Finale Forum

Very simply, I'm trying to achieve the values of 2 tied eighth notes plus another eighth note under the tuplet tool so it notates as a 'swing' quarter note plus eighth note under the tuplet. Finale is not letting me combine different valued notes within the same tuplet - the image is what I'm trying to achieve, just in the opposite order. Thanks so much for help!

Gretchen,
That's already there, in the Tempo category of Expressions. If you don't want the word "Swing!", just duplicate the expression, click Edit, and Delete.

I think what is needed is actual notation in the staff. There are different ways to do it, but knowing the note entry method is helpful (Speedy vs. Simple, Mouse, QWERTY or MIDI Keyboard).

Zuill

I apologize. I completely misunderstood the question!

Gretchen, without meaning to be insulting, I suspect you are a new user. Here is a link to a tutorial I wrote a couple of years ago. It may help.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5dg0bv5y9zdp2 ... y.pdf?dl=0

Thank you miker - not entirely a noob but have never had this issue before and I sincerely appreciate the more in-depth tutorial. My problem is I will add the first eighth note, hit 9 for the tuplet tool, and finale *automatically* adds 2 eighth note rests for the remainder of the tuplet that can only be replaced by eighth notes. Deleting these two rests does not allow me to add the quarter note into the tuplet; Finale then angrily pings me for my misdeeds. I have written other scores wherein I need say, 5 notes in the space of 4, without issue, among other tuplet niceties, but Finale refuses to let me use a quarter and eighth together. It is baffling and I am surely missing something?

You should be able to add the quarter after deleting the two eighth rests--I can. Delete the rests with the Delete key. After deleting, the first eighth should be red and the 3 should still show; press the right-arrow key so that the first eighth isn't highlighted, but instead the cursor shows just to the right of it, then enter your quarter note.

motet wrote:You should be able to add the quarter after deleting the two eighth rests--I can. Delete the rests with the Delete key. After deleting, the first eighth should be red and the 3 should still show; press the right-arrow key so that the first eighth isn't highlighted, but instead the cursor shows just to the right of it, then enter your quarter note.

I literally cannot - I get the error/disallowed audible ping when attempting to add the quarter note. I can delete the rests but I cannot add anything BUT 2 eighth notes. I wish I could screen cap this - are there any inherent settings within Finale I need to disable/enable? It's baffling! Perhaps an uninstall/reinstall?

What is the meter? Where does the triplet lie in the measure?

Try turning off the Simple Entry option "Check for extra notes."

In the worst case, after turning that off, you can enter a plain eighth and quarter, then exit Simple Entry, switch to the Tuplet tool, and click on the eighth. You shouldn't need to resort to this, though.

That worked!!! Hallelujah! Thank you so much - I cannot express how frustrated I was with this and would never have come to this solution on my own. You have my unending thanks and appreciation!

You're welcome. I think there are bugs with deleting the rests, especially when they're at the end of a measure. It shouldn't be this hard...

It's NOT that hard!

Numpad 4, enter eighth note from QWERTY keyboard A-G
Numpad 9, to enter Triplet mode (if default is 3 eighths in space of 2 eighths. If not, Opt-9 to enter tuplet definition, and make it so.)
Numpad 5, enter quarter note from QWERTY keyboard A-G

No deletions, no backing up, no problems on the last beat.

By Fudd, you're right! I think what I was doing was moving the cursor over the first eighth rest, thinking I would replace that. And if you instead delete the rests, the cursor moves onto the first note instead of just after it.

I stand by "it doesn't have to be this hard" but I think I understand now. The fact remains that tuplets foil a lot of people, so I'm not sure how it works is very intuitive.

And it works in reverse (quarter/eighth) just the same.

The trick (if there is one) is to set your default for 3 eighths in the space of 2 eighths, rather than “use current duration.” That way, you can enter triplets of 3 eighths, eighth/quarter, and quarter/eighth, on any beat, with no fuss and no mouse.

But not three quarter notes! But you're right--If I were using Simple entry, I would probably set it to that.

Correct. But in my very limited experience, most pieces will use either eighth tuplets, or quarter tuplets. (Wait while I am showered with hundreds of examples disproving that statement.)

In any case, if you have a piece with quarter tuplets, set it for 3 quarters in the space of 2. Then you're good for 3 quarters, half/quarter, or quarter/half.