TAB string names

[stanb]

I'm writing for a lap steel with C6 tuning (C E G A C E). I have both a notation and a TAB staff. Is there a way to display the string names next to the strings C E G A C E in the TAB staff? I can always put a note at the top of the piece to indicate that the tuning is C6 but it would be nice if the string names could be shown. Thanks.

Finale 25
Windows 10

[Bill Stevens]

At the beginning, or for every system? Do lap steel players need constant reminders?

::: Bill

[stanb]

I would like the string names to appear at the beginning of the piece only. There are many tunings for the lap steel. Some of the more common tunings are: A major (3 tunings), A6, A7, B11, C6, C#minor, E7, E9 although C6 is probably the most common. There is more than one C6 tuning, as well, the most common being C, E, G, A, C, E. Like I said if this is not easily done, I can just place some text at the top of the piece to indicate C6 tuning. Thanks.

[Bill Stevens]

Since you just want this once at the beginning of the first system it would be easy enough to use the Text Tool to assign the pitches. Do the first one and get the size right, then copy it and paste for the second one and change the pitch. You might do it with 6 little text boxes, or possibly with one text box with six pitches vertically. I do this sort of thing for banjo tablature so I know what you're after. When you have it right on a file you might want to save it as a template so in the future you can just change the pitches for different tunings. I hope that helps.

::: Bill Stevens

[Peter Thomsen]

Or you can do it with six expressions.
Getting the exact positioning, vertically and horizontally, might be easier with expressions.

[stanb]

I appreciate all the input. I haven't tried using expressions yet but here is what I came up with using text. Just wondering what everyone thinks.

lap-steel-tuning.jpg

[miker]

Why not just stack the letters as a text expression? Adjust the baselines to shift them closer together, as needed.

[stanb]

Thanks for suggesting the expression tool. I created a miscellaneous expression and assigned it to the staff. I think it looks pretty nice. Very concise and lines up beautifully next to the staff. I can create an expression for any tuning as well.

lap-steel-tab-expression.jpg

[miker]

Glad I could help.