Graphic and MIDI symbols |
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Palettes, tools and symbols [Light] [Beginner] [Professional] [Notation] [Composition Light] [Composition Pro] [Drums and Percussion] [Guitar] [Choir] [Keyboard] [Soloist] In this lesson, we will learn how to add symbols in the score.
These symbols have a graphic aspect used to specify how the score
must be played, such as for example nuances, tempo
markings, accents
Moreover, most of these symbols directly
influence your synthesizer or sound card, in order to produce the
correct sound effect. As you certainly noticed, the Tools menu contains
many tools palettes. The first two contain tools to handle
staves, measures, rests and notes, as well as tools intended to
create or modify the characteristics of the score. By selecting an item in this menu, the corresponding palette
opens. You may then select a tool or a symbol in order to use it
in the score. The tool palettes starting from the third contain graphic and
MIDI symbols. These symbols are formed by a picture or a text
area that can be associated to a note, a rest or a measure. This
is done in the score view. It is an indication for the performer
on how he must play the score. Most of these symbols directly operate on your synthesizer, as
a performer would execute it. These influences are done via the
MIDI connection. This is why they are called Graphic and MIDI
symbols. Graphic and MIDI symbols are gathered by families in the
various palettes starting from the third. The way to add, move,
modify or erase them is common to all of them. Their
characteristics are different. We will see some examples. The
explained principles are valid for the other symbols. Adding a symbol in the score [Light] [Beginner] [Professional] [Notation] [Composition Light] [Composition Pro] [Drums and Percussion] [Guitar] [Choir] [Keyboard] [Soloist] Listen to the score with the space bar. When coming to the G
note, your synthesizer starts playing more loudly, as required by
the double forte symbol. As you did not click on a note to add it, this symbol is
associated with the measure and not to a note as for the previous
symbol. Both symbols are surrounded by a red rectangle which indicates
the external outline of the symbol. It will help us to move the
symbol. A small green line connects the FF
symbol to the G note. It shows that this symbol is associated
with this note, because to add it, you clicked on the note. The
crescendo symbol does not have this line, which shows that it is
associated with the measure. Remember this difference because it
will be very important so that the sound effects occur correctly. These red and green reference marks will not appear at
printing. On the screen, they are present only when the reference
marks tool is activated. Notice that as opposed to most other
tools, the reference marks tool can be activated independently of
other tools. If you click again this tool, the score is redrawn
without the reference marks. The shortcut of this tool is the
":" sign (two dots superimposed). By typing it on the
keyboard, you activate the reference marks. By typing it again,
you disable it. In most cases, it is better to associate a symbol with a note
or a rest than with a measure, at least regarding the sound
effects produced with the synthesizer. Here are the differences
between the two cases: With Pizzicato version 3.6.1, you can also automatically apply
articulation symbols (accent, staccato,...) on a selection of
measures and/or individual selected notes. To use this, you must
first select the measures or notes and then select the Apply
symbols... item from the Edit menu (or from the
contextual right-click menu on the selection) and the following
dialog box appears: Click on one or more of the symbols and validate the dialog
box. The symbols are then automatically applied to the notes of
the selection. By default, Pizzicato will continue to check the positionning
of articulation symbols, for instance when you justify the
measures, change the page layout,... If you want to disable this,
you can uncheck the Automatic adjustement of articulations
box in the Options, Additional options... dialog box. Erasing a symbol [Light] [Beginner] [Professional] [Notation] [Composition Light] [Composition Pro] [Drums and Percussion] [Guitar] [Choir] [Keyboard] [Soloist] To erase a symbol, one of the symbol tools
or the arrow tool must be
selected. Place the mouse arrow inside the crescendo symbol
on the score: Use the erase key of the keyboard. The
symbol disappears.
Moving or resizing a symbol [Light] [Beginner] [Professional] [Notation] [Composition Light] [Composition Pro] [Drums and Percussion] [Guitar] [Choir] [Keyboard] [Soloist] One of the symbol tools or the arrow tool must be active. By releasing it, the symbol is fixed. When the reference marks are visible, some symbols, as this
one, have a small red square in the right lower corner of the
rectangle. This square is intended to resize the symbol. We will
widen this symbol so that it occupies all the width of the
measure. By releasing it, the symbol keeps its size. This principle is
also valid to modify the height of the symbol. You just need to
drag downwards to increase it and upwards to decrease it. Some symbols may also be shifted in oblique. It is the case of
the crescendo and decrescendo symbols. To modify the orientation
of the symbol, click while holding down the Control key and drag
slightly downwards. The symbol is inclined by following your
movement: You can also go up so that the orientation is aligned with the
notes: Select the tool Slurs form a special case. When the reference marks are
visible, three small squares are located at the two ends and the
center of the slur. When you drag the left end, the slur moves.
When you move the right end corner, it follows your movements and
changes the slur shape: Drag it down to the low C. By dragging the central square, the
two ends remain fixed and you can modify the curve aspect: By default, since version 3.6, when you click on the first
note, the program asks you to click on the end note of the slur
and the adjustment is made automatically, even if the end of the
slur is on another system. Select the tool This symbol can be moved vertically but is horizontally fixed. Examples Listen to examples 55, 56 and 57. They use various symbols.
Listen to the sound result while observing the graphic symbols.
These sequences are intended for a synthesizer or a sound card
with GM (general midi) standard.
tool. Click on
the head of the G note in the second measure. The symbol
is placed below the note:
tool
and place your cursor as follows:
tool. It is the
reference marks tool. The score is redrawn and becomes:
tool and
click on the C note in the first measure. You get:
and click on the second
measure first B note:
and
click on the third measure first C note: