Quarter notes play back as triplet middle notes
I have a 4/4 bass-clef staff with eighth-note triplets on each beat of a measure. I added a second 4/4 bass-clef staff with quarter notes on each beat. Each of these is the same pitch as the first note of each triplet, but I don't think that matters. Both are "Electric bass." Pretty simple, right?
When I have MuseScore play back the measure, it plays the triplets as expected but plays the quarter notes as eighth notes starting on the second note of each triplet, not as quarter notes on the beat. I tried assigning the notes in the second staff to "Voice 2," but that didn't help.
What's going on and how can I fix this?
Comments
You wrote:
What's going on...
It's hard to say what's going on, please attach the score.
...and how can I fix this?
See above.
In reply to You wrote: What's going on… by Jm6stringer
Sorry about that. Here it is.
In reply to Sorry about that. Here it is. by dplong
Looks like you are using a several-year-old version of MuseScore, definitely best to be using the current version (3.6.2). Although with MuseScore 4 also coming out soon, maybe not worth bothering.
Anyhow, it plays fine in 3.6.2, I don't recall any version of MuseScore having a bug that would cause quarter notes to play on the wrong beats. Are you sure your ears aren't playing tricks on you, like maybe being fooled by the fact that you have the same note on both staves on the beat, with the quarter note simply being sustained after that? If you are sure it's playing wrong, can you make a screen recording so we can see & hear what you are?
In reply to Looks like you are using a… by Marc Sabatella
You're right. The double note tricks my ear into thinking only one note has been played. Sorry for the trouble.
You wrote:
...it plays the triplets as expected but plays the quarter notes as eighth notes starting on the second note of each triplet, not as quarter notes on the beat.
A simple test is to use the Mixer to mute the first bass. The quarter notes of the second bass do play on the beat. You can even double check by enabling the metronome.
As already mentioned, it could be a matter of perception, as you also have the same note on both sides of the middle triplet note. The middle triplet note, being different, "stands out" from the E - D - C progression.
Have a listen to some variations to compare:
Test2.mscz
In reply to You wrote: ...it plays the… by Jm6stringer
Thanks for the mixer tip. Yeah, that's what's going on. I then changed the instrument for the second staff to contrabass and could hear the two distinct instruments being played when they should be.