Finale is A NIGHTMARE, PLEASE HELP!!

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JJW
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 3:54 pm

Post by JJW » Thu May 01, 2008 4:04 pm

I used to use Sibelius, now I can no longer afford it and thus I'm here with Finale.

It is a nightmare. It lets me do nothing. Please help!

First problem:

I click on the chord symbol and nothing happens. NO extra window bar comes up to the left of 'Help', and it doesn't matter where I click on the score or what view the score is in, no option ever comes up to even enter the most basic of chords.

Second problem:

How do I get Finale to notate the following:

In 3/4, a quadruplet over the bar, so 4 over 3.

Third problem:

How do I get a repeat with a first AND a second time bar? I can get a first time bar, then regardless of how I configure the options, can only get another of the same.

Fourth problem:

I have entered a note, wrong. How do I correct it without having to erase the entire measure/bar and click again. ON SIBELIUS, I could simply highlight the note and press the arrow key to shift it up and down accordingly.

I would appreciate any help GREATLY and I will probably have a bunch more questions soon. Thank you so so much for your help in advance.

J


User avatar
Peter Thomsen
Posts: 6601
Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 6:47 pm
Finale Version: Finale v27.4
Operating System: Mac

Post by Peter Thomsen » Thu May 01, 2008 5:53 pm

Cheer up, and remember the Finale mantra:
"The first 10 years are the hardest" (just kidding)

Are you using Windows Finale or Mac Finale?
I'm not sure about the modifier keys in the Windows version.
If e. g. the Alt key doesn't seem to work, then try the other Windows modifier keys.

Generally it's a good idea to do the tutorials, and watch the videos.
Also, learn to use the manual's alphabetical Index file which includes all Finale's dialog boxes and menus - and also includes all the most common musical terms, and how to do them in Finale.


1) In Finale chord symbols must be attached to entries (= notes or rests).
Without entries, you can't get chord symbols.

When you are in the Chord Tool, the Chord menu is available.
From the Chord menu you can choose various chord input methods, like e. g. "Type Into Score".

You must be in the same layer as the entry you want to attach the chord symbol to.
To switch layer, use e. g. the pop up menu in the lower left corner of the document window.

A common solution is to attach the chord symbols to rests or notes in Layer 4.

If you in 4/4 fill all measures with half rests in Layer 4, you can attach chord symbols to beat 1 and beat 3 in Layer 4.
In 3/4 you could fill all measures with quarter rests in Layer 4, or perhaps with dotted half rests.

You can hide the Layer 4 entries with the Staff Tool - double-click the staff, and use the Alternate Notation called "Blank Notation" for Layer 4.


2) To notate a quadruplet.
What note entry method are you using?
Simple Entry Tool?
Speedy Entry Tool?
Computer keyboard?
MIDI keyboard?
Or?

In this example let's say that you want to enter four quarter note 'A's as a 4:3 quadruplet in a 3/4 measure

A) - with the Simple Entry Tool.
When entering notes with computer keyboard and entry caret, the entry string goes like this:
NumPad 5 (selects the Quarter Tool...)
A (...enters the first A...)
(Windows:) Alt-NumPad 9 (Mac OS X:) Option-NumPad 9 (...opens the Simple Entry Tuplet Definition...)
NumPad 4 (...I want 4 of the current note value...)
Tab (...in the space of...)
NumPad 3 (...3 of the the current note value...)
Enter (...OK!...)
A
A
A (...enters the remaining three notes)

B) - with the Speedy Entry Tool.
Position the crosshair on the 'A' scale step.
(Windows:) Ctrl-NumPad 4 (Mac OS X:) Option-NumPad 4 (default for a 4:3 quadruplet...)
A small '4' appears in the upper right corner of the Speedy rectangle.
NumPad 5
NumPad 5
NumPad 5
NumPad 5 (...enters the four quarter notes)


3) Repeat Tool.
Select the measure(s) you want to include in the first ending.
Repeat menu > Create First and Second Ending


4) To correct a wrong pitch.

A) - with the Simple Entry Tool.
To select the note, hold down the correct modifier key (Windows: Ctrl ; Mac: Option), and click the note.
When an entry is selected, you can move it up/down with the arrow keys.

B) - with the Speedy Entry Tool and computer keyboard.

Position the crosshair on the desired beat, on the desired scale step.

Turn the wrong note into a rest - Windows: Delete ; Mac: NumPad Clear.

Hit the Enter key to enter the desired scale step.


Peter
Mac OS X 12.6.9 (Monterey), Finale user since 1996

saxutopia
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 11:09 am
Finale Version: V26 & 2012a
Operating System: Mac

Post by saxutopia » Tue Apr 25, 2017 8:09 am

I am just looking at adding stems and rests to the notation on tablature for a bass player in my community music group and saw this reply as part of my searching Mike. Thanks for the long reply much appreciated! I presume the op sent you flowers or a private email to thank you as I see no reply here. I very often see what appears to be unanswered replies such as yours and I don't understand why this is so.
Finale 26 ver26.3.1.643 and Cubase 10.5 Logic Pro 10.5
macOS Catalina10.15.6
2017 iMAC 5k 27"
3.8GHz Intel Core i5 40GB 2400 MHz DDr4 Radeon Pro 580 8192
Freelance musician.

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