The following steps show you how to construct and use a tablature staff. Keep in mind, however, that you can easily begin a new TAB document by selecting a fretted instrument and corresponding TAB staff with the Document Setup Wizard. See To create tablature notation for details. For instructions on how to edit your guitar tablature, see To edit guitar tablature.  

To create a tablature staff manually

1. Choose Window > Score Manager.
2. Click Add Instrument and choose Blank Staff > Blank Staff.
3. Choose Notation Style > Tablature.
4. Click the Settings button (to the right of Notation Style). You should now see the Tablature Staff Attributes dialog box. Here you can choose or define a fretted instrument, lowest fret, as well as other parameters specific to TAB staves. See Tablature Staff Attributes dialog box for details.
5. Check On “OK”, Reset Staff Attributes To Tablature Defaults. This will tell Finale to configure the Staff Attributes for TAB staff settings.
6. Click OK. Notice items such as rests and ties are deactivated in the Items to Display subsection as they are not needed in TAB notation. You should now see the tablature staff appear in the score.

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