How to notate a keyboard fingering change

This HowTo explains how to notate two fingering numbers under a curved line, used to denote a fingering change in keyboard music.

The following is often met in keyboard music:

Finger change

The curved line over two fingering numbers means to press the key with the fourth finger, then switch your fingers so that the fifth finger is pressing the key.

It is accomplished in MuseScore via the following procedure:

  1. Add the first fingering.
  2. Double click the fingering to enter edit mode.
  3. Move the cursor to the right of the digit, then press the F2 key to open the Special Characters window.
  4. Ensure that the Common Symbols tab of the Special Characters window that has popped up, is selected
  5. Scroll down to the bottom of the window and double click the curved line (see image below).

Special_characters.PNG

  1. Close the Special Characters window.
  2. Increase the size of the curved line character until it looks right (I found that 11 pt works well with the default size of fingering numbers of 8 pt).
  3. Type the second finger's number using your keyboard.
  4. You're done! Congratulations!

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