Articulation Selection dialog box

How to get there

  1. Choose the Articulation tool icon.
  2. Click on, above, or below any note.
  3. Or, in Simple Entry, select a note and press OPTION+A.

What it does

An articulation is a one-character marking that affects only a single note (an accent, staccato, or fermata, for example). You can select, edit, delete, rearrange, or create articulations in this dialog box.

A slot number is listed in the top left corner of each item. This can be handy if you have the option of typing in the slot number in a dialog box instead of scrolling through the Articulation Selection dialog box. Occasionally, a character appears in the top right corner of an item in the dialog box. This character indicates the ClosedMetatoolA Finale keyboard shortcut that lets you enter markings very quickly. Up to 36 Metatools can be programmed for the following items: Articulations, Chord Symbols, Expressions, Key Signatures, Time Signatures, Selection, Repeats, and Tuplets. The name for these shortcuts gave rise to the old chestnut, "I never metatool I didn't like." assigned to the item. See Metatools to learn how to use Metatools to add articulations to your document quickly. An asterisk (*) in the bottom right corner of the character indicates that the articulation will stack automatically. See Articulations.

  • Edit. After selecting an articulation in this dialog box, click Edit to open the Articulation Designer dialog box. You can change any aspect of the chosen articulation, however, keep in mind that when you edit an articulation, your editing affects every occurrence of it in the score.
  • Duplicate. Click Duplicate to create a copy of the selected shape to modify. You can choose more than one item. SHIFT-click to select an additional item and include all the items in between. Use COMMAND-click to select only a specific additional item in the list. When an item is duplicated, it appears next to the original articulation and is not assigned a Metatool.
  • Delete. After selecting an articulation in this dialog box, click Delete to remove it from the Articulation Selection dialog box. You can choose more than one item. SHIFT-click to select an additional item and include all the items in between. Use COMMAND-click to select only a specific additional item in the list. If the articulation is used in the score, the Delete Element dialog box is displayed, where you can specify delete options.
  • Move Down • Move Up. The stacking order of articulations is based on their position in the Articulation Selection dialog box. Changing the order in this dialog box automatically changes the order for all of the articulations in a document. Click these buttons to move the selected item or items down or up in the list. You can select more than one item. Use SHIFT-click to select an additional item and include all the items in between. Use COMMAND-click to select only a specific additional item in the list.
  • [Magnifying glass icons]. Use the magnifying glass icons to zoom out and in. Click and drag the lower right corner of the dialog box and drag to resize it.
  • Create. Click Create to open the Articulation Designer dialog box, where you can design a new articulation.
  • Cancel • Select. After clicking the symbol you want to apply to the note, click Select. Return to the score and the marking is attached to the note. Click Cancel to return to the score without placing an articulation in the score.

    Instead of using the Select button, you can double-click the desired marking. (In fact, you can avoid this dialog box by using ClosedMetatoolsA Finale keyboard shortcut that lets you enter markings very quickly. Up to 36 Metatools can be programmed for the following items: Articulations, Chord Symbols, Expressions, Key Signatures, Time Signatures, Selection, Repeats, and Tuplets. The name for these shortcuts gave rise to the old chestnut, "I never metatool I didn't like.".

Tip: To attach the same articulation to many notes at once, use the Apply Articulation dialog box.

See also:

Articulations

Fermatas

Trills

Let ring

Rolled chords

Staccato marks