Is it possible to create Jazz Chord Charts and Lead Sheets?
Submitted by dickiefunk on February 16, 2009 - 8:24pm.
Tagged:
Hi,
Is it possible to create Jazz chord charts like you get in Real Books and Jamey Aebersold books with MuseScore?
Yes, it's perfectly possible. One thing which is still missing in MuseScore dough, is a Jazz font.
Find attached a MusicXML file which you can open with MuseScore or with any other music notation software such as Sibelius or Finale. It might set you off in the right direction.
Nice one! Is there any way I could put these chord symbols on the stave instead of above like you see in solo sections on jazz lead sheets?
Also, if I downloaded a free jazz font such as :-
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/downloads/index.cfm?categoryid=1451&itemId=3407
Would I be able to use this in MuseScore?
As mentioned, MuseScore can not handle external fonts, yet. It currently uses the feta font which is the same font used in Lilypond, Rosegarden and some other projects. MuseScore can use developers who are quite font savvy and are willing to spend time improving MuseScore on this matter.
To my knowledge, this is not possible. But since the MuseScore developers community is growing step by step, one day this might be possible in MuseScore.
Not sure what you mean by on the staff, but if you want to print the chord name on the lines and make it non readable you can :) Just exit edit mode and drag the chord name on the staff.
Regarding fonts for chord names, you can change it by pressing F2 and using the text palette.
Normally musescore CAN deal with external fonts but only for text not for music. Developpers and font designers are welcome :)
Thanks for the replies! I'll have a play round and see what I can do.
Does MuseScore have the option to use the diagonal slashes instead of the semi-breve rests for the chord sheets?
Yes I think. Right click on the staff -> Staff properties -> Slash style to hide the stems and then you can change the notehead in the notehead palette. Entering G note should make a slash like in a jazz chart.
Once your sheet is ready, you can even save a copy of it in musicXML and share it on http://www.wikifonia.org :)
Thanks for the reply. I can't seem to get this to work?
What is not working ?
When I change to slash all the stems from notes disappear but there are no slashes.
Select the noteheads and go to the palette notehead and choose slash
Hi,
Thanks for this. I have got the slashes working but the treble clef is only at the beginning of the first line now. Is there a way I can get the clef to appear at the beginning of each line?
see attached sheet
Sure. Go to Style -> Edit Style -> Page and Check "create clef for all systems" and "create key for all system"
Nice one!
Just one final question on this. How do I do symbols for chords such as B flat minor 7 or C#7? When I try to do this the accidental disappears?
Not sure what you mean...
To enter a B flat minor 7.
- Select a note
- Ctrl + K
- Enter Bbm7
- Press space
For C#7, just enter C#7.
The b and # are automatically changed into "♭" and "♯". To edit a chordname you have inputed, it's better erase it and enter it again because musescore have currently problems recognizing "♭" and "♯" in chordnames.
"To enter a B flat minor 7.
- Select a note
- Ctrl + K
- Enter Bbm7
- Press space"
I tried this and the flat sign disappears and I end up with Bm7
Could you tell us what platform you are working on? (win or linux, + version) Perhaps you can add it to your profile as well.
Also, what specific musescore version which you can find in the about box.
Hi,
I'm using MuseScore 0.94 (revision 1518). My OS is Windows XP Home (SP2).
Hi Thomas.
When I tried to follow this link to add my information re: computer platform and version, I got an "access Denied" response.
That's because the url for you is this one. You will see it brings you to your user profile edit page.
Thqanks. There is no place to put more specific information beyond Windows XP
Is there a way to have a combination of general slashes (non-note specific) and slashes at the top of noteheads? When I right-click a measure and select Staff Properties/Slash Style it changes every bar, whereas I'd like to change just one bar.
You can do it on a measure-by-measure basis via Measure Properties. You can do it on a note-by-note basis via Note Properties.
Great, thank you. Is there a way to move the chords downward closer to the staff?
By the way I really like this program. It's very intuitive, and an easy switch from my former notation software Finale Print Music.
To my knowledge you have to select each symbol individually and move it manually.
Regards.
Ok that worked. And actually, expanding on that idea, I used control +click to select multiple chords. And then while continuing to hold control, I was able to move all of them at once.
Thanks back
I have been using this software for a number of weeks and didn't think of that.
Regards.
If you want to adjust chord names throughout the score go to Style > Edit Text Style. Select Chordname from the left pane, Click on the Position tab and adjust the Y coordinate.
Thanks David.
I'm very exciting to test your sofware and I want to know if possible to transpose the entire music sheet and if it's that affect the chords. Thank you.
On both questions: yes. See the attached screenshot.
Menu instructions: Notes -> Transpose.