10: Drum notation - how to create silent slash marks

In Sibelius 3 (and Sibelius 2), slash marks are set never to play back, and do not transpose. If you do not have Sibelius 3, get an upgrade.

You can achieve the same effect in earlier versions of Sibelius as follows:

Select a bar in the staff, then type Command-I or Alt+Enter to access its Properties. Click the Instrument button, and set the highest note to F9.

In the percussion map dialog box (Create > Staff Type Change, click Drum Set radio button, select 5 Lines (drum set), click Modify button, choose Drum Set tab):

1. Select Beat without stem for the notehead, then select Use Midi drum note and set the pitch to F#9.

2. Click Add, and then click on the middle line of the staff.

3. Click OK and then Close.

Slash marks can now be entered on the center-line of the drum staff using notehead number 4.

Thanks to David Haines for this answer.