Fingering Input
Perhaps this is more of a problem with piano scores written for publication or printing.
But putting in fingerings seems to be excessively cumbersome and frustrating. First locate the number from the palette, then drag it to the relevent note, wait for the note to turn red, then try to extricate the number from underneath the red note before it turns blue and curtails the whole operation ... or worse you find that your pointer has MOVED the note and the fingering has disappeared completely. The precision required to move that note from under the red note before it reverts to blue is astounding.
I would assume it's just another program problem and has a logical answer ... escept for the fact you CAN move an accent or dot from the palette and drag it nicely to the note, which turns red and a simple click has the symbol snapping nicely into position above or below your chosen note. It snaps into position automatically without having to mouse it away from the red note. And once in position, you can also edit it by movingit where ever you wish. Those symbols work like a charm.
Why can't the numbers just snap into position when you click the red note ... like the dot or the accent?
But the numbers are a misery. Surely I've done something wrong ... and there's an easier way
Comments
Easier way: select the note(s), double-click the fingering.
Also, the circled fingering automatically place better. And the placement of most things is much better in 2.0.
In reply to Easier way: select the by schepers
Enter fingering, as explained by Schepers;
Select a number by right clicking: Select / All Similar Elements (all become blue);
Again right-click, Text Properties: sets the offset value Y to -0.05,for example.
(or: Apply to all elements of the same type)
In reply to Easier way: select the by schepers
Thanks for your tip, Scheppers. This is a vast improvement ... because the note seems a lot more stable and less prone to move when I edit the fingering position. I'm desperate and this is like manna for me. The circle DOES work accurately but I can't use it for classical piano scores. Why the heck they can't program the plain fingering to operate like the circled one is beyond me. Grrrrr.
But for now I'm grateful for anything which meliorates the misery of putting in those fingerings.
In reply to Not perfect ... but a whole lot better by Nikki Ty
If you prefer the placement of the circled fingering, but do not want the circles, try this to get rid of them:
1. Right click on a circled fingering.
2. In 'Text Properties' uncheck 'Frame' (to disable the 'Circle' and 'Box' buttons).
3. Check 'apply to all elements of the same type'. Then 'OK'.
Regards.
In reply to Re: Circled fingering. by Jm6stringer
Thanks so much. This little trick works like a charm. Now what still puzzles me is why the programmers haven't already fixed this thing. It seems to be something rather simple ... in essence no more difficult programming the code for the circled fingerings. And is is important for piano scores. Meanwhile .... this works. And I'm happy with it. Thanks SO much.
In reply to Great Tweak by Nikki Ty
...fingering can be indicated with numbers for strings as well as for fingers. Circled numbers are commonly reserved for strings - which is why there exists a circled '6' in the fingering palette. (It normally would not be used to denote a 'sixth' finger on a hand.)
Given this, it is unlikely to be able to create a 'one size fits all' default setting for placement of fingering/string numbers.
For keyboard instruments:
I can see that in the case for blocks of chords played on a keyboard, one *could* position the fingering numbers directly above each chord with some uniformity.
However, for single note scales/arpeggios it would seem to me that the fingering numbers should more closely follow the melodic contour - i.e. closer placement to each individual note.
The X and Y offset parameters (in Properties) allow for fine tuning of fingering number placement. (So does mouse dragging.)
Finally, Ctrl click is a good tool to use (regardless of instrument):
Ctrl click on multiple notes to highlight them, then double click on a number in the fingering palette to assign all those notes that same finger.
Also, if you have multiple numbers which all need to be moved the exact same distance, you can Ctrl click each one to highlight them all, then drag the whole bunch as one.
Regards.
In reply to Great Tweak by Nikki Ty
Some background you might find useful to keep in mind as you wonder why things are as they are:
The current version of MuseScore - 1.3 - is based mostly on code that hasn't been changed much for four years, except for bug fixes. During the past four years, since somewhat before the release of version 1.0, virtually all development work - and there has been a *ton* of it - has gone towards *the* next major version. This will presumably be called 2.0 and be released later this year. It is going to represent a *huge* step forward in almost every way, which is why it is taking so long. Meanwhile, minor 1.X releases are put out every so often to fix the most critical issues discovered in the current release.
So in many cases, things where you might think, "I wonder why they haven't fixed or improved X", the answer is, they *have* - for the the next major version. And while I said the fingering facility isn't perfect for 2.0, it definitely is a lot better than 1.3. In particular, if you click a note and double-click the fingering icon in the palette, it *is* placed much better - in the "easy" cases, anyhow (single note chords). Feel free to check out the nightly builds of 2.0 (see the Downloads link in the menu at right of this page) to see how things are shaping up.
Also, for the record, the "circled fingerings" are not meant to be fingerings at all - they are meant to indicate string numbers for guitar. That's why they go up to 6:-). The rules for placing guitar string number indications are different than the rules for placing piano fingering indications, so it's not really a great idea to misuse one to mean the other, but I agree, given the issues with fingering in 1.3, it's probably the best workaround for now.
In reply to Some background you might by Marc Sabatella
As found in the 'Fingering' palette, the circled (string) numbers are also used for instruments like banjo, ukelele, etc., which have fewer than 6 strings.
To accomodate instruments such as extended range guitars (which have more than 6 strings), any circled number can be entered, then double clicked, and the string number changed to greater than 6, if needed.
Regards.
In reply to Some background you might by Marc Sabatella
Muse Score is the product of "cyber angels" ... like the amazing GIMP. And all users should be aware that these programs are quite literally "gifts" to the public. And that being said, there will be unique advantages as well as drawbacks ... certain features will be the special interest of some of the contributors ... others may not find such support. I've worked outside GIMP to produce a program for printing multiple business cards with a specially ( and laboriously ) designed template when GIMP simply did not support that feature. It's a source of enormous joy to see the daily visitor count.
So my comments are always made in an attempt to "pull an ear" ... to see if there is interest in some detail ( there apparently is on this one) or that I've not been using the feature to advantage and need to learn more ... such as my triplet debacle. The wealth of information shared here is astounding.
I was obviously aware that the circled numbers were for strings. And I suspect that the reason that "snap into position" wasn't employed for the finger numbers was that someone ... a perfectionist ... wanted a "perfect" placement. A string number can sit comfortably between the staves ... a finger number can't. But since we do have the option to edit the position of that finger number, placing it initially in the space between staves works better than trying to extricate it from behind the note. SInce we HAVE to edit it, willy nilly ... anyway right now, putting it anywhere except behind the note would be an improvement.
But .... the new version is cooking on the stove ... and with the tweaks I've been offered here, I'm quite content to wait it out for 2.0. I"ll check out the nightly builds too ... looks interesting.
BUT ... I found my own great use for the circled fingerings. SInce I'm writing classical style music for very young students, those circled numbers are perfect to indicate tricky "over" or "under" or "stretch" fingerings for beginners. Now that's a good edge for student primers.
Thanks for the info ... and the updates.
In reply to Thanks for the 'Background" by Nikki Ty
Btw, in 2.0, fingerings will indeed be placed on the staff (between staff lines) where possible.
In reply to Btw, in 2.0, fingerings will by Marc Sabatella
With a note position between the staff lines .. and the ability to edit/move it ... this problem is completely solved. It should be so much easier to input those fingerings. Now with my "J" short cut for those triplets, I'll be steaming along when it's up and operative. Thanks so much for your patience all along the way ... way beyond the call of duty.
Nikki
Drag and drop is almost never needed in MuseScore; it's almost always much more efficient to first click the note or notes you want to apply a marking to, then double click the marking. This works for most elements that attach to specific notes.
That said, default positioning for fingering is not good, and it doesn't respond well to changes in style settings. From what I understand it's a little better in 2.0, but still not great.
In reply to Drag and drop is almost never by Marc Sabatella
You're quite right ... unfortunately the many tutorials and instructions aren't as clear as the answers on these forums and the instructions for those note fingerings were horrendous ... involving dragging and clicking and blushing red notes.
The key factor from what I can see is that each element must be "tied" to a note to activate it. Which works pretty well. I changed a key signature in the middle of a piece today and was delighted to see the "intro" appear in the previous bar. A terrific detail, well considered and brilliantly programmed.
The drag and drop or click and double click works wonderfully for dynamics .... and ironically for the accent, the dot and the "circled number" .... Now if they can program that circled number to snap into position once you click onto the relevant note, why can't they do exactly the same fot the plain finger number? It has to be the same or similar programming code. Why does the plain number have to "lurk" behind the note and have to be retrieved with my mouse's antennae ... or twissors? A simple snap into place like the circled note would solve the problem since editing is always possible if you don't like the programmed position. (Okay GIMP hates me too ... LOL)