Barbershop arranging in Musescore
I am new to MuseScore and want to create Barbershop arrangements. I've read about Barbershop set up, Barbershop Harmonizer and Baarbershop checker tools, but the articles are quite old and the instructions for downloading and installing seem to refer to a much earlier version. Are these tools still available/working in the current version of MS, and if so how do I access them? Many thanks
Comments
https://musescore.org/en/project/barbershop-checker and https://musescore.org/en/project/barbershop-harmonizer are for MuseScore 3, but it might be possible to port them to MuseScore 4
Not sure what you mean by Barbershop set up, there are two templates for this (foe men and wonem), is that what you mean?
In reply to https://musescore.org/en… by Jojo-Schmitz
Yes, sorry Jojo, a bad description on my part. I read about the templates and tried to follow the instructions in Musescore 4, but when I choose the Choral 'family' in the new score 'Choose instruments' dialogue box there is no option for Barbershop as this article suggests there should be. https://musescore.org/en/node/294874 I'm guessing the article refers to MuseScore 3, but wonder if it can still be achieved in 4 somehow
In reply to Yes, sorry Jojo, a bad… by Colin.Rote
Also, are you able to help with how I might port Barbershop harmonizer to MuseScore 4. I've downloaded the files from the pages you referenced but can't see how to get MuseScore 4 to open them.
In reply to Also, are you able to help… by Colin.Rote
I'll give it a try
In reply to I'll give it a try by Jojo-Schmitz
Here's the other one ported to Mu4
In reply to Also, are you able to help… by Colin.Rote
It is a 'dock' type plugin, those won't work in Mu4 :-(
In reply to It is a 'dock' type plugin,… by Jojo-Schmitz
Hmm, try this (changed into a dialog type)
In reply to Hmm, try this (changed into… by Jojo-Schmitz
Grateful for you spending time on this for me, How do I get it into MuseScore? I've downloaded it but my computer just asks what software I want to use to open it. I assume there is an install programme that needs be run?
In reply to Grateful for you spending… by Colin.Rote
Just install it like all other plugins, see https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/plugins
And take this one here, small change vs. the 1st version
In reply to Just install it like all… by Jojo-Schmitz
Thanks Jojo, that's appearing in the plug-ins now and I've activated it and it appears on the score. I need to work out how it works, but I guess there'll be a user guide somewhere.
Thanks so much for your help. The world needs more people like you who are prepared to use their expertise to help others. Thank you.
In reply to Thanks Jojo, that's… by Colin.Rote
All user guide there is, is on https://musescore.org/en/project/barbershop-harmonizer
In reply to Thanks Jojo, that's… by Colin.Rote
Good to know before testing:
https://github.com/znarf94/MuseScore_Barbershop_Harmonizer/issues/1
I forgot to mention in the documentation that the plugin currently does not add notes to the score, it only changes the pitch of existing accompanying notes.
(it took me a while before realizing this)
In reply to Good to know before testing:… by graffesmusic
Ah!
See also https://github.com/znarf94/MuseScore_Barbershop_Harmonizer/pull/2, the changes I did
In reply to Yes, sorry Jojo, a bad… by Colin.Rote
It is still there, not under Chose Instruments, but under Choose templates
In reply to It is still there, not under… by Jojo-Schmitz
Oh yes! Got it. Thank you so much.
You might also be interested in mydrop2.qml
![SATB.png]()
https://musescore.org/en/node/356955
It harmonizes your melody with chord symbols in the ‘drop2’ jazz idiom.
Using explode you can convert it into SATB.
The notes will not always fit the human ranges as indicated by red notes. Up to you to fix this manually.
EDIT: I attach the exploded file:
SATB2.mscz
In reply to You might also be interested… by elsewhere
Oh, that looks useful, thank you for taking the time for me.
In reply to Oh, that looks useful, thank… by Colin.Rote
Please be aware that any not recognized chord symbol will result in insertion of a dim chord. See C-voicings.mscz for the chord symbol style I use.
If you use other symbols https://musescore.org/en/project/replace-chord-symbols could come to the rescue.
Let me know if you have problems in this regard.
C-voicings.mscz
In reply to Oh, that looks useful, thank… by Colin.Rote
I made a variant of the plugin (dropless.qml) which shows the chords in regular inversions. This may be more suited to your needs.
Proceed a follows:
Copy a lead sheet (melody + chord symbols) into the soprano staff of a SATB score (see SATB.mscz)
Run the plugin (dropless.qml)) (see SATB2)
Select the soprano score and run Tools>Explode (see SATB3). I lowered all voices by an octave to avoid (most) out of range notes
N.B. If you run mydrop2.qml you have to select the soprano score yourself before running the plugin.
SATB.mscz
SATB2.mscz
SATB3.mscz
dropless.qml