"Finale" mode values and notes entering

• Dec 21, 2024 - 09:27

Good evening, I hope you are all well. My name is Paris Perisinakis and I am a musician and teacher at the two major Universities of my country (Greece) and at the National Conservatory. I am also the author of 10 music books (repertoire and educational content). I've been using Finale as a sheet music program for years, and it's true that I'm used to it and know it pretty well. But as you know, Finale is ceasing to exist and its place (in my life and in my lessons, books) must be taken by another software. Trying out MuseScore I found a lot of interesting and original stuff that I think I'll be using soon. But I'm writing you this note to suggest something revolutionary.
The major difference that gives me misgivings is the way values ​​and notes are entered. If you don't already know, in Finale, in addition to writing with the piano keyboard, we use the keyboard arrows to position (up - down) the note while from the numeric keyboard we enter the values ​​(fourth, eighth, etc.). Because in Greece (but also in Italy, France, Germany, etc.) we call the notes "Do, Re, Mi" etc. it is difficult to type unrelated (C, D, E etc) letters to write them in the score. Would it be possible in an open source program like MuseScore to include such a parameter in the settings? I believe it would greatly serve those who have been using Finale up to now and increase your buyers and users that would prefer you. Most of my colleagues face the same problem, that's why I took the courage to write to you. Regards, keep up the good work!
Paris Perisinakis

Comments

• Dec 21, 2024 - 16:33

First, it's unwise to post your email address in public where the entire world can see and spam you. You can remove it by clicking the 'three-dots' button at the upper right of your post and then clicking to Edit the post.

That said, It might be worth your while to inspect the "Shortcuts" (Edit / Preferences / Shortcuts): the "Enter note ..." shortcuts, to be exact. You could use "D" for "Do" for "C"; "R", for "Re" for "D"; etc. I would strongly recommend looking at the existing shortcuts for "D", "R", "M", "F", "S", "L", and "T" before you do this. While "D" and "F" are already notes, "R" is the shortcut for "Repeat selection" and "S" is the shortcut to "Add slur".

Personally, I think it would be easier to learn the letter values rather than have to remember what the old shortcuts were when I was trying to communicate with other MuseScore users. YMMV, of course.

Reply

• Dec 22, 2024 - 08:11

In Germany the names of the notes are like the English ones (except Sib e Si, B and H)... does the fact that Finale has closed also imply that it can no longer be used? It seems strange to me... I also think that the simplest thing is to learn the ABCDEFG system (we are not talking about the system used for the Renaissance lute in German tablature...). To conclude (even if no one asked), I would personally refuse the proposal of the developers of Finale to switch to Dorico, Musescore is better and it is free...

Reply

• Dec 22, 2024 - 09:15

I'm also in a Do Re Mi country.
However with all the scores published with chords notated C, D, E, ... I would say that any musician in the world is familiar with c d e system as well.
In fact when I read Gm (for example) I "see" Sol minor, not G. The "link" between the two is automatic.

Reply

Do you still have an unanswered question? Please log in first to post your question.