Dear Student:
Welcome to the Learning Center and thank you for attending Finale Basics. During this class
we will show you the basics of Finale by instructing you on how to create a computer generated
lead sheet.
Using a hands-on approach, the class will guide you through the process of creating a lead
sheet using Finale (basic melody, chords and lyrics). We will start by creating a blank score using the
Setup Wizard, and then we will train you on how to use the different note input modes that Finale
offers.
Once we finish adding notes to the score we will proceed to adding performance markings
as well as dynamics and any other type of marking, that affect performance. After all the music is
input we will reformat the page and print it out.
The Learning Center also offers training sessions on most of the software that comes installed
in the Berklee Laptop Program. Please do not hesitate to stop by for software support or just to try our
music workstations.
Visit us at learningcenter.berklee.edu
(617) 747-2669 (150 Massachusetts Avenue Building)
Learning Center Staff
Table of Contents
Copying or Composing? 3
Creating a score 3
-Score Wizard 3
-Concert Pitch or Transposed Score 4
-Creating and Printing a blank score to write by hand 4-5
Measure Numbers 5
Note Input 6
-Simple Entry 6
-Speedy Entry 7
Performance Markings 8
-Articulations 8
-Dynamics 9
-Phrase Markings (Slurs), Crescendos / Descrendos, Trills 9
Chords 10
Lyrics 11
Formatting Systems (Utilities) 11
Playback & Printing 12
Learning Center (training sessions, labs, support) 13
Oxygen 8 (Audio/MIDI settings) 14
Finale Workshops 15
Music Example 16
updated fall 2007
- 3 - Composing or Copying?
For this class we will be using Finale to copy the lead sheet on page 16 into sheet
music. We will start by adding notes and then formatting them so other musicians can
read them.
Creating a Score
Like in real life, once you are ready to set on paper your musical ideas, you will
have to set up the manuscript paper to include all instruments present as well as creating
measure lines, and at times even measure numbers.
Even if you do not wish to use Finale as a composition tool, you can create and print a
score with your desired instrumentation, measure numbers, key signatures; and in the
notes by hand.
Open Finale and select from the Launch Window:
“Setup Wizard…”
When you open Finale, it takes you to the
launch window. From here you can
create new documents using the Setup
wizard or any of the program templates,
you can also create FPA (Finale
Performance Assessment) or SmartMusic
files, as well as open pre-created files.
Setup Wizard
The Setup Wizard is an easy way
to create a score by selecting
your instrumentation, key, meter,
and other music features.
Finale will take care of
transpositions automatically after
you select your instruments
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Creating a Score (cont) -4-
Concert Pitch or Transposed Score
b
If you select instruments that are transposed (E.g. Clarinet in B or Horn in F), those
instruments will have a key signature depending on the transposition.
Go to the Options menu and select “Display in Concert Pitch”, in doing so your score will
display all instruments at Concert Pitch, although they will remain transposed once parts
are extracted.
Creating and Printing a blank score to write by hand
Finale by default places measure rests in all empty measures, so in case you would like to
print out a blank score, all those rests will be in the middle of each empty measure.
Select the Staff Tool 3. This process needs to be done
from the Main Tool 2. Using the Staff attributes we can instrument by instrument, Staff
Palette window, select not to display rests in empty Attributes only apply to the
measures. selected instrument.
1. Double click
within one of the
measures.
- 5 - Creating a Score (cont)
Printing a blank score
Once your blank score is set up the way you like , simply print. Go to the File menu and
select print.
IF YOU ARE USING YOUR LAPTOP YOU WILL HAVE
TO PRINT USING A PAY-FOR-PRINT STATION OR
EITHER THE COMPUTER LAB (Connecting your laptop)
OR THE LEARNING CENTER (Using one of our
workstations).
Measure Numbers
Finale will by default assign measure numbers to be displayed at the first measure of
every system with the exception of the first measure. If you would like to change the
settings of your measure numbers, first select the Measure Tool, and from the Measure
Menu select Measure Numbers (Edit Regions).
Measure Tool
1.
IMPORTANT 2. Set Font: Pick
REGIONS ARE SECTIONS OF any size or style
YOUR SCORE THAT CAN
CONTAIN MEASURE
NUMBERS. IF YOU SELECTED
A PICKUP BAR YOUR 3. Measure Numbers
REGION WILL START AT on every Measure:
MEASURE #2. Add the number 1 after
“Show Every”
Drag the number
to the desired
position and then 4.Position: change the
align it. relative positioning of
the measure number
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Note Input -6-
Simple Entry
Simple Entry is Finale’s easiest way to bring notes into your score. Select the Simple Entry
Tool from the tool bar, click on a desired rhythmic value from the Simple Entry Palette
and then click on your score to add notes.
Get the Simple Entry palettes by either clicking on the simple entry tool, or by going to the
Window Menu and selecting both Simple Entry Palette and Simple Entry Rest Palette.
Simple Entry Quick Guide
Changing Simple entry Numbers on the keyboard
keyboard Shortcuts Intervals above or below notes.
3 = third above
Every Shortcut can be Shift + 5 = fifth below
customized as well as to set
them specifically for Laptop Ties= T
layout . Flat = -
Sharp = +
Arrows (← ↑→ ↓)
Navigate around the notes
- 7 - Speedy Entry
Speedy entry is probably one of the most efficient note entry modes
in Finale. Learn how to use it well and you will copy music like the
pros.
Using Speedy Entry
Connect your Oxygen
Keyboard prior to starting
Finale
Then check if you MIDI Setup is
correct. Go to the MIDI menu
and Select MIDI Setup.
THE NAME SHOULD NOT BE IN
ITALICS.
1. Once you select the Speedy Entry
tool, click on the desired bar where
you would like to insert notes.
2. Press and
hold the note on
your MIDI
Keyboard. While
holding the note
press a number
on the keypad
section of the
computer
keyboard.
3. You can reverse the Speedy entry
process by pressing Caps Lock. This
way you will select the rhythmic value
first and then you will play the note
(pitch) after. The number is displayed
at the bottom left.
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Performance Markings - 8 -
Articulations
Peformance Markings can be added anywhere on your score. Articulations will allow you
to add staccato, marcatto, accents, fermatas, etc.
All these 8th notes need to be
staccato. So, using the articulation
tool we will add a staccato
marking above each note.
1. Double click above a note head in order to
add an articulation. REMEMBER TO SELECT THE
ARTICULATION TOOL BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT THIS,
2. After double
clicking, the
Articulation Selection Press on Create in the top left of the
window will show. It
window, and then press Main from the
defaults to Staccatos, Articulation Designer window
so we do not need
the select a different
one.
In case we need a
different articulation
that is not present,
we will need to
create it
Finale comes with
255 different
articulations and
other symbols that
are already created
for you. Select one
and then click Select.
By clicking Select you
can select an
IMPORTANT
articulation from the
THESE ARTICULATIONS
Articulation Selection
BELONG TO THE window.
MAESTRO FONT. JAZZ
FONT MIGHT BE
DIFFEERENT.
Adding more than one articulation at a time:
Adding one by one is very time consuming. Click
and drag to select multiple note-heads, and even
across staff, to add same articulations to different
instruments. E.g. the Horn sections doing the same
type of attack.
- 9 - Dynamics
Dynamics can be added to any instrument to increase or decrease loudness. Dynamics
are added using the Expression tool.
To add the desired dynamic:
1. First select the Expression tool
2. Double click under the note or
staff to add the dynamic
3. Select the dynamic from the
Expression Selection Window
and press Select.
CAUTION
4. The Measure Expression Assignment
WHEN USING THE Window will determine if that dynamic
EXPRESSION OR will only be part of one staff, all staves,
SMART SHAPE or a group of staves(Staff List). E.g. Staff
TOOL BE Lists are very efficient when a group of
CAREFUL THAT
instruments require the same dynamics,
YOU ASSIGN
THEM TO THE
like Horn sections.
STAFF YOU WISH.
USE THE ARROWS
BEFORE YOU
DOUBLE CLICK.
Phrase Markings (Slurs), crecendos/decrendos, Trills
The Smart Shape Tool will allow you to create phrase markings, crescendos,
decrecendos, trills, octave shifts, and others.
Using the Smart Shape Tool is
a little tricky, the tendency is
to double click which
unfortunately will only add a
phrase marking to the next
note.
Double click and hold down
the click, then drag to the
right to extend the marking,
in the case of phrase
marking, bring the pointer to
the desired note head.
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Chords - 10 -
Chords can be added only to written notes, so in case you are wondering: Finale will not
allow you to add chords to staves that do not have notes in them.
There are three ways to add chords into your score:
Manual Input: will open the chord definition window and
show handles to change the exact position of the chord
related to the staff.
Type Into Score: once you double click on top of the
note, a cursor will blink so you can type in the chord.
MIDI Input: after double clicking an ear will show on top
of the note, using a MIDI controller you can play the
chord and Finale will spell it for you.
USE SHIFT + 3 FOR SHARP
AND JUST b FOR FLAT
E.g. F#Maj7
Eb7
There are cases that Finale will not recognize some types
of chords, chords that contain plenty of tensions or
strange spellings.
When that happens you might have to either create the
chord yourself or check from the Finale Suffix Library to
check if the chord already exists.
From the Manual Input mode, click on the top right
Show Advanced then at the bottom click on Select
under the Suffix section.
In the Chord Suffix Selection window find the
appropriate chord and click Select.
- 11 - Lyrics
The Lyric Tool can add text lyrics under pre existing notes. Just by selecting the Lyric tool
you can click under a note and start to typing word by word.
Type word by word and for every new
word press the spacebar.
In case you need to separate a word by
syllable press the dash every time.
Be sure that you have
selected Type Into
Score before you start
to type in the lyrics.
Formatting Systems (Utilities)
The Mass Edit Tool is pretty much the utility tool in Finale, with the Mass Edit tool you can
copy and paste sections or entire instruments, transpose, change the spacing of
measures as well as decide how many measures per system will be shown.
Fit Music (it can be found from the Mass Edit Menu), locks
the layout of a system in order to have a specific number
of measures. This can be applied on a system per system
basis or the whole document.
After applying it a lock icon will display at the end of every
system. That means that no matter how many notes or
events are happening inside the measure, the system will
hold the layout (measures per system)
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Playback and Printing - 12 -
Finale possesses decent playback capabilities, everything that is in your score can be
played back. Dynamics have definite values so they sound exactly the same every time.
Articulations affect playback by reducing the length of a note or by increasing the
loudness temporarily.
Open the Playback
Controls from the
Window Menu.
Click on the triangle on
the top left side of the
window for expanded
features.
Since Finale 2004 Human Playback Styles have
been introduced, these styles are a solution to
the stiff-soulless-way-of-playing from previous
versions of Finale.
Although it is not perfect, it will definitely improve
the performance itself.
Tempo can be changed as well as Swing settings.
Another new feature of
Finale is that now you
can Save As Audio File.
Either as and MP3 or
uncompressed format
(AIFF).
Printing
All you need to do to print is go to the File Menu and select Print.
Depending on the type of paper and orientation you might have
to make adjustments in the printer setting window.
If you are printing at the Learning Center, lab monitors are more
than glad to help you with all your printing needs.
The Learning Center has the following paper formats:
Letter (8.5 by 11 inches)
Legal (8.5 by 14 inches)
Tabloid (11 by 17 inches)
Oxygen 8 Keyboard (Audio/MIDI settings) - 13 -
25 Key Mobile USB MIDI Controller
TIP
Oxygen 8 can use Battery, AC or
USB to be powered.
Double click on your Macintosh
HD, then select Applications from
the left side of the window.
Scroll down to Utilities and click
on Audio MIDI Setup.
Using the Audio MIDI Settings will allow you to
connect any external MIDI devices to your
computer. Your Oxygen keyboard is not only a
MIDI controller but also a MIDI interface.
Back on Finale, go to the MIDI Menu and select
MIDI Setup.
Select from the Input Device, whatever the
controller you would like to use while on Finale
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Music Example - 14 -