Need help with chord placement

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Djard
Posts: 916
Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2010 2:23 am
Finale Version: Finale 26
Operating System: Windows

Post by Djard » Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:55 pm

When attempting to configure placement of guitar chord names and their diagrams, so that when I add them to the score they will automatically be placed as desired, I am confounded by the use of the triangles at left, even after reading the manual. I tried using the "Vertical" position feature in JW Change plug-in, but the "Apply" button remains grayed; so that option is also too complex for me. I know it is possible to make Finale automatically place chords as desired, but I have forgotten how I managed to do so previously. Can someone lend me a hand?


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N Grossingink
Posts: 1786
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2016 2:50 pm
Finale Version: 27.3
Operating System: Mac

Post by N Grossingink » Sun Apr 14, 2019 10:05 am

The default chord baseline is set by the left-most triangle. Adjust to a default that's to your taste. The third triangle from right adjusts baselines for only the system you are working on. The second triangle adjusts baselines for a single stave of a multi stave score.

I make things easy by adjusting the left triangle to get a good default placement for the entire score. If here and there any need nudging, I use the Selection Tool on a case by case basis. Hope this helps.

N.
N. Grossingink
Educational Band, Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble a specialty
Sample: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pFF5OeJDeLFGHMRyXrubFqZWXBubErw4/view?usp=share_link


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User avatar
Djard
Posts: 916
Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2010 2:23 am
Finale Version: Finale 26
Operating System: Windows

Post by Djard » Sun Apr 14, 2019 4:34 pm

Thanks for responding. I already knew what you kindly shared but could not synchronize the fretboard diagram with the chord name. After more sleuthing, I finally figured out that "Position Chord" in the menu refers only to the chord name and that the Position Fretboards must be selected separately: i.e. the diagram must be assigned the function of the leftmost triangle separately. Below are the steps.

1. Chord Tool (icon in upper toolbar) ->
Chord (upper text menu) -> Chord Style
-> Standard. My preferences are...

~ Manual Unput
~ Show Fretboards
~ Position Chords
~ Simplify Spelling
~ Substitute Symbols

2. Chord (upper text menu) -> select
"Position Freboards."
3. Double-click in measure -> select chord
and modify attributes as desired.
4. At left of page, drag leftmost triangle
to where you want the diagrams to be
placed.

LEFTMOST triangle
moves all chords up or down in score.
SECOND triangle
moves all chords in the staff only,
regardless of leftmost triangle.
THIRD triangle
in Page View moves all chords in this
staff system only.
RIGHTMOST triangle
does not move any existing chord but
sets position for next chord entered.

5. Chord (upper text menu) -> Position
Chords -> drag leftmost triangle, until
chord name sits about the space of a
handle above the diagram. All chords
subsequently added will appear at the
same distance above ther staff.
6. Click on chord name handle (both chord
name handle and diagram handle will be
highlighted -> use left and right
arrow keys to nudge chord horizontally.
7. Click in blank area to deselect the
chord -> click on diagram handle ->
use arrow keys to move the diagram
only.

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