How to adjust spacing before first note in each system?
How can I adjust the spacing that appears before the first note in the first measure of each system? I've tried setting most of the Measure padding to zero, including all of the following:
* Clef to note
* Barline to note
* Clef/key signature to first note
* Time signature to first note
The above adjustments work for the second and subsequent measures of each system, but not the first.
The yellow arrow points to what I'm trying to adjust.
This spacing seems to be present regardless of whether time signature, key signature, or even the clef is present.
I've attached a sample score. I'm using MuseScore version (64-bit): 4.0.2-230651553, revision: dbe7c6d.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| space1.png | 14.12 KB |
| space2.png | 6.8 KB |
| space3.png | 7.54 KB |
| space4.png | 3.4 KB |
| Sample score.mscz | 47.47 KB |
Comments
I think that the official advice would probably be: "Do not change this setting".
The logical place for a global setting would be here:
![MS4_Style_Bar_Padding.jpg]( "MS4_Style_Bar_Padding.jpg")
Format > Style... > Bar [Measure] > Padding
But unfortunately there is no option for the padding in Time signature to note in the Padding section:
[EDIT]
The setting for Format > Style... > Bar [Measure] > System Header > Time signature to first note does indeed work, but it applies only to the first system of the score! I do wonder whether this setting should have been placed in the Padding section, so that it applies score-wide?
However you can achieve what you want manually, one system at a time:
1. Select the first note in the first bar/measure of the system
2. Then: Properties > Appearance > Leading space (increase/decrease)
This is not a score-wide setting: it only applies to that specific note in that system.
In reply to I think that the official… by DanielR
You wrote:
The setting for Format > Style... > Bar [Measure] > System Header > Time signature to first note does indeed work, but it applies only to the first system of the score!
It applies not only the first system of the score....
It also applies to any time signature change at the beginning of another system. A time signature change in the middle of another system is unaffected.
It seems to me this is what the OP wants - to adjust spacing only at the beginning (e.g., first note) of a system. Since the first note of a system will usually follow a clef, and/or a key signature, and/or a time signature, those System header settings (both of them used together) seem to work.
In reply to You wrote: The setting for… by Jm6stringer
"It seems to me this is what the OP wants..."
Ok, maybe I misunderstood. What the OP's original question asked was this (my emphasis):
"How can I adjust the spacing that appears before the first note in the first measure of each system?"
In reply to "It seems to me this is what… by DanielR
Indeed, this is my question. And more specifically, how can I reduce the spacing to less than what it currently is?
Apologies for not drawing arrows in all my previous images, I've added them in case it helps make my question clearer:
![space6.png]( "space6.png")
Thanks for everyone's suggestions so far, but I believe they're already applied in the sample score I attached.
Suggestion 1) Format > Style > Measure > and under 'System header' <-- These are already set to zero in my sample but spacing is still shown
Suggestion 2) Select the first note in the first bar/measure of the system, Then: Properties > Appearance > Leading space (increase/decrease) <-- I checked these notes and the Leading space is currently zero. Changing to -0.5 reduces the spacing slightly, but any further negative numbers less than -0.5 don't reduce the spacing any further.
Any other suggestions?
In reply to Indeed, this is my question… by violinlemondru…
I think that this discussion might get a reaction if you post a link to this thread in the Engraving forum. That forum is read by @oktophonie - he is MuseScore's engraving expert who sets the priorities for future fixes and developments in layout and engraving.
In reply to I think that this discussion… by DanielR
Thanks, I've posted there
Try this...
![System header.png]( "System header.png")
Format > Style > Measure > and under 'System header' use these settings:
They seem to apply only at the beginning of systems. In other words, a clef, key, or time signature change in the middle of a system will not use these values.
How to adjust spacing before first note in each system?
Ahh...
So you wish to make the spacing smaller than presently allowed, and not merely adjust (larger/smaller).
Format > Style > Measure > and 'System header' does adjust, but makes smaller only to a minimum which you wish to exceed?
What smallest spacing are you looking for? An actual touching/overlapping?
As mentioned, the 'Engraving' forum is likely more relevant for a special issue like this.
In reply to How to adjust spacing before… by Jm6stringer
I don't necessarily want them to be touching/overlapping - the sample score was an extreme example just to highlight the issue. Personally I would prefer the spacing before the first note of all the measures be consistent, instead of having extra spacing in the first measure.
The workaround DanielR mentioned seems to have started working after upgrading to MuseScore 4.1. It’s still tedious for large scores, and if any other changes cause the first measures to become subsequent ones there’s too little spacing. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover the new version magically fixed another spacing issue involving repeats that I was planning to ask about. In v4.0 there was a lot of extra space before the start of a repeat section when the repeat sign was at the start of the system.