Adding chord symbols

The input method for chord symbols is similar to lyrics in that you can advance the chord symbols popover after inputting each chord symbol without closing it, allowing you to input sequences of chord symbols in one go.

An important aspect of chord symbols in Dorico is that they exist globally by default, meaning you can input a chord symbol once but show the same chord symbol for all players in the ensemble if needed. You can also input local chord symbols if one player needs a different chord.

Procedure

  1. In bar 1, select the bar rest on the banjo staff.
    • For simplicity, we recommend inputting chord symbols onto staves that you want to show chord symbols on anyway.

  2. Press Shift-Q to open the chord symbols popover.
  3. Enter C7 into the popover.

    Chord symbols popover above the staff with an entry for a C7 chord symbol

  4. Press Space four times to advance the popover to the start of bar 2.

    Chord symbols popover after inputting the C7 chord symbol

    • Each time you press Space, the chord symbols popover advances one beat according to the current time signature, which is one quarter note (crotchet) in this song’s 4/4 time signature.

  5. Enter G7/D into the popover, then press Space twice.
  6. Enter C7 into the popover, then press Space twice.

    Chord symbols popover after inputting the C7 chord symbol

  7. Enter F into the popover, then press Space twice.
  8. Input the remaining chord symbols in bars 3-4, pressing Space once between them.

    G#dim7, Gm7, F, C7, then F.

Result

You have input the chord symbols in the first four bars of the song. They automatically appear above rhythm section instrument staves, which in this project are the banjo and piano.

Chord symbols input in bars 1-4

Note

Some chord symbols might look different when input compared to what you entered into the popover, such as if you input the Fdim7 in bar 5 as Fdim. Dorico uses default settings to determine the appearance of chord symbols based on their type, rather than your popover entry.

  • If you have Dorico Pro, you can change these settings on the Chord Symbols page in Library > Engraving Options.

  • If you have Dorico Elements, you can change these settings in the Library > Chord Symbols dialog.

After Completing This Task

  • Continue inputting chord symbols for the rest of this excerpt, remembering that Return closes the popover and Space advances it by one quarter note for each press.

  • Some chord symbols collide with barlines, such as the Fdim7 in bar 5. You can change the alignment of these chord symbols to avoid the collision by selecting them, activating the Alignment property in the Chord Symbols group of the Properties panel, and selecting Center from the menu.