Notes are entered in Note entry mode. First select a note or rest on the score as your starting position for note entry. When entering notes you are always replacing existing notes or rests. So the duration of a measure does not change.

• N: Enters Note entry mode.
• Escape: Leaves Note entry mode.

After entering Note entry mode you should select the duration of the note you want to enter by selecting a value from the note palette or by the corresponding keyboard shortcut.

In version 0.9.4 and later the keyboard shortcuts for selecting the note duration are:

• 1: 64th note (semi-demi-semiquaver)
• 2: 32nd note (demi-semiquaver)
• 3: 16th note (semiquaver)
• 4: Eighth note (quaver)
• 5: Quarter note (crochet)
• 6: Half note (minim)
• 7: Whole note (semibreve)
• 8: Double whole note (breve)
• 9: Longa
• .: A period (dot) changes the selected duration into a dotted note

In version 0.9.3 or earlier the note duration shortcuts involve two keys:

• Alt+1: Quarter note (crochet)
• Alt+2: Eighth note (quaver)
• Alt+3: 16th note (semiquaver)
• Alt+4: 32nd note (demi-semiquaver)
• Alt+5: 64th note (semi-demi-semiquaver)
• Alt+6: Whole note (semibreve)
• Alt+7: Half note (minim)
• .: A period (dot) changes the selected duration into a dotted note

Notes are entered by typing: C D E F G A B C

Space creates a rest: C D Space E. Notice that the duration you select for the notes (quarter/crochet notes in this example) also determines the duration of the rest (quarter/crochet rest)

Notes are added to chords by holding Shift and entering a note name: C D Shift+F Shift+A E F

Add an augmentation dot to a note: 5 . C 4 D E F G A (Note: versions 0.9.3 or earlier use different keyboard shortcuts to change note duration. See section above for more information)

To change octaves use the following key combinations:

• Ctrl+Up (Mac: ⌘+Up): Increase the pitch of a note by one octave.
• Ctrl+Down (Mac: ⌘+Down): Decrease the pitch of a note by one octave.

Other editing commands:

• x: Flip note stem direction.
• Shift+x: Move note head to opposite side of stem.

MIDI keyboard

You can also insert pitches using a MIDI keyboard in MuseScore version 0.9.6 or later. Version 0.9.3 or earlier has support for MIDI keyboard on Linux only.

1. Connect your MIDI keyboard to the computer and switch your keyboard on
2. Start MuseScore
3. Create a new score
4. Click to select the rest in measure 1 to indicate where you want note entry to begin
5. Press N to begin note entry mode
6. Select a note duration such as quarter note (crochet), as described above
7. Press a note on your MIDI keyboard, and notice that the pitch is added to your score

Note: the MIDI keyboard enters one note or chord at a time. This mode of note entry (often called "step-time entry") is fast and reliable. Some notation software tries to interpret "real-time entry" where the musician plays a passage and the software tries to create the notation. However the results are frequently unreliable even when played by a skilled musician using expensive software. MuseScore's focus is on more reliable forms of note entry.

If you have multiple MIDI devices connected to your computer you may need to tell MuseScore which one is the MIDI keyboard. Using version 0.9.6 or later go to Edit → Preferences... (Mac: MuseScore → Preferences...). In the preferences dialog click on the I/O tab and select your device under the section labeled "Choose PortMidi input device".

Colors

MuseScore colors out-of-range notes as yellow or red in versions 0.9.5 or later. Notes above or below the comfortable range of an amateur appear yellow, note beyond the comfortable range of a professional appear red. The colors are informational and appear on the computer screen but do not appear on printed copies of your scores. To disable note colors in versions 0.9.6 or later choose Edit → Preferences... (Mac: MuseScore → Preferences...), click on the Note Entry tab, and unmark "Color notes outside of usable pitch range".

External links

• Video tutorial: Note entry basics