Problem trying to convert pitched staff to tablature

• Jul 13, 2014 - 08:20

Good day,
On following the documentation http://musescore.org/node/7845 which deals with converting a pitched staff to tablature, the instructions are to right click on empty spot, select staff properties (so far so good), then when this properties window opens, there is no 'type' drop down menu to select 'tablature'.
I should add that notes had already been entered on the existing pitch staff that I tried to convert but not sure if that would make any difference.

I realise the (by now possibly second to) latest nightly may have outpaced the documentation ie effectively the way this is done may have changed.

This is all part of a larger issue of trying to create a treble only pitched staff above (ok) with a three string 24 fret A4 E4 E4 tab below (ok) that links with the treble pitched staff above so that when I enter a fret number on a string in the tab section, the note will appear on the treble staff as well (not ok). This does not seem to happen.

Hope I have correctly outlined the problem.


Comments

In reply to by Shoichi

Thanks for your reply.
Copy/pasting from treble clef to another treble clef works. Copying a simple note structure from a treble clef and selecting tablature with the blue block and then attempting to paste the note sequence onto tablature gives 'a no destination to paste' message. Possibly I am not doing it correctly....

It would be great if I could just enter eg A string fret 3, E string fret 3 and next E string fret 3 onto tablature (three strings AEE) and then the correct value notes C and the G below it appear in the treble staff above.

In reply to by stefstef

Hello,

If I understand correctly (?), you want to create a score for Balalaika three strings (Prima and Alto models).

I thought it was included in the list of instruments.xml. I do not see today. This is all the more surprising that one can choose a Tab staff for this instrument in the drop list ( menu Staff Type, see attachment) . I'll look more closely and later.

I also think that the documentation you mention is outdated.

That said, it is quite possible to create a score as you wish.

1) Create a score with standard staff for plucked strings, guitar or ukulele (for the original treble clef) , but no matter, because you have to edit the pitch of the strings later.

2) Then add and link a Tab staff. You must select the first staff (Staff 1-treble clef... -> become blue), then click on "Add Linked Staff" -> then from the drop-down list, choose Tab balalaika -> Ok

link staff bal.jpg

3) Now you need to edit the strings. So, right click on the Tab staff -> Staff Properties -> Edit string data -> Delete the strings you do not need, then edit (Edit string) the correct pitch (EEA) -> Ok

2Delete and Edit.jpg
3Edit.jpg

You can now enter your notes (or numbers)
GGC.png

You can also reverse the order of the staves (->return I, select the staff and click on Up). As on the file mscz. joined: Balalal..mscz

Attachment Size
link staff bal.jpg 70.45 KB
2Delete and Edit.jpg 55.85 KB
3Edit.jpg 35.75 KB
Balalal..mscz 2.22 KB
GGC.png 14.61 KB

In reply to by cadiz1

Thanks for input and the effort you went to with the screenshots. As soon as I get as gap I am going to try this. A quick glance at your posts already gives an indication as to where I missed/incorrectly entered a step ie. 'Press the "I" key to add and link a Tab staff...
The way I linked was probably flawed.
Yes, its for prima balalaika 3 string.
Regards,

In reply to by stefstef

Yes, it is a thoughtlessness on my part (English is not my original language). You don't have to press the I key. I edited the post just before yours. Reread all, I think the procedure is now described correctly.

In reply to by ChurchOrganist

Pending the response of stefstef (for my part, I would I happy because I have a balalaika), I also think it misses the dulcimer in the list (three strings also, generally DAD).

I digress a little, sorry to the original thread. The dulcimer is an instrument of medieval origins, spread throughout Europe, and continues to be active especially nowadays in the US (known as the mountain dulcimer, Appalachian dulcimer). If you want to know, I also play the dulcimer! :-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_dulcimer

In reply to by ChurchOrganist

Prima balalaika:
E-E-A. I have seen it described as E4-E4-A4.
The two E strings are nylon, the A string is steel.

6 string balalaikas are commonly tuned EE-EE-AA... there are variations though.

I have uploaded a Prima balalaika Fingerboard chart, it lists up to 19th fret. Balalaikas are also available with 24 frets.

I found this link which give concise tuning info for prima through to contrabass balalaika:
http://www.get-tuned.com/balalaika.php

A contrabass being played: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxqiVIoSQBE
There is also the alto balalaika.

I am not an expert so please corroborate the details provided above.

Attachment Size
Balalaika_Fingerboard_Chart.pdf 36.64 KB

In reply to by stefstef

I previously stated that balalaika tuning is A4 E4 E4, yet when using a treble clef staff with a 3 string TAB below, and then entering an 'E' zero fret, it appears an octave too high.

A3 E3 E3 seems to do it. E3 gives the open string E above middle C. Perhaps those with stronger music theory skills than mine can check to see if this is correct.

In reply to by ChurchOrganist

I just checked all the tunings of the balalaika family. In fact, you made ​​the mistake to inverse all the strings!

So, in order of appearance in the list:

- Balalaika (I guess it is the instrument by default, tuned like the prima).
So the tuning is, bass to treble, and the same for all others: E4-E4-A4, not A4-E4-D4

- Piccolo: B4-E5-A5, not A5-E5-B4

- Prima (previously reported): E4-E4-A4, not A4-D4-E4

- Secunda: A3-A3-D4, not D4-A3-A3

- Alto: E3-E3-A3, not A3-E3-E3

- Bass: E2-A2-D3, not D3-A2-E2

- Contrabass: E1-A1-D2, not D2-A1-E1

It lacks the tenor in the list. The tuning is: A2-A2-E3

In reply to by cadiz1

Yes - the instruments.xml file is parsed for string order in an illogical way going from bass to treble instead of using the conventional string order of 1 to x.

Fixed file will be sent tomorrow.

I've also made some better clef assumptions (which still may be wrong).

In reply to by cadiz1

Thanks. I followed your method carefully so as not to replicate my own error. It works.

The vital part is to ensure that the Staff 1 treble clef is selected, THEN click on 'Add linked staff'.
Once that was done and the string properties set, it worked fine. When entering the first zero string E, and then second zero string E on the tab staff, the two E notes appear back to back on the treble cleff with a single stem.

In another post I stated the tuning is E4 E4 A4. Seems this is too high. But I am on shaky ground here. E3 placed the open E string (tab staff 0) as the E above middle C on the treble staff above.

In reply to by cadiz1

This should actually be in a new post.

Up / down symbols exist for violin, but as two separate symbols.
Assuming EEA is strummed, one stroke up then one down, or vice versa.... could new symbols be created for this ie. a combined up/down and a down/up symbol?

Why? Example: when placing 3 string EAA in tablature (three '0's one beneath the other) ie. 3 open string notes and then attempting to place a violin up and down symbol, these symbols then appear on top of one another, rather than beside.

This new symbol would have properties such that when the note is played an up/down or/and down/up stroke is heard when played through the player, the notes sounding in their correct order, EEA or AEE. This is common in balalaika notation. If it were a three string instrument there would be the sound of six strings (three down, three up) - the sounds of these strokes would be placed very closely together - maybe this last mentioned property could be adjustable.

Furthermore, concerning the player only now: strumming the three open EAA strings once downwards: the player currently renders this with the same sound as three piano keys being pressed down simultaneously, whereas it should sound as a finger running across three strings, each (eg. open) string sounding its own note, yet very closely placed together....

I used the arpeggio symbol and this went some of the way to describe what I mean.
Perhaps there is an existing device that I am unaware of that fulfills the above requirement.

I have read though that requests concerning the player are 'easier said than done'.

In reply to by stefstef

Hello,
Could you show a picture of what you want exactly? A picture is worth better a long speech! ;)

From my side, I watched a complete method of Balalaïka (MelBay), and I think a priori that all the symbols you need are available.

Either in the palettes Arpeggios and Articulations, or (as for numbers 6 and 7 in the attachment) by going in -> View -> Master Palette -> Symbols -> Font Bravura.

You just need to drag and drop these symbols in the palette of your choice.

1Artic.jpg
2Artic.jpg

Attachment Size
1Artic.jpg 27.85 KB
2Artic.jpg 26.19 KB

In reply to by stefstef

Ok, if I understand, you want this result.

1double arrow.jpg
2double arrow.jpg
I got it by saving an image (jpg format) of these arrows (2Artic.jpeg) side by side. You can recycle by introducing them into your score (in a frame first), and then, to save, drag-drop them via keys Shift + Ctlr in a palette.

Their size is editable. This is good!

But there are drawbacks. For we must create some space before the note or the chord to install them (and besides, the picture clears some lines). You can do it via the Inspector for a local and temporary solution.

Or, change some settings by going -> Style -> General -> Measure -> and increase the values ​​of "Barline to score distance, value of 2 or 3, to try", also to "Note to barline distance, idem", and finally, "Minimum note distance, from 0.25 to 1, for example"

In short, you need some manipulations for an average visual result (:
4 arrow.jpg
I think the up / down bow (numbers 7 on previous attachment) are easier to implement for a common understanding of what you want. It is up to you to test.

And as already said, I have not seen, except memory mistake, this kind of notation for plucked strings including the balalaïka (but I do not mind to be contradicted if there is a reverse proof!)

Attachment Size
1double arrow.jpg 1.29 KB
2double arrow.jpg 1.25 KB
4 arrow.jpg 12.07 KB

In reply to by stefstef

While it is true that notation for a plectrum instrument (i.e. a stringed instrument played with a pick, or plectrum) shares the same up/down symbols as the up/down symbols for bowed instruments, it is difficult to assign multiple up/down symbols to a single note/chord.
MuseScore will accept one up stroke and one down stroke per note/chord, but as you have seen they are stacked on top of one another and so must be dragged into position.

What is displayed in your screen grab can be done with some effort - lots of dragging, and also the use of voices to overcome the 'only one up/down symbol per note' limitation. The voices can then be made invisible.
See attachment.

Regards.

Attachment Size
plectrum up-down.mscz 3.83 KB

In reply to by stefstef

What you want is indeed possible. You just have to create the second staff as a *linked* staff within the same instrument, not as a separate instrument. This is done with the Add Linked Staff button in the instrument dialogs.

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