Second Chord row

[midimax]

Is there a way to input a second row of chords? (e.g. I need to add transposed chords for guitar... - Thanks

[Peter Thomsen]

Indeed it's possible.

However, we need more information.
Are you using Finale 2010?
Do you want the capo chords to be italicized?


In Finale 2010 you can e. g. do like this:

Use two staves:
one staff for the capo chords, and one staff for the untransposed chords.

I don't know, whether your capo chords should be above or below the untransposed chords.
In this example let's say that the capo chords are on the upper staff.

Enter the untransposed chords in the lower staff.
Copy the chords to the upper staff (use the Copy Filter).

Staff Tool.
Double-click the upper staff = the capo staff.

In the dialog box Staff Attributes, de-select everything except "Chords".
In the pop-up menu Staff, choose "0-line with Full Barline".

Next to "Transposition", click the button "Select...", and choose the desired key signature transposition.
This step can be a little tricky if you aren't familiar with the circle of fifths.
A few examples:
To get Capo 1 (= Db transposition), choose "Other"; set Interval: -1; set Key Alter: 5
To get Capo 2, choose "(D) Down M2, Add 2 Flats"
To get Capo 3, choose "(Eb) Down m3, Add 3 Sharps"
To get Capo 4 (= E transposition), choose "Other"; set Interval: -2; set Key Alter: -4
To get Capo 5, choose "(F) Up P5, Add 1 Sharp"
Click OK twice to return to the score.

If you are doing a 1-staff lead sheet, you might need to go to the Measure Tool, select all measures, double-click, and set the "Left Barline" to "Invisible".
If you have measure numbers, you might need to go to
Measure menu > Edit Measure Number Regions...
and de-select Show On: Top Staff (so that the capo staff doesn't display measure numbers).

At this point the lower staff is probably way too low.
With the Staff Tool you can move it up so that it gets closer to the capo chords.


PS
You can use the Chord Tool to define capo chords.
To get the italization "Italicize Capo Chords" must be selected in the Chord menu.
Do like this:

Selection Tool.
Select the upper staff = the capo staff (click to the left of the staff to select it).

Utilities menu > Change > Chords...
In the dialog box Change Chord Assignments, put a check mark (= click twice) in the check box Capo, and enter the desired capo number in the text field.

[midimax]

Thanks for the quick reply. I did try it and although it seems a long way around to accomplish the task, it does get you there. Guess it is time to suggest a function for a second chord row (similar to verses using the lyric tool BTW - I am using Finale 2010b r.1

[Peter Thomsen]

Actually, the Chord Tool does have a function for a second chord row.
But it's not as convenient as the "two staff" solution I described above:
If all the chords - both the untransposed chords and the capo chords - are assigned to the same staff, you can't select and change in one go only all the capo chords.

The function for a second chord row works like this:

Using the chord entry mode Type Into Score,
a) type the untransposed chord,
b) hit the UpArrow key,
c) type the capo chord (= the same chord again)
d) move to the next "chord holder" beat.

To change "the same chord again" that you entered in c), to a capo chord, use the option at the bottom of the Chord Definition dialog box.
Unfortunately you can't specify the capo fret number during Type Into Score.

By The Way:
The "UpArrow key" technique also works in the Lyrics Tool.

[lindsayward]

Peter,
I just registered to say thanks. I searched and found this post, which had the answer to my (same) question.

I've done capo chords on a second line using the second technique a few times and found it tedious and annoying that it couldn't be automatic.
I think I'd tried the second staff before but not succeeded. Now I've got it and it's good

I had to make sure the first (only) staff was selected before inserting a new staff so that it went above it, not below, and I used most/all of your other tips about hiding extra things.

Thanks very much.