Hiding staves

In orchestral scores, staff lines that only have rests are usually removed in order to save some space. This style is called ‘French Score’. For the Lyrics, ChordNames, and FiguredBass contexts, this is switched on by default.

For other staff contexts, this behavior is set with the \RemoveEmptyStaffContext command. It is set in the \layout block. As a result, empty staves or staves containing multi-measure rests are removed after a line break.

     
     \layout {
       \context {
         \RemoveEmptyStaffContext
       }
     }
     \relative c'' {
       <<
         \new Staff { e4 f g a \break c1 }
         \new Staff { c4 d e f \break R1 }
       >>
     }

To remove other types of contexts, use \AncientRemoveEmptyStaffContext or \RemoveEmptyRhythmicStaffContext.

Another application of \RemoveEmptyStaffContext is to make ossia sections, i.e., alternative melodies on a separate piece of staff, with help of a Frenched staff. For details, see Ossia staves.

Staff lines can be made invisible by removing the Staff_symbol_engraver from the Staff context:

     
     \new Staff \with {
       \remove "Staff_symbol_engraver"
     }
     \relative c'' { c8 c c16 c c c c2 }

Selected Snippets

Removing the first empty line

The first empty staff can also be removed from the score by setting the VerticalAxisGroup property remove-first. This can be done globally inside the \layout block, or locally inside the specific staff that should be removed. In the latter case, you have to specify the context (Staff applies only to the current staff) in front of the property.

The lower staff of the second staff group is not removed, because the setting applies only to the specific staff inside of which it is written.

     
     \layout {
       \context { 
         \RemoveEmptyStaffContext 
         % To use the setting globally, uncomment the following line:
         % \override VerticalAxisGroup #'remove-first = ##t
       }
     }
     \new StaffGroup <<
       \new Staff \relative c' {
         e4 f g a \break
         c1
       }
       \new Staff {
         % To use the setting globally, comment this line,
         % uncomment the line in the \layout block above
         \override Staff.VerticalAxisGroup #'remove-first = ##t
         R1 \break
         R
       }
     >>
     \new StaffGroup <<
       \new Staff \relative c' {
         e4 f g a \break
         c1
       }
       \new Staff {
         R1 \break
         R
       }
     >>

Predefined commands

\RemoveEmptyStaffContext, \AncientRemoveEmptyStaffContext, \RemoveEmptyRhythmicStaffContext.

See also

Notation Reference: Staff symbol, Ossia staves.

Snippets: Staff notation.

Internals Reference: ChordNames, FiguredBass, Lyrics, Staff, VerticalAxisGroup.

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