Learning Chords

[02fentym]

Hi,

Using the chord recognizer (MIDI input) I'm trying to get Finale to recognize the E/G# chord. I've made Finale learn that chord, but when I play that chord it reverts to E/Ab. Does anyone know how to fix this problem. BTW, the same is true with A/C#, B/D#, etc etc etc. Hope you can help. I'm using Finale 2007 in Windows XP.

Thanks in advance,

Mike

[Peter Thomsen]

This is a matter of enharmonic spelling.
The same issue appears when you play a G# in note entry:
Finale will enter an Ab.

Finale can't know whether you want G# or Ab, and therefore Finale spells the notes according to its spelling tables.
Finale's spelling tables spell the notes relative to the key signature.
In the key of C major the pitch between G and A is spelled Ab (b6 rather than #5).
But in the key of D major the pitch between G and A is spelled G# (#4 rather than b5).

So the solution is
either
1. edit the spelling table
or
2. enter the chord symbol with the computer keyboard (e. g. Type Into Score mode)

If you edit the spelling table, you can - in the key of C major - get E/G#.
But then Fm/Ab will be spelled as Fm/G#.

If you enter the chord symbol with the computer keyboard, you may sometimes experience that Finale still reverts the spelling:
C#/E# might be spelled as C#/F, and Abm/Cb might be spelled as Abm/B.
The solution is to type C#/D###, or Abm/Dbbb, since the reverting is caused by Finale's "Simplify Spelling" feature.
You can also toggle "Simplify Spelling" off.

Peter

[02fentym]

Thanks Peter.