Trouble with multiple voices

• Sep 15, 2020 - 20:32

Hey all,

I'm a complete newbie to Musescore. Well, I've tried it a few times over the years but I always give up.

I'm trying to learn the program by transcribing an existing score (the first screenshot), but I'm already stuck on the first two measures. What the heck did I do wrong? I just learned about adding multiple voices so I thought I had it, but now I have tons of rests and I don't know what to do.

The answer is probably really obvious but I don't even know what to Google at this point. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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Comments

jeetee

• Sep 15, 2020 - 20:51

See attached example where only the first half rest of voice 2 in each measure of the first staff was made invisible.

Given the gray + symbol on top of the measure, it also seems you're attempting to use "insert" mode rather than the default step-time note entry mode. Insert mode will lengthen the measure with the duration you input, rather than overwrite the rests already there.

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krkirschner

• Sep 15, 2020 - 22:03

Oh wow, thanks so much! So how would I go about deleting all my extra rests if I were to just copy-paste what you did?

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krkirschner

• Sep 15, 2020 - 22:15

Actually, I think I figured it out. Looks like I just to add the barlines back in.

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jeetee

• Sep 15, 2020 - 22:32

To remove extra beats, select them and use "Tools → Remove Selected Range".

krkirschner

• Sep 15, 2020 - 22:17

Oh, I spoke too soon. How'd you add this little "tie" (what are they called)?

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jeetee

• Sep 15, 2020 - 22:34

Slurs: https://musescore.org/en/handbook/slurs

I know it's probably not very sexy or tempting, but have a quick read through the handbook once. Just so you're aware of what exists and how it's called/handled. At the very least, look at the basic note input chapter and the one on voices.

krkirschner

• Sep 15, 2020 - 22:39

Thank you, you've been beyond helpful! I'm definitely getting ahead of myself so I'll go back and check the handbook.

I remember slurs now. It's been a while since high school band :)

SteveBlower

• Sep 15, 2020 - 21:00

Make sure you are in step-time note input mode. You may well have been in insert note input mode as your measure contains more than 4 beats worth of notes. See here for an explanation of the different note input modes https://musescore.org/en/handbook/note-input-modes.
Start with the top stave
Enter the "stem up notes first". These are the ones you want in voice 1. In your case you will press 5 0 4 0 A B C 5 F 0 4 0 A B C 5 F. (if any note gets entered in the wrong octave use ctrl+up arrow or ctrl+down arrow to move it to the correct pitch.)
Go back to the start of the stave and select voice 2 - press the 2 on the tool bar
Now enter rests to get you to the point where you want your first voice 2 note to be. In your case that is on beat 3 in the top stave. So press 6 0
Now you can enter the half note in voice 2 - press B
And on to the next measure press 6 B ctrl+up arrow.

And so on. When all the notes are entered you can select an rest you don't want to see and press V to make it invisible.

krkirschner

• Sep 15, 2020 - 22:14

Wow, this is so incredibly helpful. I guess I was getting a little ahead of myself, haha. I'd better go back and look at the tutorials.

I thought I had more questions but you answered them all. Thanks so much!

bobjp

• Sep 15, 2020 - 22:52

If you are trying to learn notation software, might I suggest finding some old-fashioned 4 part hymns. They are much easier to deal with and you still work with voices. Or forget piano music altogether. Transcribe music for a few instruments. Much more fun than piano only.
Needs vary. I've used notation software for some 15 years for composition. I seldom use voices.
It's not enough to just know notation. Find some kind of music that is fun for you to work with and ease your way in.

krkirschner

• Sep 15, 2020 - 22:56

I'm hellbent on transcribing this particular song because I can't find an arrangement I love and I want to tinker with it. I'm sure I'm in way over my head, haha

bobjp

• Sep 15, 2020 - 23:09

Nah. You just have to be smarter than a "rest." You can do it.