Articulations can be found in the Articulations palette.

These include all kinds of accents, staccato and vibrato markings.

Adding articulations to your score

Articulations can be added to your score in any of three ways:

Toolbar

Certain articulations (accent, marcato, staccato, and tenuto) can be added from the note input toolbar (above the document pane).

1. Select one or more notes;
2. Click on the desired icon in the articulations toolbar area.
   

Articulations palette

To add any articulation:

1. Select one or more notes;
2. Click on the desired articulation in the Articulations palette;

Alternatively, drag and drop an articulation symbol from the palette to a notehead.

Keyboard shortcuts

To add an articulation with a keyboard shortcut (i.e. accent, marcato, staccato, or tenuto):

1. Select one or more notes;
2. Apply the relevant shortcut from the list below:
   • Accent: Shift+V
   • Marcato: Shift+O
   • Staccato: Shift+S
   • Tenuto: Shift+N

Articulations playback

Certain articulations affect note playback—such as staccato, staccatissimo, louré (tenuto + staccato), and accents. This is handled automatically by the program.

Articulation properties

For a selected articulation any editable properties will be shown in the Properties panel.

Use the placement controls to either let MuseScore automatically choose the standard placement, or manually select above or below.

• Placement: This alters the position of the symbol above or below the note.

Articulation style

Certain default properties for articulations can be edited in Format→Style→Articulations, Ornaments.

Alignment options

• Align with stem
  

• Align with notehead
  

• Center between stem and notehead
  

Combined articulation options

• Always keep together
  

• Prefer closeness to notehead (combined articulations may become separated)
  

Dynamics are symbols indicating the relative loudness or softness of a note or phrase of music. They can be found in the Dynamics palette.

There are two types of dynamics: standard ones, such as p and ff etc., which apply to the score from the point where the dynamic appears; and single-note dynamics, such as sfz, which apply only to the note to which the dynamic is attached

Dynamics can be edited just like other text objects.

They have playback effect depending on each instrument's Sound setting selected in the Mixer, see MuseScore 3 features not implemented in MuseScore 4: Velocity controls.

Adding dynamics to your score

Dynamics palette

To apply a dynamic to the score, use one of the following methods:

• Select one or more notes and click a dynamic symbol in a palette.
• Drag a dynamic symbol from a palette onto a note.

Combining dynamics with expression text

If the dynamic you want is not available in the palette, like poco f, you can do one of the following:

To snap expression text to a dynamic

1. Select a dynamic or a note with a dynamic
2. Add an Expression text element from the Text palette and it will snap to the right of the dynamic

Snap to dynamic can be turned off in the Properties panel.

To add text to a dynamic

1. Select a dynamic
2. Enter edit mode (double click)
3. Type text before or after the dynamic text

Dynamic text and expression text can be styled independently in the Properties panel.

Adding text to a dynamic marking does not affect playback.

Keyboard shortcuts for adding dynamics

Dynamic	Windows & Linux Shortcut	Mac Shortcut
Piano p	Ctrl+Shift+P	Cmd+Shift+P
Forte f	Ctrl+Shift+F	Cmd+Shift+F
Mezzo m	Ctrl+Shift+M	Cmd+Shift+M
Rinforzando r	Ctrl+Shift+R	Cmd+Shift+R
Sforzando s	Ctrl+Shift+S	Cmd+Shift+S
Niente n	Ctrl+Shift+N	Cmd+Shift+N
Z z	Ctrl+Shift+Z	Cmd+Shift+Z

Dynamics properties

Select a dynamic marking and open the Properties panel to adjust its properties individually. To edit default dynamics styles in the score, see Dynamics style (below).

• Scale: Control the size of the dynamic marking.
• Avoid barlines: By default, dynamic markings avoid colliding with barlines, but this can be turned off..
• Position: Choose whether a dynamic sits above or below the stave
• Alignment with notehead: For dynamic markings with custom text added, choose whether the dynamics symbol or the entire string of text centers to its attached note (under Show more)
• Frame: Add a square or circular frame to the dynamic marking and customize its styling (under Show more)

Dynamics style

The default positioning of all dynamics in the score can be adjusted from Format→Style…→Dynamics.

Types of hairpin

Hairpins are symbols used to indicate gradual changes of volume in the score. There are two kinds: crescendo (getting louder) and decrescendo (getting quieter).

There are also crescendo and diminuendo lines which do the same thing:

All can be found in the Lines or Dynamics palettes.

Adding a hairpin to your score

Lines palette

To enter a hairpin from a palette use one of the following options:

• Select a range of notes or measures, then click on a hairpin in the palette.
• Drag and drop a hairpin onto a notehead. The hairpin will extend to the end of the measure.

Keyboard shortcuts

To enter a hairpin using a keyboard shortcut:

1. Select a range of notes or measures;
2. Use one of the following options:
   • For a crescendo hairpin press < ("less than" sign).
   • For a diminuendo hairpin press > ("greater than" sign).

Changing appearance of hairpins

Range

To extend or contract the range of a hairpin, see Changing range of a line.

Height

To change the height, select the height adjustment handle (shaded in the image below) …

… then use keyboard arrows, offsets (Properties panel), or dragging, to move the handle into the desired position. (See Basics: Adjusting elements directly.)

Alternatively you can adjust the "Height" in the Hairpin: Style section of the Properties panel.

Set at angle

To allow the hairpin to slope at a diagonal, check the "Allow diagonal" box in Hairpin: Style in the Properties panel. Then move the start/end adjustment handles to get the desired slope.

Other adjustments

See Hairpin properties.

Changing playback of hairpins

[To be added]

Hairpin properties

You can edit properties specific to hairpins in the Hairpins section of the Properties panel.

Style tab

Niente circle: Places a small circle at the point of the hairpin.
Allow diagonal: Allows the hairpin to be set at an angle; see Changing appearance of hairpins (above).
Line style: Choose solid, dashed or dotted lines.
Thickness / Height:
Height (new system): Specify the height of subsequent hairpins if the first one spans a system.
Position: Above or Below.

Text tab

Properties here allow you to specify beginning, end, and continuation texts and their vertical offsets.

Hairpin style

Default properties for all hairpins in the score can be adjusted from Format→Style→Hairpins:

A slur is a curved line between notes of different pitches indicating legato phrasing; exact interpretation depends on the instrument.

Slurs should not be confused with (note) ties which connect notes of the same pitch and extend the duration of the first note to encompass the connected notes.

Adding a slur to your score

After selecting a note, a slur can be created using any of the following:

• A keyboard shortcut, S. This option is both convenient and fast.
• The menu option, Add→Line→Slur
• A slur from the lines palette.

The exact method of applications depends on whether you are in note input or normal modes of operation. The keyboard shortcut method will be used as an example.

Adding slurs in normal mode

Method 1

1. Select the note where you want the slur to start:
   
2. Press S to add a slur extending to the next note:
   
3. To extend the slur to the next note, hold Shift and press → (right arrow). Repeat as required:
   
4. To flip the slur direction, press X:
   
5. Press Esc to exit edit mode:
   

Method 2

1. Select the note where you want the slur to start;
2. Choose one of the following options:
   • To add a single slur: Hold down Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) and select the last note that you want the slur to cover.
   • To add slurs to all voices: Hold down Shift and select the last note that you want the slurs to cover.
3. Press S.

Adding slurs in note input mode

1. Enter the first note in the slurred section;
2. Press S to begin the slurred section;
3. Type in the remaining notes in the slurred section;
4. Press S again to end the slurred section.

Multi-voice and cross-staff slurs

Using method 2 (above) you can create a slur between notes in the same or different voices. Cross staff slurs can be created in exactly the same way. e.g.

You can also adjust the start/end handles of an existing slur to move the start or end to a note of a different voice:

1. Click on the start/end handle of the slur.;
2. Press Shift+↑/↓ to move the start/end between voices, and from staff to staff.

Changing appearance of slurs

To adjust the shape of a slur or its range, see Adjusting elements directly.

Slur properties

The following properties specific to slurs can be adjusted in the Properties panel.

Style: Solid, dashed or dotted line.
Position: Above or below.

Slur style

Some default properties for all slurs in the score can be adjusted in Format→Style→Slurs/Ties:

Breaths and pause symbols may be found in the Breaths & pauses palette.

These symbols also have an adjustable playback effect.

Types of pauses

Fermata

A fermata, or pause appears above/below a note, and extends its written duration, indicating a pause in the music.

It may also be written above a rest, or a barline, indicating the end of a piece or section of music.

Breath mark

A breath mark is placed just above the staff, and tells a wind instrument performer or singer to take a breath here, or other instruments to pause slightly. It may occur between two notes or at the end of a measure.

Caesura

The caesura also indicates a pause, slightly longer than a breath mark but less so than a fermata. It may occur between two notes or at the end of a measure.

Adding a pause to your score

To add a fermata:

1. Select a note, rest or barline;
2. Click on a fermata symbol in the Breaths & pauses palette

Alternatively drag a fermata symbol onto a note.

To add a breath mark or caesura:

1. Select a note;
2. Click on a breath mark/pause symbol in the Breaths & pauses palette.

Alternatively drag a breath mark/caesura symbol onto a note.

MuseScore automatically places the breath mark/caesura in the correct position, just above the staff and after the selected note.

Changing pause playback

Pause symbols have a playback effect in the score. To adjust the pause length, click on Playback in the Properties panel and adjust "Time stretch".

Pause properties

The position of selected pauses can be altered by clicking on Appearance in the Properties panel and adjusting the offsets. Alternatively you can drag a symbol, or enter Edit mode and use the keyboard arrows to move it.

In addition you can position a fermata above or below the staff by selecting the desired option in "Placement on staff" in the Fermata section of the Properties panel.

Pause style

You can specify default positional properties for all fermatas in Format→Style→Fermatas.

Ornaments and ornament lines can be applied from the Ornaments palette. This includes turns, trills, mordents and so on:

If the Ornaments palette is not already displayed in the palettes area, see Adding more palettes.

Adding an ornament to your score

Add an ornament

To add an ornament to the score:

1. Select one or more notes;
2. Click on the desired ornament in the Ornaments palette;

For a trill only, it is possible to use a custom shortcut instead at step 2.

Add an ornament line

The procedure for applying ornament lines is just like any other line, i.e.

1. Select a start note;
2. Press Shift and click on an end note;
3. Click on an ornament line in the Ornaments palette

If you subsequently need to adjust the ornament's length, see Changing the range of a line.

Changing ornament intervals (adding accidentals)

Ornaments are aware of the key signature and of other accidentals in the bar. By default, trills, turns, mordents and other ornaments will display and play diatonic intervals. Use the Properties panel to change the interval, displaying the appropriate accidentals in the score and changing playback.

To change the interval of an ornament:

1. Select an ornament
2. Open the Properties panel
3. Use the interval selectors to choose the desired interval. The score will display the appropriate accidentals for the chosen interval.

Trills can be customized by quality (major, minor, augmented, etc.) and interval number from unison to octave. The appropriate accidental or upper auxiliary note will display in the score above or below the ornament. For intervals larger than a second, consider using a tremolo.

Both the upper and lower interval can be set for turns.

Short trill and mordent intervals can be set to the minor or major second.

Any accidentals introduced only by an ornament must be confirmed or cancelled later in the measure for clarity, meaning it is not possible to delete accidentals where the note:

• is after AND in the same measure as an ornament with accidentals
• as the same pitch class as a note with an accidental specified by the ornament (excluding the base note)

For example, in a measure starting with a chromatic turn on A as seen below, all Gs and Bs later in the measure will have an accidental, even if it is the same as what appears in the ornament.

While these accidentals cannot be deleted, their visibility can be turned off. To do so:

1. Select the accidental
2. Open the Properties panel
3. Uncheck Visible

Ornament properties

The following properties of selected ornaments can be edited from the Ornament section of the Properties panel:

Accidental visibility

• Default only shows accidentals that have not shown up yet in the measure.
• Show any alteration shows accidentals again even if they appear earlier in the measure.
• Always display an accidental shows accidentals even for diatonic notes.

Placement

Use the placement controls to either let MuseScore automatically choose the standard placement, or manually select above or below.

Accidental properties

When selected, accidentals, including those linked to ornaments, have the following options in the Properties panel:

• Add parentheses or brackets
• Toggle small accidental

Ornament style

Default sizing and spacing properties for ornaments can be edited in Format→Style…→Articulations, Ornaments.

Ornaments can be individually repositioned by clicking and dragging in the score or via the Appearance dialog in the Properties panel.

Arpeggios, glissandi (slides) and strum arrows can be applied from the Arpeggios & Glissandi palette:

Many have an adjustable playback effect (see below).

Arpeggios

Adding an arpeggio/strum to your score

To add an arpeggio/strum to a score:

1. Click on any note in a chord (multiple selection is possible)';
2. Click on an arpeggio/strum symbol in the palette.

Alternatively you can drag an arpeggio/strum symbol from a palette onto a notehead.

Adjusting the height of an arpeggio/strum

Click on an arpeggio and two adjustment handles will appear at the top and bottom of the symbol. You can move either up or down by dragging, or by selecting a handle and using the up/down keyboard arrows.

Creating multi-voice or cross-staff arpeggios

Multi-voice arpeggios

By default arpeggio symbols only span notes of the same voice. If you have a chord consisting of more than one voice, just extend the arpeggio as shown above.

Cross-staff arpeggios

To create an arpeggio that crosses two staves:

1. First add an arpeggio to the chord component in the top staff;
2. Click on the bottom edit handle of the arpeggio and press Shift+↓.

The arpeggio should now extend to cover the chord in both staves. For it to stay that way, disable autoplace in its properties.

Changing playback of arpeggios

To change the speed of a selected arpeggio, press Playback in the Properties panel, and adjust "Spread delay".

If you want to turn off playback altogether, untick the "Play" box in the General section of the Properties panel.

Arpeggio style

Default properties for all arpeggios in the score can be adjusted from the style menu at Format→Style→Arpeggios:

Glissandi

Note: Guitar slides are covered in Guitar techniques.

Adding a glissando to your score

1. Select one or more start notes;
2. Click on the desired glissando icon in the palette. A glissando is created extending to the next note in the same voice:
   

Alternatively you can drag a glissando symbol from the palette onto a notehead.

Glissandi can cross staves if needs be:

Editing range of a glissando

If required, you can change the start or end position of a glissando as follows:

1. Select the edit handle whose position you want to change;
2. Press Shift+↑/↓/←/→, to move the handle in the specified direction, one note at a time.

This method can also be used to move the edit handle between voices and across staves.

Changing appearance of glissandi

The line type of a selected glissando—whether straight or wavy—and any text associated with it, can be changed in the Glissando section of the Properties panel. You can also turn off text by unchecking the "Show text" box.

Changing playback of glissandi

To change the playback effect, click on Playback and select an option from the dropdown list: chromatic, white keys, black keys, diatonic, portamento.

You can also choose to turn off the playback effect by unchecking "Play" in the General section of the Properties panel.

Glissando properties

The following properties are available in the Glissando section of the Properties panel.

Glissando line: Choose from "Straight" or "wavy".
Show text: Uncheck/Check this box to turn off/on the display of the glissando text.
Text: Specify any text to appear with the glissando.

The default style of all glissando text is determined by the settings of "Glissando" in Format→Style→Text styles.

Bends

Note: For guitar bends, see Guitar techniques.

The Arpeggios & glissandi palette also contains bend symbols for brass instruments such as the trumpet:

These have a playback effect on the score.

Types of bends

Fall:
Doit:
Plop:
Scoop:

if you are not sure what's what, mousing over the palette icon will display the name of the symbol in a tooltip.

Adding a bend to your score

1. Select a notehead;
2. Click on the desired bend symbol in the palette.

Alternatively, drag a bend symbol onto a notehead in the score;

Changing appearance of bends

To change the shape of the bend, click on it and four adjustment handles become visible. Drag the handles, or click on them and press the keyboard arrows, until you get the shape you want.

Grace notes can be applied to the score from the Grace notes palette.

For bagpipe players there is a comprehensive range of grace notes in the Bagpipe embellishments palette.

Types of grace notes

Grace notes are small (cue-size) notes which ornament a previous or following note. They take their value from this parent note but do not themselves count towards the measure duration.

There are several kinds:

• Acciaccatura(): Usually written with an oblique stroke through the note flag, or through the beam, if there is a beamed series.

• Appoggiatura: A stressed note which takes half the value from the parent note.

• Grace note after (trill endings):

Adding a grace note to your score

Note: For standard staves and tablature, the following instructions for adding grace notes work in both note input and normal modes.

Add grace note with keyboard shortcut

1. Ensure that the "parent" note is selected (multiple selection is possible in normal mode).
2. To apply an acciaccatura, press / (slash). For other grace notes use a custom shortcut (see Preferences: Shortcuts).

Add grace note from palette

1. Ensure that the "parent" note is selected (multiple selection is possible in normal mode).
2. Click on the desired symbol in the Grace notes palette.

Alternatively, you can drag and drop a grace note from the palette onto a note in the score.

Multiple grace notes

Sequential grace notes

You can add a run of grace notes to a selected note by repeatedly applying any of the following:

• pressing the relevant keyboard shortcut (see above).
• clicking on a grace note icon in a palette.
• dragging and dropping a grace note from a palette onto a note.

Grace note chords

To apply a chord of grace notes:

1. Add a single grace note (as described above).
2. For standard staves use one of the following methods:
   • Press Shift and a note letter, A to G. This will add the corresponding note above.
   • Press Alt+1–9; or from the menu bar, select Add→Intervals and choose an interval from the list. This will add a note at the indicated interval above the selected note.
   • You can add intervals below in the same way, but using a custom shortcut (see Preferences: Shortcuts).
3. For tablature, select the grace note in normal mode, then add further chord notes using the method of adding intervals in step 2.

Editing grace notes

Change duration

To edit the visual duration, click on the grace note in normal mode, and select a duration from the note input toolbar or by using a keyboard shortcut (see Selecting duration).

Change pitch

Standard staves. To change the pitch of grace notes, use one of the methods described in Editing notes and rests.

Tablature. To change the pitch of grace notes, use one of the methods described in Changing the pitch in normal mode (tablature).

Changing playback of grace notes

[to be added?]

Grace note style

You can adjust the default size for all grace notes in Format→Styles→Sizes.

Types of tremolo and rolls

A Tremolo is the rapid repetition of one note or chord, or a rapid alternation between two notes or chords. The placement of tremolos is handled automatically by the program.

Single note tremolo

For stemmed notes, the rhythmic value of the tremolo is indicated by the number of diagonal strokes through the stem. One stroke indicates that the original note is divided into eighth notes. e.g.

Two strokes divides the note into sixteenth notes, and three strokes into thirty-second notes. On whole notes the tremolo symbol is placed above the note.

Tremolo between notes

In traditional two-note or two-chord tremolos, incomplete beams are drawn between the notes to indicate the rhythmic value of the tremolo (to change the style see below). One beam indicates eight notes, two beams sixteenth notes, and three beams thirty-second notes. e.g.

Buzz roll

A buzz roll symbol is also available from the Tremolos palette. However, it is notational only and currently has no playback properties.

Adding a tremolo to a single note

1. Click on a notehead in the score.
2. Click on the desired tremolo symbol in the Tremolos palette.

Adding a tremolo between notes/chords

1. Enter the notes at half the desired final duration of the tremolo.
2. Select a note in the first chord.
3. Click on the desired tremolo symbol in the Tremolos palette.

Tremolo beams appear between the notes/chords and the appearance of the noteheads is adjusted accordingly.

Example: To enter a two-note tremolo with the duration of a half note (minim), enter two normal quarter notes (crotchets). After applying a tremolo symbol to the first note, the note values automatically double to half notes.

Changing appearance of tremolos

Three styles of tremolos between notes/chords are supported in MuseScore; the default is traditional. To change the style:

1. Click on the (between notes) tremolo symbol.
2. In the Tremolos section of the Properties panel, click on the desired style icon under “Style (between notes)”.

Overview

Note: The following page applies mostly to special-purpose lines such as guitar barre lines, fingering/string number lines, ornamentation lines, vibrato lines, palm mute lines etc.

Information on more general-purpose lines can be found at:

• Voltas
• Hairpins
• Slurs
• Pedal lines
• Octave lines

Lines often have text associated with them, and may feature a playback effect appropriate to the line type.

Adding a line to your score

Lines are applied to the score from a palette like any other element. By default, most can be found in the Lines palette; other specialist lines in the Guitar palette.

To apply a line to a selected range:

1. Select a range of notes;
2. Click on a line in a palette;

Alternatively you can drag a line from a palette to the start note, then use the end adjustment handle to extend it (see Changing range of a line).

To apply a line to a single note:

• Select a note and click on the desired palette line.
• Drag a palette line to the desired start note.

Adjusting a line

To adjust the range of a line, see Changing range of a line.

Types of lines

Guitar-related lines

• Barre lines: Used to indicate fret positions. For further details, see Adding a barre line to your score.
• Fingering/String number: Apply the fingering first, then a plain line (LInes palette), and adjust the length as required.
• Vibrato : Apply from the Guitar palette. You can change the shape of the line in the Vibrato section of the Properties panel.

The following also have playback effects:

• Palm mute: Apply from the Guitar palette. This changes the sound to that of a clean muted electric guitar.
• Let ring: Apply from the Guitar palette. Acts like the sustain pedal on a keyboard.

Tempo lines

See Tempo markings.

Staff and System Text lines

A staff text line, like staff text, is affixed to one staff in a system, and is indicative only for that staff. It appears only in the part featuring that staff.

A system text line, like system text, is affixed to one staff but is indicative for all the staffs in the system. It appears in all instrument parts.

Trill lines

A variety of trill lines are available from the Lines palette.

Standard lines

Plain lines are applied from the Lines palette. They can be purposed to anything you like; their use in fingering/string number lines is discussed briefly above.

Line properties

The Properties panel allows you to view and edit General, Appearance, and Playback settings.

The name of the section below varies depending on the type of line. But it will have two tabs marked Style and Text:

Style tab

Clicking on the Style tab allows you to set the properties of the line itself:

Line type: A choice of straight, hooked, angle-hooked, or double-hooked.
Thickness / Hook height:
Style: Choice of solid, dashed or dotted line.
Dash / Gap: Adjust the appearance if "Dashed" is selected.

Text tab

Clicking on the Text tab allows you to apply and position any text associated with the line:

Beginning text: Enter the text, if any, to appear at the beginning of the line.
Vertical offset: Allows you to move the text vertically in relation to the line (in sp.).
Text when continuing to a new system: If the line spans a system, this is the text that will appear before the line in the next system.
Vertical offset: As above.

Line style

A few properties of all lines in the score can be set in Format→Style→Text Line; and in Format→Style→System Text Line:

The Symbols palette is a category within the Master palette and houses all symbols and text from all built-in music fonts.

Unlike other categories in the Master palette, items in the Symbols palette are non-functional: they are for display purposes only and have no other effect on the score.

You should find most symbols and text items you need for scoring in the Palettes panel—use of the Symbols palette should be reserved for specialist items not available in the small palettes, or on those occasions when you really do need a non-functional element.

The Symbols palette

View

To view the Symbols palette, select View→Master Palette, or use the shortcut Shift+F9.

Selecting “Symbols” in the list of headings reveals all symbols under all subcategories. Selecting one subcategory to focus on a specific set.

Search

You can search for a symbol by entering a term in the Search box at the top of the Symbols section. Specify the musical font you want in the dropdown at the bottom right.

Adding symbols to your score

Symbols added from the Symbols palette scale in line with the score (see Staff size), but their font-size is fixed.

If you need a symbol with an adjustable font-size, you should consider adding it instead from the Special characters palette as staff text.

Add a symbol

Use one of the following methods:

• Select one or more score elements (notes, rests, barlines) then click on the desired symbol in the Symbols palette.
• Drag the desired symbol from the Symbols palette onto a score element (note, rest, barline).

Add to other symbols

After adding a symbol, you can, if required, add an additional symbol to the existing one. Use one of the following:

• Select a symbol (previously added to the score from the Symbols palette), then click on the desired symbol in the Symbols palette.
• Drag the desired symbol onto the existing symbol in the score.

Reposition symbols

To reposition, you can drag the symbol, or edit the offsets in the Apprearance section of the Properties panel. You can also move the symbol using the keyboard arrows—after selecting it and entering edit mode by pressing Alt+Shift+E or F2.

If two symbols have been joined together (see Add to other symbols, above), moving the first-added symbol moves both. However you can still move the second symbol in relation to the first.

See also

• Using the palettes for information about how to search for and apply palette items to the score.
• Working with images for how to apply images to your score.