Entering Percussion

Adding percussion notation.

One of the more powerful aspects of NotePad is the ability to create percussion notation.

In this lesson you will learn how to enter percussion with Simple Entry.

Note. To begin at this point, open "Tutorial 7.MUS." (The accompanying Finale NotePad tutorial music files are available here. )

Entering percussion notes with Simple Entry

Notes can be entered on a percussion staff with Simple Entry either by clicking them with the mouse or using the Simple Entry Caret. As you move your mouse over the percussion staff, you’ll notice that the cursor changes to display different noteheads for each note as well as display the name of the percussion instrument. Many percussion instruments will be notated on the same line or space. Let's write a simple beat.

To enter percussion with Simple Entry:

1. Click the Simple Entry tool . Then, click the Quarter Note tool in the Simple Entry palette .
2. Move your mouse cursor to the second line until you see a notehead with the text "Floor Tom 2" next to it, then click.

When the percussion instrument text appears next to the mouse cursor, click to enter the percussion note.

3. Press ENTER to activate the Simple Entry caret.
4. Use the UP ARROW to move the cursor to the line above the staff, until you see the text "Triangle Open."
5. Press ENTER. A Triangle quarter note appears, and the caret moves to the next beat.

Use the arrow keys and ENTER to type-in percussion notes.

6. Enter the following measure, as shown.
7. Press ENTER again to complete the first measure.

Note. To enter a secondary voice, use Layer 2. See Entering Multiple Voices.

8. Once you’ve completed this measure, use the Selection tool to copy the music to fill all the remaining measures. (Review Selecting and copying for details).

Previous

Next

User Manual Home