time signature change from 4/4 to 12/8

• Aug 12, 2025 - 06:45

So, I started this in 4/4, and only after entering the notes realized the time signature should be 12/8. Is there some relatively straight forward want to make the conversion? The problem seems to be the triplets, so perhaps if I could promote the triplets into straight eights, I could just change the time signature to 12/8.

Attachment	Size
Oh Darling chorus.mscz	44.24 KB

Comments

HildeK

• Aug 12, 2025 - 07:22

That is not a problem - simply apply the 12/8 time signature to the first measure.
Only the beams are different, they are connected (in the first measure I have changed them manually).

Attachment	Size
2_Oh Darling chorus.mscz	43.18 KB

tpgettys

• Aug 12, 2025 - 21:59

Thanks for looking at it. However, that does not work. The number of notes per measure should remain the same. If the triplets could be converted to eighth notes that would solve the problem.

underquark

• Aug 13, 2025 - 02:07

You can't convert the triplets to eighth notes. Personally, I prefer triplets in 4/4 over changing to 12/8 when you then change to 4/4.

tpgettys

• Aug 13, 2025 - 03:34

I suspected that was the case. Thank you for your reply. FYI: the entire piece is in 12/8, as it turns out.

HildeK

• Aug 13, 2025 - 13:30

Ah, that's what it means.

I suggest adding another staff labeled “Ukulele” to the score, giving it the local time signature of “12/8,” and copying the notes manually. Triplets become eighth notes, quarter notes become dotted quarter notes, and so on.
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