Polytonal Key Signature

[Exiguus]

Hi everybody! I have problems creating a polytonal key signature (as shown in the picture attached). Could someone please guide me so that I can create this polytonal key signature?

[Peter Thomsen]

First an advice:
Don't read in the PDF manual about the Linear Key Formats.
It's confusing and difficult to understand, not well written.
I think that some passages are misleading, or perhaps even wrong!?


Next, let's begin:

You can safely stick to the Linear key formats.
The Linear key formats probably contain more options than you will ever need.
Nonlinear key signatures are only needed for very special stuff.

You could say that a Linear key format is a set of related key signatures with X chromatic scale steps per octave, of which there are Y diatonic scale steps per octave (normally X = 12 and Y = 7).
Playback and layout are automatically coupled together - the playback always follows the layout.

By default, 'Linear Key Format 0' is the set of the 15 major key signatures, and 'Linear Key Format 1' is the set of the 15 minor key signatures.
Therefore the buttons KeyMap, AOrdAmt and ToneCnt are greyed out in the Linear Key Formats 0 and 1, and there are only 15 key signatures (7 'flat', 1 'neutral', and 7 'sharp'); Finale doesn't allow more than 7 accidentals in the Linear Key Formats 0 and 1.
You could say that the Linear Key Formats 0 and 1 are "locked".
They are also "locked" in the sense that the accidentals are ordered in the "standard", regular order:
Bb - Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Cb - Fb for the flats, and F# - C# - G# - D# - A# - E# - B# for the sharps.
Therefore all the 15 keys in the set are correct transpositions of each other.

You can use the Linear Key Formats 2 and higher to create Linear key formats for the "church modes":
Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Locrian.
The church modes, too, use the accidentals in the "standard", regular order.
Therefore all the related keys in a "church mode set" are correct transpositions of each other.

Unlike the Linear key formats, a Nonlinear key signature is not a set of related key signatures; it's a single key signature unrelated to any other key signature.
Layout and playback are independent of each other; they are not automatically coupled together - you can create an incorrect playback where e. g. all 'G's play back as 'G#'s.

In the following I will explain an example that uses a Linear key format.
If you can master this, you are close to mastering a Nonlinear key signature.

Let's create a custom key signature in D, with sharp on 'F' and 'C', and flat on 'B' and 'E'.
You could call it a Gypsy scale, or a Phrygian #3 #7 scale, or an Ionian b2 b6 scale.

We will use a Linear key format, so we will create a set of related key signatures.
But since the accidental structure is irregular, the other key signatures in the Linear key format won't be of any interest to us:
The other key signatures in the set won't be correct transpositions of the Gypsy scale.
(If it's a song, then you might like to have all the 12 transpositions.
In that case it's easier to use a Linear key format with regular accidental order:
Choose a key with 2 flats, and enter the F#s and C#s as accidental notes.
Or choose a key with 2 sharps, and enter the Bbs and Ebs as accidental notes.)

You can place the accidentals in any order, but bear in mind that the standard flat and sharp symbols are designed to look good in the standard order:
Bb - Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Cb - Fb for the flats, and F# - C# - G# - D# - A# - E# - B# for the sharps.
If you place them in the retrograde order, the layout will be ugly - with some accidentals too far from each other, while other accidentals almost collide.
To get a beautiful layout, place the sharps in the standard sharp order (F# - C#), and place the flats in the standard flat order (Bb - Eb).
In this example we will place the accidentals in the order F# - C# - Bb - Eb, in the treble clef.

* Set the clef to the treble clef.
(Use the Clef Tool.)

* Click the Key Signature Tool.
* Double-click the first measure that should have the custom key signature.
The dialog box Key Signature appears.
* Set the Measure Region.
I suppose you want Measure 1 Through End of Piece.
* In the popup menu select "Nonstandard...".
The dialog box Nonstandard Key Signature appears.
* Click the radio button "Linear Key Format".
* By clicking the buttons "Prev" and "Next" you can navigate through the Linear key formats.
Navigate to Linear Key Format 2 or higher.

* Click the button AOrdAmt.
The dialog box Accidental Order and Amount appears.
Unit 1 means the first accidental.
This should be a sharp on 'F'.
* Set Step Level to 3.
(since 'C' is predefined as step level 0, 'F' is step level 3)
* Set Amount to 1.
(-1 is flat; natural is 0; sharp is 1)

* Click Next.
The dialog box switches to Unit 2.
This should be a sharp on 'C'.
* Set Step Level to 0.
* Set Amount to 1.

* Click Next.
The dialog box switches to Unit 3.
This should be a flat on 'B'.
* Set Step Level to 6.
* Set Amount to -1.

* Click Next.
The dialog box switches to Unit 4.
This should be a flat on 'E'.
* Set Step Level to 2.
* Set Amount to -1.
Click OK to return to the Nonstandard Key Signature dialog box.

* You can navigate through the keys by clicking the black triangles.
Click the Up triangle 4 times to display the Accidental Units 1-4.

* Click the button ToneCnt.
The dialog box Tone Center(s) appears.
We will now set 'D' as the root of the key.
Unit 0 means the neutral key signature.
Unit 1 means the key signature with 1 "sharp".
Unit 2 means the key signature with 2 "sharps".
Unit 3 means the key signature with 3 "sharps" (in this case it's sharps on F and C, and a flat on B).
Unit 4 means the key signature with 4 "sharps" (in this case it's sharps on F and C, and flats on B and E).
* Click the button "Next" 4 times to navigate to Unit 4.
* Set Step Level to 1.
(since 'C' is predefined as step level 0, 'D' is step level 1)
Click OK 3 times to return to the score.

At this point you will notice that Accidental Unit 1 (F#) is placed an octave too high.


To place a key signature accidental in another octave:

First you should find the clef number for the clef in which you want to alter the accidental octave placement.
* Click the Clef Tool.
* Click a measure to bring up the Change Clef dialog box.
* The Change Clef dialog box displays the clefs available in the document.
Finale numbers the clefs as Clef 0, Clef 1, Clef 2 and so on.
In other words: the treble clef is Clef 0, the alto clef is Clef 1, the tenor clef is Clef 2, &c.
Remember the clef number for the clef in which you want to alter the key signature accidental octave.
The treble clef is Clef 0.
(You may see numbers and letters displayed in parenthesis next to the clef symbols.
They are the clef metatool trigger keys.)
* Click Cancel to return to the score.

* In the Nonstandard Key Signature dialog box, click the button ClefOrd.
The Accidental Octave Placement dialog box appears.
* Click the clef (= the upper) Next button 0 times to go to Clef 0.
Again, Unit 1 means the first accidental and so on.
* Click the accidental (= the lower) Next button to go to the accidental you want to move.
To move an octave down, subtract 1 from the octave number.
To move an octave up, add 1 to the octave number.
In this case, move the first accidental (Unit 1) from octave 1 to octave 0.
* Similarly you may want to move Unit 3 and Unit 4 to octave 0.
* Click OK 3 times to return to the score.


Peter

PS
I warned you, didn't I?

[miker]

If playback isn't needed, use MuseScore.

[RafaelF]

* Set the clef to the treble clef.
(Use the Clef Tool.)

* Click the Key Signature Tool.
* Double-click the first measure that should have the custom key signature.
The dialog box Key Signature appears.
* Set the Measure Region.
I suppose you want Measure 1 Through End of Piece.
* In the popup menu select "Nonstandard...".
The dialog box Nonstandard Key Signature appears.
* Click the radio button "Linear Key Format".
* By clicking the buttons "Prev" and "Next" you can navigate through the Linear key formats.
Navigate to Linear Key Format 2 or higher.

* Click the button AOrdAmt.
The dialog box Accidental Order and Amount appears.
Unit 1 means the first accidental.
This should be a sharp on 'F'.
* Set Step Level to 3.
(since 'C' is predefined as step level 0, 'F' is step level 3)
* Set Amount to 1.
(-1 is flat; natural is 0; sharp is 1)

* Click Next.
The dialog box switches to Unit 2.
This should be a sharp on 'C'.
* Set Step Level to 0.
* Set Amount to 1.

* Click Next.
The dialog box switches to Unit 3.
This should be a flat on 'B'.
* Set Step Level to 6.
* Set Amount to -1.

* Click Next.
The dialog box switches to Unit 4.
This should be a flat on 'E'.
* Set Step Level to 2.
* Set Amount to -1.
Click OK to return to the Nonstandard Key Signature dialog box.

* You can navigate through the keys by clicking the black triangles.
Click the Up triangle 4 times to display the Accidental Units 1-4.

* Click the button ToneCnt.
The dialog box Tone Center(s) appears.
We will now set 'D' as the root of the key.
Unit 0 means the neutral key signature.
Unit 1 means the key signature with 1 "sharp".
Unit 2 means the key signature with 2 "sharps".
Unit 3 means the key signature with 3 "sharps" (in this case it's sharps on F and C, and a flat on B).
Unit 4 means the key signature with 4 "sharps" (in this case it's sharps on F and C, and flats on B and E).
* Click the button "Next" 4 times to navigate to Unit 4.
* Set Step Level to 1.
(since 'C' is predefined as step level 0, 'D' is step level 1)
Click OK 3 times to return to the score.

At this point you will notice that Accidental Unit 1 (F#) is placed an octave too high.


To place a key signature accidental in another octave:

First you should find the clef number for the clef in which you want to alter the accidental octave placement.
* Click the Clef Tool.
* Click a measure to bring up the Change Clef dialog box.
* The Change Clef dialog box displays the clefs available in the document.
Finale numbers the clefs as Clef 0, Clef 1, Clef 2 and so on.
In other words: the treble clef is Clef 0, the alto clef is Clef 1, the tenor clef is Clef 2, &c.
Remember the clef number for the clef in which you want to alter the key signature accidental octave.
The treble clef is Clef 0.
(You may see numbers and letters displayed in parenthesis next to the clef symbols.
They are the clef metatool trigger keys.)
* Click Cancel to return to the score.

* In the Nonstandard Key Signature dialog box, click the button ClefOrd.
The Accidental Octave Placement dialog box appears.
* Click the clef (= the upper) Next button 0 times to go to Clef 0.
Again, Unit 1 means the first accidental and so on.
* Click the accidental (= the lower) Next button to go to the accidental you want to move.
To move an octave down, subtract 1 from the octave number.
To move an octave up, add 1 to the octave number.
In this case, move the first accidental (Unit 1) from octave 1 to octave 0.
* Similarly you may want to move Unit 3 and Unit 4 to octave 0.
* Click OK 3 times to return to the score.


Peter

PS
I warned you, didn't I?

That's what I hate about Finale. Wouldn't it be easier to right click on the key signature accidents and open a context menu saying "add non-standard accident..." and graphically add whatever accident wherever you want or something like that?

[Exiguus]

Mike! how did you achieve that time signature? Playback is needed; that's how I learn these chants.

[Exiguus]

ah! you've created it in musescore; that's simple.

[miker]

Right. If you need the playback, brew a pot of coffee, and follow Peter's directions!