Quick Reference Guide Finale for Windows ®
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE FOR WINDOWS Authorization Information Getting Started 5 A. To create a new document. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 B. To open files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 C. To share files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Finale Screen View 7 Navigating Your Music 8 A. To choose a view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Working with Staves and Instruments 24 Playback 32 A. To add instruments to the score. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 A. Playback Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 B. To delete instruments from the score . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 B. To change the playback tempo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 C. To move staves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
AUTHORIZATION INFORMATION The Finale End User License Agreement allows the registered user to install Finale® on a maximum of two operating systems for that user only (Site Licenses excluded). To use Finale after installing it on a computer, you’ll need to authorize each installation. To authorize, you’ll need to use your license’s unique serial number. If you upgraded from an earlier version of Finale, your serial number stays the same each time you upgrade.
GETTING STARTED A. To create a new document Finale’s Document Setup Wizard is the fastest way to begin a new score. The pages in this wizard allow you to quickly specify all the basic score elements. 1 Choose File > New > Document with Setup Wizard. 2 Choose the Ensemble and Document Style and click Next. 3 Select your instruments and click Next. 4 Choose and add the desired score elements. Click Finish.
B. To open files To open a Finale file, choose Open from the File menu. Finale can open all Finale Notation Files saved in Finale 2014 or earlier, as well as those saved in other Finale-family notation products. Finale Finale 2014 Finale 2012 or MusicXML Finale Finale 2012 C. To share files Finale’s native file format is the Finale Notation File (*.MUSX). These files are cross-platform, which means the same file can be opened on both Macintosh® and Windows® computers.
FINALE SCREEN VIEW When you open a new score, the following menus, palettes, and controls appear. These elements form a framework for all of Finale’s features and functions. Menu bar These menus contain every Finale command and operation. Playback controls Use these to start and stop playback and set a tempo. Main tool palette This contains all of Finale’s main tools. Document window Your document appears here.
NAVIGATING YOUR MUSIC Getting the best view of your score is crucial to working with Finale efficiently. A. To choose a view The two main views in Finale are Page View and Scroll View. From the View menu, choose Scroll View or Page View. Page View Scroll View displays your music exactly as it will appear on the printed page. Use this view for system and page layout. displays your music in a single continuous horizontal system, free from the constraints of the layout of the page.
B. To zoom in and zoom out You can find zoom commands under the View menu, but to save time, use keyboard shortcuts. ctrl Press to zoom in + + = ctrl Press + to zoom out _ - C. To drag the visible score region Use Finale’s Hand Grabber tool to move your view of the score, or with any tool selected, right-click and drag to move the score. D. To switch pages In Page View, use the arrow buttons in the lower left corner of your screen to navigate between pages.
ENTERING MUSIC: SIMPLE ENTRY Use the Simple menu (a) at the top your screen to change settings and refer to keyboard shortcuts. Use the Simple Entry palette (b) to specify note durations and other note properties. Double-click one of these tools to cancel all other tools in the Simple Entry palette. a. b. Search for “Palettes” in the User Manual to learn how to resize and relocate palettes. A.
B. To enter notes with your mouse and computer keyboard Use your numeric keypad (c) to choose note durations before you click c. them in. Use the image to the right as a guide. To remove extra items, double-press rapidly as shown below. To change the selected duration: (press once) To remove the dot and flat: (press twice) Notebook users, use the “Laptop Shortcut Table” to improve the efficiency of your smaller keyboard. Choose Simple > Simple Entry Options and click Edit Keyboard Shortcuts.
C. To type notes into the score with your computer keyboard Using your computer keyboard to enter notes is faster than clicking. After typing the duration: 1 Press Enter to activate the Simple Entry Caret, which is Finale’s entry cursor. 2 Use the up and down arrows to choose the pitch. 3 Press Enter to enter the note. 4 Or, type the letter of the desired pitch or 0 (zero) for a rest. Use left and right arrows to move the selection.
MULTIPLE VOICES: LAYERS When a second voice with a different rhythm is required within a measure, like the quarter notes shown at right, enter the notes in a new layer. Each layer is a rhythmically independent voice. Simply choose the new layer and begin entering notes. Layers are chosen from the View menu or via the layer buttons at the bottom of the screen ( ). Layers are identified by note color: Layer 1 Layer 2 Layer 3 Layer 4 Always use layers 1 and 2 first when notating multiple voices.
PLAYING IN MUSIC: HYPERSCRIBE With HyperScribe®, you can record directly from your MIDI keyboard or device into the score. To configure your MIDI keyboard (or other external MIDI device) for use with Finale, see “Setting up your MIDI system” in the Getting Started section of the User Manual. A. To set the smallest note value Since a live performance is never perfect, Finale approximates note durations based on settings you choose.
C. To change the recording tempo and countoff If you are transcribing a complex passage, you may want to record at a slower tempo for greater accuracy. You can also change the metronome sound and specify a start signal. 1 Choose the HyperScribe tool 2 From the HyperScribe menu, choose Beat Source > Playback and/or Click. 3 Select Use This Tempo, and enter the desired recording tempo in the adjacent text box. Be sure the correct beat duration is selected below. 4 Click Click and Countoff.
SELECTING MUSIC The Selection tool is Finale’s universal editing tool. It can be used to select, move, delete, copy, paste, or otherwise edit any region of measures and any individual item in the score. A. To select a portion of music To select one full measure, click once on the staff lines (without clicking on a note). To select a measure region (either partial or whole measures), click outside and above the staff and drag diagonally across the region.
B. To expand the selection Use keyboard shortcuts to expand or contract the selected region on a single staff… To next beat shift To end of measure ctrl + + shift + To end of score shift + end To beginning of score shift + home …or on multiple staves. F I N A L E M U S I C .
COPYING, PASTING, AND INSERTING Finale offers a great deal of control over copying, inserting, and pasting (replacing). A. To drag-copy If the source and target regions are both visible on your screen, quickly copy music by dragging the selected region. 1 Select the measure region you want to copy. 2 Click and drag the selection to the target measure(s). B.
C. To insert music When you copy and paste, Finale overwrites the content in the target region. However, when you insert, all subsequent music is pushed toward the end of the score, usually increasing the total number of measures. 1 Select the measure region you want to copy. 2 While pressing alt , click and drag the selection to the target measure(s). A red insertion bar indicates that the inserted music will nudge existing music toward the end of the score. Music in other staves is not affected.
D. To copy specific items You can copy particular score elements using the Edit Filter dialog box. 1 From the Edit menu, choose Edit Filter. 2 In the Edit Filter dialog box, check the items you want to copy. (Click None to clear all). 3 Click OK. 4 Copy the music as you would normally. Finale uses the filter while copying whenever Use Filter is checked under the Edit menu.
TRANSPOSING A. To transpose 1 With the Selection tool 2 From the Utilities menu, choose Transpose. 3 Select the interval from the Interval dropdown menu. 4 Click OK. , select a region of music. B. To transpose using your keyboard 1 Choose the Selection tool 2 Select a region of music. 3 Press... . This method transposes the music diatonically within the key signature. To change the key, use the Selection tool context menu or the Key Signature tool.
WORKING WITH MEASURES A. To add and delete measures 1 From the Edit menu, choose Add Measures. 2 Type the number of measures you would like to add. 3 Click OK. The measures appear at the end of the score. 4 With the Selection tool , select a measure stack and press delete . B. To insert empty measures in the score 1 With the Selection tool , select a measure (empty measures will be inserted before the selected measure.) 2 From the Edit menu, choose Insert Measure Stack.
C. To fit a certain number of measures per system 1 With the Selection tool, select the measures that you want to fit. 2 From the Utilities menu, choose Fit Measures. 3 Type the number of measures you want per system. 4 Click OK. D. To adjust the measure layout manually You can move individual measures from one system to the next, or to the previous. 1 With the Selection tool , select the measure(s) you want to move between systems.
WORKING WITH STAVES AND INSTRUMENTS Use the ScoreManager to insert, delete, or change instrument staves. A. To add instruments to the score 1 Choose Window > ScoreManager. 2 Click and select the instrument you would like to insert. Finale adds the staff in the selected Score Order, grouped by instrument type. B. To delete instruments from the score In ScoreManager, click the X on an instrument line. Finale removes the staff and repositions adjacent staves.
C. To move staves To move a staff in one system only, choose the Staff Tool , click a staff handle and drag it vertically. To move a staff in all systems, double-click and drag the handle. See “To move staves” in the User Manual for more details. D. To hide an empty staff in a system 1 Select a region that includes the empty staff or staves. 2 From the Staff menu, choose Hide Empty Staves. A dashed line appears where the staves have been hidden.
ADDING MARKINGS Most markings are added with the Expression tool, Articulation tool, or Smart Shape tool. A. To add expressions ff p Six types of markings are added as expressions, organized into the following categories: • Dynamics ( , subito ) • Expressive Text (dim., legato) • Tempo Marks (Allegro, q = 108) • Tempo Alterations (rit., a tempo) To add a single expression 1 Choose the Expression tool 2 Double-click a note or measure. 3 Choose an expression category.
B. To add articulations C. To add slurs and hairpins Articulations are markings attached to a single note with the Articulation tool , including: > Staccato (.) - Ornament (M, T) • Accent ( ) • Tenuto ( ) • Slurs ( • • • Hairpins ( To add an articulation to a note 1 Markings such as lines and curves are created using the Smart Shape tool , including: Choose the Articulation tool 2 Click the note. 3 Double-click an articulation. .
ADDING TEXT Use the Text tool to add titles, subtitles, composer, arranger, lyricist, and other text that does not need to reposition with the music. A. To set or edit a document’s title page text 1 From the Window menu, choose ScoreManager and click the File Info tab. 2 Enter the page text information. 3 Click OK. You can also edit much of this information directly in the score. Choose the Text tool and click on an existing text box in your document.
KEY/TIME SIGNATURES AND CLEFS A. To set a key signature 1 Choose the Key Signature tool 2 C. To set a clef change 1 Choose the Clef tool Double-click a measure. 2 Double-click a measure. 3 Use the slider and dropdown menu next to the key signature preview to specify the key. 3 Double-click the desired clef. 4 Click OK. . B. To set a time signature 1 Choose the Time Signature tool 2 Double-click a measure. 3 Use the sliders to set the beats per measure and beat duration. 4 Click OK.
LYRICS, CHORDS, AND REPEATS A. To type in lyrics 1 After the notes are entered, choose the Lyrics tool 2 From the Lyrics menu, check Type Into Score. 3 Click a note to display a blinking cursor beneath the staff. 4 Type a syllable and then press the spacebar to advance. Use - (dash) to add hyphens between syllables. Type “Should [spacebar] auld [spacebar] ac [-] quaint [-] ance” . The Lyrics window allows you to easily edit syllables, paste text from external programs, and to click-assign lyrics.
B. To type in chord symbols 1 Choose the Chord tool 2 From the Chord menu, choose Manual Input. 3 Click above a staff to display the cursor. 4 Type the chord root and suffix. For example, “Am7”. . When typing chord symbols, use “b” for flat and “#” for sharp. 5 Press the spacebar. Finale converts your text to a chord symbol. For guitar fretboards, from the Chord menu, choose Show Fretboards. C.
PLAYBACK A. Playback Controls The Playback Controls give you standard buttons for controlling the playback of your score. • Click to start playback. • Click to open the Playback Settings dialog box. Choose Leftmost Measure to begin playback at the leftmost visible measure. • Press ctrl + spacebar + click and drag to spot-check. • Press ctrl + shift + spacebar + click to spot-check a single staff. B.
C. Human Playback® The proper performance of any piece of music depends on the genre and style. For example, you wouldn’t expect a jazz piece to be performed the same way as a classical sonata. You can tell Finale how you want your piece performed using Human Playback. Human Playback performs the music in the style specified, and also interprets the markings you’ve added. To choose a Human Playback style, from the MIDI/Audio menu, choose Human Playback, and then select the desired style.
PAGE LAYOUT Adjusting the position of systems and page margins should be the final step before printing your score. Use these techniques with the Page Layout tool to finalize the page layout: Click and drag these handles to adjust the position of the top and left page margins for this page only. Click and drag these handles to adjust the top margin of each system. To adjust the vertical position of staves within systems, choose the Staff tool and drag staff handles.
SHARING YOUR MUSIC A. To print your score To print, press ctrl + P and click OK. To create a PDF, choose File > Export > PDF. B. To export an audio file 1 From the File menu, choose Export > Audio File. 2 Choose a location and file name. 3 Click the Save as type dropdown menu and select WAV or MP3. MP3 format is only available when Finale is set to play through MIDI. 4 Click Save. F I N A L E M U S I C .
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS Finale provides keyboard shortcuts called Metatools that you can use to quickly add markings to your score. You can also customize metatools by assigning one to a particular marking. A. Articulations and expressions 1 Choose the Articulation 2 Hold down the metatool key. 3 Click a single note or measure. or Expression tool . 4 Use the same method to quickly enter key signatures, time signatures, and clefs (with their respective tool chosen).
C. Common metatools S X A Z V E W Q F K J 7 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 F G H S S T > 8 P Articulation and expression metatools are listed in blue in the Articulation Selection and Expression Selection dialog boxes. Look to the upper right of each item for the metatool currently assigned to that marking. F < D. More keyboard shortcuts The Finale User Manual contains a complete listing of every preset keyboard shortcut in the “How do I...” section.
USING CONTEXTUAL MENUS You can right-click on many score elements to display menus which allow you to quickly… Transpose, insert measures, add repeats, and make other changes Edit or delete text, and adjust text frame alignment and positioning Change the time signature Change the key signature These contextual menus allow you to perform many additional tasks on a region of music: • • • • • Edit measure attributes Change the barline style Create or break multimeasure rests Cut, copy, or paste Transpose
DIDN’T FIND WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR? Find Keyboard shortcuts, Metatools, the Visual Index, and watch demonstrations to learn essential tips and techniques with our QuickStart Videos under How do I. For our new users, we have several help resources like the Getting Started Guide, Finale Tutorials, and QuickStart Videos. Experienced Finale users can find step-by-step instructions for common tutorial based questions and also see what’s new to Finale.
GETTING SUPPORT Tutorial Support User manuals, tutorials, QuickStart Videos, the Finale community, and step-by-step solutions to common Finale questions are available online at www.finalemusic.com/support/learningcenter. Technical Support Troubleshooting for technical problems and direct access to our Customer Success Team is available online at www.finalemusic.com/support. MakeMusic offers support for current versions of its Notation programs.
