Different dynamics for piano's left & right hands?

[Al Fine]

Hi all, I'm writing for solo piano in Finale, using a grandstaff. I often need the right and left hands to have different dynamics. It seems that if I using the Expression Tool, I can't give each respective hand different dynamic markings, and so, having been using the Midi Tool to either Set or Scale the hands individually (I have to take out some of the markings that the Human Playback reads for this to work). Is there a better way to do this? I was thinking I could create separate tracks for each hand, then use the Expression Tool, since that tool seems less work that the Midi Tool. It would be nice to take advantage of the Human Playback. If it can be done without two tracks, that'd be great too. Thanks!

[Al Fine]

A quick peek on-line offered one possibility, namely, different layers. Has anyone used this technique?

[motet]

If you put the two staves on different channels it should work.

[zuill]

Layers works better (each on a different channel) if it is only for occasional spots. If you put each staff on a different channel, then you will need to have separate dynamics for both staves all the way through.

Zuill

[Al Fine]

Thank you for your replies. Won't using two layers work for what I want to do, not matter how many dynamics differences between hands I want throughout the piece? That is to say, during playback, aren't the dynamics and expressions for different layers played back as written for each respective hand? And if I have to instead use different channels, can that be done from the grand staff, or would I have to have two separate single staff pieces, which would then be combined?

[Peter Thomsen]

… And if I have to instead use different channels, can that be done from the grand staff, or would I have to have two separate single staff pieces, which would then be combined?

Actually, the Grand Staff is just a staff group of two (single, individual) staves, a fact you can see in the ScoreManager’s chiclet Instrument List:

[zuill]

I've attached a short sample file using Layers to get independent dynamics. Again, if you set the Bass staff to a different channel, you will need to use separate dynamics all the way. With Layers, you only need independent dynamics when the need arises.

Zuill

[Al Fine]

Just to clarify, though, if I want different expressions between hands for an entire piece (let's say I want the right hand louder than the left for the first half of the piece, and vice versa for the second half), that can still be accomplished by using layers, correct? I haven't had time to test this on my own, but I do have time to post the question here, ha-ha.

I ask this, btw, because you've twice referred to using layers only for partial differences, but I don't see why one couldn't also use it for large scale differences.

[motet]

In that case I would put the two hands on separate channels and avoid the hassle of switching layers when you're entering the music.

[Al Fine]

Ah, I see. I'll try tackling it that way. Thanks, as always.

[zuill]

Correct. If one wants to use separate dynamics throughout, the easiest way is to have each staff on a different channel.

Zuill

[Al Fine]

Can the grand staff have two channels? I'm not seeing a way to do that. If you can point me in the right direction for how to do the two channels option you suggested, I'd appreciate it!

[zuill]

The Grand Staff is actually 2 staves yoked. Click the little arrow (triangle) to the left and a dropdown list shows each of the 2 staves. Each Staff has its own dropdown for Layers and other items 9chords, expressions, etc.

Zuill

[Al Fine]

I don't see a triangle.

Grand staff.jpg

[Al Fine]

Your were talking about Staff mMnager, weren't you? I think I've got it. If not, I'll be back, heh.

[zuill]

I'm sorry. When in the Score Manager.

Zuill

[Al Fine]

No worries, and sorry for my typo above. I meant to write "Score Manager". In any case it seems to be working. Now I just have to figure out why the last quarter note of the 4th bar is being held a little too long. Maybe the "Romantic" setting does that? I'll play with the settings and search for other posts, see what I can come up with.