Style placement "Above/Below" needed for String Number
Reported version
3.0
Type
Graphical (UI)
Frequency
Once
Severity
S5 - Suggestion
Reproducibility
Always
Status
closed
Regression
No
Workaround
No
Project
See explanation for why this suggestion is wished: https://musescore.org/en/node/283209#comment-892172
And (good) reasons: I explained its usefulness in another thread (I don't re-find it immediately).
I was saying that most of the string numbers are related to strings other than the first one: to indicate alternative fingerings on another string, from 3 to 4, or 4 to 5, etc.
And so, in a polyphonic/multivoices context, these notes are in Voice 2 or 3/4, so most often within the staff for an intermediate voice, or under the staff, for basses.
That is to say these strings numbers are, the most part of time, located below the staff, and not above, as the current behavior.
Comments
See also #284347: Add Placement above/below property for fingering. My PR there adds the property itself, settable via the Inspector or "X" command, but not a separate style setting for string numbers. Hopefully it is helpful meanwhile (once it is merged anyhow)
Done since #284347: Add Placement above/below property for fingering
Thanks!
To be clear, I still did not add a style setting to control the default placement. If it still feels necessary, we could discuss that. But it would be complicated, because currently the default for fingerings depends on a couple of things (multiple voice, number of staves in instrument).
The flip command is good/enough (in my opinion). It just lacks "Alt + drag" in case the string number would be within the staff - which is not uncommon.
OK. That change will hopefully come. It is part of a PR that remains not merged yet and I actually need to update it as there was a slight conflict with the code for the fingering placement.
Meanwhile, I'm curious about the situations where it needs to be on staff and to see if there is any way we can automate that like we already do for RH fingering in certain cases (multiple voices with no beams).
Curious about these situations? All you have to do is open a published score - literally, I just opened the one that was closest to me... -, and what do I see? This!
![string number.jpg]( "string number.jpg")
Interesting! As far as I recall, Gould just says they should normally go above the staff and doesn't talk about exceptions. But I don't think guitar is her specialty. I would definitely encourage some forum discussion on this, and if we can come up with a clear rule to cover these situations - something specific we can put into words, like "string numbers go above the staff except when there is a beam and the beam is up", or whatever, then I can see about implementing it. But for now. Gould's rule about placing them above is all I have to go on.
In reply to Interesting! As far as I… by Marc Sabatella
If there is only one regular/normal staff here, it's good to see that the string numbers are aligned and on top.
However, if there is a TAB staff at the bottom, it is preferred to be below the normal staff for ease of reading (to read/see to both at the same time).
"If there is only one regular/normal staff here, it's good to see that the string numbers are aligned and on top."
In my experience, it doesn't work exactly that way. The principle of voices is decisive.
In voice 1, let's say to go fast, the melody will be played mainly in voice1, and therefore rather on the first and second strings. And so, eventually, to mark the alternative, the string number 2 will be indicated above the staff.
While an intermediate voice (like an arpeggio in an arpeggiated melody) will be in voice 2, and will call string numbers on staff, and a bass voice will call string numbers under the staff.
Automatically closed -- issue fixed for 2 weeks with no activity.
See the discussion at https://musescore.org/en/node/288431#comment-914979. Would you be willing to give up the automatic stacking of string numbers you currently get for chords for ability to move them onto the staff? That's easy. There are other possibilities too. Let's continue the discussion there!