In a sheet music for the Bb clarinet in C major, I insert, for example a C4 note.
When I play this back, I get a clarinet D (orchestra C). I would expect to get an orchestra Bb.
If I change from “Concert pitch” to “Transposed pitch” in the lower left tab, the key changes to D major (and the note moves up to D), which was not what I wanted. (The pitch is unchanged.)
I think that if I choose a Bb clarinet, the pitch should be Bb when I play a clarinet-C.
I didn’t have this problem in Finale. What do I miss?
I totally understand. I just think having even just the first measure of your project could help us look at your project’s setup and other aspects to diagnose, since there’s no reason why this shouldn’t be straightforward. I’m thinking something “funny” is going on.
Hi Niels,
just a dumb question: Did you enter the note shown in your example with “Concert pitch” selected in the status bar? In this case you get a sounding C and a written D in transposed view. If you enter the C with “Transposed pitch” active, it will sound a tone lower.
Why not reverse the order of operations here? Because it sounds like you are possibly inputting while in Concert pitch, and when you go to transposed pitch, the key changes/transposes upward.
So instead, enter the note with Transposed Pitch enabled. Therefore if you write a C, and switch to Concert Pitch, it will now move downward as a sounding Bb.
Also, you should experiment with this setting under Write > Input Pitch > toggle between Written and Sounding pitch.
With the right input configuration combination above, you should be able to get what you’re after.
If I enter the notes in “Transposed pitch”, you are right: Switch to “Concert pitch” lowers the pitch. But the notes also changes.
It must be possible to have a note sheet in Write mode that a Bb clarinetist has to play to (i.e. an orchestra Bb is written as a C). And when I press “Play” it sounds like a Bb clarinet would sound. I don’t understand why this is so complicated to achieve.
However, I’m not a professional. I would be very grateful if someone would bend it in light tubes and describe exactly how I do it.
Perhaps I should add that I only deal with a Bb clarinet and sheet music for a Bb clarinet.
Isn’t that exactly what transpostion does, change the note? I’m confused what you are expecting there.
It isn’t complicated, I do it all day every day… though I am confused exactly what you are looking to do, when you say ‘note sheet’? Some sort of transposition guide or overlay?
Also, what method are you using to input? Computer keys, or a midi keyboard? Are you hoping to use sounding pitch as your input, or the written pitch? In other words, in order to hear a clarinet play a Bb, are you inputting Bb, or a C?
A typical situation would be: I have a Student Clarinet Course book with only clarinet pieces in it.
Let’s say I type in in Dorico one of these Bb clarinet pieces (that could be to hear it played correctly or change the graphical setup).
As I type in, I want to hear the correct clarinet notes. For example: When I put a note on the first ledge line under the staff (C4), I hear a Bb.
When I’m done, I’d like to hear a Bb clarinet replay the piece (i.e. C4 should still sound as Bb.)
I have no desire (in this situation) to involve other instruments.
It seems like the layout where you are entering the notes is not a “transposing layout”. IIRC Even if you only have a Clarinet, your project will have a Score layout and a Clarinet layout, the default is that the Score layout is not a transposing layout but the part (clarinet) layout it is a transposing layout.
Make sure you are entering the notes in the part layout, or change the score to be a transpose layout, and you should get the result you are looking for.
If that also does not work then it would be better if you can share a project that shows the problem.
Have you looked at the setting recommended above, under Write > Input Pitch > Written pitch ?
While in Tranposition Pitch view, this would allow you to enter a C on the middle C ledger line, as a clarinetist expects to see, but hear back a sounding pitch of Bb.
However, if the above setting is set to Input Pitch > Sounding pitch, when you enter a ‘C’ in the same view, it will actually show as a D for a Clarinet, and sound like a C (of course). So then, in order to get a correct sounding Bb, you could either enter a Bb of course, which will then show as a C when in this view.
Or you can do Sounding Pitch + Concert Pitch View and you will basically treat it like a piano, where you what you see (for a concert C instrument) is what you hear of course. Then when you switch to Transposing view, it will move the note upwards so it is appropriate for a clarinetist (in Bb).
I prefer this approach myself primarily because I don’t play any transposing instruments, but with the Input and View settings, you can surely find an option that suits you best. Hope that helps!
Now I found the solution !
Inspired by your answers, I recalled a passage from the First Step Dorico tutorial. It says:
“Deleting the spare layout
As this piece only involves one player [piano, Niels], you can delete the part layout created by default and just keep the full score. In projects that contain one player, you might find that having only one
layout makes it easier to keep track of your work.”
I have complied with this, which is not a good idea when it is a transposed instrument.
Now I see that I can choose between score and single player. When I select single player I no longer have the problem.
@judddanby: I should have sent you a complete project, like you said.
