Finale Forum

is there a shortcut for chromatically transposing? i know the up and down arrows on the keyboard will let you move a note or chord diatonically..

If I understand you correctly, you are talking about transposing the music by some interval - without changing the key signature - right?

The keyboard shortcuts for transposition are user programmable.
There are four trigger keys (giving you a total of four programmable transpositions), namely the number key 6 - 7 - 8 - 9

The default settings are (as you know)
9 - octave up
8 - octave down
7 - scale step up
6 - scale step down

You can customize these four as needed.

In this example let us say that you will program the number 9 key to the transposition {up by a perfect fifth}.

Selection Tool.
Hold down Command-Shift, and hit the number 9 key.

You get to the dialog box Transposition where you can specify the programmed transposition.

In this example:
Direction: Up
Method: Chromatically
Interval: Perfect Fifth

When you are done, click OK.

From now on, the selected music will be transposed up by a perfect fifth when you hit the number 9 key.

When the notes are selected, I am able to transpose them up and down with the arrow keys - but they stay within the key signature. I'm hoping to transpose chromatically.

I should also say the number keys seem to only do the transposition when the notes are not selected - I can't seem to transpose a full chord, for instance. I am using an older version (25) on an old Mac, though - so maybe some of this functionality isn't available yet.

It is available. See Utilities/Transpose. From the Selection tool, not Simple entry. Peter's posting above explains how to program keys to a certain transposition.

Yes, thank you - I do understand how to do it with the menu. I am just wondering if there is a keyboard shortcut, or if it would be possible to program one.