Entering and editing text

Overview

Musescore has different text editing functionalities. This chapter and other chapters under handbook Text section focus on the Musescore Text objects, individual objects that can be placed on a score, and objects containing it. There are also score settings that add text onto pages automatically.

Types of text

Musescore Text object

A Musescore Text object is an object on a score that contains individual characters that can be entered and removed by using (typing on) a computer keyboard. It is usually attached to a note or a rest, some of them attach to another object.

• Staff Text can be attached to a staff;
• Jumps and Markers are attached to measures;
• Some types (Title, Subtitle etc.) must be attached to a frame, see Frame, and Text blocks chapters.

Different types of Text object are not interchangeable. They have distinct property fields that affect how Musescore functions. For example, a Staff Text object styled as a metronome mark can never be configured to change playback tempo inside Musescore. The Tempo object should be used to change playback tempo inside Musescore.

To check the object type, select an object on a score, its type is displayed on the status bar.

Score settings

Long and short name of Musescore Instrument (see Setting up your score chapter) is automatically added to the left of staff in each system (page layout concept, see Page layout concepts chapter). Names can be changed direcly on a score using text edit mode, or using Staff/Part property window, see Staff/Part properties chapter. They are, by default, only added when there are more than one instrument. To change this default behavior, change the setting under Format → Style → Score.

Measure numbers can be added automatically. Configure it at Format → Style → Measure nubmers, see Measure numbering chapter.

Musescore's header and footer functionality adds text to every pages automatically. Configure it at Format → Style → Header & footer. Placeholder text (special symbols) can be used to add information like the current page number, copyright claim etc. Placeholder text is also used to add metadata tags, the digital data of a score file, onto the score dynamically. See Header and footer chapter.

Adding text object to a score

Different types of Text object are not interchangeable, decide on the suitable object type before adding it. Use the chart under "Musescore Text object" section. For general engraving or visual display purpose, it is recommended to use a Staff text or System text.

The following explains how to add text to a note or a rest or a valid anchor outside frames. Adding text to a frame is covered in the Text blocks chapter.

From a palette

To add a text element to your score from a Palette, either select one or more notes/rests and click on the desired palette item; or drag the text from the palette onto a note/rest. e.g.

From the menu

If the text object is associated with a staff you can add it by selecting a note, then choosing a text option from Add→Text.

Using a keyboard shortcut

Many text types can be entered using keyboard shortcuts. Shortcuts are shown to the right of items in Add→Text.

To create a text object, select a note, then enter the required shortcut.

Deleting text object on a score

To edit *text automatically added by score settings*, see "Score setting" section.

To delete object(s) on a score, select the objects then press Delete.

Editing text object content

To edit *text automatically added by score settings*, see "Score setting" section.

Text and text line objects are edited with two different methods, depending on the object type:

• edit directly in text edit mode, as explained below; or
• edit properties in the Properties panel, see the text object's specific chapter.

To enter text edit mode use one of the following methods:

• Double click on the text object, or
• Select the text object and press Return, or
• Select the text object and press F2 or Alt+Shift+E, or
• Right-click on the text object and select "Edit element."

To leave text edit mode either press Escape or click on a part of the score outside the edit area.

Keyboard shortcuts available inside text edit mode

The following keyboard shortcuts are available in text edit mode:

Special characters

Characters not available from the standard keyboard may be accessed using the Special Characters window.

To open Special Characters, in text edit mode (see "Editing text object content" section), press Shift+F2; or click on Insert special characters in the Text section of the Properties panel.

The dialog is divided into 3 tabs: Common symbols, musical symbols and unicode symbols. The musical and unicode tabs are further subdivided into alphabetically-arranged categories. It is preferable to use items in Common symbols tab as they are functional, see Musescore 3 handbook Fonts chapter.

Clicking an item in the Special Characters dialog immediately adds it to the text where the cursor is positioned. Multiple items can be applied without closing the dialog box, and the user can even continue to type normally, delete characters, enter numerical character codes etc., with it open.

In text edit mode, the following keyboard shortcuts add a functional version of special characters (whenever possible) into the current Text object, see Musescore 3 handbook Fonts chapter.