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Help engraving grace note slurs
Posted: 29 Jul 2026, 14:27
by KlausWH
- Screenshot.png (94.42 KiB) Viewed 575 times
Hello all,
I was wondering if anybody could offer any suggestions for this bar here. I find every way of slurring quite clunky, and I haven't really developed an 'eye' for engraving slurs yet.
Any help would be appreciated.
P.S. The middle chord isn't meant to be slurred. This is a typesetting of a manuscript.
Re: Help engraving grace note slurs
Posted: 29 Jul 2026, 15:07
by OCTO
Is this someone else's music you need to copy exactly, or you are free to slightly edit the notation?
Re: Help engraving grace note slurs
Posted: 29 Jul 2026, 16:21
by KlausWH
OCTO wrote: 29 Jul 2026, 15:07
Is this someone else's music you need to copy exactly, or you are free to slightly edit the notation?
I have to keep it pretty much exactly the same. It's a typesetting of someone else's manuscript for a commission.
Re: Help engraving grace note slurs
Posted: 29 Jul 2026, 17:13
by Magnus Johansson
Hello, Klaus! Would you provide a little more notation context like clefs, time and key signature, and the instrument playing?
Re: Help engraving grace note slurs
Posted: 29 Jul 2026, 22:19
by OCTO
I think the problem is rather in the HORIZONTAL spacing, than slurs.
It is too tight, you have even done kerning for the accidentals of the last chord, which is not needed. To my eyes it looks too squeezed.
More horizontal space will give you more options.
My draft.
- Screenshot_20260730_012118_Flexcil.jpg (226.23 KiB) Viewed 546 times
Re: Help engraving grace note slurs
Posted: 31 Jul 2026, 09:27
by KlausWH
Magnus Johansson wrote: 29 Jul 2026, 17:13
Hello, Klaus! Would you provide a little more notation context like clefs, time and key signature, and the instrument playing?
Yes of course! The instrument is piano. Thank you.
- Screenshot2.png (84.75 KiB) Viewed 489 times
Re: Help engraving grace note slurs
Posted: 31 Jul 2026, 09:57
by KlausWH
Small Update!
The
fff sub. is actually meant to be on the first grace notes. Using the solution suggested by OCTO, this is what I have so far. I feel like I've still done an amateur job, but it's better than what came before at least.
- Screenshot3.png (101.59 KiB) Viewed 483 times
And thanks for all the help so far everyone (especially OCTO)!
Re: Help engraving grace note slurs
Posted: 31 Jul 2026, 11:49
by John Ruggero
It's a shame that you have to engrave it exactly as it stands because I think something like following could be more elegant:
- Grace note chord and slur.png (51.53 KiB) Viewed 470 times
The missing slur on the middle chord will strike most performers as an error of omission. You might check with the composer if possible. If the composer really wants the grace note disconnected from the following chord, a staccato dot on the grace note would clear up any confusion.
Re: Help engraving grace note slurs
Posted: 01 Aug 2026, 13:16
by OCTO
Why do ties in Dorico look much bolder than slurs? Is it a default? Also having the tip about 3 times larger.
Re: Help engraving grace note slurs
Posted: 01 Aug 2026, 13:17
by OCTO
John Ruggero wrote: 31 Jul 2026, 11:49
It's a shame that you have to engrave it exactly as it stands because I think something like following could be more elegant:
Grace note chord and slur.png
The missing slur on the middle chord will strike most performers as an error of omission. You might check with the composer if possible. If the composer really wants the grace note disconnected from the following chord, a staccato dot on the grace note would clear up any confusion.
Also in this John's example you can see that the grace note is not so close to the main note. That is the issue: if you put it too close there is no chance to have a slur there.