New index for updated 2017 MuseScore 2 tutorial, all of the following is covered in one 22 minute video. Video is designed to be readable even on small screens such as phones. The index (below) lets you fast-forward to the exact topic you want. This quickstart video shows you just about everything you need to know to start notating/writing music (and tab!), including adding lyrics, how to put in the chords, how to turn standard notation into mandolin tab, how to transpose notes *and* chords so you can easily change a tune from one key to another, in MuseScore 2.1. (MuseScore is free open-source software for Windows/Mac/Linux computers, although there's no Android/phone writing app yet.) These clickable links should take you directly to the exact spot in the video where each topic is located:
00:07 - create new score (ACCELERATED no-nonsense way).
00:23 - how to change VIEW from Page View to Continuous View.
00:32 - find the PALETTES via menu or keyboard shortcut.
00:37 - change KEY SIGNATURE (select what key the tune is in).
00:46 - change TIME SIGNATURE.
01:05 - Note Input mode (how to actually WRITE NOTES in MuseScore).
01:29 - change ZOOM level (make score bigger or smaller).
01:38 - make DOTTED NOTES.
01:41 - PLAYBACK of written notes.
01:53 - change TEMPO (change SPEED).
02:43 - add CHORDS.
03:18 - change/edit a chord.
03:37 - TRANSPOSE to a DIFFERENT KEY (convert entire score, including chords, to a different key).
04:21 - using UNDO to revert to a previous state.
04:29 - how to DELETE all Chords in a staff.
04:51 - add LYRICS (words) to songs.
05:01 - use SPACE BAR to jump to next note, then type the next word.
05:12 - how to write 2ND LINE of lyrics.
05:36 - how to SCROLL SIDEWAYS *without* clicking anything (VERY USEFUL for when you need to maintain a selection of notes while moving the score).
06:04 - how to DIVIDE WORDS (hyphenate words) in LYRICS.
06:33 - add optional LINE NUMBERS to Lyrics (they automatically left-align at first bar).
07:28 - how to DELETE only ONE LINE of multi-line LYRICS (without tediously clicking each word).
08:29 - remember to SAVE your file frequently (there's also an optional Auto-Save setting).
09:21 - MOVE NOTES using ARROW KEYS. This comes in handy sometimes.
09:56 - how to make TRIPLETS.
10:48 - how to make a TIE (two notes tied together).
11:18 - how to make a playback LOOP, also how to SELECT SEVERAL BARS.
11:41 - change SWING settings (for playback).
12:52 - how to DEACTIVATE LOOP (turn loop off).
12:59 - COPY AND PASTE contents of bars (measures).
13:17 - how to delete selected notes.
13:21 - how to DELETE ENTIRE BARS (make the score shorter).
13:34 - add double bar-lines, end bar-lines, etc.
14:08 - CONVERT STANDARD NOTATION to MANDOLIN TAB.
15:30 - change SIZE of tab, change tab font, and change tab line spacing.
16:36 - (optional) show RESTS in TAB (to see which menu to use, refer to 15:36.)
17:15 - re-write tab FRET NUMBER (change from open string to equivalent fretted string).
18:22 - turn standard notation into GUITAR TAB that's easier to play in FIRST POSITION.
19:26 - (change CLEF - change from regular treble clef to 8vb treble clef, one octave different.)
19:59 - (another instance of TRANSPOSING notes, this time one octave lower.)
20:44 - (another example of changing the SIZE of TAB NUMBERS and line spacing, this time for guitar.)
The following are at the end of the video, these are little mini text-only blurbs instead of the usual screenshots:
21:58 - Addenda - text only: info about PRINTING.
22:08 - Addenda - text only: how to ADD INSTRUMENTS.
22:18 - Addenda - text only: change individual instruments' VOLUME and SOUND using the MIXER.
22:28 - Addenda - text only: change MASTER VOLUME temporarily (change volume of ALL instruments at the same time).
22:38 - Addenda - text only: Change DISTANCE BETWEEN STAFFS, also change margins and the space between lyric lines.
22:48 - Addenda - text only: change NOTE COLOR, change note VISIBILITY, change shape of NOTE HEAD, change note VELOCITY.
One thing I forgot to put in the video, is how to ADD new EMPTY BARS in the MIDDLE of a score, by selecting an entire bar and then pressing the "Insert" key on the keyboard. That inserts one bar immediately to the left of the selected bar.
To ADD a BAR at the END of a score, use keyboard shortcut Ctrl+B. Be aware that it might shift the position of an existing double-line end barline, easily fixed though.
Seems that I also forgot to show how to make short "pickup measures" at the beginning of a score, I seldom use those anyway but they're common in lots of music. I can post some screenshots here in this thread in a day or two when I get time. Meanwhile, if you're using the long version of the New Score dialog, you can add pickup measures there before adding anything else to the score.
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