To create a new score, use one of the following options:
This will open the New Score dialog (More instructions about this dialog are below). Once you've finished setting up your score, it will be visible in the Score tab.
When creating a new score, you can either choose instruments yourself, or you can use a template that comes pre-configured with appropriate instruments (These can always be changed later).
In the New Score dialog, make sure the Choose instruments tab is selected.
MuseScore contains over 500 instruments. Instruments are grouped into categories, and categories are organized into families. If you know what you’re looking for, you can simply type the name of your desired instrument in the search bar. Alternatively, you can browse instruments by group from the Family dropdown menu.
To add an instrument to your score:
Instruments are automatically arranged according to the order shown in the dropdown menu under Your Score. From this menu, you can choose from a range of standard score configurations or use a custom one.
To manually change the order of instruments:
To delete an instrument from your score:
You can also delete multiple instruments at once by first holding down Shift and selecting multiple instruments, then clicking the trash icon.
Scores can also be created from pre-configured templates.
Templates are organized into categories based on musical style or ensemble configuration. Each template contains the instruments most commonly required for a particular type of score. Instruments are ordered and styled according to conventional practice.
To create a score from a template:
You can also search across all available templates in the search bar.
Visit Templates and styles to learn more templates, including how to create your own for future use.
Click Next in the New score dialog to specify additional information about your score.
By default, new scores are created with a key signature containing no sharps or flats (C major). Specify a different key signature by clicking the button under Key signature. Major keys are shown first; minor keys can be displayed by selecting the Minor tab.
New scores will be created in 4/4 by default. Change this by clicking the button under Time signature. Change the number of beats per bar using the arrows in the spin box, and change the beat quality from the dropdown menu. You can also select common and cut-common (alla-breve) time signatures in this popup.
By default, new scores will play at a tempo of crotchet (quarter note) = 120 beats per minute (bpm). Metronome markings are not automatically included in new scores.
To customize the starting playback tempo, and to show a metronome marking above the uppermost stave:
Learn more about tempo text indications, metronome markings, and playback speed in tempo markings.
New scores are created with 32 measures and no pickup (anacrusis). To change the starting number of measures in your new score:
Learn more about Adding and removing measures at any time after score creation.
To start your score with a pickup:
You can always create a pickup later. Learn how to do this in Pickup and non-metered measures.
Enter text in the fields at the bottom of the New score dialog, and MuseScore will automatically place it in an appropriate format in your new score. You can enter text labels for the score's:
This information also becomes data in the score's project properties (menu File), which you can change at any time.
Once you've finished specifying additional score information, click Done to confirm your selections and create your score.
There are three ways to change existing score instruments: