guitar fingering in finale 2008

[arfo]

Hi everybody, I'm having a lot difficulties in understanding the best way to insert fingering in a guitar score; I found in the help manual that I should use the articulation tool.. I tried to do that but, if I have a chord, finale puts every note in the same place even if I click on different notes and I have to place each number using handles...
It seems strange to me that there is no other (faster!!) way to do that...

Can anybody help me?

thanx

arfo

[arfo]

p.s. and waht about string numbers (inside a circle..)?

thanks again

arfo

[Peter Thomsen]

A) Fingerings:
Create duplicate versions of the fingering articulations.
Edit the duplicates so that they have different vertical positions.
Assign metatools to the fingerings for fast entry.
An example:
If you need four different vertical positions (four fingering numbers above each other), assign metatools so that the letter Z key positions a finger number '1' at the lowest position, the letter A key positions a finger number '1' at a position 24 EVPUs (= 6 Points = 1 Space) higher (or whatever amount you want), the letter Q key positions a finger number '1' at a position 48 EVPUs higher, and the number 1 key positions a finger number '1' at a position 72 EVPUs higher.

Similarly, assign metatools so that the four different position of a finger number '2' are programmed to the keys X, S, W, and 2.

Similarly, assign metatools so that the four different position of a finger number '3' are programmed to the keys C, D, E, and 3.

&c.


B) Encircled numbers:

1. There are fonts with "number-inside-a-circle" characters, e. g.
Helsinki Special
Opus Special
Wingdings
Wingdings2
Zapf Dingbats
You can attach a such "number-inside-a-circle" character as an articulation or as an expression.

2. You can also create the number as a text expression, and give the text expression a circular enclosure.

3. And you can create the "number-inside-a-circle" in the Shape Designer, and use it as shape expression or as shape articulation.

[kobitz]

p.s. and waht about string numbers

As for numbers inside the circles, I'm assuming you will be using those for fretboard diagrams.

If you right click on a chord and select "edit fretboard" you will get the Fretboard Editor:



You have numbers there you use to replace the dots to turn something like this:



into something like this:

[arfo]

Hi Peter,
thank you for answering!
I'll try your solution but it seems to be very complicated (as everything in Finale..).. I guess if there's no other way..

arfo

[kobitz]

best way to insert fingering in a guitar score

I can't attach a .MUS file to this post. The file is here: HERE but you have to register to FinaleGuitar.com to download it. Everything is free. Registering takes a little time but there's a lot of information for a guitar player looking to use Finale.

GuitarTAB

This file has been altered to better notate the various tab symbols and guitar techniques. The appropriate tool and hotkeys are listed below. All original articulations in Finale were duplicated so this file basically creates new articulations and changes hotkeys to make creating TAB parts more efficient.

The default tool is the Articulation tool and the hotkeys are underlined. Any changes are noted next to the articulation.

Treble Clef

• Fretboard Index - 1
• Fretboard Middle - 2
• Fretboard Ring - 3
• Fretboard Pinky - 4

TAB Staff

• Downstrum -
• Upstrum -
• Hammer On - H (You can use the Smart Shape tool to create a slur)
• Pull Off - P
• Smart Shape Tool looks like this:
• 
• Bend (Smart Shape Tool -> Guitar Bend Tool)
• Slide (Smart Shape Tool -> Tab Slide Tool)
• Vibrato (Smart Shape Tool -> Cntrl + Click the "?" -> Select the squiggly line -> ddcl and drag to the end note -> position)
• Palm Mute a section (Smart Shape Tool -> Cntrl + Click the "?" -> Select Palm Mute -> ddcl on a TAB note -> hold and drag to set length -> position)
• Palm MutE a single note - pm (apears below the staff)
• Tap - T
• Fingerstyle ThumB - p
• Fingerstyle Index - i
• Fingerstyle Middle - m
• Fingerstyle Annular or Ring Finger - a
• Fingerstyle Pinky - c (hotkey is C)
• Trill (Smart Shape tool -> trill tool)
• Tremolo Picking - ?
• Tremolo Bar - ?

? = nothing worked out yet

Go to http://www.finaleguitar.com/index.php?showtopic=120 to learn about notating harmonics in Finale.

*TIPS*

• To change tunings (Drop D, for example) right click on "TAB Staff" and select Edit Staff Attributes, next to "Notation Style" hit the SELECT buttion, click on "Edit Instrument", and change the pitch the relevant string(s). For Drop D you would change the pitch on string 6 from 40 to 38 (numbers go by half steps). These instructions work for Finale 2008.
• Use the fingerstyle symbols (p, i , m, a, and c) in the treble clef to indicate right handed tapping.

[kobitz]

it seems to be very complicated (as everything in Finale..)

The learning curve is pretty steep! Finale is very customizable and it's tailored to a wide audience of users.

[arfo]

Hi Kobitz! Thank you very very much for your answers!

I'm writing only music, not tabs or fretboards diagrams, now; so I need fingerings for both right and left hand and strings numbers..

As you say I'm definitely in the steep period of learning!
I often found out Sibelius to be much more intuitive than finale is and i'm still trying to understand if I really need Finale..
In Sibelius there are many possibilities to 'customize' commands and symbols too; I searched for fingerings and I reached results much faster than I did with finale.
What's your opinion?

Anyway... I'll subscribe finale forum for guitarists!

Thanks again,

arfo

[kobitz]

Interesting... there are a few different ways of writing guitar... what do you want the finished music to look like?

take a look at this:



I think this is closer to what you are looking for. The numbers above the notes are the fretboard fingerings. The p, i, m, a, c below the stave would be the right hand (if you are playing on a right-handed guitar).

You also want a way to notate the string number with the number in the circle, correct? As in High String = 1 and Low String = 6?

Or are you looking for something like this:



Or something like this (we'll call this option C):



Option D:

[arfo]

..all began looking for something similar to the 'B option' but I think the ideal would be a B-C-D mix... D is probably my favourite one...

arfo

[kobitz]

I understand.

I'm working on it. I'll post my ideas when I'm done. Maybe a half hour.

[kobitz]

As I can't attach the file to this post, you will have to download it off of the Finale Guitar website:

http://www.finaleguitar.com/index.php?showtopic=127

Classical Guitar



This file has been altered to better notate the various symbols you'll see in classical guitar music. The appropriate tool and hotkeys are listed below. All original articulations in Finale were duplicated so this file basically creates new articulations and changes hotkeys to make creating treble clef only guitar music easier and more efficient.... (and possible since some of the symbols don't exist in Finale).

The default tool is the Articulation tool and the hotkeys are underlined. Any changes are noted next to the articulation.

All symbols will have to be placed manually. This will allow you the flexibility to place them exactly where you want them to be.

Treble Clef

• Fretboard Index - 1
• Fretboard Middle - 2
• Fretboard Ring - 3
• Fretboard Pinky - 4
• Fingerstyle ThumB - p
• Fingerstyle Index - i
• Fingerstyle Middle - m
• Fingerstyle Annular or Ring Finger - a
• Fingerstyle Pinky - c (hotkey is C)
• 5 - String One
• 6 - String Two
• 7 - String Three
• 8 - String Four
• 9 - String Five
• 0 - String Six
• Smart Shape Tool looks like this:
• 
• Bend (Smart Shape Tool -> Guitar Bend Tool)
• Slide (Smart Shape Tool -> Tab Slide Tool)
• Vibrato (Smart Shape Tool -> Cntrl + Click the "?" -> Select the squiggly line -> ddcl and drag to the end note -> position)
• Trill (Smart Shape tool -> trill tool)

*TIPS*

• Use the Lyrics Tool to place fingerstyle symbols (p, i , m, a, and c) under the treble clef in a neat row.
• 
• Use layers to create contrapuntal guitar parts. (They will show up as different colors in Finale but will print out black.)
• 

[arfo]

what can I say? Hope I can help you someway, one day..

arfo

[kobitz]

I'm listening to your myspace page and eating a sandwich.

Very nice tunes! Hope the advice helps you share your music....

[arfo]

Hi Kobitz! I'm happy you enjoyed my music
I registerd myself on finale guitar forum but where can I find the file you posted ?
All I see is this.. (see attacchment)

arfo

[kobitz]

Click here -----> http://www.finaleguitar.com/index.php?showtopic=127

That's the link to the topic. The file is attached at the bottom of the topic.

One of the problems is that you were still listed as "validating". You wouldn't be able to see the entire website. I fixed that so the next time you log in, it should look different.

There are three main sections to the website. The bass method, the guitar method, and the member forum.

Click on this link in the Nav Bar to see the entire website:



The topic found in the Member Forum, under "Create Your Own Lessons", and then it will be in the topic "Classical Guitar Template".

Your Nav Bar will look like this when you are in the right section:



Scroll to the bottom of the topic and you'll see this:



And that's the file.

[arfo]

Hi Kobitz,
thank you for your kindness and excuse me for my late in answering.
I downloaded the file but it appears to be a completely empty page...

arfo

[kobitz]

I didn't put any examples in the file since most people would just delete them to put in their own music.

If you look at the articulations available in the template, you should notice a difference between the template and a blank document created in Finale. I had to manually add the symbols to the articulation tool so you would be able to add them to your compositions.

So open up the template, enter music as you would in a normal Finale file, and then use the expanded range of articulations to make your music look then way you want it.

[arfo]

Sorry! I didn't understand the file was a template..
I'll try it for sure

arfo

[kobitz]

And when I say "template" I mean a blank document to get you started.

There is a Finale Template File .FTM format, too.

Both formats are available for download.