How do you type in a text flat sign?
I can't seem to figure out how to type in special musical characters as text. For instance, how do you type in a flat sign in a text box?
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Comments
Start text entry
Press F2
Select the flat symbol
In reply to Start text entry Press by underquark
I think I did not describe my problem properly. What I am trying to do is write in a Chord Symbol. So, what I need to know is how do I write in E-flat?
I was thinking that the Chord Symbol box was similar to a normal text box; but evidently, they work differently because the F2 key doesn't work with the Chord Symbol box. Maybe I just don't know how to write in chord symbols.
In reply to I think I did not describe my by Jake Sterling
Flat is a "b" (letter), sharp is the "#" sign.
In reply to I think I did not describe my by Jake Sterling
And as you'll discover when you try it, these get converted to real flat and sharp signs automatically. Chord symbols are indeed special in that MuseScore needs to be able to do that translation (having to bring up a dialog every time you wanted a flat sign in a chord symbol would get very tiresome!), also because it needs to be able to "understand" the chord symbol in order to be able to transpose it, also to enable some special formatting (automatic superscripting, etc) when using a style that supports it (the "cchords" chord description files in 1.3, the "Jazz" style in 2.0).
In reply to And as you'll discover when by Marc Sabatella
Hi, all, RE: Flats in chord symbols. I'm using Musescore 2.3.2 on a MacBook Pro and have started to have a problem with a flat in a chord symbol - like bV - which will revert to a capital B for some reason after I enter it. When I click in the edit box, it views correctly as a flat sign, but then reverts to the Cap B as soon as I tab or leave the edit mode. I'm using a jazz lead sheet format.
Anyone seen this? What can I do? Thanks
In reply to Hi, all, RE: Flats in chord… by videodesk
This is an old post, you could insert a new one and maybe attach the problematic score.
Update MuseScore if possible: https://musescore.org/en/download
In reply to Hi, all, RE: Flats in chord… by videodesk
You shouldn't be entering a flat sign at all - just a lower case b. It turns into a flat automatically when you complete editing. But also, "V" is not a chord symbol, that's Roman numeral analysis, MuseScore 2 does not support that, only chord symbols. Updating to the current version (3.3.2 as of right now) will give you Roman numeral analysis support, plus many other new features and bug fixes
Meanwhile, to "fake" Roman numeral analysis in 2.3.2, you could try entering it as ordinary text instead of using the chord symbol facility, and using Ctrl+Shift+B for the flat sign. Or you try installing the Campania font used within MuseScore 3 - see https://github.com/MarcSabatella/Campania
In reply to You shouldn't be entering a… by Marc Sabatella
Hi, Marc, thanks for the reply. RE: flat entry: yes, I’m using a lower case b for the entry, and it does show up as a flat sign in the chord symbol box when I enter it. But it doesn’t stay that way. Thanks for the Roman numeral workaround as well. I can’t upgrade due to old hardware.
In reply to Hi, Marc, thanks for the… by videodesk
You can install the Campania font so you can change your staff text for your Roman Numeral analysis text. It will work in version 2 the same way it does in version 3, see https://musescore.org/en/handbook/3/roman-numeral-analysis-rna
I believe the only exception is that in version 2 you must enter each text element 1 by 1 since being able to advance to the next element was introduced in version 3.x.
In reply to You can install the Campania… by mike320
I’ll try that. Thanks much, Mike!
In reply to Start text entry Press by underquark
Pressing F2 didn't do anything for me.
Unlike the OP, I actually do want to add a flat into system text.
Really though, I'm trying to do the same thing as he was, but I'm intentionally using system text because I want chord symbols to appear on all parts, so if there's a better solution for that...
In reply to Pressing F2 didn't do… by justin.freeman
Which version of MuseScore?
In reply to Pressing F2 didn't do… by justin.freeman
I usually copy all chords to the instruments where I need them:
- right-click on first chord symbol,
- Select - Select similar on this staff,
- copy
- click on the corresponding position in next instrument,
- insert
- repeat as often as necessary
Disadvantage: chord changes must be replicated for every instrument
Advantage: Musescore recognizes the chords as chords (i.e. they can be transposed, played, ...)
In reply to I usually copy all chords to… by the_mnbvcx
I have found that adding the chord symbols to one staff after most editing is done, then copying those symbols to each staff is usually the best way, and no dups :).
Or add them as you go BUT to only one staff until they are firm.
How do I type special symbols in instrument names in MuseScore 2.0?
In reply to How do I type special symbols by barichd
Easiest way if to simply add the proper instrument in the first place - then the flat is filled in for you. Eg, add "Bb clarinet" as the actual instrument, don't add piano then change name. Or if you do need to change later, use Change Instrument in the same Staff Properties dialog, which changes the name as well.
Of course, that doesn't help if we're talking about a very obscure instrument MuseScore doesn't have an entry for - a Gb Crumhorn or something. In that case, it's probably easiest to change to a Bb instuments, copy the flat sign, then change back to whatever you are wanting to use and paste the flat sign into the name. There might be a way to enter the markup directly, but I think there have been some pains taken to *not* expose the markup.
BTW, you can also type text into a regular text element in musescore - staff text, title, whatever, and have full access to the F2 text symbol palette. That gives you a wider range of symbols you can copy & paste from. Or use Character Map on Windows, or whatever equivalent your OS might provide.