Properties panel

The Properties panel shows layout and playback properties of the selected objects or selected characters inside Text object. When nothing is selected, it shows the properties of the score. It is an upgraded version of Inspector, it has the functionality of Text toolbar, see Entering and editing text chapter, and musescore 3 handbook Inspector , and Text editing chapters.

The Editing of the musescore 4 Handbook has also been changed. Properties customization is now explained in a different way than in Musescore 3 Handbook. They are explained inside a respective chapter that is most relevant. This chapter only discusses the panel, and the properties common to multiple objects. (To editors: feel free to move content to a most relevant chapter, if the property is not common to multiple objects)

Accessing the Properties panel

1. Open the Score tab
2. Press the default keyboard shortcut F8; or click on the Properties tab on the left side of the screen.

Properties for the score

Score properties are saved to score file (*.mscz). It is not to be confused with Workspaces.

When nothing is selected, the Properties panel shows the properties of the score.

Under the Show subheading,

• Invisible hides/shows invisible objects in a score
• Frames hides/shows Frames
• Formatting hides/shows formatting elements added from the layout palette
• Page margins hides/shows the page margin

Under the Score appearance subheading,

• Empty staves hides/shows staves that contain no notated music within a system. This setting mirrors the Hide empty staves within systems settings in the Style dialog.
• Page settings opens the Page settings dialog. Same as Format→Page Settings. See Templates and styles.
• Style settings opens the Style dialog. Same as Format→Style. See Templates and styles.

Properties for objects

When one or more objects are currently selected, the Properties panel shows the layout and playback properties common to all of them. Under Notation section, press any of the [Object Type] buttons to narrow items presented to that object type only.

Some settings common to most objects:

• Visible: Click this box to hide/unhide selected elements, or use the keyboard shortcut V. Use this feature to hide elements so they don't appear in your exported or printed score. This can be useful when, for example, applying tempo marks or dynamics solely to affect playback in MuseScore.
• Auto-place: Usually checked by default, this feature positions the selected object according to MuseScore's vertical and horizontal collision avoidance algorithms. Uncheck Auto-place to have more control over the positioning of certain elements. Learn more about this feature in Positioning elements.
• Cue size: This feature is used to create small cue notes: i.e. notes provided to assist the performer by indicating what another ensemble/orchestra member is playing at the same time. Checking the box makes any selected notes smaller, including their stems and any attached beams.
• Play: When checked, this property allows playback of the selected element. Uncheck Play to silence the element.

Inside the Playback tab

Playback feature of dynamics symbols is under active development, it may change drastically among software versions. Information provided here is valid for Musescore 4.2 beta (November 2023). It could be outdated at the time of reading. Please help update this chapter.

Under the Playback button, the playback properties is shown, if the selected elements have them.

• Velocity:
  • Only notes have Velocity property, its effect on playback is not the same as in musescore 3.
  • This property has no effect on instruments using MuseSound, see Mixer : Sound and Velocity controls.
  • The valid range is from 1 to 127. The default value is 64, regardless of dynamics symbol affecting the note. Inputting 0 automatically converts to 64. [please provide numeric details of how sound level works now, as many Musescore 3 users would find it useful]
  • Dynamics symbols no longer have Velocity property. Dynamics symbols and hairpins no longer change timbre/dynamic/loudness solely through manipulation of MIDI Velocity values. See also Dynamics chapter.
• Tuning:
  • Only notes have Tuning property. The concert pitch default 440Hz and adjustment existed in Musescore 3's Synthesizer has been removed, see Tuning controls. To use tuning value in Hertz / Hz unit to change Tuning properties which use cent as the unit, use the formula on tuning in musescore 4 .
  • They affects pitch on instruments using Soundfont [this bullet point is a work in progress, please improve this bullet point with VST and Musesounds info]

Inside the Appearance tab

• Leading space: This changes the leading space of selected elements: i.e. the space in front of the element. The leading space adjustment is applied across all staves, so that notes at the same time position remain aligned.
• Measure width:: This changes the width of the measure as a proportion of the original width: e.g. 1.5 = one-and-a-half times the default width.
• Minimum distance: This is used by the auto-place collision avoidance algorithm and applies only to elements that are applied above/below the staff by default, such as staff text, dynamics, fingerings, lines etc. It sets the minimum distance (in sp.) of the selected objects from other elements that are closer to the staff, or the staff itself.
• Offset: When newly applied, elements assume a default position. The horizontal/vertical offsets give you a more precise way of positioning an element than dragging it or moving with the keyboard arrows.
• Snap to grid: This feature allows you to constrain drag operations to increments of a desired distance. First you need to check the Snap to grid box, then press Configure grid and set the desired horizontal/vertical step distances. Switch Snap to grid on/off as required by checking/unchecking the box.
• Under the Arrange subheading, the four buttons control how overlapping elements are drawn:
  • Forwards moves the selected element in front of the next element
  • Backwards moves the selected element behind the next element
  • To front moves the selected element in front of all other elements.
  • To back moves the selected element behind all other elements, including the staff lines.
• Color: Click on this button to change the color of selected element(s). Choose a preset or custom color, or create your own by clicking the + button. This is stored for future reference in the list of custom colors to the right.

Properties for characters inside Text objects

When Text object(s) are selected (the object, not the characters), the Properties panel shows the formatting settings of the Text object. Editing these properties changes the object, it may change all of the characters inside.

When character(s) inside a Text object are selected, the Properties panel shows the formatting settings of the characters. Editing these properties only changes the selected characters. See Formatting text chapter.

Saving and restoring default values

See the main chapter Templates and styles.

Under the ellipsis menu button (three dots menu button) adjacent to a property, there are two buttons:

• Reset : removes the specific property, in effect resets the property to the default value.
• Save as default style for this score : Does these:
  • Assigns the property value to the coresponding one in the style profile used by this object currently, found under Format→Style. See Templates and styles.
  • And then clears the property value specific to this object.
  • The result is that this object does not have the specific property anymore, but it uses the value in the style profile, which is the same value, because it is being assigned just now. All objects using that style profile across the score is affected.