Newbie questions: Tempo and voice over music

• Nov 12, 2015 - 13:51

I have been using just a few days, and have a few things that are baffling me. I have searched extensively for how to do these, in the Handbook and here. I need very specific instructions, as I will often find an answer that feels like it's written in code! I did work through the Getting Started example. I am using 2.0.2 on Windows 10.

1) I created a song, and cannot figure out how to set the Playback tempo. There is a "Tempo palette," but I don't know what to do with it. I see references to a BPM setting, but I don't see it on my screen.

2) The song has a section of speaking over guitar chords. Is there any workaround that would let me put these words in? Text has to be tied to a note, but that section has no melody.

Thank you in advance for any assistance.


Comments

1] Ignore the Play Panel for now - it is just useful for adjusting playback speed as you listen to a score to help you make changes, speed through it, slow down for analysis etc. or maybe if you wanted to sing or play along.

Set the tempo in the score itself:
Click on the first note.
Open the Tempo palette.
Double-click on the appropriate symbol (minim, crotchet, quaver or whatever).
Double-click on the tempo text that has now appeared on the score.
Change the value to set the speed.

BPM = "Beats per minute". When set to a certain value in the score this is best thought of as the number of beats of a conductor's baton. So, in 2/4 time setting a crotchet (quarter-note) to 120 beats per minute is marching speed and in 6/8 time setting a dotted crotchet to 120 is also marching speed.

The Play Panel just confuses things here, IMHO, as the BPM value set here refers to crotchets per minute regardless of time signature (if you set crotchet = 120 in your score then 100%playback speed in Play Panel is 120 but of you have a 6/8 score set to dotted crotchet = 120 then Play Panel will show 180 BPM).

2] Workaround not required. Lyrics can only be associated with notes and - by default - go under the stave. Stave Text (Menu: Add -> Stave Text or [Ctrl] t) can be added to a note or a rest and - by default - goes above the stave.

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