Defining swing playback

Making your score play back with eighth notes in swing style is quick work with the Playback Controls, but what if you want more control over when and how to swing?

In a pure triplet swing feel, the second eighth note of every pair (the backbeat) is played as though it’s the last note of a triplet, as shown here.

In other words, it’s delayed (and the first eighth note is held longer). Delaying or rushing the playback of notes with respect to their written rhythms is precisely the function of the Swing command in the Expression tool.

If Jazz or Blues Human Playback is applied, swing settings are set automatically. Swing settings are grayed out if the Human Playback  style does not incorporate swing, as is the case with the Classical or Romantic styles.

You can use the Swing command to delay the attack of every eighth note backbeat. All you need to do is decide how much to delay them.

If you type 100 into the Set to Swing text box, you will hear true triplet swing in your playback. Needless to say, you can change this number, depending on the amount of swing you want; at a fast tempo, you’d probably want to decrease this number (so the notes sound more like even eighths). At a slow tempo, you might want to increase the number for an even more pronounced swing effect.

To define swing playback

1. Click the Expression tool , and double-click the beginning of measure 4. The Expression Selection dialog box appears.
2. Click the Tempo Marks category from the list on the left. Click on the swing shape - “two eighth notes equals a triplet quarter and eighth.”
3. Click Edit. The Expression Designer appears, waiting for you to make changes for your marking. Note, however, that you don’t have to have any text or shape at all—it’s perfectly legal to attach a playback definition to an invisible marking. (You’ll see its handle in the score.) The Shape radio button should already be selected.
4. Click the Playback tab. Finale displays the Playback options.
5. Choose Type> Swing.
6. In the Set To Value text box, type 100 or select Standard from the menu. This number indicates a percent of swing. If you wanted to, you could choose a heavier swing by increasing the number or a lighter swing by decreasing the number.
7. Click OK then Select to return to the score. To move the Swing marking, drag its handle anywhere you want. (You can delete any marking by clicking its handle and pressing Delete.)

To apply swing playback to the other staves you will have to create a new expression defined for swing playback and assign it to the other staves:

1. Double-click above a staff not displaying the swing expression, such as the second staff on the score.
2. Choose the Tempo Marks category.
3. Click once on the Swing expression and click Duplicate.
4. Click Move To and select the Miscellaneous category.
5. Click Edit and delete the contents of the Text box. This will prevent the text 'Swing' from appearing on every staff in the score.
6. Click OK and Assign this expression to each of your instruments.

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