Articulations

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)