Deleting layers
I am trying to use one of the barbershop vocal templates and it is driving me mad. There are four layers in each stave. I only need two, but when I enter notes in two of the voices, MuseScore helpfully puts rests in the other two layers, which is not at all what I want. The Manual implies there should only be two layers. How can I delete two unwanted layers please?
Comments
What you call "Layer" is called "Voice" in MuseScore, not to be confused with the human voice! You should be using voice 1 in every staff, then voice 2, and only then, if need be, voice 3 and 4. This is explained in the handbook, see https://musescore.org/en/handbook/3/voices
In reply to What you call "Layer" is… by Jojo-Schmitz
I understand that and I did read the page in the manual. The problem is that I need one voice with all stems up and anther with all stems down. Voice 1 automatically adjusts the stem position depending on note position on the stave. Voice 2 correctly fixed them tails always down. So how do I get voice 1 to always point up, cannot see any setting to control it.
In reply to I understand that and I did… by stuartlines
Voice 1 always points up, if there is a voice 2 (or 3 or 4)
So just make sure that for voice 2 there's at least a rest, or
right click one voice 1 note, select, more, same voice, then in spector change Stem direction: Automatic to Up
In reply to Voice 1 always points up, if… by Jojo-Schmitz
In my Barbershop template Men, voice 1 does not always point up. Eventually found Inspector, which is well hidden. Now looks like I have to adjust every note to the correct stem direction. Any way of setting for the whole voice before I start entering notes?
![Voice 1.JPG]( "Voice 1.JPG")
In reply to In my Barbershop template… by stuartlines
Well, the Inspector is not hidden at all, it is always and by default visible on the right hand side of the screen, unless you closed it.
And no, there's no such option. But on a Tenor/Lead staff, if voice 2 AKA Lead is silent, it needs a rest, and then the voice 1 notes do point up.
If Tenor and Lead sing in unison, then both need notes, in voice 1 and 2, so basically one notehead with 2 stems, or a text "unison"
In reply to Well, the Inspector is notz… by Jojo-Schmitz
This is all very confusing. Inspector was not there the first time I started the program but now I see where it is.
On this clip, the first four notes are entered using voice 1 for Lead and voice 3 for tenor. The voice 1 stems are the wrong way. The second four note are using voices 3 and 2 instead but now it has added a rest in each bar corresponding to the missing voice 1 note. If only I could persuade voice 1 always to stem down everything would be working.
Thanks for your comments on what should be really simple (it is in other programs)
In reply to This is all very confusing… by stuartlines
It is really simple: use voice 1 for Tenor and voice 2 for Lead.
And voice 1 for Bari and voice2 for Bass. That's all.
Delete everything (esp. the rests) from voice 3 and 4, make sure voice 2 has rests when Lead or Bass are silent
In reply to This is all very confusing… by stuartlines
Unless you have three people singing from the same staff, do not use voice three. Two people, two voices - 1 and 2, that simple. The stem direction take care of themselves if you follow that very simple advice; Top voice is voice 1, bottom is voice 2. If there are places where one or the voices doesn't sing, enter a rest, so the people reading it know not to sing. The stem directions will always be correct, no need to flip anything.
As for the Inspector, it really was there the first time you opened MuseScore, but it's quite possible you didn't understand its use and closed it. No matter, it's easy enough to open and close on demand.