Notation question

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Hector Pascal
Posts: 432
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 11:43 pm
Finale Version: Finale 26
Operating System: Mac

Post by Hector Pascal » Wed Aug 25, 2021 6:23 am

Hi all,
I am notating this bar of piano music and am wondering if my use of cross staff notes and reverse stems is ok? Suggestions for improvement are welcome. Possibly the height of the beams needs a bit of correction... and also the final LH Bb needs an accidental, and my slurs are a bit ugly. Apart from those things, am I on the right track?
Screen Shot 2021-08-25 at 4.04.51 pm.png
Cheers,
Hector.


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John Ruggero
Posts: 827
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2016 11:41 am
Finale Version: Finale 25.5
Operating System: Mac

Post by John Ruggero » Wed Aug 25, 2021 11:30 am

I think you are definitely on the right track.

Suggestions: Finale doesn't do a good job of spacing the two notes that play immediately before and after the change of stem direction for cross staff notes. I expand and contract the spacing as necessary using the beat chart. Also, the beams should be centered between the two groups while also avoiding the staff, if possible. The beams for beat four are too low. You should remove the whole measure rest in the upper staff since neither hand is resting. And while your staff spacing is acceptable, I personally narrow the spacing between the staves a little in cases like this so that there is greater continuity as the notes pass from hand to hand.
2020 M1 Mac mini (OS 12.6) Finale 25.5, Dorico, Affinity Publisher, SmartScore 64 Pro, JW Plug-ins, TG Tools, Keyboard Maestro
www.cantilenapress.com

"The better the composer, the better the notation."

Hector Pascal
Posts: 432
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 11:43 pm
Finale Version: Finale 26
Operating System: Mac

Post by Hector Pascal » Thu Aug 26, 2021 12:08 am

Thanks, John! You have been very helpful, especially regarding the expansion and contraction of the stem spacing immediately before and after the change of stem direction. I had not thought to tweak that spacing.
Cheers and thanks,
Hector.

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