Add Mandolin tablature for a score -- SOLUTION

• Nov 3, 2023 - 20:05

I'm putting the solution here, because I expect this is where people will find it,
But mostly it's something to use to modify the UI &/or add to the documentation.

I found the solution thanks to assistance from Jojo & Jim in these forum, but the problem
starts when you go to Instruments > Strings - Plucked and there is no option for Mandolin.

My "solution" (don't do this!) was to go to Strings - Bowed, and choose fiddle
(because the fingering is similar, and I have played trad. tunes on both instruments).

That solution doesn't work, though, because the "Staff Type" option for violin
and other unfretted instruments is not active (making it impossible to create a
linked tablature staff).

The real solution (or workaround, for now) is this:
1. Choose Instruments > Strings - Plucked > Ukulele (or bass, or any other 4-string instrument)
2. Add the musical notes to the score
3. Add a linked stave for that instrument.
4. Click the cog (gear) icon for that staff.
5. Change the Staff Type to Ukulele (tablature)
6. Right click in the staff
7. Choose Stave/Part Properties
8. Change strings (from bottom to top): G3 D4 A4 E5
(You can add strings, too. So you can create a custom staff for anything you can play.)
9. Click on the cog icon for "Ukulele" part and change the Name to "Mandolin"
(I changed the abbreviated name to "Mn", but I have no idea what's standard.)
10. Close the dialogs.

Voila! You now have beautifully constructed tab notation that corresponds to the sheet music.

Finally:
11. Save the score as a template, for the next mandolin tune you enter!


Comments

You wrote:
...the problem starts when you go to Instruments > Strings - Plucked and there is no option for Mandolin.

The handbook states:
Instruments are filtered by the type/genre shown in the dropdown menu under Family heading on the left. "Common" is selected by default, which displays some of the most common instruments or voices you are likely to need. NOTE: To show all available instruments, you must select "All instruments".
Mandolin.png
Clearly you must have missed that last sentence. Mandolin is certainly available. There is no problem at all.

Also, all this was already told to you here:
https://musescore.org/en/node/21716#comment-1213494
and my post right below it:
https://musescore.org/en/node/21716#comment-1213495

Do you still have an unanswered question? Please log in first to post your question.