Guitar slide needs src and dest fingerings to show

[pmk21]

I’m new to Dorico and learning by engraving existing scores. The guitar side from C to Eb properly shows but only if the C roughly immediately before the Eb has a fingering applied (Flows #1 and #3). It should be obvious from the previous measure as it has already indicated the fingering (see Flow #2). I’d like to omit the fingering for C in the 2nd measure and still indicate the slide with 2 to Eb.

There isn’t an option to have the “Finger or Position” property be set, yet hidden. The engrave “slide type” property also seems to require the source be roughly prior for the property to be available. I can get the indicator with the final C fingered of the first measure, Flow #3.

obvious_slide.dorico (531.0 KB)

[Craig_F]

Select the Eb, open the Properties Panel and assign it to string 3.

[pmk21]

Perfect. It makes sense now that this would work, thanks!

[pmk21]

I’m copying a piece from the RCM L2 book and haven’t figured out how to replicate all the string slide indicators. The slide indicator for the highlighted g# isn’t working with the previous solution. (However, if I move the g# to beat 1, it does because I’m within the default behavior.)

The manual indicates that I’m outside the default: “…and between notes up to three noteheads apart by default.” I believe I should be able to force the slide indicator, but I don’t see the “slide type” in Fingerings and Positions while in Engrave mode described in the manual.

I’m showing the string numbers to confirm I’ve got at least that much correct. The slide for b is showing properly. Any suggestions for the g# I can try?

[Richard_Lanyon]

“Slide type” only appears if you have the slide itself selected in Engrave mode, not the note or fingering, so you can’t use it to force a slide to appear that wouldn’t otherwise. I’m afraid in this case there are too many intervening notes for Dorico to draw the slide in between the A and the G#.

[andyforrest]

I use workarounds in 2 ways …

1. Click the ‘slide in’ box on the note that needs the slide

then select a close earlier note - higher or lower to suite the slide direction - and then check these 2 notes use the same string.

2. add a solid line (note to note at the top of the panel) from the lines panel joining the 2 notes and adjust angle and length in Engrave mode.

[pmk21]

Hi Richard, Thank you for your reply. I was able to find the engrave vs. write behavior of the adjustment setting, but like you mentioned the slide must first exist. Andy’s 2nd work around, which is a fully manual approach, fills the gap. From my perspective as an amateur musician and inexperienced engraver, I don’t understand the purpose of the rule of a 3-note distance except to provide a software constraint of bounding the backward search automatically. This would be in line with Dorico’s “make the score look professional” by default.

I don’t know the proper channel to provide feedback, but in the Dorico manual there are two areas that discuss this slide topic in detail. One (Hiding/Showing fingering slides) provides a list of prerequisites and the 3-note distance isn’t even among them–I can see this as appropriate now since I’d be controlling an existing slide. The other is this one:

In Dorico Pro, you can only show fingering slides on staves belonging to fretted instruments, and between notes up to three noteheads apart by default.

The way I interpret that is the final phrasing “up to three noteheads apart by default.” By using “by default” it suggests that I can adjust the default. In fact, I cannot. Perhaps a more clear wording with simply strike “by default.” I spent quite a lot of time searching for how to adjust the default 3-note limit.

I like your software quite a bit and my teachers like the quality of the engravings, especially the staff line removals under LH fingerings, by default . But stronger wording in the manual is a strong suggestion for an improvement.

[pmk21]

Thank you very much Andy. I would never have figured this out. I filled out the steps of your 2nd technique and for my default Template, I adjusted one thing to get the line to match any other slide’s appearance which are slightly thicker.

Add a Manual Line:

1. WRITE MODE: Select the slide-to note and a previous note with Ctrl/Cmd-click
2. Open the LINES PANEL
3. Select ATTACH TO NOTEHEAD for both START and END
4. Click the SOLID LINE to add a connecting line
5. ENGRAVE MODE + GRAPHIC EDITING: Click the line previously created
6. Adjust the line length and angle using one of the handles

Line Width Adjustment:

But default, the manually added line will be have a LINE BODY of 1/8 and
be too thin compared to any existing slide lines. Adjust the line style,

1. Open LIBRARY->LINE BODIES
2. Select CATEGORY “Solid line body (thin)”
3. Click NEW FROM SELECTION
4. Rename the new category to “Solid line body (less think)”
5. Change its LINE WIDTH to “5/32”
6. OK the dialog to close
7. WRITE/ENGRAVE MODE: Select the manual slide line
8. Open LIBRARY->LINES
9. Choose BODY STYLE "Solid line body (less thick)

[andyforrest]

Thanks pmk21 - it’s good to have it clearly stated.

I had never got around to improving the line thickness but it’s a good idea to match the slide line width.

(and I rather like the “Solid line body (less think)”

@pmk21

“Solid line body (less think)”