Can't change key
The score starts out in the key of G major (one sharp - F#), then changes to A major (three sharps -C#,F# and G#). I can make that change OK in measure 35. Then, in measure 41, the key changes back to G major (F# only). But when I drag the key signature to the measure, I get the # sign on the F line, which is correct, but I also get two natural signs, one on the C space and one on the G space. And, the music is totally played wrong, with the key all wrong and it sounds terrible. I've attached the file. The first blank measure is where the key change back to G major should be placed so those last 7 measures will be in G major.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Time_To_Say_Goodbye.mscz | 8.36 KB |
Comments
"The music is played totally wrong" ?
Meanwhile, look at the attachment...
In reply to I still have the curiosity: by Shoichi
I get the same result when I insert the G major key signature (F# only) but it also places those two natural signs, which don't belong. And the music is not played in the correct key either, not in G major, but seems to have many sharps and flats when you hear it. It just plays all wrong after the attempted key change.
In reply to Yes, it does not play the correct notes. by bill2reg
(Brackets), you have added twice Piano or you have pasted in a previous score?
If you saved the next several measures (wrong) attach them.
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Or try to paste in the attached (check your measure 31, the bass clef / treble clef?)
I set the Edit Style / Page / Accolade distance to 8.0
In reply to Yes, it does not play the correct notes. by bill2reg
Actually, the two naturals signs *do* belong, although they are optional. They are there to cancel the sharps that were previously on those notes. Most published music for the past several centuries uses this technique when changing keys to something with fewer sharps (same for flats). But indeed, it's optional, and some publishers do choose to omit them. If you wish to omit them as well, right click the key signature and choose "Hide naturals", as shown in the image posted in an earlier response.
As for the playback, I'm not sure what you are hearing, but it seems to playback correctly on my system. Is there a particular note in a particular measure you can point to that doesn't sound right for you? What version of MuseScore, what OS? Have you tried loading the file you posted? Sometimes there are glitches that go away after saving and reloading, so maybe you are hearing one of those and it will go away.
BTW, there *are* a few apparent wrong notes actually entered, and these definitely cause it to not sound very good to my ears. For instance, measure 41, there is an A# notated in the top staff (making it an F# major triad), but an A in the bass clef part (making it an F# minor triad). No surprise that sounds pretty hideous. The melody in measure 43 is pretty dissonant against the F# diminished and D7 chords, and the chord on the downbeat of measure 44 is also quite dissonant - the E against the E# especially in the top staff , also the C# in the top staff against the C in the bottom staff. But as far as I can see, each and every note is playing exactly how it appears.
How does a key signature change on an empty measure (#41) make it sound wrong? I see no music there and beyond.
I did change the key signature to G, then entered a G major scale, and it played back as a major scale, F being the only note played sharp.
I tried it on both your score, and also Shoichi's attachment (for one piano).
Regards.
In reply to My question... by Jm6stringer
When I added music, it did not play correctly. Notes were flat or sharp where they shouldn't have been, although there were no sharps or flats shown on any individual notes (accidentals). But why could I change the key in measure 35, but not back again later in measure 41?
And yes I did enter two pianos.............one for the treble clef and one for the bass clef so that I could control the volume independently from each other. In other scores, sometimes the bass of the piano was too loud over the treble (melody). Up until this last attempt to change the key in measure 41, that has not been a problem at all. And again, there was no problem with the first key change in measure 35.
In reply to I had music in the empty measure before..... by bill2reg
Right-click on the key signature and choose to Hide Naturals. This will give you just the F#. Yes, I know you wouldn't normally want to put naturals there when doing such a simple key signature change but some would and so it's the default.
In reply to I had music in the empty measure before..... by bill2reg
...to the blank measures?
If you copy/pasted something, check the key signature from where the notes came. Changing the key signature (to G major) does not automatically transpose the pitches you paste. Musescore retains the pitch, so it may display/remove accidentals on notes in order to 'honor' the new key signature, yet 'sound' the same as what you paste into the score.
If, on the other hand, you keyed in new notes, they are notated as per the key signature. That is, in the key of G major, an 'F' entered would sound sharp without a sharp actually notated in front of it - because the key signature makes it sharp.
This same 'F' if later copy/pasted into a measure in the key of C (no sharps/flats) will display a sharp - because that's what 'pitch' was originally entered.
Again, changing key signatures does not automatically transpose an existing melody to the 'new' key.
Regards.
In reply to How did you add the music... by Jm6stringer
I did not copy and paste the notes. They were added "new". I know that the key signature defines the key, so sharps and flats are known. I read music. My question is why don't the notes sound right? The whole last part sounds "off" and totally awful starting at measure 41.
Here is the completed score.
In reply to I am aware.......... by bill2reg
This pertains to measure 41 onward:
The question was 'Why don't the notes sound right?' in bill2reg's attachment 'Time_To_Say_Goodbye.mscz'
Since there are two piano parts, each staff can be muted separately to hear the 'entered' notes. (The notes were not 'copy/pasted'.)
The bass clef, by itself, sounds like it *could* make musical sense (although maybe not in this context).
The treble clef, by itself, has a rhythm that sounds as if it's trying to restate the 'theme'. Barring copy/paste, where did these notes come from? Midi perhaps? A bad score? The notes should have sounded funny upon entry, and not because of some 'playback issue' afterwards.
Anyway, using a key change from three sharps back to one sharp (at measure 41), along with restating the 'theme', a crude modulation might be something along the lines of my attachment.
I have simply copied from bill2reg's measure #38 and entered the 'theme' to fit the key signature.
(I am vaguely familiar with the song.)
My sincerest apologies :-)
and warmest regards.
From measure 44 onward, did you enter the notes that way or did something happen to them? I mean you have a chord with A,B,E(natural),A,C#,E#(F natural)?
In my opinion the very low notes on the piano in the standard soundfont are out of tune anyway so that might be part of what you are hearing.
In reply to In measure 44 you have only by underquark
So, no..nothing happened to them. That is how they are written, even though it does look a little strange.
I am wondering if there is some issue with the repeat (D.S al coda and so forth). But still, that last part is in an odd-sounding key.