Notations on notes in percussion kits

You can add notations to notes and use different rhythms in percussion kits in the same ways as for normal notes; however, they can behave differently.

Articulations

You can add articulations to percussion instruments in all kit presentation types in the same ways as for other instruments.

However, in grid and five-line staff presentations, any articulations you add apply to all instruments in the same voice that have notes at that rhythmic position. For example, if both a snare drum and tom-tom note are at the same rhythmic position, and you add an accent, the accent is added to both instruments because they are both shown in the same down-stem voice by default.

You can see the accent applied to each note if you switch to the single-line instruments presentation type.

Tuplets

When working in the grid and five-line staff kit presentation types, tuplets are added to all instruments in the same voice.

You can switch to the single-line instruments presentation type to input cross-rhythms on each instrument separately. When you switch back to the grid or five-line staff kit presentation types, Dorico Pro attempts to resolve the rhythmic conflicts.

  • Conflicting tuplets: One tuplet is moved into an extra voice for the duration of the conflict.

  • Tuplet notes in one instrument and non-tuplet notes in another instrument starting at the same rhythmic position: The non-tuplet note is displayed as if it were part of the tuplet. This is because the note onset is at the same position as the start of the tuplet, so it sounds the same as the original notation.

  • Tuplet notes in one instrument and non-tuplet notes in another instrument that do not start at the same rhythmic position, or other non-tuplet notes that start part-way through the tuplet: Non-tuplet notes are moved into an extra voice for the duration of the conflict.

    Note

    Deleting a tuplet from grid and five-line staff kit presentation types deletes the tuplet from all instruments whose notes contribute to the same shared voice.

Playing techniques

You can input playing techniques, such as + for closed and o for open hi-hat, during note input and add them later to existing notes in the same ways as for other instruments. You can use the playing techniques popover or click any of the playing techniques in the Playing Techniques panel in Write mode.

Playing techniques are only added to the instrument to which the note you select belongs, even if there are other instruments in the same voice.

Percussion stickings

Dorico Pro does not yet have a dedicated feature for percussion stickings. However, you can use lyrics to represent percussion stickings in all kit presentation types:

  • Grid/Five-line staff presentation types: Select a note in the instrument in which you want to show stickings.

  • Single-line instruments presentation type: Input lyrics directly into instruments in which you want to show stickings.