How do I add “K:alto” to abc codes so that I can print out in Alto Clef?

Is there a way that I can change the clef by adding ’K:alto" to the tunes on this site so that they will print out in alto clef instead of regular G clef? I am a folk viola player, and thus need the tunes in the clef that is appropriate to my instrument.

Would I copy & paste the abc code to something like Notepad, add the clef line, import it into an abc program (suggestions, anyone?) and then print it out?

Thanks, Olivia, the Feral Violist

This is from the documentation to BarFly, an implementation of ABC for Macintosh:

“Clefs are not mentioned at all in the abc standard, the assumption being that everything in that document refers to music written on a staff with a treble clef. Many programs now permit the use of clefs other than the treble, and to do this you place e.g. clef=bass in the key field following its normal contents. BarFly supports four modern clefs (treble, alto, tenor and bass) plus the eight clefs used in Gregorian chant. Since the names of the clefs are unique, most programs permit the clef= part of the directive to be omitted, leaving only the clef name. Of the programs I have looked at recently abc2ps (and its derivatives abcm2ps, abctab2ps, jaabc2ps and jcabc2ps) support the treble, alto and bass clefs, abc2nwc supports the four modern clefs, Muse and abc2win support treble and bass clefs only, while abcMus and abc2midi do not display music and are therefore unconcerned with clefs.”

In other words, if the tune is in C, you can use “K:C alto”. If that doesn’t work, try “K:C clef=alto”. If that doesn’t work, get a different ABC program. You wouldn’t actually add that line to the tunes as they appear here. You would add the word “alto” or “clef=alto” at the end of the existing K: field. The rest of the process you describe would be right.

ABCNavigator2 justs ignores
K: C clef=alto

So try one of the ones mentioned above.

Chris

I know this is 14 years old - but this just changed my life. Also the mandolintab.net converter has a precoded button for transposing down a fifth. This bit of code from you, that converter, and the heroes in the YouTube comments who put the timestamps and the tune names as replies to long tune sets, have kept me busy all night while the rest of the family is out playing midnight hockey.