How to add chords efficiently

• Jan 25, 2017 - 03:02

I understand how to add chords, but my method is very slow and ineffective. Since note duration varies between notes, I have to apply notes, change note duration, then repeat the same thing over and over again for hundreds of times. If I'm writing single notes, I can just create a bunch of the same note in the correct rhythm, then drag the notes to their correct pitches afterward, but when I'm writing chords, I still have to change note duration between every note. This is very painful for writing long pieces. Can someone please help?


Comments

Are you using the computer Keyboard, a MIDI keyboard or the mouse to enter notes?

Using the computer keyboard should be the fastest method, using the mouse the slowest

N, 4, A, Shift C,Shift D, 5, D, Shift F, Crtl up, 6, D .... etc.

In reply to by Jojo-Schmitz

Jojo's method is extremely fast since the notes a-g are in the left hand of the keyboard and the numeric keypad for durations is on the right. Once you get used to it, it is a very fast way to enter notes. For the notes themselves there is no need to remove your hand from the key board and many ornaments already have left hand only shortcuts such as slur, staccato, and sforzato. Also don't forget the R button will repeat the last note/chord in any duration. So you can type a C chord with 8th notes, 5 R repeats the chord in 1/4 notes.

In reply to by Jojo-Schmitz

I think most people just dive in without reading instruction manuals, at least that was how most people learned how to use computers. Then they just post questions.

Also, many musicians are proud to be "untaught", at least in the Jazz field, although I think that has changes a Jazz instruction became "legitimate".

Not my preferred method, but ....

In reply to by xavierjazz

For those of us who have used a lot of different software for many years, it's natural to jump right in because most software is much more intuitive than Musecore. We normally use the manual for the 20% of the software that is more complex. With Musecore, I have look up virtually everything.

In reply to by pvrfederico

Can you explain what you are having trouble with? All programs use different commands, so if you're accustomed to one, getting used to another will require adjustment, and yes, often consulting documentation. That is equally true whether moving from program A to program B, or from B to A.

In reply to by Jojo-Schmitz

People read enough to get going, then when they don't know what to do next the click the help menu and find "Ask for Help" and end up here. A lot of noobs pass through here and once someone (often Jojo) points them to the handbook page with the answer and the search for help bar in the top right corner they ask fewer questions through here.

In reply to by mike320

I think its a matter of ease, access, and motivation. The latter may actually be the most important driver here.

Ease:
I just find it easy to google "musescore" + "subject of challenge" and do not care if the answer comes from the manual or any of you gurus, as long as i get further afterwards. I can imagine this works for many.

Access:
Google has another plus with giving more potential sources for answers. That comes in handy with plugins that do not work due to missing dependencies,etc. Any manual is limited. As manuals should be.

Motivation:
In my experience (both as a kid and adult, both as pupil as well as instructor), "playing around" is a very good way to learn - just as long as I or my pupils have fun, I will keep playing hence learning. Learning by doing is what we all grew up with - especially our first years!

I think an all-round and short tutorial (different from tour) inside musescore that teaches the principles of musescore by creating a piece of music could be very helpful to many newbies. If newbie has a choice for an interesting musical piece, and the tutorial touches the 80% most asked questions and refers to the manual for more details and sets new users up with just handy ways to write music (like the shortcuts mentioned by Jojo above) then the deeper questions will be asked online.

Who has the knowledge to create a tutorial that would cover this by recreating a choice of short, copyright free pieces of music (pre 1928)?

In reply to by Jojo-Schmitz

This was very helpful. Thank you. I have a slight variation on the question:

I want to write a slightly syncopated line (it's three dotted quarter notes) that's played in octaves. So at the start of a 4/4 measure I type N, 5, . (that's a dot), G, Option 8 (on my Mac), G, Option 8, G, Option 8. That last one isn't what I expected. So I go back and add the missing G and then add a tie with my mouse. Is there a smarter way that I just haven't figured out?

For now, I've settled on copy/pasting that rhythm figure, then changing the pitches of the notes.

Thanks,

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