Beginner questions
I'm wondering if MuseScore is able to do some things. What I'm hoping to do is
1) Cut and paste from one or more scores on musescore.com into a score that I could edit
2) Change the key on any of the cut-and-pasted sections that I would need
Then I get to add measures to transition from one section to the next. My wife will be helping me with that ;-)
Comments
You can download the scores and open them simultaneously, then use copy and paste to the measures that interest you.
You can change the key, see https://musescore.org/en/handbook/key-signature-0
If I have not well understood (google translator) provide some clarification.
Welcome!
In reply to You can download the scores by Shoichi
You are understood well, thank you. Now I just need to see if I'm allowed to use sections from other peoples' scores
In reply to You are understood well, by ProgBase
Always ask them first. ;-)
As to changing the key, I think you're more likely to want to do this: https://musescore.org/en/handbook/transposition-0
In reply to You are understood well, by ProgBase
The legal aspect:
![Screenshot from 2015-12-24 09:40:50.png]( "Screenshot from 2015-12-24 09:40:50.png")
If you ask for, and are given, permission then you can do anything you want with the music, including copy, modify and redistribute it. However, it is possible that the person has already given permission for you to do this by choosing to apply a permissive license. Have a look at the "info" box next to the score and check the license:
This owner of this file has chosen to reserve all rights they are entitled to under copyright law. This means that you cannot redistribute the file in modified or unmodified form. However, other licenses are available (e.g. Creative Commons) and you should check what they allow you to do and what conditions are attached (e.g. you might be allowed to make changes as long as you give credit to the original author).
Technically, copyright law does not cover usage, it only covers what you make available to others. Thus you can do anything you like with anyone else's work (even if they have written "All rights reserved" or left the license blank) just as long as you do not make the new version available to the public. If you modify a file that has "All rights reserved", then you must set your modified version to private if you choose to upload it to MuseScore.com or any other website. The only exception to this is if your changes are covered under a "fair use" clause, but the exact legal definition of this is different in each country.
The moral aspect:
You should always give credit to the original author, even if you are not legally required to do so.
3 Beginner Questions:
1 Can I write a piece in 7/4? The option does not seem to exist.
2 How can I add and subtract the number of bars in a score after realizing I
initially created too many or not enough?
3 Is there a way to scroll up and scroll down a score and from one page to another
without having to left click and drag the mouse?
Thanks
Dean
In reply to 3 Beginner Questions: 1 Can I by Dean-Rath
It's better to create a new topic if you have more questions. It's then easier to find for other beginners.
1. Yes. You can create any time signature. Press Shift + T and create your time signature. Then drag it to the score. See https://musescore.org/en/handbook/time-signature-0
2. See https://musescore.org/en/handbook/measure-operations-0
3. Yes, you can scroll up/down with the scroll wheel of your mouse or with the right gesture on your touchpad. Just like you scroll down a webpage. To scroll left/right, press shift and use the scroll wheel or touchpad. You can also use the navigator (Display > Navigator). Or shortcuts page up, page down on your computer keyboard.
In reply to It's better to create a new by [DELETED] 5
add to 3.: you can press (and hold) CTRL (STRG) and use the scroll wheel or touchpad to zoom in or zoom out. :-)
On the copyright stuff, I'm guessing that you want to copy sections of uploaded pieces that are transcriptions of known works, rather than original compositions.
As for the "All rights reserved" on the non-original MuseScore uploads, give me a break. Here are a couple of facts. If you make a slavish transcription of a 19th century edition of some Bach piece, then even if you worked hard for a month, you cannot claim any rights. Copyright applies only to original work, not sweat of the brow. There have been legal precedents with transcriptions of, e.g., the phonebook. It is actually illegal to claim copyright for something if you are not entitled. But it is a federal offense in the US, and the fine is something like $1500, so fines are rare, and large publishers do it. So suppose the MS uploader took some Bach manuscript or some other edition that is out of copyright, and transcribed it. You can copy it freely, regardless of the MS notice. Suppose he/she added just a few phrasing marks. You can copy the lot. If the uploader edited a substantial amount of the piece (how much is "substantial" is a gray area) and had a restrictive copyright notice, then you can't legally copy it.
If the uploaded piece, like all the Beatles songs in the MS repository, was originally under copyright, then the uploader had no legal right to upload it, and the uploader's copyright notice on it is invalid.
The main point I want to make is that most of the "copyright" notices on the MS repository are bogus, and are there presumably because of the default settings. Some are not of course. There is some original work/arranging/editing by serious people. But I'm guessing that you just want to grab some transcription of a piece that was not written by the transcriber.
I would say that most likely, you should... Go for it!