After entering all notes in a 4/4 song, I realized it needed a 1/8th pickup at the beginning. So I inserted a bar before bar 1, then clicked the time signature and made it “4/4, 0.5”, which made that first bar the proper 1/8th pickup. But after doing that, bar 1 (the first full bar) has only 3 and 1/2 beats. I cannot figure out what I’ve done wrong. Any help?
A time signature only redistributes the existing musical time, up until the next time signature (be aware a manual barline is also a ‘time signature’ - eg a double barline). It does not ‘add time’.
This may result in incomplete bars (which are treated as pickups) as you discovered. It will only ‘add time’ to make complete bars (again, only until the next time signature) if you add the time signature with Insert Mode (I) on.
When you say you ‘needed an 1/8th pickup’ - we need to know if you expected this to be an additional 1/8 of musical time, or did you want to move all the existing music? (the answers are different!)
Here’s what I was attempting. The first full bar was in place. I just wanted to add those 2 16ths pickups. I inserted a measure, then changed the time signature to “4/4,0.5” which gave me the correct bar 0, but then left bar 1 with just 3 and 1/2 beats. After deleting everything and trying again, I was able to achieve what you see here. Just not sure why it was taking that time from the bar. I’d like to know so I don’t repeat the mistake.
Because of the 5/4 time signature. Dorico could only distribute 4 beats until stymied by the 5/4. So it can only give you 0.5 followed by 3.5.
Personally, in this situation, I would engage Insert mode (I), then add the 4/4,0.5 pickup. This will add the extra 1/8th (though at the end of the bar, not the start). So disengage Insert, move the notes (alt-right) and add your pickup notes.
There are other solutions.
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Another quick solution in this kind of case: activate Insert Mode with “Global adjustment of current bar”, and enter your two sixteenths on the first beat.
(Don’t forget to switch off Insert Mode afterwards! )
I think I picked up this method from this post by @Christian_R:
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That approach makes the most sense to me! Thank you!
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