Using MuseScore for Bagpipe Music transcription
I play an unusual instrument, the Maltese zaqq, which is a primitive bagpipe with a double chanter and a range of only five notes (G, A, B, C, D) on the melody pipe. The second pipe plays a drone on either G or A.
Before I download Musescore I am wondering if anyone knows whether it could handle notation for this instrument, with the drone and melody shown on the same staff. Unlike the Scots bagpipe the drone note would have tails pointing down and the melody note pointing up, as in the attached example.
Many thanks
Karl.
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Comments
Multiple voices on one staff are no problem - see Voices in the handbook. If you are using MuseScore for bagpipes specifically, you probably want to check out the Beta version of MsueScore 2.0, whic has a whole palette of bagpipe embellishments you might find useful (unless this particular type of bagpipe doesn't use them).
In reply to Multiple voices on one staff by Marc Sabatella
Marc - that is great. Many thanks for responding so quickly. I was looking in the handbook for a list of possible instruments but couldn't find anything.
I'm not sure I have understood correctly ... but I would say yes.
Check It Out: http://musescore.org/en/handbook/voices
A click on the note + x key flips the stem
Welcome!
_____
Sorry, I've been slow
In reply to I'm not sure I have by Shoichi
If you look in the Handbook under Instruments and Voices, 'Create New Score' there is a sample list of instruments in the left-hand panel, but I can't find the full list of instruments without downloading the software.
Karl.
In reply to If you look in the Handbook by Karl Partridge
example:
On 1.3 (but there are also 2.0 beta2 and Nightly) a list of instruments, for Woodwind, is attached.
The name of the tool can be modified at will on the score, the sound is modified by Mixer.
Try to download the program (also portable on a CD or USB key) and explore it or ask here ;-)
In reply to example: On 1.3 (but there by Shoichi
options on version 2.0 Beta2
In reply to options on version 2.0 Beta2 by Shoichi
Shoichi - many thanks. I see version 1.3 has four types of 'Cornamusa' in different pitches. The ornamentation can be quite complex but hopefully Musescore can cope with it.
Best regards, Karl.
In reply to Shoichi - many thanks. I see by Karl Partridge
Keep in mind that whether MuseScore happens to contain an entry for a particular instrument is pretty irrelevant. Just because an instrument isn't on the list doesn't mean you can't write music for it - just use another instrument and then change the name (and any other relevant parameters if necessary). Conversely, just because an instrument is on the list doesn't mean MsueScore supports every possible specialized notation ever used with that particular instrument. And as far as playback goes, it is only limited to the standard general MIDI sounds, so any more obscure instruments will be mapped to one of those.
The instrument is really just a convenience to help you set up a staff - it sets the name, clef, transposition, and playback sound for you. But you can set all those things up yourself as well.
In reply to Keep in mind that whether by Marc Sabatella
Marc - thanks for that additional comment. Just got it as it went into my spam box!
I'd like to remark that in scores for the Great Highland Bagpipe, the drones are never scored as they are continuous while playing; both tenors and bass in tune with a Low A (Bb) but the bass is an octave lower. As for the embellishments, they are really quite indigenous to highland piping and so there is very little chance that any of these would prove to be useful to any of the many other types of bagpipes that exist in the world, many of them coming into being well before the Great Highland Bagpipe.
In reply to I'd like to remark that in by pipermacbear
I entered Bagpipes into a score and couldn't change the key setting. The writing of pipe music is, from my experience either put in with 2 sharps (Key of D I believe) or none at all as pipers have only 9 notes and are unable to change keys. Your Musescore2 puts in 4 Sharps (Key of A?) and I'm unable to change this.
I've gone back to number 1 to do my scores.
In reply to I entered Bagpipes into a by rpwatson12
Use a key signature of C (no sharps/flats), to get 2 sharps for the bagpipe, which seems to be a transposing instrument (a major second up).
There is no difference in that respect between MuseScore 2.0 and 1.3