stems with tabs

[DaveM]

Is it possible to add stems to tablature notation? Otherwise I see now way to interpret note duration.

[Peter Thomsen]

Yes, it's possible.

In Finale 2010:

Staff Tool.
Double-click the TAB staff to open the dialog box Staff Attributes.

In the pane "Items to Display", select "Stems".
You might also like to click the button "Stem Settings...", to customize the appearance of the TAB stems.

[miker]

That's THE major problem with TAB. That's why I've almost always seen it with standard (or at least, rhythmic) notation above.

[DaveM]

I'm using Finale PrintMusic 2009. The dialog box that comes up when double clicking a staff using the staff tool doesn't have a display stem option. Is the tab stem feature available only in Finale? If it is in PrintMusic also, is it a new feature in 2010?

[miker]

No, PrintMusic does not have that option. It's Finale-only.

[miker]

No, PrintMusic does not have that option. It's Finale-only.

And I have to quibble! That really doesn't add stems to the TAB, it displays stems above the staff. And since it doesn't differentiate between halves and quarters, it isn't that much help. I think you would be better off entering true rhythmic notation on a staff above. (Which you CAN do in PrintMusic!)

[Peter Thomsen]

...That really doesn't add stems to the TAB, it displays stems above the staff. And since it doesn't differentiate between halves and quarters, it isn't that much help. I think you would be better off entering true rhythmic notation on a staff above. (Which you CAN do in PrintMusic!)

Not that it really matters (since the original poster is using PrintMusic), but the full Finale can actually add stems to the TAB numbers instead of displaying stems above the TAB staff.

The differentiation between halves and quarters isn't a matter of stems, but rather a matter of adding circles around the TAB numbers.

See the attached example (as GIF graphic or in Finale 2010 format).

[miker]

How did you do that, Peter? Was there a setting I missed?

[Peter Thomsen]

How did you do that, Peter? Was there a setting I missed?

You can see it in the .mus document I posted:

1) To draw the stems to the TAB numbers:
Staff Tool.
Double-click the staff.
Click the button "Stem Settings..."
In the dialog box Staff Stem Settings, choose "Offset From Notehead" instead of "Offset From Staff".
See the attached screen shot.

2) The circles around the TAB numbers are added as shape articulations.