Guitar sounds an octave lower

• Mar 25, 2022 - 23:44

Hi,

I'm actually learning the program and using the MuseScore in minutes series.

I've created a score using a guitar sound, but it seems to be sounding an octave lower than it should. Everything looks the same as in the video . . the Treble-8 clef, the tab staff looks right, but the guitar sound is mud. Sounds like it's in the bass range.

Any ideas on how to make the guitar sound sound right?

Thanks!

Mark

Comments

• Mar 26, 2022 - 01:19

Honestly, no. I mean, I hear you in that it transposes an octave down from written.

When I'm using a treble-8 clef, it sounds too low (and I get red notes in the score) but the tablature line is exactly right.

When I shift it up an octave, and use regular treble clef, it looks right, sounds right, no red notes, but the tab line is completely wrong.

Trying to make sense of this!

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• Mar 26, 2022 - 20:47

There are two different guitar instruments defined: If you chose "[Acoustic] Guitar (Treble Clef)" then the instrument is defined as octave transposing and will sound an octave below notation when using a normal treble clef.
If you instead chose the "Acoustic/Classical Guitar" instrument, then it is defined as non-transposing and uses the octave treble clef automatically.

But if you apply the octave transposing clef to an already octave transposing instrument variant, then the result will be sounding 2 octaves below written pitch..

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• Mar 26, 2022 - 23:47

I was honestly just following the tutorial, and I'd noticed it had a treble-8vb clef, so I switched it. This was the electric guitar. Interesting that "Acoustic" and "Classical" would have different transposition. That shouldn't be, should it?

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• Mar 27, 2022 - 10:38

Please read my answer again and/or just try this out yourself.
Acoustic and Classical Guitar don't have a different transposition. They are both available as octave transposing (Treble clef variants) and non-transposing instrument (the "normal" instruments).

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• Mar 27, 2022 - 21:08

Welcome aboard!
You wrote:
I'd noticed it had a treble-8vb clef, so I switched it.
and earlier:
This program is a teensie bit wonky, isn't it . .

Warning!
For guitar scores in particular, there are (potentially confusing) choices for treble clef.
See:
transposing_clefs.mscz

Here's some background information:
https://musescore.org/en/node/38581#comment-366906
https://musescore.org/en/node/296985
https://musescore.org/en/node/277146#comment-856649

Also be advised that bass guitar - a very close cousin to the guitar - does not suffer from this 'wonkiness' regarding "implicit" vs "explicit" clefs. For bass guitar, the implicit understanding and use of a single (bass) clef prevails:
identical_clefs.mscz
(I can't understand why it was decided to exempt bass guitar from this kind of complication. You know, change for the sake of change, rather than reason. ;-)

The same holds true for other octave transposing instruments like the piccolo for which Treble clef is used with the "implicit understanding" of Treble clef 8va alta:
implicit_clef.mscz

So, for guitar and also for guitar + Tab it will get easier once you read the relevant handbook section(s) and work through a score or two.

P.S.: Right click on an empty part of a staff to access 'Staff/Part Properties' for that staff.

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• Sep 3, 2024 - 04:00

I have a treble clef notation with tab. The tab appears an octave higher. So, for e (2nd string fifth fret), f (2nd string 6th fret), and g# (1st string, 4th fret) the tablature appears on the wrong strings an octave higher (1st string 12th fret, 1st string 13th fret, and (16th fret, 1st string). How do I get the tab an octave lower without changing the REGULAR treble clef for guitar?

Attachment Size
MS Octave Issues.jpg 30.89 KB

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