Streamlined Workflow
For Finale’s 20th anniversary, we studied new and long-time users to learn how their workflow could be streamlined. We observed that their work with dynamics, tempo indications, rehearsal letters, and other markings – or expressions – represented a great opportunity for improvement.

Reinvented and streamlined
As a result, selection, entry, and placement of expressions is quick and intuitive. Once in your score, they are easily moved. You can instantly change the appearance of an entire category of expressions like all your dynamics or rehearsal markings. You’ll accomplish more – in less time – without sacrificing any of Finale’s awesome power and control. It’s also easy to move your markings around your score once they’re entered.

Dynamics and Tempo Markings
In Finale, expressions include dynamics, tempo markings, rehearsal marks, technique text like arco and pizzicato, and expressive text. Entering these markings is easier than ever in Finale 2009 and we’ve also improved how you move them around in your score.

Drag and drop expressions
Let’s say you’ve entered an expression in your score and need to move it elsewhere in the music. In the past you needed to delete it and start over if you were doing anything but minor adjustments. Now you simply drag text items anywhere. Clear visual feedback instantly shows you what each selected expression is attached to, which changes dynamically as you drag – even across pages. Drag expressions and rest assured they’ll always change playback – and appear in linked parts – just the way you want them to.

Plus, you can drag-apply multiple expressions for instant vertical duplication. And Finale continues to apply the same collision avoidance rules so you don’t have to think about it.

Lyrics
Finale offers unlimited lyric verses and the following time-saving enhancements.

Automatic Lyric Placement
Lyrics space themselves and the notes they’re attached to automatically.

Easy Lyric Font Changes
Lyric fonts can be easily changed after lyrics are entered.

Automatic Word Extensions
Word extensions flow into the score automatically and also wrap to the next staff system. If the music expands or contracts, the extensions stretch or shrink to fit.

Smart Hyphens
Finale offers automatic hyphen placement with precision results even in tight spacing. Plus Lyric hyphens automatically wrap to the next staff system.

Auto-Slur Melismas
Finale analyzes your lyrics, and automatically places slurs anytime a syllable lasts for more than one note. You can even specify dashed slurs in situations with multiple verses!

Repeats
Repeats are easy to add and edit and they automatically play back. Select the measures that will appear in the first ending. Select "Create first and second ending." You're done.

Finale automatically does the rest of the work for you:

• All numbers and brackets are entered and lined up.
• Repeat numbers are automatically followed by periods.
• Backward Repeat Bars or Repeat Endings can be defined to find their targets automatically.

You can also choose to:

• Add mid-measure repeats without affecting your measure numbering.
• Specify where text and brackets appear in your score and parts.
• Align Brackets and Reset Bracket Position.

Create Codas
Finale automatically creates space, text, and symbols as well as controls playback.

Tablature and Fretboards
Choose your instrument from the Setup Wizard and enter your music. There is little left to do.

Finale can handle notation for an amazing array of fretted instruments.
Enter notes directly into TAB staves using a mouse, computer keyboard, or MIDI device. Or copy from a companion Standard Notation Staff to a TAB staff and vice-versa. Specify the lowest fret to use as you paste.

Once the music is in the tab staff, it is incredibly easy and intuitive to edit. For example, to change a fret number from '2' to '3', just select the note and type '3'.

Up and Down arrow keys move a selected number to other strings. Numbers appear in orange when out of fret range.

Finale’s handling of stems in tablature is unequaled in ease and power. Various stem styles are easily applied. Use the "Tab Styles" library that comes with Finale or create your own.

• Bends and shapes automatically convert when you paste between Standard and TAB staves.
• Notating hammer-ons, pull-offs, bends, and releases is a breeze.
• User-defined defaults for guitar bends are standard.
• Custom Smart Shapes now contain an expanded list of guitar-specific lines.
• Bends can effortlessly do stair steps and double bends.