Playback issue with custom key signatures
I need to create a custom scale (Bb, E natural, Ab, Db).
So that is what I do. Create->Key Signatures...
And I drag 3 flats for B, A, D and a natural sign for the E.
I add it and I drag it to my stuff. Till here everything is good.
But when I try to playback a scale all the notes are natural (B, A, D)
What should I do so I can hear the accidentals.
Is it a bug or I do not do something right?
Thank you for your time!
Aggelos
Comments
It's not really a bug, more a missing feature. MuseScore does not playback custom key signature at all.
That sounds like a modal scale based on the F harmonic minor scale.
Maybe the best option would be to use an F minor key signature and use an accidental for the E natural?
That would certainly make it fit better with conventional music theory.
Regards
Michael
In reply to That sounds like a modal by ChurchOrganist
Also, it isn't clear if you have a special reason to need to do this, but you should be aware that creating custom key signatures for a score is roughly like inventing a new language for a book. You don't do it if you expect anyone to read it.
In reply to Also, it isn't clear if you by Marc Sabatella
It's not a new language really. In Persian, Arab and Turkish music (just to name a few) it's very common and even necessary to have custom key signatures. Otherwise the sheet music would be flooded with accidentals and be unreadable. I'm playing Persian music for just five years and already I couldn't live without custom key signature. Everybody playing that music can read it, and if not... learning it is very easy.
Unfortunately I'm always having very big issues transcribing any of the named music, like now that I have one week to prepare for a concert, several pieces to transcribe, but this software just doesn't work as I like. All in all I like Musescore, but the missing ability to play the microtones makes it actually easier just to write the notes by hand. Also because you can not transpose them properly doesn't make it really a benefit using a software.
Again I'm searching for a way out, any trick... Seems it doesn't work.
In reply to Also, it isn't clear if you by Marc Sabatella
um, what about harmonic minor? that is pretty common. and a custom key signature is completely unlike a new language. anyone could still read it.
In reply to um, what about harmonic… by frm5993
Harmonic minor as an abstract concept is common. Actually writing a key signature for it is virtually unheard of in Western music, and the vast majority of Western-trained musicians would fail miserably attempting to read it because they have literally never seen it in their entire lives. But to be sure, things are different in Eastern traditions. So, in the years since this thread was started, playback of custom key signatures has been implemented so it should work to notate your scores this way for the benefit of Eastern-trained musicians.
In reply to That sounds like a modal by ChurchOrganist
Regards,
Thank you lasconic! I hope that they will add this feuture at the next release!!
No it is not my onvention! It is a typical greek scale
http://www.treelight.com/music/greek/scales.html
And it is common to be written like this so it will not be confused with majors or minors!
Thank you for your answers!
In reply to Thank you lasconic! I hope by trelozakinthinos
It's a little bit of a pain but you could have a decent playback by changing the note pitch one by one. Right click on a notehead -> Note properties and change the tuning. The pitch offset is accessible via the plugin framework so it should be possible to write a plugin to automate the change for each B A and D. Same for all the other greek scales if needed.
An example of a plugin that change the tuning of the notes : http://musescore.org/en/project/autotuneselection
In reply to It's a little bit of a pain by [DELETED] 5
That seems to be my solution!! :)
Thank you! I will try it!
In reply to Thank you lasconic! I hope by trelozakinthinos
Greek eh!
That's why I spotted it as modal then.
Representing folk scales is always difficult in traditional notation as it is firmly entrenched in our modern major and minor key system.
I had a moment of epiphany the other day when I realised that the Bach Chorale Prelude 'Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott' was not written in B minor as I had previously thought, but it is in the Phrygian mode, hence the beginning and ending of the melody on F#.
The other thing you can do is create a second stave which is a copy of the original, but written with accidentals so that it plays back correctly, however I believe Greek traditional music uses microtones which I'm not sure that MuseScore can reproduce without a lot of fiddling with note properties.
Once you have your playback stave created, make it invisible and then mute playback of the stave you intend to print.
HTH
Michael
In reply to Folk music scales are always tricky by ChurchOrganist
Το confusing for me :) I think the previous answer is easier! But anyway thank you!
No traditional greek scales does not use microtonbes. This is east for (turkey and easter) countries!
We use the 12note system. But you can find some turkey inspired music with microtones!
but generally we don't use it!
In reply to Το confusing for me :) I by trelozakinthinos
Hmm maybe I was confusing it with the use of just temperament, and the tendency in all traditional music to flatten or sharpen certain scale notes a piacere :)
I do know that the use of Equal temperament in modern keyboards has made it impossible to perform Eastern European music as originally passed down, which is a shame, particularly for those of us who can hear the difference between E# and F, or G# and Ab for that matter.
Regards
In reply to Hmm maybe I was confusing it by ChurchOrganist
I am not sure if I totally understood you (not so good english!!) but keyboards (professional ones) have the feature to play microtones. Is it difference between E# and F, or G# and Ab??? I do not get it!! (bUT ANYWAY I think that this conversation is wrong in this section!!! I would like to discuss it! My e-mail is trelozakinthinos@gmail.com)