Converting a measure into a pickup
After many attempts to follow closely the online handbook directions to insert a pick up measure at beginning of my nearly complete project, just made the first measure as a full 12/8 measure but put in rests equivalent to nine eighth notes then three eighth notes which is the pick up . I have not been able to create the sequence anticipated by the online directions. After I right click the first measure I am not seeing any choices that include "Measure properties". Consequently I never reach a Measure duration section that displays "Actual" or any choice as to "underlying time signature".
Maybe I am supposed to just delete my make-shift pickup measure altogether and insert a new empty measure to convert to a proper pick up measure? I have so much time and work in this project I don't want to start all over just to be able to create a pick up measure as I should have done in the first place (as part of the initial features set up).
Comments
Were you looking at this page? I just edited the entry to make it clearer.
You can definitely convert any measure to a pickup.
However sometimes Measure Properties doesn't appear when you right click a measure. Try aim your right-click at a "blank" area of the measure.
You stated that you "put in rests equivalent to nine eighth notes then three eighth notes which is the pick up". Instead, put the three eighth notes as the FIRST notes in the measure. Then follow scorster's instructions to convert the measure from 4/4 to 3/8.
You don't need to delete anything, although you might want to. If so, just delete the measure and add a new measure in the same place (in either order!)
You definitely don't need to start all over again!!! I usually don't bother with setting up my initial pick-up measure during initial setup. I usually modify the first measure (and any other measures that needs to be partial) as a mid-point step in the score creation.