ligature symbol over fingerings to show finger substitution

• Jul 4, 2012 - 15:15

It looks like a close parenthesis rotated 90 degrees to the left. Is not positioned between the numerals but instead over them such that there is no extra space between the numbers.

Finger substitution is very common in piano literature and probably that of other instruments as well. If one wishes to emulate the appearance of professional engraving practices, the appearance as described is essential.

The only workaround I know is using a capital 'M' and changing its typeface to WP Phonetic. It turns the 'M' into the ligature, and positions it precisely as required.

However, I do not believe that WP Phonetic is a commonly used typeface or even available to all users. I believe there needs to be an easier way to accomplish the creation of this very necessary symbol.


Comments

In reply to by [DELETED] 5

I'm aware of that symbol. Unfortunately, though the symbol per se is more or less correct in appearance, it doesn't function correctly to indicate finger substitution because it gets inserted over one single character/numeral. Instead, it would need to straddle two characters/numerals, which is how the above-referenced capital M functions in the WP Phonetic typeface.

In reply to by Marc Sabatella

I already have a 'workaround' that I described, which is less cumbersome than manually positioning a discrete element.

Classical pianists know how prevalent finger substitution is on our instrument and recognize the prescribed way of indicating it -- at least according to the traditional typographic practices that predate computerized typesetting. Given how effective MuseScore otherwise is at emulating the conventions of the era of hand-engraving, the lack of a functional ligature for finger substitution is a serious omission.

Re: Finger substitution
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_substitution#Piano

I am an adult piano student taking ABRSM Grade 2 Jazz practical in two weeks. I took ABRSM Grade 2 standard Piano practical 6 months ago.

In each case I came across 'finger substitution' ligature notation in my grade 2 set pieces.

I have searched the latest MuseScore manual and I have searched the forums to see if Musescore supports this "beginner's feature". All I can find are suggestions which appear to be inelegant workarounds.

Why doesn't MuseScore support this Grade 2 piano notation?

Brian
UK

In reply to by BWernham

We rely on the open source Bravura font for most of the symbols we provide above and beyond the basics like clefs, noteheads, and accidentals. So assuming the developers of Bravura also think this symnol important, you should be able to add it using the Special Characters palette. If it isn't in that font, then you should consider contacting the makers of that font and requesting not be added. But most likely some other font will contain it or something similar as well.

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