User manual

Beam slants
The slant of a beam controls how steeply the beam deviates from horizontal, according to the
pitches of the notes within the beamed group.
●
When the last note of the phrase is higher than the rst, the beam slants upwards.
● When the last note of the phrase is lower than the rst, the beam slants downwards.
● If the group makes a concave shape, where inner notes are closer to the beam than the
outer ones at either end of the beam, then the beaming is horizontal by default.
Beams are also horizontal if all the pitches are the same, or for certain patterns of repeated
pitches.
When a beam is drawn inside the staff, each end of the beam, meaning the end of the stem of
the note at either end of the beam, must be snapped to a staff line position. A beam line may
sit on a staff line, be centered on a staff line, or hang from a staff line. Ted Ross describes these
three positions as
“sit”, “straddle”, and “hang” respectively in “Teach Yourself the Art and Practice
of Music Engraving”.
A phrase containing multiple different beam slants and directions
The amount by which a beam slants is typically determined by the interval between the rst and
last note in the beamed group, provided the pattern of notes in the beam does not dictate a
horizontal beam instead. Smaller intervals require a shallower slant and larger intervals require a
steeper one.
However, the desired amount of slant is not the only factor that must be considered. The
innermost beam line should not come too close to the innermost notehead, and the beam itself,
if possible, should be positioned relative to the staff lines such that it does not form a wedge. A
wedge is a tiny triangle formed by the horizontal staff line, the vertical stem, and the angled line
of the slanted beam, which can be visually confusing.
Determination of the amount of slant for a beam is therefore a balancing act that must weigh up
several factors: the desired amount of slant, valid snapping positions for each end of the beam,
ensuring a minimum distance between the note closest to the beam and the innermost beam
line, and avoiding wedges where possible.
In Dorico Elements, you can change the beam slants of individual beams.
Changing beam slants
You can change the slants, or angles, of individual beams. You can do this for the current layout
and frame chain only or for all layouts and frame chains.
PREREQUISITE
You have chosen the appropriate property scope for local properties.
PROCEDURE
1.
Select at least one note in each beam group whose slant you want to change.
Beaming
Beam slants
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Dorico Elements 3.5.12