User manual

By default, Dorico SE selects an enharmonic equivalent key signature if it has fewer accidentals.
How key signatures affect transposing instruments
If there is a key signature in the full score, it is transposed for a transposing instrument by the
same degree as the transposing interval for the instrument. For example, in a project in E major,
a B
♭ clarinet part has a key of F♯ major, as a B♭ clarinet sounds a whole tone below its notated
pitch.
Instruments that do not show a key signature
Some instruments are accustomed to seeing no key signatures in their parts, no matter the
overall key of the piece. These instruments include timpani, percussion, horn, trumpet, and
sometimes the harp. If you have input the No key sig version of these instruments, then no key
signature is shown in their parts, even if they are a transposing instrument, such as horn or
trumpet.
You can still transpose music in the staves of these instruments, but they show accidentals as
necessary, instead of showing a key signature.
RELATED LINKS
Transpose dialog on page 194
Transposing selections on page 194
Adding instruments to players on page 112
Cautionary key signatures
When a key signature change occurs at a system break, either in the score or in a part, the new
key signature is shown at the end of the rst system as well as at the start of the new system.
This is sometimes considered a “cautionary key signature”, as players become used to seeing the
key signature at the start of the system and therefore may miss a change of key signature if it is
not conspicuously shown at the end of systems.
In Dorico SE, as key signature changes occur immediately after barlines, the key signature at the
end of a system is the key signature itself, rather than a cautionary key signature.
If the music is separate enough that you do not want to see a key signature at the end of a
system and you cannot change where the system break occurs, you can separate the music by
creating a new
ow at the point of the system break.
RELATED LINKS
Flows on page 128
Splitting ows on page 321
Inserting system breaks on page 347
Tonality systems
The term “tonality system” is used in Dorico SE to encompass three crucial elements that
together make up the concept of tonality.
The three elements that make up tonality systems are:
●
A number of equal divisions of the octave, or EDO. For example, standard Western scales
with semitone steps have 12-EDO.
●
A set of accidentals. This allows you to notate how much a note is raised or lowered.
●
A key signature. In Dorico SE, you can use any traditional Western key signature.
Key signatures
Cautionary key signatures
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Dorico SE 3.1.10