Time Signature Help (Fractions)

[alexyuwen]

Hello all,
I was wondering how I could input, for example, a 5 1/2 4 time signature into Finale. Currently, I'm notating it simply as 11 8 but I would prefer 5 1/2 4.

For an example of how such a time signature would appear, see http://midnightmusic.net/MusicTheory/em ... 5Music.jpg

I would also be interested in learning how to input 5.5 4, if this is possible.

Lastly, is it possible to input a question mark as a time signature? I would like notate a section of improvised music where the time (tempo) is maintained but there is no defined time signature.

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!

[Peter Thomsen]

Take a look at the attached Finale 2012 document.

[damienthecomposer]

You can create a decimal time signature without using special expressions; just use the Composite dialog box in the Time Signature tool. I guess the only problem is that it puts the dot a little high.

The false time sigs are really nifty, though. Lots of fine-tuning to get the placement of the fractions just right.

Peter, I couldn't tell how you hid the time signature at the beginning in your document. There wasn't a staff style or a staff setting to hide it. What did you do?

[Peter Thomsen]

…Peter, I couldn't tell how you hid the time signature at the beginning in your document. There wasn't a staff style or a staff setting to hide it. What did you do?

To hide the time signature in the first measure I used the Measure Tool.
Measure Attributes > Time Signature: Always Hide

I used the Measure Tool since
- in a multistaff score a measure goes vertically through all the staves (whereas a staff goes horizontally through all the measures),
- in this example there are no polymeters (staves with independent time signatures).