Floating Rhythm Marks

[dstraigh]

I'm not expecting this notation to be possible in Finale - or, if possible easy to implement. However, it doesn't hurt to ask this question.

Occasionally, a lead sheet will add handy rhythm marks near the chord symbols - that, sort of, float above the staff. See the attached annotated screen capture.

If Finale could mimic something similar - I'd be nothing short of exuberant over that!

[Peter Thomsen]

… I'm not expecting this notation to be possible in Finale …

It is not easy to find a layout Finale can not do.


Take a look at the attached Finale document.

[dstraigh]

Looks amazing. I've spent a few hours looking at the document you've created. How did you go about creating this?

[Peter Thomsen]

1) Entered the notes in another layer.
In this case I entered the notes in Layer 3.

2) Document menu > Document Options.
In
Document Options - Layers
I set the Layer 3 stems to freeze Up.
Take a good look at the Layer 3 settings in my document.

3) Document menu > Show Active Layer Only
‘Show Active Layer Only’ also means ‘Edit Active Layer Only’.
When this is done, Layer 3 is the only layer shown on the computer screen.

4) Selection Tool.
Selected the region with the Layer 3 notes.

5) Utilities menu > Change > Noteheads…
I changed the noteheads to the Small Slash.

6) Utilities menu > Change > Note Size…
In this case I changed the Note Size to 75%.
You may prefer another percentage.


I hope that this is clear?
If not, ask again.

[dstraigh]

Thank you for the detailed steps. Eventually, I could see that you had changed the note heads. I did not know you could also change the note size.

I inadvertently picked something complicated to add floating rhythmic notation to. I copied a technique (number 3) in this YouTube video (link below). This technique uses a separate staff for the rhythmic notation. A staff style is created to hide the staff and all things associated with that separate staff.

https://youtu.be/Pybk1NHnAmM?feature=shared&t=473

It was a bit exhausting to create the attached Finale document - especially since this was my first attempt at adding floating rhythmic notation above the staff - but, I did it - after spending an entire day on this. I'm sure I could have done this better - but, like I said, this was my first attempt. Have a look at the attached.

Incidentally, I wasn't able to hide the unwanted rests at measure numbers 15 and 16 (and measure zero). I'm not sure why. I have hidden rests in the past (using the Speedy Entry Tool and pressing the letter H) - but, it didn't work this time for some reason. When notes are hidden you don't see them when printing to a PDF (and they also look kind of gray when hidden - when viewing in Finale). Minor detail though.

[Peter Thomsen]

… I wasn't able to hide the unwanted rests …

Take a look at the attached Finale document.

I made a single modification to your custom staff style:
de-selected the option Display Rests in Empty Measures.

[dstraigh]

@Peter Thomsen - Many thanks for your help!

I've got another question. I've decided to place my question in this thread because I created another document with rhythm cues on a separate staff - with a staff style to make the cue staff itself invisible. However, there's still one problem. The left bracket/barline still closes both the invisible staff and visible staff. I don't really know how to fix this.

Any ideas?

finale_how_to_remove_left_bracket_barline_small_file.png (113.52 KiB) Viewed 2240 times

[Peter Thomsen]

Oh dear.

What a mess!

It is not clear to me what layout you need - since the layout is differing a lot during the document:


1) Your rhythm notation - and the measure numbers - are suddenly smaller from System 4 and onwards. This is because the “Rhythm Staff” is resized from System 4 and onwards.

I resized the Rhythm Staff back to 100 % size, and now rhythm notation and measure numbers have normal size everywhere.


2) You have the measure numbers positioned above the staff, but the measure numbers have different vertical positioning from system to system.

I re-set the measure number positioning to the default everywhere.
I attached the measure numbers to the Bottom Staff (instead of to the Top Staff).
I moved the measure numbers down (= changed the default positioning), to avoid collision with the chord symbols.

An idea:
Perhaps a slightly bigger font for the measure numbers?
The measure numbers look “small” in comparison with the (very big) notes.
I suppose that the notes are big because you need them big - right?


3) The tall left barlines (= your original question) were the easy problem.
In the rhythm staff I moved all the barlines vertically down into the staff below.


See the attached Finale document.

tell_me_a_bedtime_story_-_rhythm_cue-fixed.musx

(132.82 KiB) Downloaded 22 times

If I misunderstand you, then I apologize.

I repeat myself:
It is not clear to me what layout you need.

[dstraigh]

Many thanks. I was in the middle of editing when I uploaded that Finale file. That is why things in that version of the document are wonky. The document was far from done at that point. I was just wondering if it was possible to adjust the tall barline/bracket on the left - that's all. I'll try to duplicate what you did. Half the battle is knowing if something is possible. So, I thank you so much for helping me.

[dstraigh]

"3) The tall left barlines (= your original question) were the easy problem.
In the rhythm staff I moved all the barlines vertically down into the staff below."

How is this accomplished? How do you move "all the barlines vertically down into the staff below?"

[dstraigh]

"3) The tall left barlines (= your original question) were the easy problem.
In the rhythm staff I moved all the barlines vertically down into the staff below."

How is this accomplished? How do you move "all the barlines vertically down into the staff below?"

[dstraigh]

I think this is how you do it.
Window > Score Manager > Instrument List > Highlight Rhythm (top) Staff > Staff > Other > Type "-1" into Top Barline text field.

[Peter Thomsen]

FWIW:

Moving the barlines vertically down can also be done in a custom staff style.

[dstraigh]

FWIW:

Moving the barlines vertically down can also be done in a custom staff style.

Good to know - it would be more convenient to wrap that into the staff style.