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Percussion entry with MIDI

Entering percussion with an external MIDI device.

As you’ve already seen when adjusting the Percussion Layout, a percussion staff can include several different instruments on one line or space. Since one percussion staff can also be used to write for dozens of instruments, Finale uses Percussion MIDI Maps (Percussion Maps) to assign Note Types to each instrument. Using these maps, Finale is able to match the correct playback sound for each instrument, as well as interpret information from a MIDI keyboard to place the correct percussion instrument on the staff.

In this lesson you will learn how to:

  1. Enter notes with your MIDI keyboard
  2. Add notes to a Percussion Layout

Entering percussion notes with a MIDI keyboard

When entering percussion music with a MIDI keyboard, Finale treats each note on the keyboard as a different instrument. With that in mind, it’s easy to quickly create an orchestral percussion part. For this example, we’ll create a new document.

To create a new document with a percussion staff:

  1. Choose File > New > Document With Setup Wizard.
  2. Ensure that Create New Ensemble and Engraved Style are selected and click Next.
  3. Select Percussion.
  4. Double-click on Percussion to add the staff.
  5. Click Next.
  6. Skip title, signatures, etc. and click Finish.

To enter percussion with a MIDI keyboard:

Note. See Configuring your MIDI system for information of hooking up your MIDI keyboard with Finale.

  1. Click the Simple Entry tool . The Simple Entry caret appears at the beginning of the first measure.
  2. Type 4 to change the Simple Entry caret to an Eighth note.
  3. Play middle C on your MIDI keyboard (that's C4 or MIDI note 60).
  4. Type 5 to change the Simple Entry caret to a quarter note.
  5. Play middle C again.
  6. Enter the rest of the passage as shown.

  1. With some percussion writing, it is conventional to enter different instruments on separate layers. Let's add the second part on layer 2:
  2. Choose View > Select Layer > Layer 2.
  3. Enter the Bass Drum as shown by playing C2 (MIDI note 36) on your keyboard.

Adding accents and rolls

You can add accents, staccato marks, subdivisions, rolls, and other figures using the Articulation tool. Let's add a few accents and a buzz roll.

To add accents and roll indications:

  1. Choose the Articulation tool . We should still be in Layer 2.
  2. Hold down the A key and click every note in layer 2 (the red notes). A is the Metatool keystroke assignment for the accent mark. You could also double-click to choose from a list of articulations, or to view each articulation's Metatool assignment (listed in the upper left corner of each slot).
  3. Choose View > Select Layer > Layer 1.
  4. Click-in the remaining accents shown here.

  1. To add a buzz roll, click the half note in measure 4. The Articulation Selection dialog box appears. Notice the various percussion figures.
  2. Scroll down and double-click the figure (slot 40). Finale adds the marking to the stem.

Adding notes to a Percussion Layout

Percussion Layouts and Maps are designed to work together as fluidly as possible. However, there may be times when the Layout adjustment is needed to make everything fall into place.

To add a note to a Percussion Layout:

  1. Choose the Simple Entry tool .
  2. Use UP and DOWN ARROW to move the Simple Entry caret to measure 6.
  3. Play B5 (MIDI Note 83) on your keyboard.
  4. The note appears above the staff and with an orange notehead.

Orange noteheads indicate that the note you’ve entered is not included in the Percussion Layout that is in use on this staff. However, you probably heard a gong sound when you played it, showing you that this sound is included in the Map this staff is using. It will play back correctly, but in order to look better on the staff, you’ll need to add it to the Layout.

  1. Choose the Selection tool .
  2. Highlight measure 6.
  3. Choose Utilities > Transpose Percussion Notes.
  4. Click on the number 83 in the window.
  5. From the Change Selected Note to menu, select Cymbals > Gongs > Small Gong.
  6. Click OK. Notice that the notehead is no longer orange, but it has retained its position on the staff.

Note. Use View > Show > Percussion Note Values to display the MIDI pitch of percussion notes in your score.

  1. Select the Staff tool .
  2. Double-click on the Percussion staff.
  3. Next to Notation Style (Percussion), click Select.
  4. Click Edit.
  5. Scroll to the bottom of the list to find Small Gong and click on it.
  6. Click the handle on the right to drag the note down to the third staff line.
  7. Click OK, Select, and OK to return to the score. The gong note has moved to the middle staff line accordingly.

Note. See Percussion for more information on managing and entering percussion notation.

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