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In music notation, there are three kind of symbols used to link notes
together : tie, slur and beam.
We are going to study here their meaning, the way they are written and
the way they are played.
Tie
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A tie is always located between two consecutive notes of same pitch. It
is equivalent to a single note whose duration is the sum of the
durations of the two notes.
To create a tie, you can either:
- Split a note into two parts: double-click a note and
select the duration of the first part of the tie
- or Merge two notes: select them and apply
"Edit>Action>Tie"
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You
are invited to view the "How to tie notes." video
tutorial. ("Windows>Tutorials" menu in the program). |
Slur
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A slur is located between two notes of any pitch.
If it is played, it behaves as a glissendo: the note pitch will vary
smoothly or semitone by semitone from the first pitch to the second one.
The slur tool is located in the "Miscellaneous tools" palette.
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You
are invited to view the "Adding and deleting slur", "Relate a double
slur to a note" and "Playing slurs" video
tutorials. ("Windows>Tutorials" menu in the program).
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A slur can also be used, when underlining a whole group of notes, to
specify "phrasing", i.e. indicate this group of notes has to be played
in a single "sentence" (in a single blow for a wind instrument)
A slur can be inserted between two notes belonging to different staves.
Beam (hitch)
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- Automatic beaming.
This mode can be selected by document, in the "Options" menu. When this
mode is active, beams are calculated automatically. You can intervene
on this calculation by defining how note groups will be beamed in the
time signature edit box.
- Manual beaming. When
the automatic beaming is deselected, beaming is manual. To beam two
notes together, select them then "Edit>Appearance>Beam". You can
also
double-click the first note head then use the "Beamed" check box to
beam it with the next note.
- Special beaming. This tool, available in the
"Miscellaneous" tools palette, enable to beam together any notes, even if they belong to different staves,
and this, in a widely user-definable way. Once this tool activated, click the
first note head or stem end, then the second note.
By double-clicking the special beam or the first note, you can edit the
beam settings.
- Number of
beams in the first part of the beaming
- Number of beams in the last part of the
beaming
- Ratio between
the first part and the last part
- Beam width
- Offset between
two beams
- Beam origin
- Tuplet group end
If a special beaming
is used, it overrides the automatic or manual beaming. To delete a
special beaming, use the delete tool ("Edit tools" palette)
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You
are invited to view the "Hitching notes. Automatic and manual hitching.
Time signature setup." and "Special beam. Beaming notes owned by
different staves. " video
tutorials. ("Windows>Tutorials" menu in the program).
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