Note stems

[elliesinc0440]

Am doing an SATB. I want stems in SA to go upwards, and stems in TB to go down. Is there a setting where all the alto can be entered with all stems upwards, instead of laboriously doing them one by one? Same with the bass. TY

[motet]

If you're putting each it its own layer, there are settings in Document Options/Layers to specify stem directions. Otherwise, under Utilities there's a way to flip selected notes all up or all down.

[miker]

If you are doing a standard, 2-staff SA/TB, put the soprano in layer one and alto in layer two, and in the next staff, tenor in layer one and bass in layer two. The stems will be correct.

Don't use layers 3 and 4 for tenor and bass (a common beginner's tendency.)

[motet]

But the request was "I want stems in SA to go upwards, and stems in TB to go down. I always assume questioners have their reasons for doing non-standard things.

[Peter Thomsen]

Am doing an SATB. I want stems in SA to go upwards, and stems in TB to go down. Is there a setting where all the alto can be entered with all stems upwards, instead of laboriously doing them one by one? Same with the bass. TY

I suppose that you are not using 4 staves, but rather only 2 staves, with SA on the top staff, and TB on the bottom staff (like a Grand Staff), right?

I admit that I know nothing about your engraving project.
Hence the following may not be relevant at all:

Have you considered putting S & A in the same Layer, with two noteheads on the same stem (and similarly with T & B)?

[miker]

Some hymnals do it like that. I would do the note entries as 2-note chords, just like Peter said. It only gets sticky when you need two layers for, say, a half-note against two quarters. You can still do it, hiding rests as needed.

Here’s an example that mixes styles.

467566B6-B1AC-416E-B643-45B95D98567D.jpeg (134.64 KiB) Viewed 3347 times

I would avoid changing the stem directions, because that gets really ugly with flagged notes.

Elliesinc, can you post a picture of what you are aiming for?

[elliesinc0440]

Hey, thanks to all who responded. I think I will give miker's suggestion a try. I will try to figure out the manual for 2 note chords.

[miker]

It's pretty simple. Enter an E. Now let's say you want the G above it. That's an interval of a third, so you would tap the 3 key. If you wanted the B above that, just tap the 3 again.b If you wanted just the E and B, enter the E, and tap 5.

It works in reverse, too. Hold the shift key while you enter the interval below.