Midi keyboard + MuseScore for notating solos?

[Stefano]

I’ve done a search, but apologize if I’m duplicating a thread.

I want to start notating trombone solos, and have never done notation before.

After some research here and elsewhere, it seems that a good way forward would be to buy a used midi keyboard and use it in conjunction with MuseScore. I can reproduce the trombone part on the keyboard, which is then notated in MuseScore. I can then go in and clean it up.

Am I on the right track?

My first notation would be Steve Davis’s Peace, BTW.

[musicofnote]

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[Stefano]

I’m always hoping that techie things will be simpler than they ever are.

If I’m transcribing trombone parts for my own use, maybe I should just get proficient with notation using pencil and staff paper.

[muschem]

I've never tried a midi keyboard for transcriptions, but a regular computer keyboard works fine for me in MuseScore. Things go pretty fast for single part transcriptions, especially once you pick up a few of the key shortcuts (switching note duration, adding articulation, etc.). Fine-tuning the appearance can take a bit more effort, but the default engraving choices MuseScore makes are pretty usable as-is. This reminds me that I need to get back to several of the partially-finished transcription projects I have started.

[JLivi]

I've never tried a midi keyboard for transcriptions, but a regular computer keyboard works fine for me in MuseScore. Things go pretty fast for single part transcriptions

Agreed!

Now I think having a midi controller is always a good thing to have lying around, but not to use with MuseScore for trombone transcriptions. These programs are pretty intuitive and using a computer keyboard should be just fine.

[Stefano]

That’s all good news. So I can do all my transcription on the computer keyboard.

[BGuttman]

That’s all good news. So I can do all my transcription on the computer keyboard.

Cautionary note: There is a pretty steep learning curve using any notation program. They are not so intuitive that you can go like the wind right away. When I'm out of practice on MuseScore I can take hours to do what I can do in minutes with pencil and paper. But the end result is much easier to read.

[AndrewMeronek]

Music notation programs really shine when you want to create a score and extract parts. For doing a transcription of a solo - if you're not planning on publishing it professionally engraved - it's generally better to go buy or print some manuscript paper and write it out by hand.

[JDenton61]

I just use the keyboard with MuseScore. I can move along pretty quickly, especially with the sound on so I can hear any mistypes as I go along.

Mainly, I use it to add custom lyrics to familiar hymn tunes for church. The lyrics function on MuseScore is a bit slower and more finicky for me.