Cross-staff notes

A cross-staff note is one that “belongs” to one staff, but that, for notational efficiency (for example, to eliminate the need for ledger lines) is written in another staff, often with a different clef—its stem is stretched from the original staff to the “target” staff. You encounter cross-staff notes most often in keyboard music.

The following instructions explain how to create cross-staff notation automatically with a plug-in. You can also create cross-staff notation manually with the Note Mover and Special Tools Tool. In Finale, you enter the music on the original (“source”) staff and use the Note Mover tool to move selected notes to other staves.

See also:

Reverse stems

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