Proper notation of tuplets

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klavier777
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2020 7:41 am
Sibelius Version: 2020.06
Operating System: Windows

Post by klavier777 » Thu Sep 10, 2020 7:44 am

Hello everyone.
This might seem really basic question but is there a "proper" way to notate tuplets?
A certain composer's music that I'm arranging, uses tuplet notation that is "illegal" and Sibelius will not let me input it the way it is written unless I create it as a ratio. If I don't use not uses ratios and notate the tuplet with just a number, which of the following is more correct or are both acceptable?
I was always under the impression that you used the longest note value until you get to the next common denominator.
For example triplets are 8th notes because 4s are regular 16th notes. The next common denominator is 8 so for quintuplets to septulets you would write them as 16th notes, etc.
I get more confused when tuplets have to be notated over 2 beats.
For the 1st example, I'm trying to create 7 notes over 2 beats. Using the rule above, the notation on the left seems to be correct. However, 7 is only 1 note away from being 8 16th notes so wouldn't the notation on the right make more sense? Or would that confuse the performer into thinking the 7 notes are actually over 1 quarter beat if they don't look ahead to see that it is only a half note and not a dotted half.
For the 2nd and 3rd examples, I'm trying to create a run over 4 beats. the 2nd example again it seems like the notation of the left is correct. If we had 12 notes, they would be 4 sets of 8th note triplets so using 16th notes to notate 10 notes seems "wrong". If we were to go beyond 12 notes though, perhaps 16th notes make more sense?
Now if the measure with 10 notes occurred right before the measure with 13 notes, does it make sense to use the same note value or would using 10 8th notes followed by 13 16th notes confuse the player?
Any thoughts, suggestions, answers would be helpful! Much appreciation in advance!Image


MikeLyons
Posts: 1631
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:20 pm
Sibelius Version: Ult. 2024.3.1/7.5
Operating System: Windows

Post by MikeLyons » Thu Sep 10, 2020 8:36 am

There are no images. Can you take screenshots or photos? Images must be LESS than 1MB.
Sib 6.2, 7.5 and 2023.6, Windows 11, 32GB RAM, 16TB 7200RPM Storage, 2TB SSD, Note Performer 3.3.2, EWQLSO, EWQLSC, Harmony Assistant and some others. mike@mike-lyons.co.uk

klavier777
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2020 7:41 am
Sibelius Version: 2020.06
Operating System: Windows

Post by klavier777 » Sat Sep 12, 2020 7:04 am

Sorry. I thought the image was visible.
Tuplets.jpg
Tuplets.jpg (89.2 KiB) Viewed 1719 times

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