Independent elements in Finale
In Finale, the Staff Attributes window allows you to modify the display and behavior of a specific staff. The Independent Elements option lets you set certain aspects of a staff as independent from the other staves in the document.
Usefulness of Independent Elements
Enabling an independent element allows for a specific parameter (such as key signature or tempo) to be different from the other staves, which is particularly useful in the following cases:
- Independent Clef: A staff can have a different clef than the others (e.g., a passage in bass clef for a vocal line written in treble clef elsewhere).
- Independent Key Signature: Allows for a different key signature, useful for percussion or transposing instruments.
- Independent Time Signature: Useful for creating polymeters, where one staff follows a different time signature than the others.
- Independent Measures: Allows for displaying measures of different lengths (used in graphic notation).
- Independent Key: A staff can be in a different key without affecting the others.
- Independent Tablature Style: For guitar notation in tablature.
How to Use These Options?
Open the Staff Attributes Window
- Select the Staff Tool.
- Double-click the relevant staff or go to Staff Menu > Staff Attributes.
Activate an Independent Element
- In the Independent Elements section, check the desired option (e.g., Clef, Key Signature, etc.).
- Once activated, this element can be modified without affecting the other staves.
Modify the Selected Element
- Example: If you checked Independent Key Signature, you can then change the key for this staff via Measure Tool Menu > Key Signature without affecting the others.
Practical Use Examples
- Percussion: Percussion instruments typically don’t have a key signature, so we enable Independent Key Signature to ensure they don’t have accidental key signatures.
- Hybrid Notation: If part of the music needs to be in 3/4 while another remains in 4/4, we enable Independent Time Signature.
- Ossia or Alternate Notation: For a small staff above another with a different clef, we enable Independent Clef.
See you soon, here or elsewhere !
Chrys
