Here is a suggested revision for the docs, Notation Reference 1.6.2 http://www.lilypond.org/doc/v2.17/Documentation/notation/modifying-single-staves
It adds a sentence about how to preserve the usual stem directions when customizing the staff. CURRENT TEXT: The position of each the staff lines can also be altered. The values used are half staff line spaces and the new position is relative to the normal center line. A single staff line is printed for every value entered so that the number of staff lines, as well as their position in the staff, can be changed with a single override. [Example] The clef position and the position of middle C may need to be adjusted accordingly to fit the new lines. See Clef. SUGGESTED REVISION: The position of each staff line can also be altered. A list of numbers sets each line's position. 0 corresponds to the normal center line, and the normal line positions are (-4 -2 0 2 4). A single staff line is printed for every value entered so that the number of staff lines, as well as their position, can be changed with a single override. [Example] To preserve typical stem directions (in the bottom half of the staff stems point up, in the top half they point down), align the center line (or space) of the customized staff with the position of the normal center line (0). The clef position and the position of middle C may need to be adjusted accordingly to fit the new lines. See Clef. _______________________________________________ bug-lilypond mailing list bug-lilypond@gnu.org https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/bug-lilypond
