The <clef> element

Clefs are represented by a combination of <sign>, <line>, and <clef-octave-change> elements.

Clefs appear at the start of each system unless the print-object attribute has been set to “no” or the additional attribute has been set to “yes”.

Content

In this order

<sign> (Required)
<line> (Optional)
<clef-octave-change> (Optional)

Attributes

Name	Type	Required?(Default)	Description
additional	yes-no	No	Sometimes clefs are added to the staff in non-standard line positions, either to indicate cue passages, or when there are multiple clefs present simultaneously on one staff. In this situation, the additional attribute is set to “yes” and the line value is ignored.
Sometimes clefs are added to the staff in non-standard line positions, either to indicate cue passages, or when there are multiple clefs present simultaneously on one staff. In this situation, the additional attribute is set to “yes” and the line value is ignored.
after-barline	yes-no	No	Sometimes clefs at the start of a measure need to appear after the barline rather than before, as for cues or for use after a repeated section. The after-barline attribute is set to “yes” in this situation. This attribute is ignored for mid-measure clefs.
Sometimes clefs at the start of a measure need to appear after the barline rather than before, as for cues or for use after a repeated section. The after-barline attribute is set to “yes” in this situation. This attribute is ignored for mid-measure clefs.
color	color	No	Indicates the color of an element.
Indicates the color of an element.
default-x	tenths	No	Changes the computation of the default horizontal position. The origin is changed relative to the left-hand side of the note or the musical position within the bar. Positive x is right and negative x is left. This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the `<offset>` element. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both features should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
Changes the computation of the default horizontal position. The origin is changed relative to the left-hand side of the note or the musical position within the bar. Positive x is right and negative x is left. This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the `<offset>` element. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both features should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
default-y	tenths	No	Changes the computation of the default vertical position. The origin is changed relative to the top line of the staff. Positive y is up and negative y is down. This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the placement attribute. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both attributes should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
Changes the computation of the default vertical position. The origin is changed relative to the top line of the staff. Positive y is up and negative y is down. This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the placement attribute. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both attributes should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
font-family	font-family	No	A comma-separated list of font names.
A comma-separated list of font names.
font-size	font-size	No	One of the CSS sizes or a numeric point size.
One of the CSS sizes or a numeric point size.
font-style	font-style	No	Normal or italic style.
Normal or italic style.
font-weight	font-weight	No	Normal or bold weight.
Normal or bold weight.
id	xs:ID	No	Specifies an ID that is unique to the entire document.
Specifies an ID that is unique to the entire document.
number	staff-number	No	Specifies the staff number from top to bottom within the part. The value is 1 if not present.
Specifies the staff number from top to bottom within the part. The value is 1 if not present.
print-object	yes-no	No	Specifies whether or not to print an object. It is yes if not specified.
Specifies whether or not to print an object. It is yes if not specified.
relative-x	tenths	No	Changes the horizontal position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-x attribute. Positive x is right and negative x is left. It should be interpreted in the context of the `<offset>` element or directive attribute if those are present.
Changes the horizontal position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-x attribute. Positive x is right and negative x is left. It should be interpreted in the context of the `<offset>` element or directive attribute if those are present.
relative-y	tenths	No	Changes the vertical position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-y attribute. Positive y is up and negative y is down. It should be interpreted in the context of the placement attribute if that is present.
Changes the vertical position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-y attribute. Positive y is up and negative y is down. It should be interpreted in the context of the placement attribute if that is present.
size	symbol-size	No	The size attribute is used for clefs where the additional attribute is “yes”. It is typically used to indicate cue clefs.
The size attribute is used for clefs where the additional attribute is “yes”. It is typically used to indicate cue clefs.

The <clef> element

Content

Attributes

Examples

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