Musescore for banjo

[Jody Stecher]

Does anyone know how put the  "flag" on G to indicate the open  5th string when using Musescore 4?

[Trapdoor2]

I enter the fifth string note in another voice, then modify it to not sound...and hide all the rests that creates. It takes some trial-and-error, but once done, it gets easier.

If this sounds inscrutable, I can go into more detail...

[Jody Stecher]

Thanks, Marc. I understand the idea but not the method. How do I add another voice in the same staff? And why do I want to modify it to not sound?  But my biggest question is how to put a flag on the note.

Trapdoor2 said:

I enter the fifth string note in another voice, then modify it to not sound...and hide all the rests that creates. It takes some trial-and-error, but once done, it gets easier.

If this sounds inscrutable, I can go into more detail...

[Trapdoor2]

Heck, I'm sitting here...I'll just type out my procedure.

Fastest way I've found:

Select the first note in the measure where the 5th string note appears.

Type "n" to get you into note-by-name entry mode. A highlight will appear under the note.

Select voice 2 (assuming you've only used voice 1. If you've already used 1 and 2, there are more voices available).

Select the note value (16th note).

Tap the zero key to input rests until you're lined up with the desired note. (you can match the value of each note to have fewer rests but they're going to be hidden so it is faster for me to just string a bunch of 16th rests).

Place a new note (mouse the arrow to the original G, click to add the new G in voice 2).

Type "n" again to turn off note input mode.

Mouse over and click on the new note. Type "x" to flip the flag as needed. Click on the old note, flip it as needed. Note: dotted notes must match dots. IOW, if you have a dotted 8th note, the 16th you're using for its flag needs to be dotted too...otherwise they will not join up into a single entity.

To hide anything on the page (like the string of rests leading to the new G), simply click on them and type "v".

To cause the new note to not sound (though it makes no difference), click on it and go to "properties", where you can unclick "play".

[Jody Stecher]

I'm trying this but not getting far. Sure enough typing "n" creates a blue field below the note. But from where and how do I select voice two? If I move the cursor while n is active the note will be dragged higher or lower on the staff depending on which way I go.

Meanwhile I think you are saying that the flag comes from the fact that 16h notes are flagged. But what if I want a quarter note on the 5th string?

[Jody Stecher]

The online handbook (operating instructions) for Musescore says the same as you. Apparently I'm supposed to see voice 1 and voice 2... somehow/somewhere.... but it is not appearing.  I wonder if it's because I selected "Banjo" as the instrument.

Jody Stecher said:

I'm trying this but not getting far. Sure enough typing "n" creates a blue field below the note. But from where and how do I select voice two? If I move the cursor while n is active the note will be dragged higher or lower on the staff depending on which way I go.

Meanwhile I think you are saying that the flag comes from the fact that 16h notes are flagged. But what if I want a quarter note on the 5th string?

[Jody Stecher]

OK, I've located the second voice option in the upper menu. Maybe I can get this to work after all.

Jody Stecher said:

The online handbook (operating instructions) for Musescore says the same as you. Apparently I'm supposed to see voice 1 and voice 2... somehow/somewhere.... but it is not appearing.  I wonder if it's because I selected "Banjo" as the instrument.

Jody Stecher said:

I'm trying this but not getting far. Sure enough typing "n" creates a blue field below the note. But from where and how do I select voice two? If I move the cursor while n is active the note will be dragged higher or lower on the staff depending on which way I go.

Meanwhile I think you are saying that the flag comes from the fact that 16h notes are flagged. But what if I want a quarter note on the 5th string?

[Trapdoor2]

I'm back online, so I can help you "reasonably live"...

When you select voice 2, the highlight will turn green.

The standard for the 5th string is a "double flag" (16th note). If you have any other value for that note, you will create two notes in the same spot, one is the actual value and the other will always be a 16th note...usually with the flag "up"...and the other note is flag "down". Opposite happens occasionally. Having two notes occupy the same spot is why we use two voices.

[Trapdoor2]

Here's an example with a dotted 8th and a 5th string double flag (16th). As I said above, dotted notes have to both have dots. If you are using the system to hear the music, the two notes coincide, and you only hear the greater value. If this was reversed (a 16th note, 5th string flag on a 32nd note), you'd want to mute the 16th note via the properties tab.

[Trapdoor2]

Here's the quarter note with a 5th string flag...

[Jody Stecher]

Thank you for trying. At this point I'm hung up getting rid of the rests. When I select a rest and click v it moves the rest from voice 2 to voice 1.  I'll keep trying but I'm stumped right now.

[Trapdoor2]

Me too. Are you using a Mac? I'm Windows based. According to the handbook, it shouldn't make any difference though.

There have been multiple updates lately and some have been buggy. Check that you have the latest update.

[Jody Stecher]

I'm using a Mac. And I updated today. I'll keep trying.

Trapdoor2 said:

Me too. Are you using a Mac? I'm Windows based. According to the handbook, it shouldn't make any difference though.

There have been multiple updates lately and some have been buggy. Check that you have the latest update.