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Finale 2014 for
Below you see a list of "how-to" instructions arranged alphabetically by musical situation. This section is a musical cookbook. You won't find Staff tool, Page Layout dialog box, or HyperScribe listed here because they are all terms you encounter only in Finale. (To learn about those and other Finale-specific topics, consult the "What does this do…" section of the Table of Contents or choose the "Search What does this do…" filter located next to the Search field above.)
Instead, this section contains entries for musical elements and situations, such as beaming, copying music, rehearsal marks and so on. After a brief introduction, each entry includes at least one step-by-step tutorial; broader topics, like rests, have several such tutorials. Following each instruction is an explanation of the step you just took, a description of Finale's response to it, or a description of an available detour to another feature. The "how-tos" are devised so that, if you are in a hurry, you can skip the editorial material and just follow the bulleted instructions step-by-step.
These steps assume some familiarity with Finale. In particular, they assume you have worked through most of the Finale Tutorials. Some of the tutorials in this section are, in fact, pared-down versions of the tutorials in the Installation and Tutorials manual. In some circumstances, then, you may learn the most by reviewing the same topic in both resources.
This section of the User Manual is not meant to be a complete guide to Finale itself. Finale's flexibility allows for many approaches to a vast universe of musical styles. Although we can't cover every possibility, we've tried to anticipate as many musical situations as we could. The most common questions are also covered in our "How Do I" Directory.
You will find many links to reference material, the Visual Index, and other sources. Use the Back button on your browser to return to previously viewed topics. Also note that all topics can be reached using the Table of Contents to your left, or by using the Search or Index functions. Use the "Search How do I…" filter to display only entries from this encyclopedia of topics.
Here's hoping that this musical cookbook will yield some delicious results!
Placing the word "Accelerando" into the score
Assigning an expression for playback
Adding a sharped or flatted note
Adding parentheses around accidentals
Hiding and showing accidentals
Hiding and showing accidentals
Adding or changing an accidental
Correcting accidentals on tied notes
Creating a PDF document from a Finale file
Adding one articulation mark in the score
Moving or deleting an articulation
Changing the articulation character
Defining an articulation for playback
Applying an articulation to every note in a region
Erasing articulations from a region
Centering and repositioning existing articulations
Quickly changing an articulation
Copying markings based on a rhythmic match
Creating an articulation metatool
Removing an articulation from the list
Locating an imported audio file on your computer
Altering the key velocity of backbeats
Copying or erase MIDI Tool editing
Drawing the barline on a group
Breaking a barline between grouped staves
Creating one double, dotted, final, or other barline
Changing barlines in a selected region (or at regular intervals)
Hiding all barlines (no barline music)
Inserting a false or custom barline
Changing the thickness of barlines in a document
Creating a double left barline
Setting the beam angle style globally
Changing or restoring the angle of a beam (Special Tools)
Removing angle modifications from a selected region
Changing the angle of secondary beams
Limiting the steepness of beams
Allowing only flat beams on a single staff
Changing a beam from the default angle to flat
Creating custom beaming patterns
Preventing Finale from beaming automatically (Speedy Entry)
Beaming eighth notes in quarter note groups
Changing a broken beam’s direction
Changing the distance between beams
Changing the angles of secondary beams
Changing the height of stems in secondary beams
Creating a beat chart in one measure
Adding a blank page anywhere in your document
Deleting a blank page anywhere in your document
Boomwhackers® Tuned Percussion Tubes / Chroma-Notes™ Instruments
Creating a new Boomwhackers® Percussion Tubes or Chroma-Notes™ Instruments score
Applying colored noteheads to an existing score
Placing a bracket on grouped staves
Moving or stretching a bracket
Deleting a bracket from a group
Creating additional (nested) brackets
Modifying brackets on a system-by-system basis
Moving, stretching, or deleting a floating bracket
Permitting unlimited notes in one measure (Time Signature method)
Permitting unlimited notes in one measure (Position Notes Evenly method)
Retaining channel pressure data for score playback
Copying or erasing controller data
Entering chord symbols automatically
Playing-in chord symbols (MIDI data input)
Editing chords directly in the score
Entering a chord symbol manually
Entering a chord symbol between beats
Teaching Finale “learned chords”
Editing or deleting a learned chord
Moving chord symbols up and down
Copying chords from one region to another
Changing the display or position of all chord symbols in a region
Preventing chord symbols from playing back
Programming a chord symbol Metatool
Entering a chord using a Metatool
Creating or load a Chord Suffix Library
Creating a chord chart with lyrics
Left-justifying chord symbols above the notes
Moving chord symbols individually
Defining a chord symbol manually with MIDI data input
Adding notes to (or remove notes from) a chord
Changing the enharmonic spelling of a chord
Rearranging the noteheads of a cluster chord
Setting the starting clef for a staff
Inserting a clef change at the beginning of a measure
Applying a clef change to a region of measures
Inserting a mid-measure clef change
Changing a clef you’ve inserted in mid-measure
Changing the horizontal positioning of starting clefs
Globally changing the position and size of inserted clefs
Specifying the location of key-signature accidentals in a nonstandard clef
Setting up countoff measures and the metronome click (for Playback and HyperScribe recording)
Setting up a click with a non-percussion playback device
Specifying which continuous data you want to record with HyperScribe
Copying or erasing continuous data
Copying and pasting using the clipboard
Copying and pasting by dragging
Copying and pasting/inserting stacks
Copying and inserting using the clipboard
Copying and inserting by dragging
Specifying what you want to copy
Copying multiple passages of music to another document (using Clip Files)
Combining files with Score Merger
Merging part files into a score with Score Merger
Copying markings based on a rhythmic match
Copying between instruments of different registers
Globally preventing courtesy clefs from displaying
Preventing courtesy clefs from displaying in a single measure.
Forcing the display of the key signature in a measure
Hiding the end-of-line courtesy key change (globally)
Hiding the end-of-line courtesy key change (in one place)
Altering the key signature of the courtesy key signature
Creating a Smart Shape (graphic) crescendo or decrescendo marking
Moving, reshaping, or deleting a Smart Shape crescendo
Aligning multiple Smart Shape hairpins
Changing the default opening and thickness of Smart Shape hairpins
Creating a playback crescendo or decrescendo with the MIDI Tool
Creating a Text Expression (such as “cresc.” or “decresc.”)
Moving or delete a crescendo (Text or Shape Expression)
Creating cross-staff notation with the Cross-staff Plug-in
Restoring cross-staff notes to their source staff
Restoring cross-staff notes to their source staff temporarily
Creating cue notes on a full-size staff
Restoring a cue staff to full size
Preventing attached lyrics and chord symbols from shrinking
Changing which custom line is assigned to the palette icon
Mixing abbreviated and non-abbreviated cut and common time signatures
Drawing a Smart Shape dashed line
Moving, reshaping, or deleting a Smart Shape dashed line
Changing the distance between staves
Changing the distance between staff lines
Changing the distance between notes
Changing the clef, key, and meter distances
Changing the position of all dots
Changing the position of a single dot
Undoing individual dot positioning
Moving all downbeats graphically
Altering the key velocity of downbeats
Altering the attack points of downbeats
Placing a (sign) marking into the score
Placing a “D.S.” marking into the score
Inserting a dynamic marking into the score
Moving or delete a dynamic marking
Defining a dynamic marking for playback
Creating invisible syllables when typing lyrics
Creating an elision slur between lyrics
Changing a note to its enharmonic equivalent (Speedy Entry)
Changing a note to its enharmonic equivalent (Simple Entry)
Changing a chord’s enharmonic spelling (Speedy Entry)
Changing all occurrences of a note (search and replace)
Erasing everything from a selected region
Erasing a note, rest, or chord (Simple Entry)
Erasing selected elements from a selected region
Assigning an expression to a staff
Adding an expression to multiple staves (Score Lists)
Assigning expressions to multiple staves (Assignment Lists)
Adding an expression using metatools
Moving or delete an expression
Erasing expressions from a region
Moving expressions assigned to score lists
Defining an expression for playback
Changing the default positioning for an expression category
Adjusting the vertical positioning of expressions on a baseline
Creating a repeat with first and second endings
Adjusting the brackets on a repeat ending
Changing the default bracket height for repeats (and set the number font)
Moving, hiding, or deleting a text repeat
Changing a backward repeat’s playback definition
Hiding the ending brackets and text repeats for a specified staff
Changing the character assignment for a flag
Adjusting the placement of Horizontal and Angled Straight Flags
Where are the fonts installed?
Globally changing a musical element’s font
Changing every occurrence of one font to another
Changing every occurrence of a font to a different size or style
Changing the music font of noteheads on a staff by staff basis
Eliminating dimmed font names from a document’s font lists
Transporting files across platforms
Engraver Font: The Alternate Notehead Sets
Creating or showing fretboard diagrams globally
Showing and hiding fretboards for a region
Showing and hiding fretboards on individual chords (Manual Input)
Removing all fretboard diagrams
Moving the fretboard diagrams up or down
Moving fretboards indivudually
Creating a chord chart with lyrics
Garritan Instruments for Finale
Configuring instrument playback
Choosing the appropriate Garritan sound (Player vs. Solo instruments)
Adding keyswitches as expressions
Moving, reshaping, or deleting a Smart Shape glissando
Defining glissando placement settings
Changing which glissando is assigned to the palette icon
Creating a grace note (Speedy Entry)
Creating a grace note (Simple Entry)
Changing the size of grace notes
Adding or remove the slashes from grace notes globally
Adding or remove the slashes from individual grace notes
Adding a slash to beamed grace notes
Eliminating grace notes from a transcription
Creating a graphic only “slashed” grace note
Moving or deleting the G.P. marking
Forcing a break in a multimeasure rest
Exporting a region of music as a graphic
Exporting full pages of music as graphics (Page View)
Placing graphics into the score
Placing graphics into the Shape Designer
Assigning a graphic to one or more pages
Assigning a graphic to a measure
Scaling a placed graphic proportionally
Positioning placed graphics on-screen
Positioning page-assigned graphics (Graphics Menu)
Positioning page-assigned graphics (Graphic Attributes dialog box)
Positioning measure-assigned graphics (Graphic Attributes dialog box)
Positioning page-assigned graphics on left- and right-facing pages (Graphic Attributes dialog box)
Locating a linked graphic on your computer
Positioning group names (globally)
Repositioning group names (individually)
Setting the initial font for group names
Hiding a group name (full score)
Changing the attributes of a group
Configuring a multiple-staff part to collapse
Adding hammer-ons, pull-offs and other guitar-specific markings
Combining notes with rhythmic notation slashes on one staff
Creating pitched slashes (note-by-note method)
Removing the head of a single note
Removing all noteheads in a region
Hiding staves for editing (Scroll View)
Hiding staves for ossia measures or special playback
Hiding staves with music from specific systems
"Force hiding" staves (with music)
Hiding the time signature in a measure
Hiding automatic courtesy time signatures
Instrument Techniques and Effects
Opening files from earlier versions of Finale or other MakeMusic products
Adding or inserting a new Instrument
Adding mid-score instrument changes
Removing mid-score instrument changes
Configuring instrument playback
Editing key velocity with the MIDI Tool
Recording key velocity information
Landscape and Portrait orientation
Typing lyrics directly into the score
Preparing lyrics in a separate window
Placing lyrics into the score (click assignment)
Editing lyrics already in the score
Setting the font for lyrics globally
Preventing changing the type size for lyrics attached to cue notes
Setting the baseline (vertical position) for lyrics numerically
Setting the baseline (vertical position) for lyrics graphically
Changing alignment and justification of syllables for individual notes
Setting alignment and justification of syllables globally
Drawing “word extension” underlines
Adding “word extensions” on specific syllables only
Adjusting the position of “word extension” underlines
Aligning syllables at the beginning of measures
Major seconds (in different voices and layers)
Changing default page margins numerically
Moving, reshaping, or deleting a Shape Expression mask
Masking a portion of the score using the Graphics Tool
Moving, reshaping or deleting a Graphics Tool mask
Moving a measure to the previous (or next) system
Forcing selected measures into one system
Removing measure groups through the end of the piece
Removing measure groups for individual systems
Removing measure numbers from a single staff
Moving a single measure number
Adding a measure number to an existing region
Reshaping or removing a measure number’s enclosure
Adding blank measures at the end of the document
Inserting blank measures within a document
Deleting a measure from a single staff
Adjusting measure widths in a system
Changing the widths of many measures
Specifying minimum or maximum measure widths
Splitting a measure across a system break
Specifying a number of measures per line (within a region)
Removing measure groups from the current page to the end
Removing measure groups from a selected region
Creating invisible syllables when typing lyrics
Shifting lyrics to the right or left
Moving or deleting the marking
Defining the metronome marking for playback
Creating complex metronome markings
Using MicNotator with Speedy Entry
Using MicNotator with Simple Entry
Using MicNotator with HyperScribe
Copying or erasing captured (or edited) MIDI data
Sending an All Notes Off message
Correcting erratic MIDI playback
Changing a MIDI channel in mid-staff
Moving or deleting the channel-change expression
Assigning a staff to more than one MIDI channel
Removing and copying MIDI data
More uses for key velocities and note duration commands
Transmitting MIDI Sync data while playing back a Finale document
Receiving MIDI Sync data while playing back a Finale document
Using the MIDI Sync signal to provide the “tap” in HyperScribe
Transmitting Song Pointer data during playback
Creating a mirror (intelligent copy)
Identifying mirrored measures in the score
Converting mirrored measures into “normal” measures
Rebeaming or edit an existing mirror
Setting up the appearance of multimeasure rests
Displaying symbols for multimeasure rests
Editing the appearance of a multimeasure rest
Displaying a measure number range for a multimeasure rest
Creating multiple passes for a repeat ending
Entering multiple voices using layers
Moving music from one layer to another
Entering multiple voices using V1/V2
Entering additional voices by superimposing staves
Turning off Automatic Music Spacing
Loading a Music Spacing library into an open document
Reapplying music spacing over a region
Editing an existing Music Spacing library
Restoring a region to proportional spacing
Creating a new Music Spacing library from scratch
Saving your edited or newly created Music Spacing library
Specifying minimum or maximum measure widths
Creating nonstandard key signatures
Creating a quarter-tone scale or key signature
Changing the shape of a notehead
Copying individual notehead changes to other measures
Changing all notehead shapes of a specified duration and pitch
Reducing or enlarging the notes (but retain staff size)
Reducing or enlarging selected notes (or noteheads)
Restoring a region of modified notes to their original size
Creating a floating (ossia) measure
Moving, editing, or deleting a floating measure
Changing the distance between systems
Specifying a number of systems per page
Changing the default page layout (Page Format for Score dialog box)
Applying a different page layout to selected pages
Special mouse clicks and keyboard shortcuts
Hiding an item in the score (and leave it showing in parts)
Showing an item in the score (and hide it in all Parts)
Showing an item in one part only (and hide it in other parts and the score)
Repositioning an item in the score without moving it in parts
Repositioning an item in all parts while viewing a part
Repositioning expressions in linked parts
Show/hide setting for expressions in linked parts
Measure-attached text in linked parts
Page-attached text in linked parts
Single-page-attached text blocks
Multiple-page-attached text blocks
Page-attached graphics and in linked parts
Multiple page-attached graphics
Measure-attached graphics in linked parts
Note and notehead-attached Smart Shapes
Show/hide setting for text repeats and ending brackets
Staff attributes in linked parts
Chords, fretboards, and lyrics in linked parts
Measure numbers in linked parts
Page-attached ossia measures in linked parts
Measure attributes in linked parts
Applying page layout settings to multiple parts
Multimeasure rests in linked parts
Baseline positioning in linked parts
Adjusting baselines in the score
Time signatures in linked parts
Relinking part items to the score
Staff properties (ScoreManager) in linked parts
Establishing the initial program settings for each staff
Setting up a patch change on playback
“Chasing” patch changes before playback
Setting up patch changes using the MIDI Tool
Creating pedal down and pedal up markings (Smart Shape method)
Drawing a pedal on/off diagram (Smart Shape method)
Creating playback pedaling using the MIDI Tool
Loading a percussion layout library
Saving a percussion layout library
Creating a percussion staff with a customized percussion layout
Adjusting stem connections on noteheads
Creating slashes-with-cues drum notation
Importing a MIDI file with a standard percussion track
Assigning Note Types for regions of percussion notation
Identifying MIDI Note numbers for percussion notation
Changing Percussion MIDI Maps mid-score
Configuring Percussion Playback
Creating Output Maps for playback to an external MIDI device
Creating a pitch bend (as an expression)
Using real-time mixer controls
Sending an All Notes Off message
Correcting erratic MIDI playback
Specifying playback parameters
Making the music scroll during playback
Configuring instrument playback
Placing a Rall. marking into a score
Moving or deleting a Rall. marking
Defining a Rall. marking for playback
Returning to the original tempo after a rallentando (a tempo)
Recording into one or two staves
Using multitrack recording (HyperScribe)
Using a metronome click with VST
Correcting audio recording latency
Reducing or enlarging a staff or system
Reducing or enlarging all the music on a page (or the entire piece)
Preventing certain items from shrinking
Defining and adding custom rehearsal marks
Moving or deleting a rehearsal mark
Restarting rehearsal mark numbering
Repeats (barlines and text indications)
Placing a basic repeat in your score
Breaking a repeat barline that connects staves
Placing a text repeat in your score
Moving a rest vertically or horizontally
Changing a single note to a rest
Temporarily displaying reverse-stemmed notes with normal stems
Creating the rolled chord marking
Adjusting, moving, or deleting the rolled chord marking
Defining a rolled chord marking for playback
Choosing the best scanner for SmartScore
Scanning and importing sheet music
Using your scanner's software to scan sheet music for Finale import
Third-party scanning software (ScanVue)
Selecting a region of measures
Selecting a large region without scrolling
Using your computer keyboard to enter music (Simple Entry)
Moving, reshaping, or deleting Smart Shape slurs
Changing a note-attached slur’s direction
Defining Slur Contour (height and shape) settings for note-attached slurs
Defining Slur Placement settings for note-attached slurs
Defining Slur System Break settings
Creating a solo assessment file without accompaniment
Creating a solo assessment file with accompaniment
Creating a new SmartMusic ensemble file
Creating a new SmartMusic solo with accompaniment
Creating a solo assessment file from a Finale exercise
Preparing a file for SmartMusic
Assigning instruments for SmartMusic accompaniments
SmartMusic Compatibility Guidelines
SmartMusic Performance Markers
Adding SmartMusic performance markers
Adding SmartMusic performance markers as expressions
Adding pause markers for a SmartMusic Accompaniment
Defining and add pause markers manually with the Expression Tool
Adding pause markers for ritardandos or rallentandos
Pausing for accompaniment rests or held notes
Adding pause markers for fermatas
Adding pause markers for cadenzas
Snapping items to a grid or guide
Specifying a fixed split point
Defining a staccato mark for playback
Creating staccato playback with the MIDI Tool
Staff Tool: Staff handles in page view
Specifying the number of lines for a staff
Setting the staff line thickness
Repositioning staff names (globally)
Repositioning staff names (individually)
Setting the initial font for staff names
Hiding a staff name (full score)
Clearing staff styles from a measure region
Deleting a staff style definition
Creating a staff style metatool
Applying a staff style metatool
Displaying a staff differently in one part than another
Editing the start and stop times of selected notes
Erasing Start and Stop Time editing done with the MIDI Tool
Copying Start and Stop Time editing done with the MIDI Tool
Adding or insert a single staff
Spacing existing staves evenly
Hiding (or showing) staff-related items
Setting the attributes for a staff
Creating stemless notes globally
Creating stemless notes, note-by-note
Flipping a stem (Speedy Entry)
Flipping a stem (Simple Entry)
Flipping all stems in a region in one direction
Changing “frozen” stems back to variable-direction stems
Changing stem lengths, note by note
Changing stem lengths globally
Changing the position of the stem relative to its notehead
Changing the thickness of stems
Drawing completely new shapes for stems
Creating a double or split stem
Copying custom stemming to other measures
Removing custom stemming from a region
Notating swing performances (HyperScribe)
Defining swing playback manually with expressions
Creating swing playback globally or in a region
Forcing a system onto the next page
Defining tab slide placement settings
Changing which tab slide is assigned to the palette icon
Entering directly into a tablature staff (Simple Entry)
Entering tablature with Speedy Entry
Creating a tablature staff manually
Adding stems and beams to tablature
Changing the lowest fret of a region
Time signatures on tablature staves
Setting the initial playback tempo
Placing a tempo marking in the score
Defining a tempo marking for playback
Creating text in a frame that automatically expands as you type
Creating text within a fixed-size frame
Resizing a text block on-screen
Assigning a text block to one or more pages
Assigning a text block to a measure
Positioning text blocks on-screen
Positioning page-assigned text blocks (Text Menu)
Positioning page-assigned text blocks (Frame Attributes dialog box)
Positioning measure-assigned text blocks (Frame Attributes dialog box)
Positioning page-assigned text blocks on left- and right-facing pages (Frame Attributes dialog box)
Specifying a default font for text blocks
Adding or removing a tie (Simple Entry Tool)
Adding or removing a tie (Speedy Entry Tool)
Adding a tie backwards (Speedy Entry Tool)
Changing the direction of a tie (Simple Entry or Speedy Entry Tool)
Changing the direction of a tie (Special Tools Tool)
Adjusting the direction of ties on chords globally
Adjusting the direction of ties on opposing seconds globally
Adjusting the direction of ties with mixed stems globally
Adjusting the direction of ties in a region
Changing an individual tie’s shape and placement by dragging it on the score
Adjusting placement of ties globally
Adjusting the placement of an individual tie
Adjusting the shape of ties globally
Adjusting the shape of an individual tie
Using outer placement setting for outer ties on chords and single tied notes globally
Changing the outer placement setting for an individual tie
Avoiding staff lines with ties over a region
Breaking ties across time and key signature changes globally
Breaking ties in a region at time or key signature changes
Breaking an individual tie at a time or key signature change
Adjusting ties for augmentation dots
Shifting ties for intervals of a second
Avoiding accidentals for single ties
Removing manual positioning over a region
Setting a minimum space between tied notes
Tiling pages with the Print dialog box
Tiling pages (with Compile Postscript Listing)
Creating extra room at the top of the page
Specifying a default font for titles
Defining a staff transposition
Transposing a staff chromatically
Displaying a score in concert pitch (or in transposed form)
Adding mid-score instrument changes
Creating a measured or unmeasured tremolo marking
Creating a trill or trill extension line (wavy line)
Creating a small accidental on a trill marking
Defining a trill marking for playback
Turning “normal” notes into a tuplet group
Adjusting, moving, or deleting a tuplet
Entering tuplets with the Simple Entry Tool
Entering tuplets with the Speedy Entry Tool
Transcribing tuplets from a real-time performance
Predefining the appearance of tuplets
Undoing the last change or a series of changes to your document
Undoing a series of changes up to a specified point
Re-applying changes to your document using redo
Redoing a series of changes up to a specified point
Allowing undo actions previous to saving a file
Turning off the default whole rests for a staff
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