I want to create four tremolos in a dotted quarter note in 4/4 time. How can I do this?
Hi @soundware,
- start note input
- activate the Tuplet (with the right shortcut, depending on your keyboard language) and write 3:2e
- press 66 (6 twice) to chose a dotted quarter note value
- press G (or play directly the G octave on your MIDI keyboard)
- with the G still selected activate the Repeat Structure popover with Shift+R, and write 1
- add-on: in the Properties panel you can deactivate the triplet number (after selecting it)
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This still has the 3 for the triplet over/underneath the dotted crotchet so then shift+command (control) +E for Engraving options > tuplets > display of Tuplets Ratio > none.
Cool video, @Christian_R!! 
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Thank you. I followed the video, and it worked.
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You are welcome.
It’s probably best to set just the properties for these tuplets, rather than globally turning off the ratio,
Ah yes, good point!
Thanks
OT: @Christian_R is the king (but not the Erlkönig!) of cool videos.
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An old thread but very helpful. In The Imperial March by John Williams a similar abbreviation is used however there a quarter note with three dots above is used instead of a dotted quarter for the same abbreviation of eights 3:2 tuplets. I assume it is not possible to reproduce the notation as in the photo and have correct playback?
I did try the notation using the dotted quarter note described above but actually the playback is only two dotted eights I think.
I understand the 3 dots as abbreviated staccato markings applicable to the entire triplet, not having anything to do with rhythm.
Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind?
Es ist die Triole mit ihrem Kind.
Who rides there through night, dark and drear?
The triplet it is, with its infant so dear.
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IMO, if these are abbreviated triplets they should have been dotted. Each represents 3 triplet-16ths.
It’s not a ‘tremolo’, it’s an abbreviation.
According to the rules dots represent only staccato, the 3 already indicates the triplet. It’s a similar confusion as triplets with slurs instead of brackets which can be mistaken with legato.
Obviously, the three dots above are purely indicating repeated staccato. I’m talking about the rhythmical dot that should follow the notehead. To my eyes, anything after the ‘sim.’ marking starts to be unclear: there’s just one stroke, it could as well be just plain 16ths from there. I know adding the triplet-3 is supposed to handle it, but I still think the actual note value should also reflect the triplet-ness. It was the normal notation in the 19th century. I wonder who changed the rule.
Sorry, I misunderstood.
The same who changed lyrics syllable beaming: History / evolution of notation standards. 
Thanks all for the quick input. This is the Star Wars Imperial March. The whole piece is full of these ⅛ tuplets in flutes, brass and string sections. So it is definitely not a simple staccato marking although with the metronome of ¼ = 112 BPM it will become a staccato or spiccato… The VSL expression map using note length == very short points to spiccato but staccato might be better.
As PjotB mentions the abbreviation 1/4 should have had a dot to make the 4/4 bar fit 8 of these 3:2 ⅛ note tuplets but with only one repeat mark Dorico halfs the note value and it plays 2 times a doted note instead of 3 times ⅛ notes . It should,have 1 ½ repeat marks but that does not exist 
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I decided to write out all tuplets and refrain from using this “custom” somewhat questionable abbreviation.
I agree. I don’t think the rule has changed. The image in post #9 looks like it was produced in SCORE. Maybe it was difficult to show the dots with that software? Or maybe they were just copying Williams’s MS and he didn’t write them? Who knows.
In experimenting with this notation (with the triplets), I notice that I must add the slashes after beaming the eighths together, otherwise the beaming won’t work! If it helps anyone …
Hi Mark, I am using the official Hal Leonard JW Signature Edition "Star Wars Suite for Orchestra ". Above I posted a photo of bar 21-22 of the flute part where the abbreviations started. They are used in the same manner for e.g. the strings a well. This official score might of course well have been made with SCORE. JW always writes a short intro but a proper legend on the non standard notations used would be welcome.