Writing "nice" Leadsheets - Software (?)
Jens Weisse
my handwriting is lousy, also when it comes to leadsheets. I am looking for
a computer software that helps me to produce nice, readable leadsheets. I
have tried BIAB, it seems that it has its limitations when it comes to
layout. In particular, when I need to change single lines of a leadsheet to
something else than four bars. Then there's weird behaviour when it comes to
first /second endings etc.
Any suggestions? How do you write yours?
Jens
Joe Finn
news:fb6gb5$cnc$1...@news.sap-ag.de...
Finale. ........joe
--
Visit me on the web www.JoeFinn.net
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
Mark Kleinhaut
> "Jens Weisse" <jens.weisse....@domain.com> wrote in message
I vote for Finale too, although that's only because I suffered many
months of frustration getting this massively powerful program to the
most stupid easy things. Now that I've got it sorta figured out, I
feel everyone else should suffer too.
sycochkn
"Jens Weisse" <jens.weisse.ns.@domain.com> wrote in message
news:fb6gb5$cnc$1...@news.sap-ag.de...
TablEdit
http://home.earthlink.net/~sycochkn1/nobody.knows.you.when.youre.down.and.out.pdf
http://home.earthlink.net/~sycochkn1/see.see.rider.pdf
Lilypond
http://home.earthlink.net/~sycochkn1/amazinggrace.g.guitar.solo.1.pdf
Bob
hack...@gmail.com
> "Jens Weisse" <jens.weisse....@domain.com> wrote in message
Band In A Box work for me - especially now that it does multiple
endings and codas. There is a learning curve, but it seems to be less
than some of the more powerful programs like Finale. When you are
done, it will play it for you to check for errors. Maybe Finale and
others do that, too. Note that this is for "leadsheets," - melody and
changes. If you want to print multiple parts or multiple clefs, BIAB
brobably isn't the answer
Hack
--//--
Des Higgins
BIAB looks like it has enough features to do lead sheets ok but I
found the interface for entering melody to be sheer murder. Either I
did not persevere long enough to properly figure it out or it is a
difficult interface.
My sons sax teacher uses it but he enters his melodies through a midi
keyboard instead of through the usual computer screen. Did you find
it hard to learn or am I just an idiot (or both could even be true)?
Des
Bobo
Much faster to use
mup, a 29USD shareware prog from www.arkkra.com. Mup input is ascii
text, which makes
it much faster than mouse based things, if you can type. Here's an
example of the input
for a 2 bar lead sheet like random thing. For more extensive things
like multiple parts,
midi etc mup also does better than finale. I only use finale to
interchange with all the
mousers.
Regards,
b
----- o -----
header
title bold (24) "Bonker Clonker"
title (12) "mm: 230" "" "Frank Key"
define CHORD(X,Y) bold (18) chord above 1: Y X; @
score
time=4/4
beamstyle=4,4,4,4
key=1#
music
CHORD("Am7",1) // Put Am7 on beat 1
CHORD("D7",3) // Put D7 on beat 3
1: 16 r;c+;g;d; 4 f#; c; r; // <staff> : <timeval> <note or rest> ; ...
bar
CHORD("GMaj7",1)
1: 8 r; b;d;g; 2 r;
dblbar
----- o -----
RickH®
The free Finale Notepad might be all you need for simple lead sheets.
Keith Freeman
of Sibelius I tried some time ago (e.g. you can reduce the width of a stave
without the program trying to rejustify it - useful if you have a 2-bar tag
you want to print on one line). The only drawback I've found is that you're
stuck with the chord symbols listed, you can't modify them or create your
own (except by using text). It doesn't have a jazz font but that doesn't
bother me.
-Keith
Portable Changes, tips etc. at http://home.wanadoo.nl/keith.freeman/
e-mail only to keith DOT freeman AT orange DOT nl
Kevin Van Sant
message <13ddnt3...@corp.supernews.com> :
oh that looks MUCH easier.
_________________________________________
Kevin Van Sant
http://www.kevinvansant.com
CDs, videos, mp3s, gigs, pics, lessons, info.
nospam
that. I'm sure it can do a whole lot more - like orchestra, big band, etc.
I does seem a bit cumbersome - and then I discovered the keyboard shortcuts
and it works great for me now...
bruce
"Jens Weisse" <jens.weisse.ns.@domain.com> wrote in message
news:fb6gb5$cnc$1...@news.sap-ag.de...
Chickenhead
Except that I tend to forget what it was I did the last time I needed some
stupid easy thing done, so I often get to experience the joy of trying to
figure it out again.
You should all share this glorious experience.
"Mark Kleinhaut" <markkl...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1188482745....@r29g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
Ozzker
> my handwriting is lousy, also when it comes to leadsheets. I am looking for
> a computer software that helps me to produce nice, readable leadsheets. I
>
I use lilypond ..
http://lilypond.org/web/index.html
it's free and looks good ..
cheers, ozz
Chickenhead
"Ozzker" <fa...@noreply.com> wrote in message
news:46d7288f$0$241$e4fe...@news.xs4all.nl...
sycochkn
"Chickenhead" <kuNOSPAMrts...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:adudnUerpO1fs0rb...@comcast.com...
Why does it need a GUI, it needs to have easier to find samples of code.
Bob
sycochkn
"sycochkn" <syco...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:13del1n...@corp.supernews.com...
composer = "Traditional"
}
melody= {
\time 3/4
\key g \major
\clef "G_8"
\set fingeringOrientations = #'(left)
r2 <d-0>4 |
\repeat volta 4 {
<g-0>2 <b-0>4 |
<b-0>2 <a-2>4 |
<g-0>2 <e-2>4 |
<d-0>2 <d-0>4 |
\break
<g-0>2 <b-0>4 |
<b-0>2 <a-2>8 <b-0>8 |
<d'-3>2.~ |
<d'-3>2 <e'-0>4 |
<d'-3>2 <b-0>4 |
\break
<g-0>2 <d-0>4 |
<e-2>2 <g-0>4 |
<d-0>2 <d-0>4 |
<g-0>2 <b-0>4 |
<b-0>2 <a-2>4 |
\break
<g-0>2. |
}
\alternative{
{ r2. |}
{ r2. \bar "|."}
}
}
harmonies = \chordmode {g2.
g2. |
g2.:7 |
c2. |
g2. |
g2. |
a2.:7 |
d2. |
d2.:7 |
g2. |
g2.:7 |
c2. |
g2. |
e2.:m |
d2. |
g2. |
g2. |
g2. |
}
\score {
<<
\context ChordNames {
\set chordChanges = ##t
\harmonies
}
\context Staff = one \melody
>>
\layout{ }
\midi { \tempo 4=108}
}
Bob
\version "2.7.39" % necessary for upgrading to future LilyPond versions.
sycochkn
long enough since I used Lilypond that it took a long time. I could probably
get it down to half an hour or so if I did it all the time.
http://home.earthlink.net/~sycochkn1/see.see.rider.ly
http://home.earthlink.net/~sycochkn1/see.see.rider.pdf
http://home.earthlink.net/~sycochkn1/see.see.rider.midi
Bob
Funkallero
> "Jens Weisse" <jens.weisse....@domain.com> wrote in message
Half an hour? *Two* hours? Are you kidding me? I can do an engraver's-
quality lead sheet like that in 10 minutes in Finale. Not because I'm
particularly good at it, but because a few well-placed key commands
makes this happen pretty easily. I never understood why everyone
thinks it has such a "learning curve". All those ascii characters
would be like learning a new language. Finale also has the capability
to add a BIAB-like rhythm section generator, to hear the part with a
band, with no extra notation skills or arranging needed.
sycochkn
"Funkallero" <funkmei...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1188530381.3...@r23g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
I normally use TablEdit. The same lead sheet took me probably 30 minutes by
the time I corrected my mistakes and got the printing to look like I wanted.
I have not figured out how to reverse the orientation of the ties yet,
though. Yes Lilypond takes a lot of work to learn, it is free though.
Bob
Funkallero
> "Funkallero" <funkmeisterm...@gmail.com> wrote in message
Well, price does tip the tables a bit. With all due respect, Bob, for
pro leadsheets, particularly if there's any chance of the user getting
into arrangments, parts, tablature, lessons, etc., Finale can't be
beat(other than on price, of course).
Here: http://www.christinemiscia.com/Finale 2007b - [See See
Rider.MUS].pdf
http://www.christinemiscia.com/See See Rider Rhyth.MID
Sorry about the spaces. You'll want to copy and paste each of these
URLs into a browser, they won't be clickable. The lead sheet took 8
minutes, with no MIDI keyboard, just the QWERTY typing keyboard.
Generating the rhythm section and then creating the MIDI file took
another 3 minutes. To create a .wav file or .mp3 would probably take
another 2 minutes.
sycochkn
I will keep Finale in mind for more serious publishing. At the moment
TablEdit meets my needs. I use it to make something to practice reading
rhythm and melody with.
Bob
Jens Weisse
will look into finale I think (most likely not the 600$ version).
I don't quite understand what the differences are between their products
though. And their page doesen't explain it either.
Kind regards,
Jens
Tony Mountifield
There's a comparison table here:
http://www.finalemusic.com/finale/product_comparison.aspx
Cheers
Tony
--
Tony Mountifield
Work: to...@softins.co.uk - http://www.softins.co.uk
Play: to...@mountifield.org - http://tony.mountifield.org
Jens Weisse
"Tony Mountifield" <to...@softins.clara.co.uk> wrote in message
news:fb90js$jqt$1...@softins.clara.co.uk...
Coool! Just what I was looking for! Thanks!
mikeo
than Finale and it only cost $99. Makes great looking leadsheets
(email me offline for a sample), i've done lots of transcriptions and
leadsheets with it and have not wanted for the $500 version of the
program yet. The jazz font on it looks great too.
RickH®
I use lilypond exclusively too, it looks very professional, better
than Finale in the classic high-art sense of music engraving. Kind of
like comparing the typography of the WSJ to the Chicago Tribune, the
Chicago Tribune is competent computer generated typography, but the
WSJ has impeccably beautiful typography, like it was hand-set by a
master printer, but both are good for what they are. But you pay the
cost in having to learn lilypond language. IOW computer programmers
who are also musicians take to lilypond like a fish to water. So I
stopped recommending it here, but keep it my own little secret (I code
assembler language firmware for a living).
Paul
compose for several instruments and have them play back?
Paul K
On 8/31/07 10:40 AM, in article
1188571235.6...@r23g2000prd.googlegroups.com, "mikeo"
RickH®
Of course now that Murdoch owns the WSJ, it's typography will probably
start to look like a ransom note, what a shame that would be;)
mikeo
> it seems kind of tab-focused from their web page. Is that right? can you
> compose for several instruments and have them play back?
>
> Paul K
>
Ah, i just saw the web site and see what you mean. Perhaps they want
to market to the non-reading guitar populous by highlighting this
feature, but G7 is just a lighter version of the full Sibelius
product. You can standard notate any instrument at all, up to 16
instruments in a single score. I think the program is limited to 16
staves to a page so, if you are notating bass/treble clef piano parts,
for example, that would be a maximum of 8 pianos in a score, get it?
[nevermind how scary THAT would sound!] For symphony/orchestral
scores, you'd likely want more than 16 instruments. For jazz
ensemble, combo, and lead sheets, G7 is a great solution.
Because it is primarily marketed as a guitarists tool, G7 also
provides all the special symbols for guitaristic articulations, bends,
etc, and even performs the bends on playback. it generates and
imports MIDI files or live MIDI performance into standard notation,
has an optical scanning tool (not great, but i've used it
successfully) for converting clean pages of music into editable files,
etc, etc all the usual features you'd find in the other Sibelius and
Finale-type products. All that for $99, i find it to be great for a
guitarist needing to generate jazz arrangements for a combo, lead
sheets, transcriptions, etc...
In my opinion, the typography quality of G7 is also very good; the
pieces i've generated look at least as good as any other product i've
tried. There is an example of one of my G7-generated transcriptions
(converted down to .pdf for printing) in JJG (issue#42, p 92) if you
want to see one, or i can email some samples if you want to see
others. No, i have nothing to do with the company, but just enjoy
using the tool.
good luck
Paul
1. write out 6 parts (sax/trumpet/guitar/piano/bass/drums, to be specific),
say by mouse or keyboard, perhaps also ocasionally by scanning sheet music,
2. play them back (say with cheap midi, quality isn't so important)
3. print out the parts individually (after transposing some if necessary?)
and also as a score?
This is what I'd like. lead sheets I can do fine by hand,
but I like to have scores.
Any other cheaper than 100$ program do this?
Paul K.
On 8/31/07 1:16 PM, in article
1188580615....@i38g2000prf.googlegroups.com, "mikeo"
sycochkn
"Paul" <no...@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:C2FDE0BB.4526D%no...@nowhere.net...
> Jut to be clear: can you
> 1. write out 6 parts (sax/trumpet/guitar/piano/bass/drums, to be
> specific),
> say by mouse or keyboard, perhaps also ocasionally by scanning sheet
> music,
> 2. play them back (say with cheap midi, quality isn't so important)
> 3. print out the parts individually (after transposing some if necessary?)
> and also as a score?
>
> This is what I'd like. lead sheets I can do fine by hand,
> but I like to have scores.
>
> Any other cheaper than 100$ program do this?
>
> Paul K.
TablEdit will do all of the things above except scanning, for about 50
dollars.
Bob
mikeo
> Jut to be clear: can you
> 1. write out 6 parts (sax/trumpet/guitar/piano/bass/drums, to be specific),
> say by mouse or keyboard, perhaps also ocasionally by scanning sheet music,
> 2. play them back (say with cheap midi, quality isn't so important)
> 3. print out the parts individually (after transposing some if necessary?)
> and also as a score?
>
> This is what I'd like. lead sheets I can do fine by hand,
> but I like to have scores.
>
> Any other cheaper than 100$ program do this?
>
> Paul K.
from my experience with the version of G7 i own (v3.3):
1) yes, up to 16 parts, actually (15 if one is piano-2 staves). Entry
is by keyboard, mouse, .MID file import, scanned hardcopy, or by MIDI
instrument live performance.
2) yes, you can play back all instruments or just the ones you
select. You can select a playback instrument for each and control
parameters such as vol, pan, reverb, rhythmic feel(straight, swing),
etc...
3) "part extraction" per se is a feature withheld from this limited
version of Sibelius, BUT, it is nevertheless accomplished by doing a
'save as' creating a copy for each instrument, then delete the
unwanted instruments and you're done. Again, not as automatic as in
the full version, but not a big deal for a few parts in an ensemble,
for instance.
are there "less expensive" programs than G7 for doing this? perhaps,
but they may be "cheaper". ;)
good luck.
mikeo
pataud
I believe there is a GUI frontend, it's called Denemo:
http://denemo.sourceforge.net/index.html
you can download the win32 version here:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=1952
Admittedly, I haven't used it much, so I don't know how well it works,
but it is free and makes nice looking lead sheets.
sycochkn
"pataud" <pat...@mailinator.com> wrote in message
news:zz5Ci.2774$bO6.1286@edtnps89...
I am downloading it right now. Thank you.
Bob
hack...@gmail.com
> On Aug 30, 3:21 pm, "hacksm...@gmail.com" <hacksm...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Aug 30, 7:52 am, "Joe Finn" <J...@JoeFinn.net> wrote:
>
> > > "Jens Weisse" <jens.weisse....@domain.com> wrote in message
>
> > >news:fb6gb5$cnc$1...@news.sap-ag.de...
>
> > > > Hi support group -
>
> > > > for a computer software that helps me to produce nice, readable
> > > > it comes to layout. In particular, when I need to change single lines of a
> > > > leadsheet to something else than four bars. Then there's weird behaviour
> > > > when it comes to first /second endings etc.
>
>
>
> > > Finale. ........joe
>
> > > --
> > > Visit me on the web www.JoeFinn.net
>
> > > --
> > > Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com
>
> > Band In A Box work for me - especially now that it does multiple
> > endings and codas. There is a learning curve, but it seems to be less
> > than some of the more powerful programs like Finale. When you are
> > done, it will play it for you to check for errors. Maybe Finale and
> > others do that, too. Note that this is for "leadsheets," - melody and
> > changes. If you want to print multiple parts or multiple clefs, BIAB
> > brobably isn't the answer
>
> > Hack
> > --//--
>
> BIAB looks like it has enough features to do lead sheets ok but I
> found the interface for entering melody to be sheer murder. Either I
> did not persevere long enough to properly figure it out or it is a
> difficult interface.
> My sons sax teacher uses it but he enters his melodies through a midi
> keyboard instead of through the usual computer screen. Did you find
> it hard to learn or am I just an idiot (or both could even be true)?
>
> Des- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
I have entered a few melodies in BIAB and it did not seem that bad to
me. You just point to the note you want. I shows sub-beat lines
within the bar and if you move it to where the next note should go, it
automatically sets the note duration unless there's a rest. There's a
way of taking care of rests too. One problem I did have was when
there was a key change at the bridge. I never did figure out how to
deal with that. You can input the melody with MIDI, too, but I have
never done that.
Good luck,
Hack
--//--
sycochkn
So far I do not particularly like Denemo, but it does give me a template.
With a little modification of the template and manual entry into the .ly
file I can get the results I desire.
Bob
Tony Mountifield
Sounds good so far. Can you do transposable chord symbols (names, not
fret diagrams)? If so, does it include slash chords (chord/bass note),
and is there the possibility to put the concert pitch chord followed
by a capo chord in brackets? (e.g. in a capo-2 song: E7(D7) A(G)).
I tried playing with Finale PrintMusic a bit, but couldn't find out
if that last feature was possible.
mikeo
> In article <1188596676.741170.289...@i38g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,
>
Can you do transposable chord symbols (names, not
> fret diagrams)? If so, does it include slash chords (chord/bass note),
> and is there the possibility to put the concert pitch chord followed
> by a capo chord in brackets? (e.g. in a capo-2 song: E7(D7) A(G)).
Yes, the chord symbols(names) are automatically transposed along with
all notes, tab fingerings, etc that is being transposed. If you are
using chord diagrams(grids), even they will be auto transposed and
fingerings shifted accordingly. nice!
Yes, slash chords can be notated and played as such. There is even a
feature which will automatically recognize chords from single notes in
a passage, and you can set it to notate slash chords where possible.
great for you folkies!
You got me on the capo question because i've never used one (i don't
even think they make 'em for 7-string, which is all i play). My
thought is you can create your concert pitch changes and then filter-
select just the chord symbols and do a copy and paste, to add them
again but transpose the new set and shift them en masse to sit next to
the original set. You can even alter the size or font of the
alternate set of changes to differentiate them from the originals if
you like, or manually add parentheses. You wouldn't have a problem
with playback because G7 does not play the chord symbols unless you
create a staff for them with the "create notes from chord symbols"
feature.
i am starting to be amazed this tool was only a hundred bucks! holy
cow!.
mikeo
stringed instrument with alternate tunings, 8-string dobro, lute,
banjo, 7-string guitar with low A, etc, etc, or if you play an exotic
instrument nobody else has, you can still customize your # of strings
and tuning of each string for the sake of chord grids and TABs. that
is a great feature as well.
Also, i've been wanting to tackle transcribing some Stanley Jordan
pieces and would need to figure out the best way to separate left hand
from right hand despite the bass/treble clef location. There is
probably a good way to do it using G7, i imagine. hey Stanley, how
would YOU do it? ;)
pataud
too flexible as far as layout etc. It doesn't take advantage of
everything lilypond can do.
The linux version might be better than the windows port, but I wouldn't
know.
There are a few other Lilypond GUI out there i.e.
http://sourceforge.net/search/?type_of_search=soft&words=lilypond
but I imagine the level of technology is pretty similar.
Keith Freeman
Try the Scorewriter demo. Even if you buy the full version it won't break
the bank!
-Keith
Portable Changes, tips etc. at http://home.wanadoo.nl/keith.freeman/
e-mail only to keith DOT freeman AT orange DOT nl
rpjazz...@gmail.com
1. You can't hide unused staves. So, if you want to notate, say, a
bass line only for the intro, you get empty bass staves for the rest
of the chart.
2. It's hard to use on my Tosh Satellite laptop because it wants a
couple of keys the laptop doesn't have. If there's a workaround for
this (other than rather laborious mouseclicks, I haven't found it.
3. 16 staves only.
Of these, #1 is the biggest problem. There are workarounds for certain
things (like using multiple voices on the treble stave), but if you
want a different clef, it seems that you're out of luck.
Rick
Jiri Pejchal
> Needs a GUI.
>
Not exactly GUI but there is a plugin for Jedit called LilyPondTool:
http://lilypondtool.organum.hu/
It has document wizards, point-and-click support, code completion, etc.
--
Jiri Pejchal