How to change a whole rest into a half note rest?

Dorico
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How do I change a whole rest into a half note rest? Or put eight 8th notes into a 4/4 measure?

I read this and it didn’t solve my issue because neither “Y” or “,” seem to be doing anything:

https://steinberg.help/dorico/v1/en/dorico/topics/write_mode/write_mode_rests_inputting_t.html

I know that pressing “delete” would turn a half note into a half rest, but then how would I turn that half rest into 2 quarter note rests?

I also read hack-y solutions like this where you input a note and then delete it:

https://forums.steinberg.net/t/splitting-a-whole-note-rest/139428

But is there a native keyboard shortcut for eighth note rest or quarter note rest?

Any help?

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Welcome to the forum waltribeiro.

The short answer is that generally you don’t worry about rests - put the notes where you want them and Dorico will figure out how to handle the rests automatically.

You can click notes in where you want them, using the rhythmic grid above the stave for precision, or you can use the caret (select the first rest and hit Enter or Shift-N, then use arrow keys to move it to where you want the notes, or just double-click on the stave where you want to put the caret).

This is all comprehensively explained in the manual: Inputting notes
Note that the 3.5.10 manual I’ve linked to is much more recent and much more substantial than the Dorico v1.2 manual you’ve linked to. I recommend bookmarking the 3.5.10 manual, as Google doesn’t reliably prioritise the most recent manual in its search results.

If you really need to force rests you can hit comma (,) to turn on rest input, then type O to turn on Force Duration, then the note value of the rest you want (which is the number keys 1-9, shortest to longest), then Y or any key from A to G (or on a midi keyboard) to input rests. Once you’ve turned on Force Duration and Rest Input they’ll remain switched on until you toggle them off (again, with “,” and O).

But let me repeat: 99% of the time you don’t need to input rests at all. It’s different to the way other notation software works and might take some getting used to, but in the long run it’s a real timesaver.

1 Like
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This helps, as sometimes I need to syncopate rest rhythms for percussion or rarely for string instruments. Thanks so much.

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It’s also common when there’s a fermata in a measure in some parts but others rest. You need to change the rests to indicate where the fermata is as a cue to the other players. I’m not sure I’d agree with 99% if you’re doing any large ensemble work.

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Welcome, @shweinhold! You make a good point about specific rest lengths being useful as a guide to other players. Not in every instance – it’s somewhat of a judgment call for the experienced composer/arranger – but there are certainly times when a lot of time-outs to explain about a fermata can be avoided if the rests point out its location with more precision.

Of course, once the requisite rests have been entered on one staff, they can be quickly copied (via option-click or its equivalent) to other staves that need it.

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Thanks - the force option has been helpful for me several times now as I transition from Finale after using it since the early 90s!! I’m forcing myself to learn Dorico, but the order of operations is providing some struggles for me.

As I poke around this forum I do find it very helpful.