Fretboard diagrams and chord symbols
I have created a palette for my own jazz chord diagrams via the inspector. But I have not been able to find out how to label them. 3 or 4 of them appear in the palette with a chord symbol/name over them eg Am7 and G9 but the more complicated do not eg: A13b9 or Em7b5 or Cdim7.
How can I add the chord name to the diagram?
Comments
Created a palette of chord diagrams via Inspector???
See https://musescore.org/en/handbook/fretboard-diagrams
I created the fretboard diagrams by pulling an existing diagram off the standard fretboard palette and then edited it in inspector. I then moved it into the palette that I had created in "palettes" by dragging it into the "more" space in the palette with "shift + command". But how to label it in the palette to find and use it again without recognising the diagram. I have already created about 30 diagrams of jazz chords. Also so that it appears on the music as the diagram with the name over it.
In reply to I created the fretboard… by tim.drewitt
If I ceate a custom fretboardiagram, with a custom chord symbols and add that to the palette, it retains the chord symbols on use, and it's 'name' shows in the tooltip on the palette
In reply to If I ceate a custom… by Jojo-Schmitz
I attach a screen shot showing the original diagram for A7#5b9. I moved this into the palette that I had created for my chord diagrams. I then created the chord name using "command+K" in the score. Then dragged this into the palette as A75b9 where it registered. But I can't combine the two in the palette which is what I want to do. In the inspector there seems to be no way of writing a chord symbol over the diagram displayed.
What am I missing ????
In reply to I attach a screen shot… by tim.drewitt
You don't add chord symbols to fret diagrams with the Inspector, but using the normal chord symbol comman, Ctrl+K. Note that the tooltip that appears in the palette is unrelated, you can edit that by right-clicking the palette cell after adding your custom diagram.
In reply to You don't add chord symbols… by Marc Sabatella
Yes I get that, but why can't I combine them in the palette. Eg if you go to the standard "fretboard palette" in the Palettes display, I can place an ordinary F chord in the score using the palette and the chord symbol F appears automatically above it in the score. So how can I drag out my chord diagram for A7#5b9 from my chord palette and get that chord symbol to appear above it automatically?
I have been using computers since 1995 but sometimes their logic evades me - sorry folks. Help........
In reply to Yes I get that, but why can… by tim.drewitt
If you attach your score, you might be able to say more. But me this works as expected. I customize a fret diagram, customize the chord symbol that is attached to it, move it back to the palette, and now when I add that to my score, I get the fret diagram and chord symbol together.
You should be able use Palette Cell Properties>Name to "name" the chord fingers you add to your palette.
To do so:
• open your custom palette (or the palette to which you've added chord fingerings)
• right click the cell containing the fingering your want to name/rename
• choose Properties from the contextual menu
This will open Palette Cell Properties dialog. There you can enter the fingering name in the Name field. (The example below happens to be a chord diagram for ukulele.)
The Name you enter will appear when you hover the palette cell. And once you've added the "fingering" to the score the name will appear above the fingering. And you can override the given name; just double click the fingering's text and type in any chord name—this override does not affect anything in the palette, just the instance at hand.
Sadly, the fingering Names don't show above each chord diagram in the varian palette cells. This is a space saver, indeed, but it certainly makes it harder to find chords. Would be nice to have a palette property to show/hide the cell/fingering Name. I'd trade space for the option to scan for chord-fingering names.
Aside from details like these, much about chord diagram editing is rather simple and elegant.
scorster
In reply to I think you need to get to… by scorster
Thanks for that - one problem. I can't find - • choose Properties from the contextual menu
from your diagram it would appear to be next to Page View but on mine the next symbol is the Toggle Midi Input.
In reply to Thanks for that - one… by tim.drewitt
Where's your palette? Right-click on the palette cell for that fredboard diagram
In reply to Where's your palette? Right… by Jojo-Schmitz
palette is on left hand side of score, right clicked on chord diagram and it is highlighted with blue background.
In reply to palette is on left hand side… by tim.drewitt
Not in that screenshot
In reply to palette is on left hand side… by tim.drewitt
What version MuseScore?
In reply to What version MuseScore? by Jm6stringer
3.5.2.312126096
revision: 465e7b6
In reply to palette is on left hand side… by tim.drewitt
Hi Tim,
You're pretty close now.
— Please note that I'm on a Mac. Appearances may differ on other platforms. —
Here's the palette cell when I hover it, highlighted blue ... and if I wait long enough the Chord name appears in a yellow rectangle (as a tooltip.)
On the Mac, when I Control-click the cell, MuseScore opens the contextual menu with two options: Properties ... is one of them.
I think this action would be Command-click on Windows. Note that on MacOS Right-click and Control-click should be equivalent, but that it not always true. I don't actually have a two-button mouse to test if right-click works in MuseScore. I always use control-click.
scorster
In reply to You're pretty close. Here… by scorster
Right click is used on Windows. There is no cmd button on most windows keyboards and no left click combination I'm aware of to emulate right click.
In reply to Right click is used on… by mike320
On some systems, Alt+click might do the same as right click. There is also usually a purely keyboard-based way to invoke a context menu that is also system-specific.
In reply to You're pretty close. Here… by scorster
Bravo - that works. I'm on a Mac.
Click on the diagram - highlighted in blue - "control + click" and as your diagram shows I get the option of Delete or Properties. Click on properties and I get a window that allows me to name the diagram.
When I go back to the palette with the diagram and hover over it the chord name appears.
Thanks to you all for your patience!!!!
The Help menu should register this to save us all the frustration!!
Tim
In reply to Bravo - that works. I'm on a… by tim.drewitt
oops. One problem - when I drag the - now named in the palette - diagram onto the score, the name of the chord doesn't appear above the fretboard diagram. grrrr
In reply to oops. One problem - when I… by tim.drewitt
As I explained previously, you need to actually add that chord symbol to the fretboard diagram before adding it to the palette. Do that normally - either editing the existing chord symbol if present, or adding a new one via Ctrl+K.
In reply to As I explained previously,… by Marc Sabatella
OK I've got the fretboard diagram in the Inspector, but if I "command+K" it changes the window to Chord Symbol eg I can't combine the diagram with the chord name (symbol)
In reply to OK I've got the fretboard… by tim.drewitt
Tim wrote >> I've got the fretboard diagram in the Inspector, but if I "command+K" it changes the window to Chord Symbol
>
As mentioned, I like much about MuseScores finger diagrams and the palette function, but there are a number of matters that are needlessly complicated. And this is one.
Here are steps to achieve your goal of storing fingering diagrams so. when applied to the score. they carry their chord name with them.
• Select the "unnamed" fingering diagram in the score no in the palette.
• Then command k (mac) to prepare to add a "palettable" Chord name
• Enter the name you want
• THEN command shift drag the fingering diagram to the palette.
• Now you can delete the "non fully functioning" cell(s) from the Palette, using Command-click to bring up the contextual menu and then choose Delete
Not pretty at all, but it works.
Would be worth discussing streamlining this. If you want to start a post I'll jump in.
scorster
In reply to OK I've got the fretboard… by tim.drewitt
The Inspector is not invovled at all. As I said, if there is already a chord symbol there directly above the fret diagram, simply edit it - double click and type a new one. If there is not one already there, simply click the fret diagram and press Ctrl+K, then type your chord symbol. At no point in the process do you look at the Inspector, it's all done directly in the score.
In reply to The Inspector is not… by Marc Sabatella
Thanks Scorster and Marc.
Yes - that works doing it on the score. Marc - on a Mac its "command+K" for the chord name.
But we are stuck with one last action that is obviously too much for the program. That is if you pull the diagram off the palette and its chord symbol sits over it automatically, if you transpose the music it stays the same. That is the same for the palette Fretboard diagrams that comes with the program. Whereas if you have just the chord symbol over the stave, that is transposed with the music which is essential, particularly for instruments that are soloing. sax etc. I use the diagrams (which I used to draw) on my paper version when I'm playing as a reminder of the sequences that I have worked out, and the inversions to use to follow the singer and to accentuate certain movements in the music.
But I can see that the program can't transpose the diagram without - presumably - a major change. Equally, I think it would be rather pointless as some chords would not have the same musical quality/character if the diagram was changed - even if the same transposed notes were fingered. Take, for instance, the music of Jobim (who was a guitarist) where you often get descending or rising sequences of chords with a bass movement. If you change the key - which singers often need/want to do - you can loose the elegance of the sequence and have to work out a new one with different inversions.
I do the arranging for my jazz group (we have set list of about 50 numbers so its quite a lot of paperwork) and I often have to transpose a piece for the singer, so that element of the program is very important.
Thanks for your help - I'll go to my room and leave you in peace!
In reply to Thanks Scorster and Marc… by tim.drewitt
See: #293782: Chord symbols: can't be transposed when coupled to fretboard diagrams
In reply to Thanks Scorster and Marc… by tim.drewitt
You wrote:
Whereas if you have just the chord symbol over the stave, that is transposed with the music which is essential, particularly for instruments that are soloing. sax etc.
This is true, as fretboard diagrams mean nothing to such soloist(s), although chord progressions are helpful, along with transposition (of chord names) when needed. This is a long standing feature - available even before fretboard diagrams were introduced.
I use the diagrams... on my paper version when I'm playing as a reminder of the sequences.
O.K... So your fretboard diagram is created for that specific chord (inversion) in that particular key for that particular tune - perhaps even that particular measure (as a re-occurrence of that chord may be voiced differently elsewhere in the tune).
So, it is not the "beginner" diagram that one sees in the popular songbooks.
It would be a tall order indeed for MuseScore to "transpose the fretboard diagram' while honoring specific (chord progression) voicing.
You can, however, enter the fret diagram as notation and MuseScore will gladly transpose the notes. Then it is up to you to decide if the transposed chord(s) are "playable", or if you will have to make substitution(s).
As you also wrote:
Equally, I think it would be rather pointless as some chords would not have the same musical quality/character if the diagram was changed...
Agreed. Also, see cadiz' link.
(I'm delighted that I no longer have to 'draw' diagrams on the paper sheet, too, and so will gladly endure any needed adjustments to fretboard diagrams upon key changes.)
In reply to Whereas if you have just the… by Jm6stringer
JM6stringer wrote: You can, however, enter the fret diagram as notation and MuseScore will gladly transpose the notes. Then it is up to you to decide if the transposed chord(s) are "playable", or if you will have to make substitution(s).
>
This is somewhat of a tall request:
I'd love to see a feature that transfers notation into fingering diagrams, like how MuseScore generates frets in a tablature staff: including the option (in the Inspector) to drag "frets" from string to string, and the ability to automatically to gang up pitches on same string so the user can see what must be resolved, or what can't be resolved.
Naturally diagrams with close voicings would require some manual tweaking, but the initial diagram could offer a good starting point.
scorster