tuplets

[musicus]

Having some trouble with tups, even though I thought I had this down a long time ago. See attached, meas. 3 and 14. They aren't looking right. I used Option/3 for each tup, entered a quarter then an eighth note, but they appear wrong. What am I doing wrong?

[miker]

I can't see in theTAB where the triplet is supposed to be. Could you show us in standard notation what you're aiming for?

[motet]

I used Option/3 for each tup, entered a quarter then an eighth note

Sounds like you are using Speedy Entry. Option-3 defines the tuplet as three of the next note you enter, so that won't work. Instead, use Option-1, press Return to use the default settings, then enter your quarter and eighth.

[Peter Thomsen]

… I used Option/3 for each tup, entered a quarter then an eighth note, but they appear wrong. What am I doing wrong?

Since you used Option-3, it is my guess that your entry method is Speedy Entry (not Simple Entry), right?

Obviously you need triplets (since you use Option-3), right?

However, triplets come in many variations/definitions):
3 Halves in the space of 2 Halves
3 Quarters in the space of 2 Quarters
3 Eighths in the space of 2 Eighths
&c.

Finale can not read your mind, and guess what triplet definition you need.
You have to tell Finale.

When you - in Speedy Entry - use Option-3, you tell Finale to define the triplet from the first note in the triplet.
If you begin the triplet with a half, the definition will be “3 Halves in the space of 2 Halves”.
If you begin the triplet with a Quarter, the definition will be “3 Quarters in the space of 2 Quarters”.
If you begin the triplet with an Eighth, the definition will be “3 Eighths in the space of 2 Eighths”.
&c.

I could be wrong here, but it is my guess that you everywhere in this particular document need triplets defined as “3 Eighths in the space of 2 Eighths”, right?
You also need “3 Eighths in the space of 2 Eighths” where the first triplet note is a Quarter (= a mixed triplet of Quarter + Eighth), right?

Where you use Option-3, and begin the triplet with a Quarter, you tell Finale that you need a triplet of “3 Quarters in the space of 2 Quarters” (which obviously is not what you need).

Instead use Option-1.
Finale will open the Tuplet Definition which defaults to “3 Eighths in the space of 2 Eighths” (which is what you need).
Hence you can immediately hit Return (= OK!).

In Other Words this entry string:
Option-1 (Tuplet Definition)
Return (OK)
5 (Quarter)
4 (Eighth)

[David Ward]

You can also after keying Option-3, first enter the note value that defines the triplet and then back-space and change that first note to the value you need: the definition will remain what you first entered, but now the first note can be of different length. (The explanation is more convoluted than the action.)

[motet]

My solution is so much easier for this specific case! Option-1, return, quarter note, eighth note, done!

[musicus]

Thanks for everyone's help with this.