Fingering questions
(Re MS 3.6)
-
Is there a way to have fingering numbers appear to the right of notes by default, rather than just above or below them? This is a standard style in much of the music I notate (see screenshot).
-
Is there a way to quickly vertically align fingering numbers on chords? (I realize that, when their notes are close enough, you can just type them into the same text frame.) Doesn't MS have commands that vertically or horizontally align two or more selected objects (e.g. text objects)? The only similar thing I could find in the manual was selecting objects and giving them the same X- or Y-offset in the Inspector, but this had no effect; when I increased or decreased the one value shown, it simply added or subtracted the same amount from the selected objects' current positions, rather than aligning them at that position.
-
Why does nothing happen when I try to duplicate existing fingering? I've tried selecting it and using the "R" (Repeat) command; and copying it, selecting a new note, and pasting—but in both cases, nothing happens. Is fingering some sort of exception to the normal behaviour of objects in this way?
Thanks!
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| MS_fingering.png | 4.64 KB |
Comments
MuseScore tries to follow standard engraving practice, but defaults can vary from published to publisher. If you are trying to follow a house style consistent with a publisher that places fingering to the right, you can do this by creating a custom text style and applying that to your fingering. When using the default fingering styles, MuseScore applies all sorts of alogirthms to best emulate the rules followed by "most" publishers, but when you switch to a custom style, MuseScore steps out of the way and simply applies your style based on a default position of directly on top of the notehead. So a positive X offset and/or left-aligned the text should do the job. Actually, you might find it works OK to simply apply that to the existing LH Guiotar fingering (I'm assuming this is guitar?) but again, some of the special we apply to handle beams and other cases might not produce the expected results in those situations.
Fingerings are attached to individual notes, not to chords as a whole, so and their offsets are relative to the noteheads themselves. So not way to align them automatically in that case. Nor do most pub;ishers do this. but if you have reason to, you could simply enter the fingering as staff text, which is easy enough to align by giving them the same Y offset.
In MuseScore the "R" command is for copying ranges, not individual elements - the selected passage is copied directly after itself. So what you describe would be quite inconsistent with that semantic. But normal copy-paste works. Just to be clear, though - you have seen that you can simply type fingerings in like lyrics, right? So normally this wouldn't come up.
In reply to MuseScore tries to follow… by Marc Sabatella
Marc S. > _MuseScore tries to follow standard engraving practice, but defaults can vary from published to publisher. If you are trying to follow a house style consistent with a publisher that places fingering to the right, you can do this by creating a custom text style and applying that to your fingering...
It depends entirely on the music. I've always felt that fingering to the right of a note was easier to read than putting the number below the note, because that way the eyes—naturally reading from left to right—can take in a note and its fingering as one horizontal unit. Which of these is easier to read?:
– – –
How are you, Marc? I am fine, thanks.
How you I fine,
are Marc? am thanks.
– – –
Oh well, the forum editor removed the spaces I used to horizontally align those words... But then, MS won't let me control horizontal spacing either, so I guess I should've expected that! 😄
There are also places where the only rational choice is to put fingering either below or to the right of a note, to avoid clutter. The governing principle is always, "What makes this easiest to read?"
You just can't apply one general "style" rule to everything. I've worked with publishers who felt that way, but realized they could do better if they were willing to consider each situation.
We all have different standards. It all depends on whether you want to just "crank out" music, or make it as beautiful and legible as it can be. I look at the scores on Musescore.org, and I know those people mean well—but man, esthetically, it's all over the place. That's what happens when you let software try to apply "rules" to something that's always changing.
Marc S. > _In MuseScore the "R" command is for copying ranges, not individual elements - the selected passage is copied directly after itself. So what you describe would be quite inconsistent with that semantic.
Funny, I used it that way in Sibelius—countless times, and it was very helpful. I don't see why the feature must be limited to a contiguous range. You mean just because the word "repeat" may connote one thing directly following another? Why worry about semantics? Why not have the choice, and be able to duplicate whatever you wish?
Marc S. > But normal copy-paste works. Just to be clear, though - you have seen that you can simply type fingerings in like lyrics, right? So normally this wouldn't come up.
Of course you can copy and paste, but it requires twice as many operations. When you're rushing to get a chart out the door, every moment counts!
In reply to Marc S. > _MuseScore tries… by Andy Fielding
Indeed, as I said, there are multiple standards out there. Only one can be the default, obviously, so we went with the general consensus. And then provide options for customizing that. So we're just trying to help you accomplish that. Let us know if you're still having difficulty applying the information we've provided, and if so, please attach a score and explain the problem, Then we can understand and assist better.
As for the behavior of "R" - indeed, it would be possible for someone to redesign it to work differently. I'm explaining how it works and why; I'm not saying it's the only way a program could be designed to work.
How are you adding the fingering? If you use the fingering palette (in the Advanced workspace) you can use the Inspector to change the X and Y offsets of one number to what you want, then "set as style" and the rest will follow suit automatically. You can still move individual ones if necessary. In the palette the first row of numbers is for keyboards (figure above/below the note), the second one is for stringed instruments (figure to one side).
See https://musescore.org/en/handbook/3/fingering
Apologies in advance if I have misunderstood you.