Creating custom beat groupings for meters - Dorico Elements - 6.1

Dorico Elements Help
Product
Dorico Elements
Version
6.1
ft:locale
en-US
Document type
Webhelp
ft:openMode
fluidtopics

If your music requires a different beat grouping for a particular meter than the default setting for that time signature, you can specify your preferred beat grouping within the time signature. You can choose whether or not the time signature shows this custom beat grouping. You can also input time signatures only on specific staves.

Note

The duration of beam groups in Dorico Elements depends on the beat grouping in the prevailing time signature and your per-flow beam grouping settings in Notation Options. For example, entering [1+1+1+1]/4 into the time signatures popover inputs a time signature with four quarter note (crotchet) groups. Because this creates a time signature with a half-bar, beam grouping options for time signatures with a half-bar apply.

Procedure
  1. In Write mode, do one of the following:

    • Start note input.

    • Select an item at the rhythmic position where you want to input a time signature with custom beat grouping.

      Note

      If you want to input a time signature with custom beat grouping on a single staff, select an item that belongs to that staff only.

  2. Optional: During note input, if you want to input a time signature with custom beat grouping onto multiple specific staves at once, extend the caret to those staves.
  3. Optional: If you want Dorico Elements to add beats at the end of the region affected by the new time signature if required, activate Insert mode in any of the following ways:

    • Press I.

    • In the Notes toolbox, click Insert .

  4. Open the time signatures popover in any of the following ways:

    • Press Shift-M.

    • In the Notations toolbox, click Popovers , then Time Signatures (Meter) .

  5. Enter the division you want in square brackets into the popover.

    For example, to divide a 7/8 time signature into 2+3+2, enter [2+3+2]/8 into the popover. To divide a 5/4 time signature into 2+3 rather than 3+2, enter [2+3]/4 into the popover.

  6. Input the time signature and close the popover in one of the following ways:

    • To input a time signature on all staves, press Return.

    • To input a time signature only on the selected staff or staves across which the caret extends, press Alt/Opt-Return.

Result

The time signature specified is input, and beam and beat grouping in subsequent bars follows the division you specified.

Tip

You can change the appearance of numerators in individual time signatures so that they show a single number or beat groups.

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