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I am using Finale PrintMusic v 2014.v820 in Windows 10 on a Toshiba Satellite laptop

I need to express certain chords as Fb major (not E major), or Gb major (not F# major) but the program automatically switches the symbols to the latter. How can I override this? I need to enforce the Fb and Gb symbols to be consistent with the written-out chord spellings. Thanks in advance. 

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I too am having a problem in that the enharmonic adjustment of chords using speedy entry does not seem to work at all, certainly not as described.  Finale 25, Update 1.

William Abbott  Oct 28, 2016

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Same problem- help!

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To get a chord symbol that says Fb as the chord root instead of E, enter the root as Gbbb.

 

Similarly, to get a chord root of E#, type D###.

 

The culprit is the Chord menu option Simplify Spelling.

You can de-select Simplify Spelling, but de-selecting Simplify Spelling causes problems with the spelling of capo chords.

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Thank you, Peter!

 

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A related problem (Mac OS Sierra, Finale 21014.5) - I often have music which is transposed for more easily playable chords on guitar. Having two sets of chords (the normal transpose method) can be confusing so the best option is to go to Utilities -> Change -> Chords, click the transpose box and entered the required capo. I have a piece in C which works best using a capo on 3. However, the process causes an Am to give me a Gbm instead of an F#m. Same chord, but the brain is so used to playing F#m that it stalls on Gbm before it translates it. Any way I can change the preferences or even just edit the transposed chord? I have tried relabelling the Am to G##m in the hope that the sharps would stick, but that just forces it to give E##m! Turning off simplify spelling in the chord menu didn't work either.

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… I have tried relabelling the Am to G##m in the hope that the sharps would stick, but that just forces it to give E##m! Turning off simplify spelling in the chord menu didn't work either …

 

I think that have used both the two tricks simultaneously, I mean, that you have both turned off Simplify Spelling in the Chord menu and relabelled the Am to G##m.

 

With Simplify Spelling turned on, try relabelling the Am to G##m.

When I do so, I get F#m.

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Peter, thanks for the prompt reply. Yes, I did turn off simplified spelling and relabelled to G##m - I found that when I tried to relabel the Am with Simplify Spelling on, it just relabelled to Am, so I did not follow this up at the time.

In the meantime, I figured out a workaround as I only had one offending chord - make a staff style that hides chords, apply to that bar only, the use a text box to type in the chord. It prints fine and plays fine. Satisfactory for 1 song, wouldn't want to do it with lots of offending chords, or bars with 1 bad chord amongst many.

However, I just tried following exactly what you said, ignoring the evidence of my eyes. With Simplified Spelling on, I relabelled the chord as G##m. It was immediately rewritten as Am. However. Using the change chords function , on transposition it then wrote as F#m as you suggested. Mad, but it works.

Thanks for the tip. In "simple" songs in the keys of C and F, a chord sequence of C - Am - F or similar is not at all infrequent. Playing capo 3 is extremely common, converting that to A - F#m - D. While the F#m is technically slightly harder than an F, There are often Bb chords in songs in F, slightly more difficult again in full barre form (especially on a 12 string, requiring strength in the "pinky"). Also, playing with 2 guitarists, cross capo-ing one on the third fret and leaving one open gives a bit more depth.

Regards

Peter Bowron

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This is stupid... If the key is Db major and you have one chord in a whole song that is Cb, then the software should use Cb not B.... So I'm supposed to use Dbbb for Cb in the key of Db???
That is just stupid

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Don't know if this helps, but I needed a D-Flat Major symbol and it auto-corrected to C#. I scanned the beat under that marking, went to Utilities-Change-Chords then went to the Transpose button and transposed by a Diminished Second. It changed the symbol without affecting the notes.

Edit: I use 26, so I don't know if this works in previous editions.

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