change numbers guitar tabulature

Dorico
1

Hi Friends,

I have small hands and I’d like to change a tab number to use a different finger, for example change “3” to “5”. I’m entering notes on a keyboard which automatically adds the traditional fingering below in the tab staff. Is this possible?

Thank you,
Karen

1 Like
2

Yes, Karen, you can select the fret number on the tablature and type Alt+up/down to move the note to the string above or below.

3

(Alt-up/down changes the pitch, e.g. from G to A. If you select the number on tablature and press N/M, that keeps the pitch the same but assigns it to a different string - e.g. turning an open string G to a 5th fret stopped G on the string below.)

4

Thanks, Lillie, you are of course correct. N and M are the correct shortcuts to use. Thanks for setting me straight.

Here is the relevant page from the Operation Manual.

5

Wow thank you both for answering, and these tips will come in handy in the future, no doubt.

What I want to do though, is change a number to a different number. For example on the G string, I want to use a “3” instead of a “2” to play an A. Arthritis, etc!

I heart Dorico.

6

Tab staves show fret numbers automatically, not fingering, unless I’m missing something…

2 Likes
7

Omg I’m so dumb sometimes! Thanks pianoleo.

8

I am in Version 5.1.81.2225 and would like to change the fret number to reflect the “fingering.” Is this now possible?

9

I’m not an expert on tab by an means, but changing the string reflects in the tabulature:

Screenshot 2025-07-04 at 13.50.45
Screenshot 2025-07-04 at 13.50.45616×228 15.1 KB

10

Thanks for this suggestion. Can you tell me how you got to that spot in Dorico?

11

I selected the note in the tab that I wanted to change, then opened the properties pane at the bottom (cmd/ctr + 8). As as in the screenshot, there’s a Notes and Rests section with that property.

12

Thank you! I still can’t figure out how to make it work because I can change the number for a string, but not the fret number. Again, appreciate your help. :)!

13

When one changes the string for a note, Dorico automatically changes the fret number to produce the same pitch. The numbers on the lines in TAB have nothing to do with fingers used.

14

Hello Derrek, Thanks for responding.
I did not want to change the string number, just the fret. I want to use the second string on the first fret. I could hear it on the guitar fret diagram, but I could not find a way to get the note into the tab notation It does not seem possible to do that, correct?
Thanks for taking the time to respond. :slight_smile:

15

What you want to do is lower the pitch of the note by 1/2 tone…