Key changes
I have reread the replies to my earlier question as to how to raise certain measures in half step increments and can now do that successfully.
Now I would like instead to change the key signature for several measures. In the attached score I used the palette to insert the key signature to C# for a few measures and then the key signature of D. I do not understand why natural signs get placed on notes that have C# or D in their key signature. What am I doing incorrectly, or, how do I correctly accomplish these key changes? Thank you.
| Attachment | Size |
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| Key changes.mscz | 24.8 KB |
Comments
Normally, you would put the key signatures first before inputting notes. This is because the notes you input change depending on the key signature. From what I see, it seems that you put the notes before the key signature change.
Your question isn't really clear ("I do not understand why natural signs get placed on notes that have C# or D in their key signature."), but the answer may be this:
There are natural signs because the note you put (say for example, "C") is a C in the original key signature, but with the new key signature, without the natural sign, it'd be a C#. So, to keep the same pitch, there is a natural. With the key signature change placed first, the C would be a C# ( and no natural).
Workaround with transposition:
1. First delete all the added key signatures:
Select the D Major key sig (measure 21) and delete
Drag another key signature (say G major) on top of the invisible C major key sig (measure 14), and then delete the G major key sig
Drag a C major key signature over measure 5 (We will use this when transposing)
2. Transposition:
Shift + Select measures 5 to 20 inclusive (both staves)
Notes > Transpose... By Key C# Major (Make sure "transpose key signatures" is checked)
You might want to check over the notes if you didn't want some section transposed...
3. If you want to have a mid-measure key signature change, you'll have to have two measures:
Select measure 22 and press "Insert" to insert 1 measure
Right Click the new measure 22 > Measure Properties > Change the actual measure duration to 1 / 4 and check "exclude from measure count"
Cut and paste the last beat of measure 21 to measure 22
Right click measure 21 and change the actual measure duration to 3 / 4
Select the barline between measure 21 and measure 22 and click "V" to make it invisible
4. Finishing up:
You want to apply the same transposition to the first part of measure 21. Drag a C major key sig to measure 21, transpose like before, and then delete the new C# key sig.
You also want to apply the same transposition to the second part of measure 21 to 27. Drag a C major key sig to the second part, and then transpose like before, but select the key D major
In reply to Normally, you would put the by Fyrult
Thank you very much, Fyruit, for your reply. I will follow your instructions as carefully as I know how. And, yes, I DID add the notes before inputting the key signature (just as you thought) as the desired key changes were afterthoughts. Thanks again.
In reply to Normally, you would put the by Fyrult
I believe I was successful through steps 1-3 above (please see attached). I do not think I got step #4 correct, that is, putting the second half of measure 21 to the end in the key of D. I dragged a C major key to measure 21, then transposed it to C#, then deleted the C#. I tried transposing to D and when that did not work, I tried inserting a D key from the palette with attached result, yielding a sharped A and naturals.
Still willing and able to help??? Thank you!
In reply to I believe I was successful by Megan R
It's still not really clear what you are trying to do. In general, as mentioned, you should first select the key signature then enter the notes. If you enter the notes firs,t they will enter correctly for the current key. You are free to change the key later, but that won't magically chang the notes - MuseScore keeps the notes just as you entered them. So I am guessing that, for example, in measure 21 you original had the key of C so when you entered an F it was a F natural. Now that you've changed the key signature to D, the natural sign is required to keep the note as you originally entered. MuseScore has no way of knowing you actually want it to *change* notes, or what you want to change them to. That is, do you just want it changes to F#, or do you want it *transposed* to the new key - meaning change it to G? The latter would be far more common, and the way to do that is using Notes / Transpose.
In reply to It's still not really clear by Marc Sabatella
Thanks, Marc. What I am attempting to accomplish is this:
The song was originally entirely written in C. Then a half step key increase (to C#) was then desired (and added to) measures 5 through the beginning of measure 21, and then yet another have step increase to the key of D beginning with the second half of measure 21 through to the end of the score. I want to avoid all the sharped notes, thus the desire to begin measure 5 with a C# key signature and the second half of measure 21 with a key signature of D.
Since I used notes/transpose for the C# key signature measures and that seemed to work but did not work for the key of D measures 21-end, I think I will just start over remembering to first input the key signature change and then the notes.
Sincere thanks for taking the time to reply with helpful guidance.
In reply to Thanks, Marc. What I am by Megan R
For the record, Notes / Transpose will transpose notes and will transpose any key signatures that already exist, but it won't add new key signatures. So normally if you've entered a passage in one key but then change your mind and decide you'd like it in another key, you'd do *both* - use Notes / Transpose to change the notes, but also add the key signature.
In reply to For the record, Notes / by Marc Sabatella
I am beginning to understand, Marc; thank you for your patience with me! Thanks to everyone's help, I believe I have achieved my desired results :-)
When you (or others) put words or phrases between asterisks, i.e., *both* as written above, what does that mean? Are they meant for emphasis?
In reply to I am beginning to understand, by Megan R
Yes, it's the plain-text equivalent of bold or italics.
In reply to Yes, it's the plain-text by Marc Sabatella
I call it "fake markdown." In some contexts (such as the MuseScore Handbook source text), *this* would actually cause the word "this" to appear in italics without asterisks. **This, meanwhile,** would be bold. It's a habit that's hard to shake, even if it doesn't actually work here.
In reply to Yes, it's the plain-text by Marc Sabatella
*Thank you* Marc and Isaac!