How to add Music Notation to Your Posts

[fep]

A few form members have asked me how I add music notation to posts...


The short answer is you take a picture of your music notation and then post the picture on your post.


Here is how to do that in excruciating detail:


Three comments first, 1) you'll obviously need notation software, I use Sibelius 6 which is quite expensive. For free notation software I've read good things about TuxGuitar: http://tuxguitar.herac.com.ar/ 2) This may seem like a lot of steps but it's easy once you get use to it, I can do the whole process in under one minute. 3) I use a PC, these details are PC specific. I'm sure it is very similar on a Mac.


Step 1 – Create an image of your notation.


This is done by pasting a 'print screen' into an image software. With your Notation software up, running, active and the image of what you want to post displayed; perform a print screen by holding down the 'Alt' key and then pushing the 'Print Screen' key (the 'Alt' key is right next to the space bar and the 'Print Screen' key is on the top row of keys 3rd from the right).


Now open your image software. I use the “Paint” program that comes with all PCs. That program is found by clicking Start – Programs – Accessories - Paint


When Paint opens select Edit – Paste (Edit – the drop down window at the top of the screen).


Your should now be in paint and look something like this:



Let's assume I just want to post that first lick. In paint you crop by using the select button which is the top left button on the vertical tool bar. After clicking that button you click drag over the area you want to post. That looks like this:



Next select Edit (the drop down window) and select 'Copy To'





Here you'll have to give it a file type, location, and a name. I use the default type which is 24-bit Bitmap, I save to the My Pictures folder. Remember where you saved it.


You've now created an image of the notation you want to post.


Step 2 – Use a host for the image and post to the forum


I use and will be discussing this free image hosting site (note you don't have to sign up to use this, I didn't sign up):


http://imageshack.us/


It looks like this:




I've already clicked the 'Browse' button and selected New Lick from My Pictures.

[fep]

Continued:


Now you click the 'Upload' button. And this page displays with links of the image. I click to deactivate the 'Include Details' and then click and copy ('ctrl – C') the Hotlink to forums (1) (the second link from the bottom).



Then you paste ('Ctrl – V') that link into your post on the Jazz Guitar Forum.


Honestly this all takes under one minute.

Oh yeah here's the notation image I created:

[gersdal]

Excellent

[randalljazz]

now, if only the webmaster could figure out a way to embed music notation software in vBulletin...

[blis]

Originally Posted by randalljazz

now, if only the webmaster could figure out a way to embed music notation software in vBulletin...

lol thats what I thought had been done when I saw the title of the thread

[Nowhere]

If you would like the image background to be a little less grainy you can:

Open the file you want to use on Sibelius, then go to file > export > graphics:



You'll then get this screen, take notice of where the file is being saved. I always save as PNG (Portable Network Graphics) mainly out of habit. Set dots per in to 300: then click 'OK'



Then click on the folder and open with paint:



The good thing I find about this is that I can send the score to friends that don't have Sibelius and they can still open it as an image.

[Krenwin]

Nice IT

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I cheat and skip the "image shack" step. If you "go advanced" in your reply you can upload an image to this forum as an attachment. But this makes the image appear, sometimes just as a shrunken thumbnail, at the bottom of the post. But now the image has an HTTP url! Post your reply to discover the URL given to the full-sized image, then go back edit your reply and insert this image where you want it. This may not work if your image file is too large -- it may be resized autmagically in that case.

[Krenwin]

Yes, thank you very much Bro(ther) it's a small step for mankind, but.........

[Krenwin]

on other pc' s it's the fn knob, on my pc it's the second from left under,
+ prt sc
good luck.

[JakeAcci]

Noteflight - Online Music Notation Software is an amazing free notation program. So, noteflight -> mspaint-> either direct upload like bigdaddy says (haven't tried it myself) or simply uploading to google docs works smoothly.

P.S. You don't have to download noteflight - you use it via the website.

[Krenwin]

No comment

[jamsebrown]

According to Me The band's website you need to clear in its statement. The front page of your band website with embedded media player, play your clip or an entire song recording. Although you do not want to put your home on the "sale of music", you think it is clear, your band provided on the site CD or music download .