--- name: "abc2abc" section: "1" platform: "linux" package: "abcmidi" version: "2026_10_09-1" release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/abc2abc" --- # abc2abc(1) a simple abc checker/re-formatter/transposer ## NAME abc2abc - a simple abc checker/re-formatter/transposer ## SYNOPSIS **abc2abc** *file* \[ **-s** \] \[ **-n** \] \[ **-b** \] \[ **-r** \] \[ **-e** \] \[ **-t** *semitones* \] \[ **-nda** \] \[ **-u** \] \[ **-d** \] \[ **-v** \] \[ **-V***voice number*\] \[**-P***voice number*\] \[**-nokeys**\] \[ **-nokeyf**\] \[ **-usekey***(sharps/flats)*\] \[**-useclef***(treble/clef)*\] \[ **-OCC** \] ## DESCRIPTION **abc2abc** is a simple abc checker/re-formatter/transposer. It will check whether the *file* given on the command line obeys basic abc syntax. If you want to check an abc tune, it is recommended that you use **abc2midi** with the **-c** option. This performs extra checks that **abc2abc** does not do. The output of **abc2abc** goes to standard output. Use redirection to save it to a file. ## OPTIONS - **-s** Rework spacing in the file (which affects how notes are beamed together when the music is printed out). This option does not appear to be working correctly. - **-n** *X* Reformats the abc file with line breaks every *X* bars. - **-b** Don't do bar checking. - **-r** Don't do repeat checking. - **-e** Don't report errors. - **-t** *n* Transpose tune by *n* semitones. This function will also work with K: none or one of -nokeys or -nokeyf. If a voice is assigned to channel 10 (drum channel) using a %%MIDI channel 10 command, then this voice is never transposed. - **-nda** Convert double accidentals in guitar chord to another chord though strictly not correct. - **-u** Update notation; the older notation **+ +** for chords is replaced by **\[\]** and **s s** for slurs is replaced by **()**. - **-OCC** Accept the old notation for chord. Normally this is turned off, since it conflicts with abc draft standard version 2.0 for decorations (eg. +crescendo(+). - **-d** Re-notate the tune with all note lengths doubled. The unit length specified by the L: field command is halved (e.g. L:1/8 to L:1/16). - **-v** Re-notate the tune with all note lengths halved. The unit length specified by the L: field command is doubled (e.g. L:1/8 to L:1/4). - **-ver** Prints version number and exits. - **-V** *X\[,Y...\]* For multivoiced abc files (i.e. contains V: field commands), only voices *X\[,Y,...\]* are copied. - **-P** *X,\[,Y...\]* For multivoiced abc files (i.e. contains V: field commands), all voices except *X\[,Y...\]* remain the same. Voices X,Y... are modified according the other runtime parameters. - **-X** *n* For a file containing many tunes, the X: reference numbers are renumbered sequentially starting from number *n*. - **-xref** *n* Only the tune with X: n is processed. - **-nokeys** No key signature will be assumed. Instead, sharps and naturals will be placed wherever they are needed. - **-nokeyf** No key signature will be assumed. Instead, flats and naturals will be placed wherever they are needed. - **-usekey sf** This will force abc2abc to output the notes in the key signature keys\[sf\] where sf specifies the number of flats (-negative) or sharps (+positive) in the key signature. It is a number between -5 and +5 inclusive. - **-useclef** This works with only the -t (transpose) and provided the abc file does not already have a clef command in the K: field. It does not support voices. \* Normally abc2abc will convert the deprecated notation for decorations (eg. !ppp!) to the abc version 2.0 draft standard (eg. +ppp+). If you do not wish to change to this standard include the -OCC flag. ## SEE ALSO *abcmtex*(1), [*abc2midi*(1)](/abc2midi/1.md), [*midi2abc*(1)](/midi2abc/1.md), [*mftext*(1)](/mftext/1.md) ## AUTHOR This manual page was written by Anselm Lingnau \ and is now supported by Seymour Shlien \ for the GNU/Linux system. ## VERSION This man page describes abc2abc version 2.04 from January 22 2020.