Handbook for MuseScore 3

This translation is outdated, see the English version for a reference: MuseScore 3 Handbook

This handbook is for MuseScore version 3.0 and above. It is maintained and translated by the MuseScore community. Find out how you can help (If you are using MuseScore 2.x, you can still access the old handbook)..

STOP PRESS!: A new Handbook is being written to accompany the release of MuseScore 4. If you want to contribute see here for details.

Getting started

This chapter helps you to install and run MuseScore for the first time. It will introduce you to the various learning and help resources.

Basics

The previous →"Getting started" chapter guided you through the installation process.
This chapter shows you how to set up a new score using the MuseScore Wizard, and how to enter and edit basic music notation. The various parts of the program window are described—toolbars, Inspector, palettes etc.—as well as viewing and navigation options.

Notation

In the previous →"Basics" chapter you learned how to enter notes and interact with the palettes. The "Notation" chapter describes the different types of notation in more detail, including more advanced music notation.

See also →Advanced topics.

Sound and playback

MuseScore has "Sound and playback" capabilities built-in. This chapter covers the playback controls and ways to extend the instrument sounds.

Text

Many score elements in MuseScore are based on text, either alone (e.g., staff text, dynamics, tempo, fingering, lyrics, etc.) or in combination with lines (e.g., voltas, octave lines, guitar barre lines, etc.).

This chapter covers some of the different classes of text MuseScore supports, and formatting options.

Other types of text are covered in other chapters:

Formatting

Advanced topics

Support

This chapter describes how to find help using MuseScore: the best places to look, the best way to ask a question on the forums, and tips for reporting a bug.

Appendix