Reference Guide

1023
Chords and marks
Notation and lyrics
Adding hairpin symbols
Some musical phrases vary dynamically, increasing or decreasing in loudness for dramatic effect.
SONAR lets you insert traditional crescendo and diminuendo hairpin symbols that convey this
information to a performer, as shown here:
If the track is split into treble/bass staves, hairpin symbols are allowed only below the treble staff.
To add a hairpin symbol
1. Select the Draw Freehand tool in the Control Bar.
2. Click the Hairpin button in the Staff view.
3. Position the pointer below the staff (the pointer changes to a pencil when you are in a legal
position).
4. Click to place a hairpin symbol.
SONAR inserts a copy of the most recently added hairpin symbol, which you can edit as desired.
To edit a hairpin symbol
1. Right-click on the hairpin symbol you want to edit.
The Hairpin Properties dialog appears.
2. Change any of the following parameters:
• Time. The beginning time of the hairpin symbol
• Crescendo or Diminuendo.
• Duration. Enter the number of beats followed by a colon (for example 4: for one measure in
4/4 time) or a PPQ number value.
Adding pedal marks
Pedal marks traditionally indicate where the sustain pedal of a piano is to be pressed and for how
long. With SONAR, you can achieve the same effect by inserting a pair of symbols indicating when
the sustain pedal controller is to be turned on (down) and when it is to be turned off (up). Unlike
chord symbols, expression marks, and hairpin symbols, each pedal symbol corresponds to a MIDI
event. The other symbols are purely ornamental, intended to provide a composer with a way to
communicate suggestions or requirements to performers.