How do I add a string mute to guitar TAB?
I have checked the handbook but the closest I can find is a reference to "ghost notes". Is there any way to enter a single string mute, (corresponding to lifting a fret finger or touch a string with plucking hand), that affects the printed score and the MIDI playback?
Comments
In the absence of a function for this is there a commonly used convention?
In reply to In the absence of a function… by yonah_ag
An x notehead as far as I know. Play disabled in inspector
In reply to Am x notehead as far as I… by Jojo-Schmitz
I've just searched the handbook for "X notehead" but there are no references. "Notehead" returns 108 matches which could take a while to check out. Could you please point to the correct section in the handbook?
In reply to I've just searched the… by yonah_ag
Just press "X" to change the note to a ghost note, which is what it sounds like you are describing. Search "ghost" in the Handbook and it's the very first hit; the only other hit is also relevant.
In reply to Just press "X" to change the… by Marc Sabatella
For tab shift+x.
In reply to Just press "X" to change the… by Marc Sabatella
Thanks. Shift-X is indeed "ghost" and is just the job. Make the note silent and it's a string mute. 🙂
In reply to Just press "X" to change the… by Marc Sabatella
Hi Marc :-)
When I try this, the notehead does change to an "X". But playback doesn't mute the sound. It sounds like a fully ringing string. I want it to sound muted: not ringing, but also not silent.
Is it supposed to sound muted?
Dave
OS: macOS 15.4, Arch.: arm64, MuseScore Studio version (64-bit): 4.5.2-251141402, revision: ac9d3bc
In reply to Hi Marc :-) When I try this,… by reggoboy
Only by using MuseSounds (ie Muse Guitars) , not MS Basic. Is this the case?
In reply to Only by using MuseSounds (ie… by cadiz1
Okay, I'm new to MuseSounds. But clicking around, I do see "Muse Guitars Vol. 1" that says INSTALL. Maybe that means it's free? Then there's a "Muse Guitars Vol. 2" for $20.
I guess I don't really care enough to go down the route of installing extras. The ability to mute a guitar string sounded, from the forums, to be supported.
When you ask " Is this the case?", is that directed to me? I don't have any MuseSounds extras installed...
In reply to Okay, I'm new to MuseSounds… by reggoboy
Yes, Muse Guitars Vol. 1 is free, are all the orchestral packs from Muse Group. I wouldn’t think of them as “extras”, really - they are pretty fundamental to the full experience of MuseScore 4. But it is true that you can get some some sort of sound without them.
In reply to Yes, Muse Guitars Vol. 1 is… by Marc Sabatella
> "... fundamental to the full experience of MuseScore 4"?????
Not only "extras", but extremely unnecessary (!!!) extras, designed as a way of monetizing MuseScore, by convincing its users of the "necessity" of "better" sounds. To each their own, always, but I think it's little more than a con game.
In reply to > "... fundamental to the… by TheHutch
" but extremely unnecessary (!!!) extras, designed as a way of monetizing MuseScore, by convincing its users of the "necessity" of "better" sounds"
To keep things factual: there are currently 9 free Muse Sounds - image below - which I guess cover most needs. Then, others are paid for, it's advertised, you buy (which is what I did for Muse Guitars Vol. 2. for banjo, ukulele and mandolin) or you don't buy, it's your free choice. What's the con game?
Then, it's another matter (in which case, it's best to open a new thread), whether you like or dislike the rendering of these Muse Sounds. Personally, I don't like the sound of classical guitar, for various reasons. But I'll stop here because I'd be out of line.
In reply to > "... fundamental to the… by TheHutch
Nothing wrong with monetising. Most of us probably work for a living so we monetise our labour. Of course it's not a con: no-one is tricked into buying these extra packs.
I consider all the Muse Sounds to be extras, whether free or paid, as I only need classical guitar and have an excellent, (paid for), VST for this from PianoTeq. I guess that you can also get "some sort of sound" from the Muse packs but they're not for me.
In reply to > "... fundamental to the… by TheHutch
You have it backwards. “Better sound” was far and away the single biggest user request for previous versions of MuseScore, absolutely dwarfing all others. So tons and tons of effort went into providing the best free sounds ever seen in any notation program - not to convince people they wanted to them, but to give them what they were clamoring for. Far from a con, it’s one of the biggest success stories the history of MuseScore.
In reply to Yes, Muse Guitars Vol. 1 is… by Marc Sabatella
Thanks for the info.
"But it is true that you can get some some sort of sound without them."
Yea, I'm working on my first big composition, with about 10 instruments, and I haven't installed anything that didn't come built-in, and it sounds pretty darn good. I just don't have muted guitar strings :-)
I'll keep this option open.
In reply to Thanks for the info. "But it… by reggoboy
Here's a not-horrible sound for muted guitar using only the MS Basic sounds: 20250523 233531 - muted guitar.mscz
Look at the Layout panel and the Mixer for the hidden Electric Guitar 2 staff. If that doesn't let you know how to do it, ask here again and I will explain further.
In reply to Hi Marc :-) When I try this,… by reggoboy
Would setting the muted note to a very low volume work?
https://musescore.org/en/node/357918
In reply to Would setting the muted note… by yonah_ag
Thanks for the idea. Maybe I'll try it. Trying to avoid workarounds :-)
In reply to Thanks for the idea. Maybe I… by reggoboy
Workarounds can have a habit of coming back to bite you with future releases, as I found with certain layout workarounds when going from MS2 to MS3. However, in this case, although a better implementation of mute may become available, the workaround will still work without messing anything up.