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Topic: Noteworthy 2 "optional notes" (Read 6487 times) previous topic - next topic

Noteworthy 2 "optional notes"

Long time user, first time poster.

I am writing a piece for brass quartet. In this piece there are some notes that I would prefer to have played in the upper octave, but I want to indicate an optional note an octave below. These "optional notes" are typically indicated by putting the note head in parentheses. Here is what I did:

!NoteWorthyComposerClip(2.0,Single)
|Text|Text:"(   )"|Font:StaffLyric|Pos:1|Justify:Center|Placement:AtNextNote
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:1,8
|Text|Text:"(   )"|Font:StaffLyric|Pos:0|Justify:Center|Placement:AtNextNote
|Chord|Dur:4th|Pos:0,7
|Text|Text:"(   )"|Font:StaffLyric|Pos:-1|Justify:Center|Placement:AtNextNote
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-1,6
|Text|Text:"(   )"|Font:StaffLyric|Pos:-2|Justify:Center|Placement:AtNextNote
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-2,5|Opts:Stem=Down,Beam=First
|Text|Text:"(   )"|Font:StaffLyric|Pos:-3|Justify:Center|Placement:AtNextNote
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-3^,4^|Opts:Stem=Down,Beam=End
|Bar
|Text|Text:"(     )"|Font:StaffLyric|Pos:-3|Justify:Center|Placement:AtNextNote
|Chord|Dur:Half,Dotted|Pos:-3,4|Opts:Crescendo
!NoteWorthyComposerClip-End


Although this works, I'm wondering if there is a better (less clumsy) way to do it. Any suggestions?

Jim McIntyre

Re: Noteworthy 2 "optional notes"

Reply #1 –
Your method looks good. It is easier than most.
Registered user since 1996

Re: Noteworthy 2 "optional notes"

Reply #2 –
Another method often seen in music script is smaller notes as the alternative.

Since you are already using text items for the brackets, what you might consider instead is this :

Assigning the NWC standard font (NWC2STDA) as a user font at a suitable size (say 16)
You could then extend the length of the note tails, put a small text version of the note (for example k for a solid head) on the tail an octave below, making sure that it is at the next note/bar etc.

Assign NWC2STDA as user font 1 size 16 and then paste in the following to see what I mean

!NoteWorthyComposerClip(2.0,Single)
|Text|Text:"k"|Font:User1|Pos:4|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:8|Opts:StemLength=14
|Text|Text:"jz"|Font:User1|Pos:2|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:Half,Dotted|Pos:6|Opts:StemLength=14
!NoteWorthyComposerClip-End

But as Rick says, what you have already done is good and easy.

You would only consider this text/note method if you want to use small notes rather than brackets since it is difficult to replicate small notes in this instance with grace notes.

Rich.

Re: Noteworthy 2 "optional notes"

Reply #3 –
Rich,

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried it and I like it. While neither alternative is perfect (this doesn't do the second tie), it is another useful tool for my kit.

For completeness, here's the same set of notes, notated using the small note / long note stem technique you suggested:

!NoteWorthyComposerClip(2.0,Single)
|Text|Text:"k"|Font:User1|Pos:3|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:8|Opts:Stem=Down,StemLength=14
|Text|Text:"k"|Font:User1|Pos:2|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:7|Opts:StemLength=13
|Text|Text:"k"|Font:User1|Pos:1|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:6|Opts:StemLength=14
|Text|Text:"k"|Font:User1|Pos:0|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:5|Opts:Stem=Down,StemLength=14,Beam=First
|Text|Text:"k"|Font:User1|Pos:-1|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:4^|Opts:Stem=Down,StemLength=14,Beam=End
|Bar
|Text|Text:"jz"|Font:User1|Pos:-1|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:Half,Dotted|Pos:4|Opts:Crescendo,StemLength=14
!NoteWorthyComposerClip-End

My base font for this piece is 16 pt NWC2STDA and the user1 font is set to 12 point NWC2STDA, which gives a noticably smaller but still readable notehead.

Jim

Re: Noteworthy 2 "optional notes"

Reply #4 –
This will get your tie back:
Code: [Select · Download]
!NoteWorthyComposerClip(2.0,Single)
|Text|Text:"k"|Font:User1|Pos:3|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:8|Opts:Stem=Down,StemLength=14
|Text|Text:"k"|Font:User1|Pos:2|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:7|Opts:StemLength=13
|Text|Text:"k"|Font:User1|Pos:1|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:6|Opts:StemLength=14
|Text|Text:"k"|Font:User1|Pos:0|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:5|Opts:Stem=Down,StemLength=14,Beam=First
|Note|Dur:Whole,Grace|Pos:-3X^|Opts:NoLegerLines,Muted|Visibility:Never
|Text|Text:"k"|Font:User1|Pos:-1|Placement:AtNextNote
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-3z^,4^|Opts:Stem=Down,Beam=End
|Bar
|Text|Text:"j"|Font:User1|Pos:-1|Placement:AtNextNote
|Chord|Dur:Half,Dotted|Pos:-3z,4|Opts:Crescendo
!NoteWorthyComposerClip-End
Vertical alignment of the small noteheads is still less than ideal. Accidentals are an additional headache with this method..
Registered user since 1996

Re: Noteworthy 2 "optional notes"

Reply #5 –
What about this old hack, no text required?
Code: [Select · Download]
!NoteWorthyComposerClip(2.0,Single)
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:8|Dur2:8th,Grace|Pos2:1
|Chord|Dur:4th|Pos:7|Dur2:4th,Grace|Pos2:0
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:6|Dur2:8th,Grace|Pos2:-1
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:5|Dur2:8th,Grace|Pos2:-2
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:4^|Dur2:8th,Grace|Pos2:-3^
|Bar
|Chord|Dur:Half,Dotted|Pos:4|Dur2:Half,Dotted,Grace|Pos2:-3|Opts:Crescendo
!NoteWorthyComposerClip-End
Made in Notepad!
 

Re: Noteworthy 2 "optional notes"

Reply #6 –
Nice! 
I plays 'Bones, crumpets, coronets, floosgals, youfonymums 'n tubies.

Re: Noteworthy 2 "optional notes"

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Lawrie Pardy –
Nice! 
Adds an interesting chiff to a flute voice, but (visually) not so nice if you need stems up.

This is another one of those things that gets altered if copied to NotePad.
Registered user since 1996

Re: Noteworthy 2 "optional notes"

Reply #8 –
G'day Rick,

Quote from: Rick G. –
<snip> but (visually) not so nice if you need stems up.

Ahh, yes, I see what you mean...
I plays 'Bones, crumpets, coronets, floosgals, youfonymums 'n tubies.