Example of the spectra used. This is a SpT sequence displaying all the features measured. The stars shown have about the same luminosity class and similar metallicity (they are all from the LMC). From bottom to top: [M2002]169754 (G5Ia), [M2002]168047 (K4Iab), [M2002]130426 (M2Iab), and [M2002]130426 (M5Iab). The dashed lines indicate the spectral features measured (shortened list, see text). Their colour represents the dominant chemical species in each feature: red for Ca ii, blue for Fe i, green for Ti i, yellow for other atomic lines (Mn i, Si i and Mg i), and magenta for the TiO bands. For more details, see Sect. 2.