User manual

MIDI
An abbreviation for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, a standard for how electronic musical
instruments, computers, and virtual instruments can connect to and communicate with each
other. In Dorico Elements, MIDI data can be sent to one of 16 channels, which allow either a
specic instrument, or a specic patch on a specic instrument, to receive and respond to the
data. See also channel, patch, CC, PC.
minor key
A key signature based on a minor scale, which has a different pattern of intervals to a major
scale. See also minor scale.
minor scale
A sequence of notes containing the pitches of a minor key. There are three types of minor scales:
natural, harmonic, and melodic. Natural minor scales follow the interval pattern of the Aeolian
mode, which on a keyboard is all the white notes from A-A. Harmonic minor scales also follow
the Aeolian mode interval pattern but the seventh degree of the scale is sharpened, for example,
G♯ in A harmonic minor. Melodic minor scales follow different interval patterns when they are
rising/falling: when rising, melodic minor scales have sharpened sixth and seventh degrees, but
when falling, the sixth and seventh degrees are both natural. See also minor key.
modes
Selectable workspaces in the project window that represent different phases in the workow of
preparing a score.
multi-bar rest
A consolidation of multiple adjacent empty bars into a smaller unit, typically shown as a single
bar with the total number of bars' rest written above the staff. A multi-bar rest normally shows
an H-bar symbol, which is a thick horizontal line with vertical lines at each end. In some older
published scores, a multi-bar rest of up to nine bars in length is shown using a combination of
double whole and whole rests. Also known as a “multirest”.
music area
The main part of the window in Setup mode and Write mode where you input and edit your
music.
MusicXML
A le format designed to allow the interchange and archiving of music notation data in an open
and non-proprietary way. It is useful for exchanging scores between different music applications.
N
node
A position along the length of a string that marks an equal division of the string, such as a
quarter of the way along a string. Touching, but not fully stopping, a string at a node produces a
harmonic partial. See also partial, harmonic series.
note input
The standard method of adding notes to staves in sequence that is possible when the caret is
active. The caret automatically advances to the next rhythmic position after each note is input.
During note input, it is also possible to input other items at the caret position. Also known as
“step input” because notes are input step-by-step. See also caret, chord input, Insert mode.
O
overtone
See partial. See also harmonic series, node.
Glossary
1010
Dorico Elements 3.5.12