Finale Notation Software
Mon, 01/16/2017 - 08:09
Hi David
I am looking for a notation software that I can use for harmonica as well as instruments like fiddle and guitar.
Ive seen your previous comments that you use Finale. Is that still what you are using? I've been looking at Finale Print Music which is a more limited and less expensive version. But looks like plenty full featured for my needs.
I don't see harmonic listed in the instrument list. Is this something included in the full Finale product or did you have to make a custom template?
Best,
Andrew
David may give his own answer, of course. I have used Finale for many years. It does not have a harmonica specific template for notation or tab, although harmonica is one of the instruments included in the instrument list and in the (admittedly cheesy) MIDI sounds you can use to play back what you write. You can create templates with the appropriate number and spacing of staves for any purpose, and I have several I use to notate examples for teaching purposes, as I'm sure David does.
You can enter tab as lyrics below the notes. David uses a text system, while I use tab fonts that I created specifically for harmonica, with one font for diatonic (Fletch Diatonic) and one for Chromatic (Chromatic Sans). You can see samples of these and read the user manuals at http://winslowyerxa.com/articles/hip-the-harmonica-information-publicati...
Hope this helps a little.