Clefs

This method is suggested when you are also setting up other attributes of the staff, such as its instrument name and transposition. Keep in mind, though, that you can also use the Clef Tool (as described below) to perform the same function.

1. Open the Score Manager.
2. Choose the staff whose clef you want to change.
3. Click the First Clef at the bottom of the Score Manager and choose a clef.

You can also use this method to set the clef at the beginning of a staff.

Noteman says: View the Changing the clef QuickStart Video for an overview.

1. Choose the Clef tool . Double-click the measure where you want the clef to change. The Change Clef dialog box appears.
2. Click to highlight the clef you want.
3. In the Measure __ Through __ text boxes, enter the measures you want to be affected by this clef change.

   When you enter the dialog box, both text boxes show the current measure number. If you want the clef to change all measures to the end of the piece, choose the second measure region button in the dialog box.

4. Click OK (or press ENTER).

This method assumes that you have already entered music in your score. Mid-measure clefs can also be added while you are entering music with Simple Entry by pressing ALT+SHIFT+C.

1. Choose the Clef tool .
2. Highlight a measure region that begins where you would like to place the clef change and/or ends where you would like to change back to the original clef. If the selected region begin/ends at a barline, a mid-measure clef is not required and Finale adds the clef change to the left of the barline. See Selecting Music.
   
   
3. Double-click the highlighted region (or press ENTER). The Change Clef dialog box appears.

   Notice the numbers in parentheses to the upper left of every clef. These are clef MetatoolsA Finale keyboard shortcut that lets you enter markings very quickly. Up to 36 Metatools can be programmed for the following items: Articulations, Chord Symbols, Expressions, Key Signatures, Time Signatures, Selection, Repeats, and Tuplets. The name for these shortcuts gave rise to the old chestnut, "I never metatool I didn't like.". After highlighting a region, you can simply press one of these letters to apply the corresponding clef.

4. Choose the new clef.
5. Click OK. You return to the document with the clef—which now has a handle—at the beginning of the staff. Drag the clef’s handle right or left to position it as desired. The notes before and after it will be re-notated automatically.
   
   

1. Choose the Clef tool .
2. Double-click the handle; on the second click, hold the button down and drag left or right. As you drag the clef, its identity cycles through the eighteen standard clefs.

Another way to edit the clef is to right-click its handle and choose Edit Clef Definition. You reenter the Mid-Measure Clef dialog box, where you change the clef itself, its size, or its position.

1. Choose the Clef tool . Double-click the measure where you want hide the clef.

   If you want to hide a mid-measure clef, right-click the mid-measure clef handle. The Mid-Measure Clef dialog box appears.

2. Under Show Clef, select Never.
3. Click OK.

1. Choose the Measure tool , and double-click the handle on the measure where the courtesy clef change occurs. The Measure Attributes dialog box appears.
2. Select Hide Cautionary Clefs, Key and Time Signatures.
3. Click OK.

1. Choose the Clef tool .
2. Highlight a region of measures.
3. Double-click the highlighted region. The Change Clef dialog box appears.
4. Choose the new clef and click OK.

Also, after selecting a region, press the Metatool key assigned to the clef you want apply to the region. The clef change applies to the highlighted region. See Metatools.

When you add a staff to the score, it initially appears with a treble clef. You can change this default clef, so that any new staff appears with another clef.

1. Choose Document > Document Options > Clefs. The Document Options- Clefs dialog box appears.
2. Under the heading Default Clef Change, click Select. The Clef Selection dialog box appears.
3. Double-click the desired default clef. Click OK (or press ENTER). Now any new staff you create with the Staff tool will appear with the default clef you specified.

When a clef change occurs at the beginning of a new line, it’s customary to alert the musician by placing a smaller, “warning,” clef change at the very end of the previous line. You can, if you wish, instruct Finale not to display these courtesy clef changes.

1. Choose Document > Document Options > Clefs. The Clef Options dialog box appears.
2. Deselect Display Courtesy Clef at End of Staff System. Finale no longer displays these warning clefs, unless you re-select this check box.
3. Click OK (or press ENTER).

You’re not limited to using the traditional clefs in Finale; you can create your own clef, using any symbol, with any notational meaning. You can even create your own clef in the Shape Designer. Each document you create can have eighteen defined clef options; in order to create your own, therefore, you’ll have to replace one of the eighteen default clefs. Additionally, you can save your newly designed clef into a Clef library, so you can use the same clef in other documents.

1. Choose Document > Document Options > Clefs, then click the Clef Designer button. The Clef Designer dialog box appears.
2. Click on the clef whose characteristics you want to alter.
3. Next to Character, click Select. A palette of all available characters in the currently selected font appears.

   To change the font for this clef, click Set Font and choose a different font. To change the font for all clefs, see the Document Options - Fonts dialog box . If you don’t see a font character you want, see To design a shape clef.

4. Double-click the desired symbol.
5. Set the middle-C line for this clef by typing a number into the Middle C Position (from Top Staff Line) text box.

   This value indicates the combined number of lines and spaces that middle C is to be positioned away from the top staff line (whose number is zero). For example, the treble clef, which places middle C one ledger line below the staff, has a Middle C Position value of –10.

6. Set the vertical positioning of the clef symbol by typing a number into the Clef Position (from Top Staff Line) text box.

   This value indicates the combined number of lines and spaces that the clef's baseline is to be positioned away from the top staff line (whose number is zero). Note that the baseline of a clef is based on its musical meaning, and isn’t quite the same as the baseline for regular text. For example, the baseline of the treble clef isn’t the bottom of the character—it’s the “curl” that sits on the G line of the staff; the baseline of the bass clef is centered between the two dots (the F line), and so on. Thus the Clef Position for the treble clef is –6.

7. If you’re using a font other than Maestro, Petrucci, Engraver or Sonata, type a number into the Musical Baseline Offset text box.

   This value indicates the combined number of lines and spaces between the normal baseline for the clef (as defined in the previous step) and its vertical position when it occurs as a clef change in the middle of the score, and hence at a reduced size. Finale positions clefs automatically if the Maestro, Petrucci, Engraver or Sonata music font is selected as the default music font, but symbols from a font you design yourself might require this extra adjustment.

8. Click OK (or press ENTER).

   From now on in this document, any time you access the palette of clefs, you’ll see the new clef represented as one of the eighteen available. Any music that follows it will be notated according to the definition of middle C in the Preferences - View dialog box and the Stem Reversal value in the Staff Setup dialog box.

You’re not limited to a shape found in a font; you can combine font characters, draw free-hand or mix-and-match shapes. Each document you create can have eighteen defined clef options; in order to create your own, therefore, you’ll have to replace one of the eighteen default clefs. Additionally, you can save your newly designed clef into a Clef library, so you can use the same clef in other documents.

1. Choose Document > Document Options > Clefs, then click the Clef Designer button. The Clef Designer dialog box appears.
2. Click on the clef whose characteristics you want to alter.
3. Click on Shape, then Select, then Create. The Shape Designer appears.

   Finale provides a template of the staff lines, to give you an idea of size and position when your clef appears in the score. A small origin circle marks where Finale begins the clef horizontally and the Clef Position vertically. You’ll probably want to draw your shape close to the origin circle, unless you want extra space before this clef. If you want to create extra space after this clef, insert a blank character to the right of the clef. (For extra space before or after all clefs, see Document Options - Clefs.) To insert a text character, click on the Shape Designer menu and choose Set Font. Select a font, then return to the Shape Designer. You can now click on the Text tool, then click on the window to type a character in the selected font.

4. Press ENTER twice. You return to the Clef Designer dialog box.
5. Set the middle-C line for this clef by typing a number into the Middle C Position (from Top Staff Line) text box.

   This value indicates the combined number of lines and spaces that middle C is to be positioned away from the top staff line (whose number is zero). For example, the treble clef, which places middle C one ledger line below the staff, has a Middle C Position value of –10.

6. Set the vertical positioning of the clef symbol by typing a number into the Clef Position (from Top Staff Line) text box.

   This value indicates the combined number of lines and spaces that the clef's baseline is to be positioned away from the top staff line (whose number is zero). Note that the baseline of a clef is based on its musical meaning, and isn’t quite the same as the baseline for regular text. For example, the baseline of the treble clef isn’t the bottom of the character—it’s the “curl” that sits on the G line of the staff; the baseline of the bass clef is centered between the two dots (the F line), and so on. Thus the Clef Position for the treble clef is –6.

7. If you’re using a font other than Maestro, Petrucci, Engraver or Sonata, type a number into the Musical Baseline Offset text box.

   This value indicates the combined number of lines and spaces between the normal baseline for the clef (as defined in the previous step) and its vertical position when it occurs as a clef change in the middle of the score, and hence at a reduced size. Finale positions clefs automatically if the Maestro, Petrucci, Engraver or Sonata music font is selected as the default music font, but symbols from a font you design yourself might require this extra adjustment.

8. Click OK twice to return to the document.

   From now on in this document, any time you access the palette of clefs, you’ll see the new clef represented as one of the eighteen available. Any music that follows it will be notated according to the definition of middle C in the Preferences - View dialog box and the Stem Reversal value in the Staff Setup dialog box.

To change the global vertical positioning of clefs, see To design a new clef.

1. Choose Document > Document Options >Clefs. The Document Options - Clefs dialog box appears.
2. Enter new values in the Spacing text boxes, both of which affect the horizontal placement of clefs throughout the piece:
   • The Before text box determines how much space Finale inserts between the left barline and the clef itself.
   • The After text box determines how much space Finale inserts between the clef and the key signature.

   The units are whatever you’ve selected under Edit > Measurement Units.

3. Click OK (or press ENTER).

When the clef for a staff changes in mid-score, it’s customary to print that inserted clef at a slightly reduced size. Depending on the symbol and font you’re using, you may also need to adjust the reduced clef’s horizontal position (distance from the barline) on the staff. The vertical position of such a clef is determined in the Clef Designer (see To design a new clef, above). Here’s how to modify the percentage reduction and position of an inserted clef.

1. Choose Document > Document Options > Clefs. The Document Options - Clefs dialog box appears.
2. Enter a new percentage value in the Default Clef Change/Percent text box. The number here is the reduction (or enlargement) you want applied to an inserted clef, relative to 100% (normal size).
3. To adjust the horizontal placement of an inserted clef, enter a new value in the Default Clef Change/Offset text box. This number determines the distance between the clef and the following barline or notes. (Again, the units are the currently-selected Measurement Units.) A negative number moves the clef farther to the left.
4. Click OK (or press ENTER).

If you create your own clef, you can specify which octave each accidental appears in as you cycle through the circle of fifths. For example, on which F sharp line or space should the first sharp appear (in the key of G)? To specify this parameter, see Accidental Octave Placement dialog box. See also Middle C Position in the Clef Designer dialog box.