Staff of transposing instruments without accidentals

• Mar 28, 2021 - 13:43

When I try to write a line for the French horn (in F) i can choose the transposition of the instrument, but i cannot delete the accidentals at the beginning of every staff.
Is there a possibilty to solve this problem? Since professional scores normally do not use accidentals there.

Thanks a lot!


Comments

There is a way to do this, and someone will come along to tell you how. But as a horn player I will say that the practice of not using a key signature is indeed not universal. It is an odd hold over that refers to instruments that no longer exist. While there are many players that will be able to play parts prepared the way you suggest, there are probably many more that do not. Not because they are less professional. Rather it's just not necessary.

In reply to by bobjp

Here I am coming along to tell you how to do it.

In the advanced workspace the key signature pallet includes one with a pale X. This is a "no signature" key signature. You can apply it to a single staff by holding CTRL (CMD for a MAC) while dragging it to the score. This will force accidentals to show for all notes that would otherwise be affected by the normal key signature.

NoSig.jpg

Some of my horn playing acquaintances prefer this. others prefer everything to be transposed for horn in F with the appropriate key signature shown. The advantage of MuseScore is that you can prepare parts that use both conventions and win the admiration of all your horn players.

In reply to by bobjp

@bobjp I think the "advantage" is that opinion is split about whether or not to use a key signature for the French Horn part. MuseScore does allow the transcriber to issue parts for either convention, thus pleasing everyone. Isn't that the point behind the previous post?

In reply to by DanielR

I only meant that the idea that professional scores do not have a key signature is not universal. I think the only way to make everyone happy would be to include both types of parts in every score. But if my choice is between one type of part that some can read, and one that everyone can read...not much of a contest. I'm not trying to be discouraging or negative.

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