Key Changes

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Craig Buhler Posted February 10, 2019 23:39

I am creating a book of 200 jazz "licks," each of which will be played in all 12 keys. For some, the progression is up chromatically, for others, it circumnavigates the circle of fifths. Band in a Box has a very handy utility for copying a segment into all 12 keys. It is:
EDIT
COPY SPECIAL
COPY FROM TO
WITH EACH COPY, TRANSPOSE

In Finale, one can use:
EDIT
PASTE MULTIPLE
HORIZONTALLY
However, you then have to highlight each iteration and manually specify a key change.

Perhaps there might be a way to create a template containing the key changes and re-use that for each "lick"? But I fear that PASTE MULTIPLE would tend to override the several specified key changes.

4 comments

Date Votes

PETER THOMSEN Posted February 11, 2019 04:43

That sounds like a job for automation software, like e. g. FinaleScript.

Craig Buhler Posted February 11, 2019 05:55

https://usermanuals.finalemusic.com/FinaleWin/Content/Finale/FinaleScript_command_reference.htm#fscommand_key

It makes sense how one could transpose the entire piece or a range of measures to a new key.

But it is not clear how one could transpose a succession of measure groups to a succession of different keys.

For example:

BARS 1-4 are in D minor
BARS 5-8 are in G minor
BARS 9-12 are in C minor
BARS 13-16 are in F minor
.........etc. up until...........
BARS 44-48 are in A minor

PETER THOMSEN Posted February 11, 2019 12:50

You could program key signature metatools for all 12 keys.

In the Default File there are ready made, pre-programmed metatools for all 12 major keys, and all 12 minor keys.

Beware that a key signature metatool not only specifies a key signature, but also whether the notes should be transposed Up or Down.

In your example you have 48 measures.

I suppose that due to a copy/paste all 48 measures are in the same key (D minor).

Then the first 4 measures are in the correct key.

Select the next 4 measures (= 5–8), and use the key signature metatool for G minor (hold down the letter X key, and double-click the selected).

Select the next 4 measures (= 9–12), and use the key signature metatool for C minor (hold down the letter …).

Select the next 4 measures (= 13–16), and use the key signature metatool for F minor (hold down …).

To fix an octave level you can use transposition metatools (to use transposition metatools you must switch to the Selection Tool).

The default transposition metatools are

9 for Octave Up

8 for Octave Down

Craig Buhler Posted February 11, 2019 23:00

Dear Peter,

This is an amazing and powerful tool of which i was heretofore entirely ignorant. Your instructions will save me innumerable hours of toil in the upcoming project.

Many thanks.

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