If you are working with a document like a lead sheet that has a voice staff, lyrics, and chords, but would like the chords on this staff to playback with a piano sound, there is an easy way to accomplish this using the Instrument List.

Go up to the Window Menu and choose Instrument List - this will open the Instrument List Window.

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If you are trying to enter in chords such as Cb or Fb in Cmajor, Finale will automatically respell the chords to the enharmonic equivalent, B and E due to the Simplify Spelling Option under the Chord Menu.

I run into clients who struggle with this automation all of the time.

To turn it off just go up to your Chord Menu and un-check Simplify Spelling!

See you in the score!

Have you ever had a melody with chords and just wanted to mute the Chords? Never fear because there is a way:

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There is a way, but it takes a few steps:

CONCERT KEY CHORDS FOR TRANSPOSED STAFF WITH KEYSIGNATURE

1. Add staff above the transposed instrument by going to STAFF –>NEW STAVES…

2. Copy the music you need from the transposed staff into the new staff and the chords will be in concert pitch

3. Go to the Staff Attributes for that staff by double-clicking the staff with the STAFF TOOL and then unchecking everything at the bottom except ALLOW OPTIMIZATION and CHORDS

4. Highlight the entire new staff only and then go to the Staff Menu –>Apply Staff Style and choose BLANK NOTATION LAYER 1 and the notes will disappear in that new staff

5. Go to the Staff Attributes of the Transposed staff and either remove the Chords by unchecking them in the Display items, or simply remove them completely from that staff

6. Now in Scroll View or Page, use the Staff Tool to drag the handle for the top staff that has just the chords displaying lower so that they are where the chords would normally be.

Here are the steps to create chords (with playback) over slash notation.

• Using Layer 2, click in the amount of entries equal to the amount of chords that you want. For example, in a 4/4 measure, if you want four chords you would enter four quarter notes (nota bene - if you enter notes they will sound) or enter in four rests if you only want the chords to playback. The chords only need an entry, note or rest, to be entered.
• Next click on your Chord Tool and enter in your chords.

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