Beam angles

The angles of the beams on eighth notes (and smaller values) can be set either globally or one-by-one. You can also specify flat beams (no angling). See also Patterson Beams plug-in.

To set the beam angle style globally

1. From the Document Menu, choose Document Options, then select Beams. The Beam options box appear.
2. Choose a beaming style from the Beaming Style popup menu. Below are some examples of beaming style differences for the various beaming styles. Flat beams make all the beams flat in the entire document. See Document Options-Beams for more information.

The determining note or notes are marked with an X.

3. Click OK (or press return).

To change or restore the angle of a beam (Special Tools)

1. Click the Special Tools Tool  , and click the measure in question.
2. Click the Beam Angle Tool   . A handle appears at the beginning and the end of the beam.
3. Drag the right handle up or down to change the beam angle. Drag the left handle up or down to change the stem heights. To restore the beam to its default angle and height, click the handle you used to change the position of the beam; press delete.

To remove angle modifications from a selected region

1. Click the Selection Tool   and select a region. See Selecting music for some region-selecting shortcuts.
2. From the Edit Menu, choose Edit Filter. Check (only) Stem and Beam Alterations. Click OK (or press return) twice.  

To change the angle of secondary beams

See Beaming: feathered beaming.

To limit the steepness of beams

1. From the Document Menu, choose Document Options, then select Beams. The Beam options appear.
2. Enter a new value in the Max Slope box. The number in this text box specifies the maximum vertical distance between the high and low ends of any beam, measured vertically in lines and spaces. See Document Options-Beams.
3. Click OK (or press return).

To allow only flat beams on a single staff

See also Global Staff Attributes Plug-in.

1. Click the Staff Tool   and double-click the handle of the staff which should have flat beams. The Staff Attributes dialog box appears.
2. Select Flat Beams from the Options section of the dialog box. See Staff Attributes dialog box for details. If you have a number of staves to select Flat Beams for use the Global Staff Attributes plug-in. This plug-in allows you to set up the staff attributes for a number of staves at once. See Global Staff Attributes Plug-in.
3. Click OK (or press return).

To change a beam from the default angle to flat

See Flat Beams Plug-in, Flat Beams (Remove) Plug-in

1. Click the Speedy Entry Tool   and click in a measure where the music has beams that you would like to be flat. The Speedy frame appears.
2. Click on the first note of the beam group and press \ (backslash). This will change the beam to flat. If you have a number of beams you would like flattened, use the Flat Beams Plug-in which will allow you to select a region with the Selection Tool and flatten all the beams in the region. See Flat Beams Plug-in, Flat Beams (Remove) Plug-in.