LilyPond Internals Reference: 3.2.133 spacing-spanner-interface

### 3.2.133 `spacing-spanner-interface`

The space taken by a note is dependent on its duration. Doubling a duration adds `spacing-increment` to the space. The most common shortest note gets `shortest-duration-space`. Notes that are even shorter are spaced proportonial to their duration.

Typically, the increment is the width of a black note head. In a piece with lots of 8th notes, and some 16th notes, the eighth note gets a 2 note heads width (i.e., the space following a note is a 1 note head width). A 16th note is followed by 0.5 note head width. The quarter note is followed by 3 NHW, the half by 4 NHW, etc.

#### User settable properties:

`average-spacing-wishes` (boolean)

  If set, the spacing wishes are averaged over staves.

`base-shortest-duration` (moment)

  Spacing is based on the shortest notes in a piece. Normally, pieces are spaced as if notes at least as short as this are present.

`common-shortest-duration` (moment)

  The most common shortest note length. This is used in spacing. Enlarging this sets the score tighter.

`packed-spacing` (boolean)

  If set, the notes are spaced as tightly as possible.

`shortest-duration-space` (number)

  Start with this multiple of `spacing-increment` space for the shortest duration. See also spacing-spanner-interface.

`spacing-increment` (dimension, in staff space)

  The unit of length for note-spacing. Typically, the width of a note head. See also spacing-spanner-interface.

`strict-grace-spacing` (boolean)

  If set, main notes are spaced normally, then grace notes are put left of the musical columns for the main notes.

`strict-note-spacing` (boolean)

  If set, unbroken columns with non-musical material (clefs, bar lines, etc.) are not spaced separately, but put before musical columns.

`uniform-stretching` (boolean)

  If set, items stretch proportionally to their natural separation based on durations. This looks better in complex polyphonic patterns.

This grob interface is used in the following graphical object(s): `SpacingSpanner`.

#### LilyPond – Internals Reference v2.24.4 (stable-branch).