AbcLsp: Language server for ABC music notation
Language features for ABC music notation
Features
- Diagnostics warning when the server can't read the score.
Divide rhythms, and Multiply rhythms commands: select some notes and the commands will divide/multiple their time value by two.
Single note midi input from you midi keyboard (Chord-input from midi will come at some point)
Live preview of ABC and ABCx scores (integrated renderer)
Export to HTML and SVG
Print preview
ABCx Support
ABCx is a simplified ABC format designed for chord sheets and lead sheets. Instead of writing full musical notation, you write chord symbols directly in the tune body. The extension automatically converts .abcx files to standard ABC for rendering.
File Structure
ABCx files use the same header fields as standard ABC:
X:1
T:Song Title
C:Composer
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:C
C Am | F G |
Em Am | Dm G |
Chord Symbol Syntax
Chord symbols follow this pattern: Root[accidental][quality][extension][alteration][/bass]
| Component |
Options |
Example |
| Root |
A-G (or lowercase a,c,d,e,f,g) |
C, A, g |
| Accidental |
# or b |
F#, Bb |
| Quality |
maj, min, m, M, dim, aug, sus, add |
Am, Cmaj, Bdim |
| Extension |
7, 9, 11, 13, 6 |
G7, Am9 |
| Alteration |
#5, b5, #9, b9 |
Dm7b5 |
| Bass |
/[note] |
C/E, Bb/D |
Examples: C, Am, G7, Cmaj7, Dm7b5, F#m7, Bb/D, A-7b5/D
Other Supported Elements
- Barlines:
|, ||, |], [|, :|, |:, ::, [1, [2
- Annotations:
"text above staff"
- Multi-measure rests:
Z4 (4 bars rest)
- Inline fields:
[K:G], [M:3/4]
- Part markers:
P:A, P:Chorus
- Comments:
% this is a comment
Example
X:1
T:Autumn Leaves
M:4/4
K:G
P:A
Am7 | D7 | Gmaj7 | Cmaj7 |
F#m7b5 | B7 | Em | Em |
P:B
Am7 | D7 | Gmaj7 | Cmaj7 |
F#m7b5 | B7 | Em | Em ||
Known Issues
- Doesn't support lyric sections yet.
- Doesn't support ranges in repeat bars (
|1-2 or |1,2).
- Doesn't allow rhythms in grace note groups.
Divide rhythms or Multiply rhythms might accidentally duplicate the last character in a text selection.
Maybe coming to the extension
- Arranging routine capabilities
- Live preview of the score
Development
To build and install the extension locally:
cd vscode-extension
npm run build && npm run package && code --install-extension <extension_vsix> --force
Then reload VSCode to pick up the changes.
Release Notes
See CHANGELOG.md for release notes.
Attribution
The renderer component is based on abcjs-vscode by Alen Siljak, licensed under GPL-3.0-or-later.
License
This extension is licensed under GPL-3.0-or-later. See the LICENSE file for details.
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