Grace note notation

Question

I'm having a heck of a time wrapping my head around appoggiatura and acciaccatura and other grace note notations to achieve the performance I'm specifically looking for.

The image above represents how I'd like this chord performed (but it's ugly AF). In short the grace note should be crushed ON the beat and quickly resolve to the fifth. This is why I selected the acciaccatura as my symbol as shown in the score below:

Based on everything I've read recently (to my shame, I should know this stuff) this isn't quite right, but neither is the appoggiatura either. This is further confirmed by how MuseScore performs the second version (plays the grace note ON the beat but also delays the bottom note to strike at the same time as the resolved fifth).

Is my notation (with the additional text) okay or is there a more clear / more accurate notation I should use to better convey my intention, short of explicitly writing that really ugly but accurate notation in the first example (this is for a kids/beginner piece so should try not to look too intimidating, but still be correct)?

Answer 1

1. Technically, the difference between on- and before-the-beat graces is the slash through the stem, so I would print it without the slash. But this is abused or overlooked often enough in typesetting that I think adding the textual comment is wise; without it the performer might either unthinkingly play before the beat or conclude that there should have been a slash. (Especially if this is a kids' piece, they might not know about appoggiatura vs acciaccatura, let alone be able to say/spell them).
2. You're not really describing true appoggiatura; if you were, as a performer, I might be tempted to play the grace as an entire eighth note. You might consider printing it as a 16th-note or even 32nd-note grace.
3. As to the issue of getting the F into the grace, maybe just write it that way, adding an F to the grace and tying to the main note. I agree that, without this, a performer might only play the F with the C (though common sense would probably cause them to play it on the beat with the B). JimM's advice in the comment might be even better: split the main note into two voices, with stem down for the F: Now even if the grace is only a B, the performer would almost certainly play the F on the beat (even if MuseScore doesn't). I think this solution would be clearest for humans.
4. What's so bad about notating as a 64th? Unless you want a degree of rubato and performer's liberty about length. (And of course that it makes the kiddos learn about 64th notes.)
5. Don't make your decisions based too much on a notation software's playback. It's only as smart as its programming.
6. Just so we're clear, using the B natural as a lower neighbor is more appropriate than the C flat.