Key Signatures |
You can add key signature changes at the beginning of any measure of any staff in the score. In transcribing a MIDI file, Composer examines whether the file includes key signatures. If it does, then Composer uses the key signatures saved in the file. Otherwise, Composer analyzes the harmony of the song to determine the key signature. This analysis does not account for possible mid-song key signature changes. Composer determines a single key signature for the whole song. Composer optionally transposes instrument parts according to their native keys. For more information, see Transposing to the Key of an Instrument. After Composer transcribes a song, you can update the key signature at the beginning of the song, as well as at the beginning of any measure. Composerapplies the key signature to all staves, or to a single selected staff, according to your specification. If you want to add a key signature change in the middle of a measure, you should insert a double barline or dotted barline at the beginning of the new key signature. The procedure for doing this is described at the end of this topic. To insert a key signature at the beginning of a measure:
-- OR -- Type SHIFT+K. It would be impractical for Composer to display a palette of every possible key signature. Instead, the Key Signature Palette has just the one button. When you navigate to the Key Signature Palette, Composer will automatically enter Add Mode. The mouse cursor will turn into this shape:
Composer will present you with the following dialog box:
Composer will apply the new key signature from your selected measure up to the next measure where there is a different key signature, or to the end of the song if there are no other key signature changes. To change a key signature:
Composer will indicate that the key signature has been selected by highlighting it with the color blue. Composer will also display the Key Signature Palette.
-- OR -- Type SHIFT+ENTER, that is, while holding down the SHIFT key, hit the ENTER key. Composer will then present you with the Key Signature dialog box, as shown above.
To insert a key signature in the middle of a measure: In this example, the key signature will be changed from three flats (E-flat major) to one sharp (G major) in the last beat of the second measure:
Note that we do not necessarily advocate the practice of inserting key signatures in the middle of measures. In this example, the harmony change from the second to the third measure might be just as clearly, or even more clearly, represented by postponing the key signature change until the beginning of the third measure.
Optionally, change the barline style from double barline to a dotted or dash style, as described in the topic Editing Barlines.
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