Finale automatically allows you to enter chord symbols on every beat, regardless of whether a note or rest appears on that beat. If beats are subdivided by notes or rests, Finale also provides a cursor for chord symbol entry on each note or rest. If you would like to add a chord symbol between beats, and there is no note or rest subdividing the beat, you can enter invisible notes or rests in an unused layer in order to provide an attachment point for the chord. This method is preferable to manually repositioning chord symbols (so that they are offset from the main beat) if you are using chord playback (Chord > Enable Chord Playback), and want to specify the precise rhythmic subdivision of chord playback.

To enter a chord symbol between beats

1. Enter “dummy” rests in Layer 4, one for each chord symbol you want to add.
2. Attach chord symbols to the “dummy” rests using Type Into Score. See Typing-in chord symbols.
3. Click the Staff tool and select the “dummy” measures.
4. Choose Staff > Apply Staff Styles. The Apply Staff Styles dialog box appears.
5. Select Blank Notation - Layer 4, and click OK (or press ENTER). The “dummy” rests vanish, and your chord symbols remain in place. Using the Speedy Entry Tool, however, you can still view your hidden Layer 4 rests (for spacing purposes, for example). For more information about creating Staff Styles, see Staff styles.

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