how to change attributes for existing symbol, or how to creatye custom symbol?

• Feb 16, 2014 - 21:28

Hello all

I'm using Mac OS 10.7.5, Musescore 1.3

Is there a way to change the attributes of the repeat symbol so that i could notate this: (see attached pdf)

NOT FOUND: repeat example.pdf

Or if not, is there a way i could add this symbol to the "symbols" palette and be able to place it wherever i want to in the measure, or at least attach it to a rest or note (i could then hide the rest or note…?) When i add it to the "symbols" palette now, it still functions the way it did when it was in the repeat palette.

I don't care about playback; just want to notate.

thanks so much

dirck

Comments

• Feb 17, 2014 - 01:27

If I needed to created that notation, I'd do it four measures with actual time signature of 1/4 each, hide the barlines, and add the symbols normally. But I wouldn't be in a hurry to create that notation. It's quite non-standard, and likely to confuse musicians reading it. The more usual way to notate this is with a slash. You can create those as ordinary quarter notes on the middle line, set the head to slash and make them stemless - or use the Slash Notation Styles plugin (see menu at right of this page), which automates this.

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• Feb 17, 2014 - 05:45

While it may be that some publishers in the past have used the measure repeat sign in this manner, the fact remains that most musicians today will be more familiar with the standard use of these symbols. Since it is easier to use the standard symbol to boot, I am not sure what you would be gaining by deliberately reproducing a deprecated notation like this. That's just meant as advice.

But as noted in my other response, you can add any notation you like as a graphic.

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• Feb 17, 2014 - 01:33

It looks like MuseScore 2.0 will have the Repeat Measure Sign (along with others) in the 'Special Characters' (F2) palette, so it could be entered as a text item without forcing itself to be behave as in the repeat palette of MuseScore 1.3.

For now, though, you may wish to consider using the simpler slash note head which can denote 'repeat beat' (although it won't work for playback).
The 'Essential Dictionary of Music Notation' by T.Gerou & L. Lusk mention it as being used in manuscript or in popular music, with the caveat: 'Do not use in engraved music' (pg. 110) - though no explanation is provided.
The slash with the two dots notates measure repeat.

See attached.

Regards.

Attachment Size
Repeat Example.mscz 1.81 KB

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• Feb 17, 2014 - 03:46

thanks Jm6stringer, and i'll be looking forward to version 2.0.

is there any guess as to when it will be ready for release?

no symbol is perfect, i agree. i guess i'll have to either use slash or write out "simile", although the goal here was to save a little time and lots of space. the slash will work.

(according to the venerable Kurt Stone, slash alone usually means "repeated chord on a beat" which is also not necessarily the case for what i wanted to do)

some older European publishers (e.g. Hofmeister) used slash and dots notation for repeated rhythmic figures.

do you know if there is a way to add a custom symbol as a text item? or does it have to be on the special characters palette already?

thanks

dirck

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