Subject: Computer keyboard input Back to Index

Category: Editing See also: Accelerator table | Editing

This table explains the use of the keyboard to input tablature and notation in Fandango. Accelerator keys are detailed in this other document.

Keyboard keys do not necessarily have the same  effect depending upon the actual definition of the staff, i.e. they may not result in the same input in tablature mode or notation mode, or in French tablature or Italian.

Some functions are chord or note dependent, and the actions depend upon the cursor position in that case. For instance, if the cursor is not positioned on a note, it will be difficult to add an appogiatura.

Keyboard actions are divided here into 5 categories:

 

I. Input

Scope

Key(s)ActionComments
 French Tablature mode  a-z  Tablature letter Input  For historical reasons, the letter 'j' is omitted, so 'k'=9 not 10, etc.
 French Tablature mode  0-5  Right-hand Fingerings  Not if numbers typed on the NUMeric PAD
 Italian/Modern tablature  0-9  Tablature number input  
 Italian/Modern tablature   CONTROL 0-CONTROL 9  Tablature number input: 10 to 19  For frets higher than 19, use the letters 'v' to 'z'
 All Tablature modes  NUMeric PAD numbers   Tablature input  You can use ther NUMPAD to input French tab if you are able to do the mental gymnastics: 0 will output 'a', 1 will output 'b', etc.
 All modes  A-Z  Chord input

 Alfabeto input. The effect depends on whether you check:

  1. Input chord - adds a chord from the chord editor
  2. Input chart - adds a chord chart from the alfabeto chord editor
  3. Input alfabeto - Input an alfabeto letter from the alfabeto chord editor
 Notation  a  Note input  Inputs a note at cursor position - the value of the note will depend on the key signature of the section
 Notation  s or d  Note input/modification

Inputs a sharp note at cursor position, for instance G sharp in the key of C.

If a note already exists at cursor position, the note will be altered.
 Notation  b or f  Note input/modification

 Inputs a flat note at cursor position, for instance a B flat in the key of C

If a note already exists at cursor position, the note will be altered.
 Notation  q,w,e,r,t,y,u,i  Modify the flag value and input a note at cursor position

 On QWERTYUIOP keyboards, the top row of letters.

  • q= Double whole note
  • w= Whole note
  • e = Half note
  • r = Quarter note
  • t = 8th note
  • y = 16th note
  • u = 32nd note
  • i = 64th note
 Notation  p  Insert a rest  The rest will use the current flag value.
 Notation  NUMPAD 0-9  Input a note

When using the NUMPAD in notation the numbers represent scale intervals added to the previously input value. If the CONTROL key is pressed, the interval becomes a descending interval.

Typing the 1 key repeatedly on the NUMPAD will result in an ascending scale. With the CONTROL key pressed, a descending scale. 7 will input the previous note one ocatave up. CONTROL+7, the previous note one octave down. The sequence 0, 2, 3 will generate a first inversion chord.

If you are not sure what the previous note was, use the 'a' key to insert a first note at cursor position.

 

II. Chords Modifications (all modes)

 Editing  CONTROL+ENTER  Insert a new stave after the current one  
CategoryKey(s)ActionComments
Flags < Increase flag value by one division  If the chord is followed by rests, the resulting flag will "absorb" the value of the rests if possible.
Flags > Decrease flag value by one division  
Chords SHIFT+Ctrl + > Move chord to the right Move up to 7 steps 
Chords SHIFT+Ctrl + < Move chord to the left Move up to 7 steps 
Flags ALT+PERIOD Dot/Undot a flag

 This is a toggle: if the chord is already dotted it will take out the dot for the chord

When applied to a selection of chords, this will turn a plain sequence of flags into series of 2 flags, the first one dottted, the second one divided by two. For example,  2 quarter notes will turn into:absorb the value of the rests dotted quarter note + eighth note, etc.
 Chords  \ Splits a chords into 2 even value chords  Splits a quarter note chord into two 1/8th note chords. If the chord is dotted, the result will be two chords, one with the base value of the flag, the other with a flag half the value of the base flag. For instance: 1 quater note chord + the same with an eighth flag value
 Chords  ALT+\ Splits a chord but links the resulting notes

 Useful if a chord needs to straddle a barline and needs to be split to do so

 
Notation  [  Splits a gruppetto  Gruppettos are calculated automatically depending on the beat value. Use this is you need to split a gruppetto on a non-beat note
Notation ] Links 2 gruppetos together Joins 2 gruppettos together when you wnat the gruppetto to extend beyond the beat value duration, for instance 4 8th notes in a 4/4 time signature.

 

III. Note modifications

ScopeKey(s)ActionComments
 Notation  CONTROL+ARROW UP  Raises a note up the scale  
 Notation  CONTROL+ARROW DOWN  Lowers a note down the scale  
 Tablature  CONTROL+ARROW UP  Shifts a note up a string  
 Tablature  CONTROL+ARROW DOWN  Shifts a note down a string  
 Notation  CONTROL+SHIFT+ARROW UP  Extends the duration of a note within a chord  
Notation  CONTROL+SHIFT+ARROW DOWN  Reduces the duration of a note within a chord  
Notation  ( [left parenthesis] Toggles a note's stem direction  
Notation  SHIFT+CONTROL+P Adds a rest in the other voice  
Notation  SHIFT+CONTROL+PERIOD Adds a dot to a note flag  
 All modes  ' [APOSTROPHE] Adds an ascending appogiatura to a note  
 All modes  " [DOUBLE QUOTE]  Adds a descending appogiatura to a note  
 All modes  , [COMMA]  Adds an ascending mordent to a note  
  All modes  ;[SEMI_COLON]  Adds a descending mordent to a note  
 ALL modes  : [COLON]  Right hand fingering, Major finger  
 All modes  . [PERIOD]  Right hand fingering, Index finger  
 All modes  | [VERTICAL BAR]  Right hand fingering, Thumb  
 Notation  0-5  Left-hand fingerings  Also in French tab - Number keys on the keyboard only, not NUM PAD keys.
 Notation  ) [RIGHT PARENTHESIS]  Adds a tied note  Different from a slur!
 All modes  ~ [TILDE]  Adds a slur  
 Editing  INSERT  Inserts a blank space on the staff This is deleted when you reformat the staves with CONTROL+F12 or CONTROL+DECimal
 Editing  CONTROL+K  Insert a static space on the staff This will NOT deleted when you reformat the staves. If there are multiple instruments, the static sace is applied to all instruments at the cursor position
 Editing  {  Toggles active voice  When an instrument has both voices enabled. View colored voices must also be on (SHIFT+CONTROL+C). The inactive voice shows in pale gray, the active voice in black.
 Editing  }  Shifts note from one voice to the other  When an instrument has both voices enabled. See above.

 

CategoryKey(s)ActionComments
Editing ARROW UP Move up by one interval In tablature mode, moves up a string. In notation mode, move up by a step on the scale
Editing ARROW DOWN Move down by one interval In tablature mode, moves down a string. In notation mode, move down by a step on the scale
 Editing  ARROW LEFT  Move back to previous chord  Skips blanks and bar lines
 Editing  ARROW RIGHT  Move right to first available spot on staff  
 Editing  SPACE KEY  Move to next available chord  Skips blanks and bar lines
 Editing  TAB  Move to next bar  
 Editing  SHIFT+TAB  Move to previous bar  
 Editing  ENTER  Move to next stave  Moves to the current instrument staff on the next stave group -
 Editing  SHIFT+ENTER  Move to previous stave  Moves to the previous instrument staff on the next stave group
 Editing ALT+ARROW DOWN  Move to next stave  Moves to the current instrument staff on the next stave group -
 Editing ALT+ARROW UP  Move to previous stave  Moves to the previous instrument staff on the next stave group
 Editing  CONTROL+HOME  Move to beginning of section  
 Editing  CONTROL+END  Move to the end of the section  
 Editing  PAGE UP  Move to the previous page  Move to the previous page in section
 Editing  PAGE DOWN  Move to the next page  Move to the next page in section
 Editing  SHIFT KEY  Toggles the auto forward cursor mode  When ON, the auto forward feature moves the caret to the next available spot after a note input
 Viewing  NUMPAD PLUS KEY  Zoom in  Zoom in by 10%
 Viewing  NUMPAD MINUS KEY  Zoom out  Zoom out by 10%
 Viewing  CONTROL+ >  Move to the next section  
 Viewing  CONTROL + <  Move to the previous section  
       

 

V. Stave editing

 

CategoryKey(s)ActionComments
 Editing  CONTROL+ENTER  Insert a new stave after the current one  
 Editing  ALT+ARROW LEFT  Move first bar of staff to the previous one  Moves only the current voice instrument data
 Editing  ALT+ARROW RIGHT  Move last bar of staff to next one  Moves only the current voice instrument data
 Editing  ALT+NUMPAD PLUS KEY  Shifts all instruments last bars to the next stave  
 Editing  ALT+NUMPAD SUBSTRACT KEY  Shifts all instruments first bars to the previous stave  
 Editing  CONTROL+SHIFT+PLUS KEY  Increase spacing between instruments or voices  
 Editing  CONTROL+SHIFT+MINUS KEY  Decrease spacing between instruments or voices  
Editing  ALT + S  Add a staff after current one  
Editing CONTROL+SHIFT+PLUS_KEY Increase space between staves  
Editing CONTROL+SHIFT+MINUS_KEY Decrease space between staves  
 Notation  CONTROL+SHIFT+ARROW UP  Extends the duration of a note within a chord  
Creator
Alain Veylit
Modified
2016-11-14