On Sat, 14 Feb 2026 at 18:44, Mark Polesky <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi everyone!
>
> When typesetting a melisma, LilyPond always left-aligns the syllable with
> the first note. Is there a global way to center-align it instead, without
> having to manually override LyricText.X-offset every time?
>
> I've attached an image showing LilyPond's output (above), and the output
> from another publisher that I'd like to emulate (below).
>
> My code follows below.
>
> Thanks!
> Mark
>
> \version "2.25.22"
> \language "english"
>
> \paper {
> line-width = 3\in
> ragged-right = ##f
> }
>
> {
> \key ef \major
> \time 3/4
> g'8.( f'16) ef'2
> } \addlyrics {
> Lead __ me,
> }
For a global setting you can do:
\layout {
\context {
\Score
lyricMelismaAlignment = #CENTER
}
}
I set it to #-0.6 as a bit of a compromise.
Vaughan
