Hello Everyone. Hope all is well.
While I was working on this project I was inundated with chords on all my parts when all I was doing was adding chords to my piano part. Because I am not familiar with the methods or defaults that Dorico uses, I had to go to every part and “hide” the chords, which took too much time from me. I am uploading a picture.
All the chords you can see in green now, I had to hide. This project has 89 measures for each part. I wish I could suggest something but I am still learning this software. Sometimes I have to reboot because the commands do not work. Sometimes I can get stems on the slashes and sometimes I can not.
So my question is, how can I keep Dorico from putting chords on every stave?
Also, how can I get Dorico to default to only one voice instead of two voices when I create rhythmic slashes? I end up having to delete unwanted rests which takes up more of my time.
I am not complaining, I just want to know how to understand this program and correct issues when I encounter them.
I also ran into this issue. But there is help in the Dorico User Manual: Distinguish between global and local chords when you enter chords for an instrument. I think you have to press ALT to switch between local and global chord entries, but please have a look in the manual, there are good examples how to do it. Global chords appear in every instrument for which the chord display has been switched on (configured in the setup, so there can be many instruments). Local chords only appear in the respective instrument. Additionally you can also use chord regions to enter chords for an instrument in a certain area. Also this is explained very well in the user manual.
You don’t have to hide the chords individually. Dorico functions slightly differently:
Go to the Setup mode, click the arrow symbol on the left side to the player name on the left side of the screen to reveal the instruments held by the player. From the three dot menu then select the different options whether to show the chord symbols or not.
Despite the command name, ”Hide for all instruments” hides them for the selected player only. Repeat with other players/instruments if needed.
Thank you iredtacheles. I downloaded the Dorico Quick Reference Card but not sure if I have ever seen the manual. Is this an online in the clouds manual? I will definitely go there. I have seen what you are talking about in the properties but don’t understand it that well.
Thank you hannuala. I don’t necessarily want to not be able to add chords to an instrument. I would think if I came across a command like “Hide for all instruments” I would not be able to add chords at a certain time. I believe there is so much info for the program when all I need is simple. But I will go to the setup mode to understand. Thanks again.
@Quickenfoe
Just to precise:
Actually the settings for Chord Symbols are for the Player, so you don’t need to expand the player to change them. Just right click on the blue area of the Player to visualise the menu, where you find Chord Symbols. And the “all instruments” refers to all the instruments possibly held by that player.
If you want to use the setting Show for Rhythm section Instruments, be aware that you can decide if an instrument is a Rhythm Section Instrument (or not), editing the instrument definition. To edit this from Setup mode, you need to click on the three little dots near the desired instrument > Edit Instrument definition, and checkmark (or uncheck) the appropriate checkbox (and possibly click on the star icon to save this setting as default for future projects):
This was actually a great help! Thanks Christian_R. I never noticed the star. So in other words, when I start a new project, choose individual instruments? I love the idea for future use. I would like chords for piano and guitar, but when I do instruments I only want to put the chords down when I need to. I have another project coming up. I believe I understand what to do now. Thanks again.
Piano and Guitar instrument definitions have, per default, the Rhythmic Section checkmark activated. So you can leave the Chord Symbol setting to Show for Rhythm section Instruments for those players. For other instruments that are not Rhythmic Section instruments, you can use Chord symbol region/s, to let the global chords appear only in some places on their staves, or activate for them the Rhythmic Section checkmark, if you want the global Chord Symbols appear for the whole duration of the piece.
Alternatively, depending on the needs, you can use Local Chord Symbols (but this is another functionality). For example if for one Instrument you need different chord symbols instead of global ones.
I was just referring to individual instruments over the rhythm section instruments to avoid global chords. I see I need to learn much more about Global and Local. If I am in the score, and choose local only, I believe that will help me but I never can tell. It might work, it might not. Right now I am on my way to try out what Lillie_Harris sent to me for the slash voices. As always, thanks for all the input and effort. I’m sure I will catch on sooner than later because I can’t afford all the time wasted not knowing.
Chords are always entered as global objects unless there is a specific reason you only want local chords. The advantage is that you can choose to display them (or not) for specific players in either the score or the parts, or both. Then they only need to be entered once, but can be displayed as desired.
If you don’t want to see the green signposts in parts that are not displaying chords, turn them off under VIEW|SIGNPOSTS|CHORD SYMBOLS.
Also, there is an option in Layout Options for showing the chords above specific players, or above the top staff of the system. Very handy if you have a piano introduction with the vocal staff hidden, but still want the chords to be displayed.
That was truly the method and thanks again. I was totally surprised when all the green hidden chords went away. Also, thanks to Lillie_Harris again because I now have my repeats working on my DS. Today has been great!
I will keep what you said in mind.