Using Note Attributes to Change Individual Notes

You can use note attributes to set individual display parameters for each note, regardless of the settings in other windows and boxes.

You can set the following note attributes:

You can change note attributes in the Note Attributes window, via the Attributes menu, or with the respective key commands.

Note: Make sure that the Note Attributes setting is chosen in the “Double-click note to open” menu of the Logic Pro > Preferences > Score window. It is on by default.

To change note attributes
Do one of the following:

  • Double-click note head to open the Note Attributes window.

    Only one note can be changed at a time in the Note Attributes window.

    Figure. Note Attributes window.

  • Select one or more notes, then choose the appropriate command from the Attributes menu.

    The Attributes menu (and corresponding key commands) allows a group of selected notes to be assigned new attributes.

You can also change specific note attributes via the Part box, and with tools.

Changing Note Heads

The default setting for note heads is normal (round and black).

To change the attributes of a note head
Do one of the following:

  • Drag a note head from the Part box to the respective note.

  • Choose a note head from the Note Head pop-up menu in the Note Attributes window.

Changing Note Sizes

The default note size is set with the Size parameter in the Staff Style window.

To change a note’s size
Do one of the following:

  • Drag the note upward (increase) or downward (decrease) with the Resize tool.

  • Choose a size from the Size pop-up menu in the Note Attributes window.

Changing the Horizontal Position of Notes

You can set the horizontal position of each note, individually.

To change a note’s horizontal position
Do one of the following:

  • Drag the note horizontally with the Layout tool.

  • Choose a value from the Horizontal Position pop-up menu in the Note Attributes window.

Changing the Position of Accidentals

This note attribute defines the deviation from the Acc./Note Distance value, chosen in the Layout pane of the Score project settings.

To change the accidental distance from the note

  • Choose a value from the Accidental Position pop-up menu in the Note Attributes window.

Changing the Display of Accidentals

By default, the display of accidentals depends on the chosen key signature.

To change the display of accidentals
Do one of the following:

  • Choose a value from the Enharmonic Shift or Accidental Type pop-up menu (see list of settings below) in the Note Attributes window.

  • Choose a value from the Attributes > Accidentals menu.

    You can choose between the following display options:

    • Default Accidental: The display of accidentals depends on the chosen key signature.
    • Enharmonic Shift#: Converts G flat to F sharp, or F to E sharp, for example.
    • Enharmonic Shiftb: Converts D sharp to E flat, or B to C flat, for example.
    • Flats To Sharps: Similar to Enharmonic Shift #, but leaves notes without flats unaltered (useful for multiple selection).
    • Sharps To Flats: Similar to Enharmonic Shift b, but leaves notes without sharps unaltered (useful for multiple selection).
    • Force Accidental: Forces the display of accidentals (and naturals).
    • Hide Accidental: Displays the note without accidentals. (MIDI playback is not affected.)
    • Guide Accidental: Forces the display of the accidentals (and naturals) in parentheses.

  • Use one of the following key commands:

    • Default Accidentals

    • Enharmonic Shift:  #

    • Enharmonic Shift:  b

    • Flats To Sharps

    • Sharps To Flats

    • Force Accidental

    • Hide Accidental

    • Guide Accidental

Changing the Stem Direction and Length

By default, a note’s stem direction and length depends on the respective setting in the Staff Style window.

To change a note’s stem direction and length
Do one of the following:

  • Choose a value from the Stem Direction pop-up menu in the Note Attributes window.

    Note: The stem length cannot be changed in the Note Attributes window.

  • Choose the respective item in the Attributes > Stems menu.

    • Default: The stem direction is set in accordance with the default (staff style) setting.
    • Up: The note’s stem is forced upward.
    • Down: The note’s stem is forced downward.
    • Hide: Hides a note’s stem, and the corresponding beam or flag.
    • Stem Position:  Default: Default setting.
    • Stem Position:  Center: Moves the stem to the center.
    • Stem Position:  Side: Moves the stem to the side.
    • Stem Position:  Automatic: Moves the stem to the side.
    • Stem End:  Default Length: Default setting.
    • Stem End:  Move Up: Moves the stem end upward. Depending on the direction, this shortens or lengthens the stem.
    • Stem End:  Move Down: As above, but moves the stem end downward.

  • Use one of the following key commands:

    • Stems:  default

    • Stems:  up

    • Stems:  down

    • Stems:  hide

    • Stem End:  Default Length

    • Stem End:  Move Up

    • Stem End:  Move Down

Changing the Beaming of Notes

By default, the beaming of notes depends on the chosen time signature, the Beat Grouping setting in the Time Signature dialog, and the staff style’s Beam parameter.

To change the beaming of notes
Do one of the following:

  • Choose one of the following items in the Attributes > Beaming menu:

    • Beam Selected Notes: Forces a beam to the following note.
    • Unbeam Selected Notes: Interrupts the beam to the following note.
    • Default Beams: Uses the default setting.

  • Use one of the following key commands:

    • Beam Selected Notes

    • Unbeam Selected Notes

    • Default Beams

Changing the Voice or Staff Assignment

You can change the voice or staff assignment for cross staff beaming in the Attributes > Ties menu. (See Cross Staff Beaming.)

You can choose between the following options (requires a polyphonic multi staff style):

  • Default Staff: According to voice assignment.
  • Staff Above Voice: Moves the selected notes to the staff above the assigned voice.
  • Staff Below Voice: Moves the selected notes to the staff below the assigned voice.

Changing the Tie Direction

By default, the tie direction is set in accordance with the setting in the Staff Style window.

To change a note’s tie direction
Do one of the following:

  • Choose a setting from the Attributes > Ties menu.

  • Choose a tie direction from the Tie Direction pop-up menu in the Note Attributes window.

  • Use one of the following key commands:

    • Ties:  default

    • Ties:  up

    • Ties:  down

Changing the Syncopation of Notes

By default, note syncopation is set in accordance with the setting in the Display Parameter box.

To change a note’s Syncopation setting
Do one of the following:

  • Choose a setting from the Attributes > Syncopation menu.

  • Choose a setting from the Syncopation pop-up menu in the Note Attributes window.

  • Use one of the following key commands:

    • Default Syncopation

    • Force Syncopation

    • Defeat Syncopation

Changing the Interpretation of Notes

By default, note interpretation matches the setting chosen in the Display Parameter box.

To change a note’s interpretation setting
Do one of the following:

  • Choose a setting from the Attributes > Interpretation menu.

  • Choose a setting from the Interpretation pop-up menu in the Note Attributes window.

  • Use one of the following key commands:

    • Default Interpretation

    • Force Interpretation

    • Defeat Interpretation

Changing the Independent Status of a Note

Notes are not displayed as independent notes by default.

To change the independent status of a note
Do one of the following:

  • Choose a setting from the Attributes > Independent menu:

    • Independent Grace: The note is displayed as a single (independent) grace note.
    • Independent: The note is displayed independent of the rhythmic context.
    • Not Independent: The note is displayed in the regular rhythmic context.

  • Use one of the following key commands:

    • Not Independent

    • Independent

    • Independent Grace

Changing the Color of a Note

You can assign different colors to individual notes, in accordance with the three color palettes.

To assign a color to a note

  1. Select the note.

  2. Choose one of the 16 colors in the Attributes > Colors menu.

You can also enable the Velocity or Pitch Color mode in this menu. Pitch colors can be diatonically or chromatically mapped. Note velocity colors match particular MIDI velocity ranges.

You can edit the 16 color options of the Attributes menu, the velocity colors, and the pitch colors in the Color pane of the Score project settings. For more information, see Color Settings.

Note: As note attributes, these settings have priority over the staff style settings, but they only apply if the color mode is set to Normal in the Score Editor’s View > Colors menu.

Resetting Note Attributes

You can reset all note attributes to their default settings by choosing Attributes > Reset All Attributes (or using the Reset Note Attributes key command).

Warning: Take care when doing this:  all symbols directly attached to notes (accents, fermatas, jazz symbols, and so on) are deleted when you reset note attributes.

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