Notes are entered in Note entry mode. First select a note or rest as start 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 on Windows or Linux as of version 0.9.4. 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

Colors

MuseScore colors out-of-range notes for 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..., click on the Note Entry tab, and unmark "Color notes outside of usable pitch range".

External links

• Video tutorial: Note entry basics by Katie Wardrobe