Tutorials – Dorico

Tip: Guitar string indicators

It’s easy to add string indicators to guitar music in Dorico. Select the notes you would like to see string indicators for, open the Properties panel and scroll to the furthest right section: String Indicators. Enable the Show property to see the indicators.
You can set the string for individual notes in the Notes and Rests section, back at the left-most end of the panel.
If you would like to see string indicators (with continuation lines) above or below the staff, select the relevant notes and invoke the Playing Techniques panel by pressing Shift+P. Type ‘string‘ and the number you require. Select from the list and press Return.
You can move, lengthen and shorten the indicator using the usual Write mode handles.

Enable condensing to group together similar instruments on as few staves as possible.
In Layout Options (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+L), you can define your own custom condensing groups.
Choose Players > Condensing and add a new group. Select multiple instruments by holding down Ctrl/Cmd.
You can even group together different instruments for common condensing pairings, such as trombone and tuba.

By default, the format of bar numbers is the same in both the full score and instrumental parts. When working with a large orchestral score, you may wish to format the bar numbers differently, so that they are more frequent, and easier to read at speed.
Start by modifying the bar numbers (score) paragraph style in Engrave > Paragraph Styles…
Then open the Layout Options for the Full score and select the Bar numbers page. Here you will find numerous options for setting the frequency and appearance of bar numbers in the layout, including where to place bar numbers (which can be at multiple positions down the system), and drawing bar numbers in a rectangular or circular enclosure.

Use the new Edit Lyrics dialog, added in Dorico 3, to review a whole line of lyrics at once.
Seeing the entire line of lyrics in one place can make it easier to spot and fix mistakes.
Open the dialog by selecting a lyric in the line that you would like to edit in Write mode, and choosing Edit > Lyrics > Edit Line of Lyrics….
Make the necessary changes to any incorrect lyrics, ensuring that you do not add or remove any words or syllables. The total number of lyrics must be the same as when you opened the dialog, or Dorico will not be able to resolve your changes. Refer to the label at the bottom of the dialog to check the current number of lyrics matches the target.
Press OK to apply your changes and close the dialog.

Sometimes you may wish to show chord symbols only in specific bars for a layout, such as slash regions.
In Setup mode, right click the relevant player and choose Chord Symbols > Show in Chord Symbol and Slash Regions.
Adding further slash regions will reveal existing chord symbols.
You can also define your own regions that will display chord symbols. Make a selection in the score and choose Write > Create Chord Symbol Region.
Chord Symbol Regions can be moved, lengthened and shortened.