Non-standard ties

Dorico Pro Help

Product
Dorico Pro
Version
5.1
Language
English
Document type
Webhelp
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Usually, ties join two notes of the same pitch in the same staff. However, ties can also cross system breaks and frame breaks, clef changes, or time signature changes. These types of ties are all positioned automatically in Dorico Pro.

Ties can also join non-adjacent notes, notes in different voices, or notes in different staves together. In Dorico Pro, you must input these types of ties manually.

Ties across system/frame breaks

The ends of ties that cross system/frame breaks are automatically positioned in Dorico Pro.

Their vertical position remains the same, as both ends are centered on the noteheads to which they are attached. Their behavior also remains the same, as selecting one note in a tie chain that crosses a system/frame break in Write mode selects all notes in the tie chain.

The horizontal space for the parts of ties shown to the left of notes at the start of new systems/frames may not be sufficient to show an ideal tie curve. In such cases, you can use Note Spacing in Engrave mode to adjust the spacing of individual notes at the start of systems/frames to give ties more space.

The start of a tie chain before a system break
The end of the same tie chain after a system break

Tied notes with accidentals across system/frame breaks

The ends of ties for tied notes with accidentals across system/frame breaks are also automatically positioned.

As tied notes in Dorico Pro are treated as one note notated to fit in time signatures, cautionary accidentals at the start of new systems/frames are not shown by default. If you choose to show accidentals beside notes in tie chains at the start of new systems/frames, the position of the notes is changed to accommodate accidentals. However, this automatic position might not leave sufficient room for the part of the tie to the left of the notes to be shown with an ideal curve.

The start of a tie chain before a system break
The end of the same tie chain, with a cautionary accidental in parentheses
The end of the same tie chain after adjusting note spacing to give the tie beside the accidental more space

Ties across time signature changes

Ties are automatically positioned between notes that span a time signature change. If ties crossing a time signature change are joining notes in the middle of a staff, the top or bottom of the time signature change is partially obscured by the ties. However, as ties are curved, the time signature is unlikely to be completely obscured.

Ties across clef changes

Ties are automatically positioned between notes that span a change of clef. Ties across clef changes are not horizontal, as the same pitch is positioned differently in each clef.

The result of cross-clef ties is likely to be visually and musically confusing, as they can be misread as slurs. In this case, consider moving the change of clef to before/after the tied note.

Ties between non-adjacent notes

You can input ties between notes of the same pitch that are not directly beside each other and between grace notes and normal notes. This can be useful when inputting ties between multiple notes before a chord, for example.

Tied notes building up a chord
Notes tied to the following chord
Multiple grace notes tied to the following chord

Ties between different voices

You can input ties between notes of the same pitch in different voices belonging to the same instrument.

Ties between notes on different staves

You can input ties between notes of the same pitch in different staves belonging to the same instrument, such as the two staves of a piano.

Laissez vibrer ties

Laissez vibrer ties are short ties that indicate a note should be left to ring, and should not be stopped. They extend a small amount to the right of the note to which they apply, but do not connect to another note.

You can add laissez vibrer ties to any note. You can edit laissez vibrer ties in Engrave mode like any other tie.