Strange Key Signature doesn't work right
I'm writing down a tune that seems to notate best using an (unusual) key signature which uses both sharps and flats. I started the notation in G and then noticed that all of the B's in the score are flat; so I created the key signature that you see in the attachment, with both an F# and a Bb, and then moved it into the score. The key signature appears as it should at the left of each staff, but the Bb notes in the score retain their flat signs, and removing the flat signs on these notes seems to make them natural despite the flat in the key signature (judging by the MIDI playback.)
Is this a bug, or do I just not understand?
Thanks - jon
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Snijeg-pade-modal-G+Chords.mscz | 14.9 KB |
Comments
It's a limitation currently that MuseScore only really understands the standard key signatures, and can't interpret custom ones for playback and transposition. See #100851: Fix custom key signatures.
It seems your piece should be in the standard Bb/Gminor key sig (Bb, Eb) and you add the F# each time it's needed. No need to create a custom key sig.
In reply to It seems your piece should be by schepers
Indeed, it's actually extremely common for music in this sort of tonality to be written that way. Musicians are very accustomed to reading it. Whereas most musicians in the world are *not* accustomed to custom key signatures, and will like make many reading errors if you try to use something they are not accustomed to. On the other hand, there *are* certain groups of musician that are accustomed to to these unusual key signatures, and if you are 100% positive the musicians reading your score will be among this small minority, then you are certainly welcome to use the feature. But if you are just doing it because think it might be bothersome to most people to see those accidentals, the opposite is actually true.
In reply to Indeed, it's actually by Marc Sabatella
All true. But an unusual key signature can clarify the mode. With a standard key signature, what is actually a mode can appear to be lot of accidentals. See my last comment.
In reply to All true. But an unusual key by jonrysh
It's only clear if the people reading it understand it and are accustomed you trading music written this way. 99.99% of musicians are not. I read music in this mode quite often, and it is virtually always notated using a standard key signature and accidentals as needed. But people who specialize in Middle Eastern music - rather than just dabble in it like me - might possibly be more accustomed to it. Again, if you know the musicians who will read this are among that small minority accustomed to this, go for it, otherwise you are way better off not.
In reply to It seems your piece should be by schepers
Actually I have it in G/Bminor, which takes care of F#, and add the Bb and Eb as needed. This seems to be closer to the harmonic feel, which is centered on D. I've attached this score, which is the same as what I had posted, except for the flat in the key signature.
The comment is interesting because it shows that it's not clear what the best standard key signature is.
In reply to Actually I have it in by jonrysh
There is no such key as G/Bminor. You can have D/Bminor but then you have to natural the C#, and still add the Bb/Eb. Or you can have Bb/Gminor with Bb/Eb and add the F#, which is totally logical for Gminor. You have it keyed G/Eminor, with many added accidentals. I know you think this is a mixed key piece but it really seems simply Gminor.
Also, check your chord names. You have a Dm (which I assume is D minor) on measure 20 on an F# note.