Control Tuplet bracket Position

[Rick_in_MN]

Hi.......
I need to place a tuplet over the notes below the staff (the broken triplet to a low G in layer 2). I turned off the "avoid staff" button in Document Options->Tuplets, but it still insists on appearing either above or below the staff (see examples). It appears that I might be able to get the brackets where I need them, but the number "3" seems to trigger it to jump up to over the staff as it gets close to the lower barline.

Hoe can I make the tuplet appear over the low notes at the beginning of the measure?

[motet]

I think changing Document Options/Tuplets only affects future tuplets, not those already entered. Double-click on the 3 and a handle should appear. Right-click on that and pick Edit Tuplet Definition.

But I think the bracket would look better below, in which case there's no reason to avoid the staff.

If you use layer 2 (red) instead of layer 3 (blue), the bracket should appear below by default.

[Rick_in_MN]

I think changing Document Options/Tuplets only affects future tuplets, not those already entered. Double-click on the 3 and a handle should appear. Right-click on that and pick Edit Tuplet Definition.

But I think the bracket would look better below, in which case there's no reason to avoid the staff.

Thanks, Motet… that works.

If you use layer 2 (red) instead of layer 3 (blue), the bracket should appear below by default.

I changed my layer colors to better distinguish them from my selection color, so my Layer 2 is blue.

[motet]

I don't know why your bracket ended up above the notes, then.

[John Ruggero]

And it would be better to show the tuplet in question as two eighth rests and an eighth note rather than a quarter rest and eighth note. (See E. Gould Behind Bars, page 211.)

[Rick_in_MN]

And it would be better to show the tuplet in question as two eighth rests and an eighth note rather than a quarter rest and eighth note. (See E. Gould Behind Bars, page 211.)

Thanks, John—I definitely need to get that book.

In the context of a jazz piece (which this is, though I realize now that couldn't have been discerned by my original post), I might argue that a quarter-eighth broken triplet rhythm is more characteristic and easier for the player to read, though I recognize it may not be correct by academic or publishing standards.

[Rick_in_MN]

I don't know why your bracket ended up above the notes, then.

I think it was because I changed tuplet settings in Doc Options *after* I created the tuplet (as you yourself noted).

Thanks again for helping me with this.

[motet]

The default placement is Stem/Beam Side, so you must have changed it before creating that tuplet, too.

[John Ruggero]

I might argue that a quarter-eighth broken triplet rhythm is more characteristic and easier for the player to read, though I recognize it may not be correct by academic or publishing standards.

I stand corrected. If it's the norm in jazz notation, it's correct. Does jazz have an Elaine Gould? If not, it needs one.

[Rick_in_MN]

If it's the norm in jazz notation, it's correct.

I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say "if it's the norm, it's correct"… but your point is well taken.

Does jazz have an Elaine Gould? If not, it needs one.

No doubt. Darcy James Argue (www.darcyjamesargue.com) may be the closest thing to an Elaine Gould in the jazz idiom. He often references Clinton Roemer’s "The Art of Music Copying" as still a relevant standard. He worked closely with Make Music on the implementation of SMUFL fonts (including development of an extensive jazz chord library) and has posted a wonderful music preparation primer that's free to download and use, so long as you leave his name on it: https://www.dropbox.com/s/reqeoa6l2p2dq ... SUldW03MBE

His primer is no substitute for the Elaine Gould book, but it's a start.

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.