Fingerings popover

The following tables contain examples of what you can enter into the fingerings popover to input the different types of fingerings available. The fingerings popover behaves differently for fretted instruments compared to other instruments, so there is a separate table for fretted instrument fingerings.

You can open the fingerings popover in Write mode in any of the following ways when either a note is selected or the caret is active:

  • Press Shift-F.

  • Choose Write > Create Fingerings.

  • Click Fingerings in the Notations toolbox.

When inputting fingerings for non-fretted instruments, the icon on the left-hand side of the popover matches the corresponding button in the Notations toolbox. When inputting fingerings for fretted instruments, the icon on the left-hand side of the popover indicates whether you are inputting left-hand or right-hand fingerings.

Figure 1. Fingerings popover with an example entry for inputting a non-fretted instrument fingering
Figure 2. Fingerings popover with an example entry for a left-hand fretted instrument fingering
Figure 3. Fingering button in the Notations toolbox
Figure 4. Fingerings popover with an example entry for a right-hand fretted instrument fingering

Non-fretted instruments

Type of fingering

Example popover entry

Single fingerings for individual notes, including for brass valve numbers and trombone slide positions

1, 2, 3, and so on

Valved brass instruments

12

Single fingerings for each note in chords

For keyboard instruments, Dorico Pro automatically orders numbers appropriately according to the hand playing the notes. The default is:

  • Right hand for the upper staff

  • Left hand for the lower staff

1,3,5

Left-hand fingerings (non-fretted instruments)

L2, G2, S5, I2, or H2

Right-hand fingerings (non-fretted instruments)

R5, D5, or M5

Thumb indicator (non-fretted instruments)

T

Multiple fingerings for individual notes, for example, for ornaments such as mordents or turns

2343

Single fingerings for multiple notes: enter the same fingering number for two adjacent notes.

For example, in keyboard music the thumb may depress two keys simultaneously.

1,1

Alternative fingerings

Note

You must use parentheses in the popover, even if you choose to show alternative fingerings in square brackets.

2(3)

Editorial fingerings

Note

You must use square brackets in the popover, even if you choose to show editorial fingerings in parentheses.

[4]

Finger substitutions

1-3

Fretted instruments

Type of fingering

Example popover entries

Left-hand fingerings

0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Left-hand thumb

t

Right-hand fingerings

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

p, i, m, a, e

Right-hand thumb

p, t, or 1

Right-hand pinky finger

e, x, c, o, or 5

These lists are not comprehensive as there are many possible fingerings. It is intended to illustrate how you can structure your entries to input different types of fingerings.

Note

Finger substitutions are shown as immediate by default, but you can change the rhythmic position of the substitution by changing the deferral duration.

You can change the appearance and position of each type of fingering on the Fingering page in Engrave > Engraving Options.