Composing with Finale Notepad
  1. First you need to Download Finale NotePad
  2. The first time you run you will be asked to enter your serial number
  3. When the program starts, there will be a window explaining other versions of Finale that you can purchase if you want more features. Click continue if you are not interested.
  4. The "Wizard" will help to get your piece started
    1. Think of a Title for your piece (you can always change it later)
    2. Enter your first name as the composer (or everyone's names if you are working in a group)
    3. You probably don't want to change the page size or orientation, so just click "Next"
    4. You can choose up to 8 staves to compose with (some instruments, like piano, use 2 staves) Decide what instrument(s) you want to compose for and "Add" them. When you are satisfied click "Next"
    5. Choose a time signature
    6. Choose a Concert key signature (remember, not all instruments notes sound the same) You can change it later if you make a mistake.
    7. Click Finish and you will see your music with a bunch of empty measures.
  5. You can change the Key with the Key Signature Tool
    1. Change the before you add notes. Otherwise it will transpose the notes that you have already written.
  6. Decide how long you want the piece to be and use the measure tool to select measures to delete. The 'Wizard' starts you with 31 measures.
    1. Click an unneeded measure (or select many measures by holding a click and dragging to other measures.)
    2. Press the <Del> key to delete the measure(s)
    3. You can always add more measures later.
  7. Start placing notes with the Simple Entry Tool
    1. You can select from a variety of note values and rests
    2. If you make a mistake, select the “Eraser”. Just click the point of the arrow on top of what you wish to delete
    3. You can also add accidentals (Flats, Sharps and Naturals)
    4. The tie connects two notes of the same pitch. (If you want to slur that is a different tool)
    5. The tuplet tool is used to play three notes where only two would normally be, and vice versa.
  8. The Smart shape tools allows you to make Slurs, Crescendos and Decresendos
    1. Double click where you want the shape to start (on a note in the case of slurs) and drag to where you want the shape to end
  9. The Articulation tool allows you to add dynamics and articulations.
    1. Click a note you want to assign a marking to.
    2. Select the marking you wish to place
  10. The Repeat Tool lets you create repeats where you want them
  11. Use the Lyric Tool to add words to your composition
    1. Remember that you can only have one syllable per note
  12. The Text tool lets you change the title, composer or add musical directions (i.e ritardano, or A Little Faster)
  13. You can have the computer play your composition for you (notes only) by pressing the green play button
    1. You can change the measure the computer will start the playback by clicking the up or down arrow
    2. You can also change the tempo and what note value should get the beat
  14. Save your composition
  15. Print and perform it (or find someone else to perform it)