Mastering Dorico: Note Tools and Advanced Features

Today, we’re diving into an underrated yet powerful feature in Dorico: Note Tools. Let’s explore how these tools can elevate your compositions and workflows.

Accessing Note Tools

Note Tools can be accessed in two ways:

1. Using the Shift+I popover.

2. From the right panel in Write Mode (select a note and open the Note Tools section).

We’ll focus on the Shift+I popover for simplicity. Let’s get started!

Adding Intervals

You can add intervals above or below your notes, or even create full chords:

1. Single Intervals:

   • To add a third above a note, type 3 in the popover.

   • To add a minor third below, type -3.

2. Specify Interval Quality:

   • For a diminished fifth, type dim5 or d5.

3. Creating Chords:

   • To build a seventh chord on a note, type -3,3,5 (commas are essential).

Intervals are added diatonically by default. To go beyond the key, specify the interval quality explicitly (e.g., m3 for a minor third).

Transposing

Transposing notes is simple:

• Highlight the notes, open the popover, and type t followed by the interval (e.g., t5 to transpose up a fifth or t-5 to transpose down).

Inversions

Invert melodies or chords around a central pitch:

1. Select notes and type invert in the popover.

2. Specify the inversion point:

   • invert over D4 to center around D4.

   • Use invert top or invert bottom to anchor the highest or lowest note in a chord.

3. Add diatonic for diatonic inversions (e.g., invert top diatonic).

Reversing Notes

Reverse pitch, rhythm, or both:

• Pitch Only: rev pitch or rev pt.

• Rhythm Only: rev rhythm or rev rm.

• Both: rev.

Combine commands to create advanced transformations, like reversing and inverting simultaneously (rev invert over A4).

Rotating Notes

Rotate notes and rhythms in sequence:

• To rotate, type rot or rotate.

• Specify steps (e.g., rot 2 or rot -3 to rotate backward).

• Rotate pitch only (rot pitch) or rhythm only (rot rhythm).

Repetition

Repeat a selection of notes throughout a chosen area:

• Select notes and type repeat to replicate them over the selected range.

Pitch Mapping

Instantly change specific pitches:

• Example: C=E changes all C notes to E.

• Specify octaves for precision: C4=E5.

Scale Mapping

Transform entire scales:

• Example: C major=F mixo converts a C major scale to F Mixolydian.

• Refer to my website or video description for scale abbreviations.

Wrapping Up

I hope this Dorico’s Note Tools guide inspires you to experiment and streamline your workflow. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more music composition and production content.