metronome marking invisible by using a noVisible option.

The parenthesis option is for enclosing the metronome mark between parenthesis.

Examples:

(score (vers 2.0) (instrument (musicData
    (clef G)(key C)(time 2 4)
    (metronome q 60)            // quarter-note = 60
    (n e4 q)(n g4 q)(barline)
    (metronome q q.)            // quarter-note = dotted-quarter-note
    (n e4 q)(n g4 q)(barline)
    (metronome 60)              // m.m. = 60
    (n e4 q)(n g4 q)(barline)
    (metronome q 60 parenthesis)    // (quarter-note = 60)
    (n e4 q)(n g4 q)(barline)
    (metronome q 60 noVisible)      // nothing displayed
    (n e4 q)(n g4 q)(barline end)
)))
../_images/metronome-01.png