Key signatures
Standard key signatures are available in the Key Signatures palette in the Basic or Advanced workspaces. It is also possible to create custom key signatures (below).
Add a new key signature
Add new key signature to all staves
Use any of the following methods:
- Drag a key signature from the palette onto an empty part of a measure.
- Select a measure and click a key signature in the palette (double-click in versions prior to 3.4).
- Select a note and click a key signature in a palette (double-click in versions prior to 3.4).
Add new key signature to one staff only
If you wish to change the key signature of only one staff line, leaving others unchanged:
- Press Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) and hold while you drag a key signature from a palette onto a measure.
Replace an existing key signature
Replace key signature for all staves
Use any of the following methods:
- Drag a key signature from the palette onto the key signature to be replaced (or onto the measure containing the key signature).
- Select the key signature to be replaced, and click a new key signature in a palette (double-click in versions prior to 3.4).
Replace key signature for one staff only
If you wish to replace the key signature of only one staff, leaving others unchanged:
- Press Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) and hold while you drag a key signature from a palette onto the key signature to be replaced (or onto the measure containing the key signature).
Remove a key signature
Use any of the following methods:
- Click on an existing key signature and press Del.
- Drag the empty key signature ("open/atonal") from the palette (in the advanced workspace) onto the measure.
Naturals on key signature changes
By default, MuseScore only shows cancelling naturals when the key signature changes to that of C Major/A minor (no sharps or flats). In all other cases, it simply shows the new key signature without cancellations:
However, you can opt to display cancelling naturals for all key signature changes:
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From the menu, select Format → Style... → Accidentals. You'll see the options:
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Select one of the three options.
- If you are in a part and want the new option to apply to all parts, click on Apply to all parts.
- Click OK to exit.
For example, selecting the option "Before key signature if changing to fewer ♯ or ♭" gives:
And the option "After key signature if changing to fewer ♯ or ♭. Before if changing between ♯ and ♭" gives:
Key signature changes and multimeasure rests
Multimeasure rests are interrupted if there is change of key signature:
Courtesy key signatures
To turn off the display of a particular courtesy key signature:
- Select the relevant key signature and untick "Show courtesy" in the "Key Signature" section of the Inspector.
To turn off the display of all courtesy key signatures:
- From the menu, select Format → Style... → Page, and untick "Create courtesy key signatures."
Note: Courtesy key signatures are not displayed at section breaks.
Custom key signatures
To create a custom key signature:
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Press Shift+K to display the Key signatures section of the Master palette.
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In the Create Key signature panel, drag accidentals from the palette onto the staff above to create the desired key signature. Note: The treble clef is only decorative—custom key signatures for any type of staff can be created here.
- Use the Clear button, if required, to remove all accidentals from the "staff."
- To move the new key signature into the library (center panel), press Add. To delete a key signature from the library, right-click it (Mac: Ctrl-click) and, in the drop-down menu, select Delete.
Note: A limitation of custom key signatures is that they cannot be transposed in the usual way. If a transposition is needed, or where there is a clef change, you will need to create a new custom key signature.
To move a key signature from the Master palette to a custom palette:
- Drag and drop the key signature onto a palette.
To apply a key signature to the score directly from the Master palette, use one of the following methods:
- Select a measure and click a key signature in the Master palette (double-click in versions prior to 3.4).
- Drag a key signature from the Master palette onto a measure; alternatively, to apply to one staff only, hold Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) while dragging.