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Create the first c as normal 8th note, then use the key combination CMD+3 and notate the b and c. To create tuplets higher than a nonuplet (because your keyboard only has the number-keys 1 till 9), select the first note and from the menu choose Create/Tuplet:

Fill in the amount of notes in the tuplet you want and hit OK. There are some choices in this dialog window, but you can leave them as they are. To delete a tuplet, select the number and hit delete. As with most other objects, you can flip a tuplet to the other side of the staff with the Edit/Flip command, move them around and stretch or narrow the brackets by mouse-dragging and with the arrow keys. 

The above information is all you need to work with tuplets in Sibelius, but if you want to know more about settings and giving the tuplets your own look, read on…

Engraving Rules
Sibelius positions tuplets according to the settings in /House Style/Engraving Rules/Tuplets:

The 1^st option “Position tuplets as if all notes are beamed together”,  is Sibelius’ default setting and will place the tuplets according to traditional engraving rules. This setting is recommended by the Sibelius Reference. 

The 2^nd option, “Position tuplets relative to first note” gives you the freedom to adjust the way Sibelius displays the tuplets:

Position with bracket

Above:  

Below: 

Head End: 

Stem End: 

Position without bracket

Above: 

Below: 

Head End: 

Stem End: 

Vertical Distance from Notes
Here you can find the option “Avoid Staff”, and will place the tuplets inside or outside the staff:

Outside staff:



 

Inside staff:



Always above on vocal staves
This checkbox  should always be checked to avoid clashing tuplets with the lyrics under the staff:

Number Angle
Rotate single digits is better left unchecked, otherwise the number could be difficult to read:

 Checked:     Unchecked: 

Auto bracket

When this option is checked AND when in the Properties window the tuplet in the score is defined as Auto Bracket…


any tuplet that is connected by a secondary beam will get a hidden bracket.

Auto bracket checked: 

Auto bracket un-checked:  

Vertical distance from Notes

Here you can set the distance between the tuplet and the stem or note head.  Experiment around with the values if you like and see what the results are.

Personally I like my tuplets a little closer, so to avoid dragging them, I decrease the value to 0.3 in the first tow fields:

In the next field, Horizontal Distance from the Note, you can set the distance between the left and right bracket sides and the notes:

All the values are set to 0 to create a very tight placements, but if you want you can change them to your own liking:


will result in this:

(mmm, maybe it’s better to stick with the defaults here…)

Adjust to publisher's wishes
Every publisher has their own House Style, and they could ask you for example to have tuplets with all notes (or with a rest in the middle) to be notated without a bracket and with the number on the Stem-End:

Also, when a tuplet is incomplete they would like it always to have a bracket at the Head-End:

Plus, the bracket and number should never be placed on the staff, but alway able or below it. To let Sibelius do this, choose these settings:

"Ah, yes, and one more thing. Would it be possible to notate the bracket line in the same angle as the beam of the note group?"

Luckily, this is the default setting in Sibelius 6. However, you can also have the line placed horizontally. To do this, go to House style/Edit Lines/Staff Lines/:

Now the bracket will always placed horizontally:

This can however give problems with the magnetic layout options for the bracket, so it’s actually better to give the bracket the same angle as the beam. 

Properties window: Notes/Tuplet
When you open the Properties Window and go to the Note panel at the bottom, there is a section titled Tuplet:

Here you can choose how the tuplet should be displayed. In the left menu you can choose how the value should be displayed:
 




In the right menu you can choose how the bracket should be displayed:



Auto Bracket works in combination with the Auto Bracket setting in Engraving Rules/Tuplets. See above for more information.

TIP:
To avoid cluttering, when a pattern of tuplets is made clear, hide them and write simile:

And always try to place the tuplet and fingerings on opposite side of the staff to avoid confusing:

That’s the story about tuplets, to see everything in action have a look at the video below:

best wishes,

André