Augmentation and diminution

To change the note values (durations) in a selected region

You can enter notes of any rhythmic value (quarter note, eighth note, and so on) into the score with or without MIDI keyboard input. You can also change any existing note’s value (or region of notes) without having to re-enter them. For instructions on adding and deleting notes, see Simple Entry and Speedy Entry.

Noteman says: This command does not affect empty measures. (A measure in which you’ve entered a “real” whole rest doesn’t count as empty in this context.) That is, it will double the values of all notes and rests you’ve entered, but it won’t create a second completely empty measure.

  1. Choose the Selection tool icon and select the region of music you want to change. See Selecting music for some region-selecting shortcuts.
  2. Choose Utilities > Change > Note Durations. The Change Note Durations dialog box appears.
  3. Specify how you want to affect the notes in the selected region.
    • If you want to affect every note equally, choose a percentage from the Change all note durations bypop-up menu—200% to double each note’s value, 50% to make each note half its original value, and so on.
    • If you want to change the durations of only a specific note value, select Change selected note duration(s), click its existing value in the From palette, and click the value you want it changed to in the To palette.

    If you want Finale to re-bar the selected measures so that the proper number of beats appears in each measure, make sure Rebar Measures is selected.

  4. Click OK (or press RETURN).

You can even double the values of the notes in one layer only: select a layer and choose Document > Show Active Layer Only before performing the steps above.

To double the rhythmic values in a passage

Augmentation refers to the process of doubling a motif’s rhythmic values, so that each quarter note becomes a half note, and so on. In effect, the following process re-notates any passage so that it doubles every note’s value.

  1. Choose the Selection tool icon and select the region of music you want to affect. See Selecting music for some region-selecting shortcuts.

    You can even double the values of the notes in a specific layer by choosing Document > Show Active Layer Only.

  2. Choose Utilities > Change > Note Durations. The Change Note Durations dialog box appears.
  3. Choose 200% from the Change All Note Durations by pop-up menu. If you want Finale to re-bar the selected measures so that there are half as many notes per measure, make sure Rebar music is selected.
  4. Click OK (or press RETURN).

    Note that this command does not affect empty measures – a measure in which you’ve entered a “real” whole rest doesn’t count as empty in this context. Finale doubles the values of all notes and rests you’ve entered, but it won’t create a second completely empty measure.

To halve the rhythmic values in a passage

Diminution refers to the process of halving a motif’s rhythmic values, so that each quarter note becomes an eighth note, and so on. In effect, the following process re-notates any passage so that it halves every note’s value.

  1. Choose the Selection tool icon and select the region of music you want to affect. See Selecting music for some region-selecting shortcuts.

    You can even double the values of the notes only in one layer by choosing Document > Show Active Layer Only.

  2. Choose Utilities > Change >Note Durations. The Change Note Durations dialog box appears.
  3. Choose 50% from the Change All Note Durations by pop-up menu. If you want Finale to re-bar the selected measures so that there are twice as many notes per measure, make sure Rebar music is selected.
  4. Click OK (or press RETURN).

    Note that this command does not affect empty measures – a measure in which you’ve entered a “real” whole rest doesn’t count as empty in this context. Finale doubles the values of all notes and rests you’ve entered, but it won’t create a second completely empty measure.