Entering directly into
a tab staff
In addition to copying from a standard
notation staff, you can also enter tab directly into a tab staff. This
comes in handy if you are working with a tab staff only or already know
the tablature and not the standard notation. Again, we’ll continue to
use the same file we’ve been working on to describe how to do this, first
by entering tablature with your mouse, and then with your computer keyboard.
- Click
the Selection Tool and highlight the first two measures of the tab staff.
Measures 1 and 2 of the tab staff should be highlighted.
- Press
the () key to remove the existing tab notation
from these first measures. You should now see standard notation
above an empty tab staff for the first two measures.
- Click
the Simple Entry Tool . We are now ready to begin entering
into the tab staff manually. For now, we’ll enter tab for the existing
notes in the standard notation staff. In the future, you could use this
procedure to enter into a score containing a tab staff only.
- Click
the Eighth Note Tool in the Simple
Entry Palette. You will need to choose the rhythmic value of the
entry first so Finale knows its duration, and how to properly space each
fret number.
Use the up and down arrows to move a selected
fret number up or down a string. The number will adjust to reflect the
same pitch on the new string.
- Click
the tab staff on the third (G) string directly below the first note in
the piece. A “0” (zero) appears. When you click directly into a
tab staff, you will always see a “0” first.
- Press
numeric keypad 2 (or while holding down -, or on Mac, -, press 2).
The “0” changes to “2”.
- Click
the tab staff on the third string directly below the second note in the
piece. A “0” appears on the G string.
If you do not have a numeric keypad, you
can press to add a 0 on the caret pitch, then hold down
-
(Mac -)
and type the number.
- Press
numeric keypad 3. The second fret number changes to 3. You can
use this method, first clicking the rhythmic duration, clicking the string
and then typing the fret number to create all of your tab notation, but
you can also quickly enter tablature without the use of the mouse with
the Simple Entry Caret.
- Press
the right arrow key. The caret is now active on
the second beat of the first measure.
- On
your QWERTY keyboard, type 2. Notice the Caret moves to the second
(B) string. Use numbers 1 through 6 on your QWERTY keyboard to specify
the string for the fret number you are about to enter. 1 is the top string,
6 is the bottom.
- Press
numeric keypad 3. Finale places a “3” on the B string and the caret
moves to the right. (Notebook users, see the tip at right.)
- Press
numeric keypad 1. Finale places a “1” on the same string. Now,
let’s say we want to add another note below the “1” on the second beat.
- Hold
down (Mac: ) and type 4 on the QWERTY keyboard.
Finale adds a “0” on the fourth string below the fret number you just
entered.
- Hold
down (Mac: ) and type numeric keypad 3 (or,
- (Mac: -)
3). The “0” changes to a “3”. You can use the last two steps at
any time, first entering the string and then the fret number to create
chords. You can also use the up and down arrows to specify the string
for an additional fret number and then hold down (Mac: ) and press ) to add a note on the same
string displayed on the caret. Then hold down (Mac: ) and type the desired number on the numeric keypad.
- Press
to remove the extra fret number. Now, let’s finish
the measure.
To see a list of Simple Entry keyboard
shortcuts from the Simple menu, choose TAB Specific Commands.
- On
the QWERTY keyboard, type 3 to specify the G string, then, on the numeric
keypad, type 3 and then 2. You have completed tab for the first
measure. The Caret should appear at the beginning of measure 2. Note that
you can always press the left arrow key to select the
fret number you just entered, type a new number on the numeric keypad
to replace the old, and then press the right arrow key to
continue entering.
Refer back to Tutorial 1a for information
on entering standard notation with the Simple Entry Caret.
- Type
numeric keypad 3 to enter the first fret number in measure 2. Now,
we’ll enter a rest.
- Press
. Finale adds a rest ‘on the and’ of beat 1. Since
rests are generally not displayed on tab staves, the rest is hidden. It
will display as a shaded rest in the score, and will not appear in the
printout. Now, let’s enter the half note on the second beat.
- Hold
down , and (Mac: , and ) and then, on the QWERTY
keyboard, type 6. Notice the note on the Caret changes to a half
note. The next fret number is on the same string, so we can just type
in the fret number.
- Press
Enter. Finale places a 0 on the string. You could have instead
hit the 0 key on the numeric keypad. Measures 1 and 2 are now complete.
Instead of typing the string and fret number,
you can also use a MIDI device to enter tablature with the Simple Entry
Caret. First, from the Simple menu, ensure Use MIDI Device for Input is
checked. Then, with the Caret active, choose the rhythmic duration (, and (Mac: ,
and ) and the number
on the QWERTY keyboard) and then play the note. Finale will place the
fret number on the appropriate string.
There are many additional keystrokes you can
use while entering tablature using the Simple Entry Caret. For a complete
list, from the Simple menu, choose TAB Specific Commands.
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