String indicators
String indicators are commonly used in guitar music to tell performers the string on which they should play a note, particularly for pitches that are possible on multiple strings.
String indicators show the string number inside a circle enclosure, optionally with a dashed line to indicate they apply to a range of notes. Open pitches commonly appear as a zero without an enclosure.
In Dorico SE, string indicators for stopped pitches appear in a plain font while string indicators for open strings use the fingering font.
There are two types of string indicators in Dorico SE, which you input in different ways.
- String indicators outside the staff
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String indicators outside the staff always appear inside circle enclosures. They automatically show dashed duration lines when they have duration to indicate that multiple notes are played on that string.
In Dorico SE, string indicators outside the staff are considered playing techniques. You can select and delete them independently of the notes to which they apply.
Figure 2. String indicator outside the staff with duration line - String indicators inside the staff
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String indicators inside the staff appear inside circle enclosures, except when they show open strings, which appear as a bold number zero without an enclosure. They automatically erase their backgrounds so they do not collide with staff lines. They appear to the left of noteheads by default but automatically appear to the right if left-hand fingerings are present.
The string number shown in string indicators inside the staff is calculated automatically, but you can also specify the string manually.
String indicators inside the staff for stopped pitches are scaled-down versions of string indicators outside the staff.
In Dorico SE, string indicators inside the staff are considered properties of the corresponding notes. You cannot select them independently of their corresponding notes.
NoteYou can only show string indicators inside the staff on notes belonging to fretted instruments.
Figure 3. String indicators inside the staff, with the last one for an open string