enharmonic key signatures
I have a draft score in E major concert with parts for flute, trumpet, & alto sax. The part function transposed E major to C# major for the sax, but Db is easier for almost all sax players to read. When I try to change the key signature to Db by dragging & dropping or double-clicking Db (5 flats) as stated in the manual, it changes the signature to Bb instead of Db. The resulting notes are pitched correctly, but have way more accidentals than needed due to the key signature. What's up?
Comments
See https://musescore.org/en/node/260491
The link above should help, and eventually we will likely add some more direct way to do this. However, I would challenge your assumption that Db is easier for almost all sax players. Because they are accustomed to transposition that add sharps or remove flats, they are often far more comfortable with many sharps than with many flats. Consider, they see 4 or 5 sharps practically every day (key of G or D conert), and 6 isn't that uncommon either (A concert). But saxophone players will hardly ever see 3 or 4 flats (key of Gb or Cb concert). To suddenly see a 5 flats after having rarely seen more than 1 or 2 before is not necessarily easy. Whereas seeing 7 is really nothing when you're quite used to seeing 5.
Anyhow, everyone is different, and we've heard from some saxophonists here who do say they are more comfortable with Db than C#, but just know it is far from a given that "almost all" will be.
In reply to The link above should help,… by Marc Sabatella
I play sax along with clarinet and I agree that sharps are more comfortable than flats. I can tolerate 7 sharps more than 5 flats.
I don't know your score, but, here what I do.Alto Sax has rather sharps than flats. Sure C# with 7 sharps is not a gift, but Db with 5 flats, no more. Have a look : in C# look for the E# and the B#. If there is only 1 or 2 of them (it's often) change your key signature (you can in using CTRL and drag the key you want in the alto sax stave). Choose , for example, B# with "only" 5 sharps (it's better than 5 flats). And if you have some E# or B# change with using "J" in natural F and natural C