You are here: Encyclopedia > N > Nonstandard key signatures > Creating a quarter-tone scale or key signature

After following these instructions, Finale will display quarter symbols where appropriate as accidentals and in the key signature. It will not affect the playback.

To create a quarter-tone scale or key signature

  1. Click the Key Signature tool  image\Key_Signature_Tool.gif.
  2. Double-click on a measure. The Key Signature dialog box appears.    
  3. Choose Nonstandard from the pop-up menu next to the scroll bar. The Nonstandard Key Signature dialog box appears.
  4. Make sure Linear Key Format is select, then click the Next button until Linear Key Format 2 is listed. The first two Key Formats have been predefined for major and minor scales. When you select an open Key Format, the five icons will all become active.
  5. Click the Attribute button. The Special Key Signature Attributes box appears. From this dialog box, we will specify a different font and symbols for the quarter-tone sharps and flats.
  6. Click the Symbol font button. Finale displays the Font dialog box, from which you can choose the new font. Choose Maestro Percussion or any font with the desired symbols.
  7. Click OK. You return to the Special Key Signature Attributes box.
  8. Click the Symbol List ID button. The Symbol List dialog box appears. This is where you tell Finale what symbols to use for your quarter-tone accidentals. To view your choices, Maestro Font Character Sets and look under Maestro Percussion Character Set The table below lists a common set of quarter-tone symbols which apply to the Maestro Percussion font. Obviously, you can substitute any symbol you like. Note that the characters will appear in the system font regardless of the actual font you’ve chosen. For example, if you’re using the Maestro Percussion font to create an symbol, you’ll see a capital L in this box. Characters will appear in the proper font when you return to the document.

Alter Amount

Character to enter

Character in Maestro Percussion font

3

l (lowercase l)

2

m (lowercase m)

1

L (SHIFT+L)

0

n (lowercase n)

-1

j (lowercase j)

-2

b (lowercase b)

-3

J (SHIFT+J)

  1. Enter the Alter Amount and Character, then click Insert. Finale adds the information to its database. Repeat for each character.
  2. Click OK twice. You return to the Non-Standard Key Signature box.
  3. Click the up and down scroll-bar arrows until the desired new key signature appears. Scroll up for sharp keys, and down for flat keys. Note that quarter tone symbols will appear in the key signature.
  4. Click OK (or press RETURN). You return to the Key Signature dialog box.
  5. Specify the transposition effect and measure range. See Key signatures for an explanation of these options.
  6. Click OK. You return to the document window. When you enter music with accidentals, quarter symbols will appear where appropriate. For example, a C with one plus added will display a C-quarter tone sharp.

 

 

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