Installation

MuseScore exists for various different operating systems, including Windows and macOS, as well as many Linux distributions and several BSD variants.

    arch

    uname -m

    cd ~/Downloads
    chmod u+x MuseScore*.AppImage

    cd ~/Desktop
    ./MuseScore*.AppImage [option...]

    ~/desktop/MuseScore*.AppImage [option...]

    ./MuseScore*.AppImage --help   # displays a complete list of command line options
    ./MuseScore*.AppImage man      # displays the manual page (explains what the options do)

Language settings and translation updates

MuseScore will be installed and work with your "System" language (the one used for most programs, and generally depending on your country and the language settings of the PC, or account).

Change language

1. From the menu, select Edit→Preferences... (Mac: MuseScore→Preferences...);

2. In the General tab, select the desired language from the drop-down list in the Language section:

   

3. To update translations, click on the Update translations button. Then click on the Update buttons for the languages you want to update (for an alternative method, see below).

As then indicated, you will have to exit and reopen MuseScore for changes and updates to take effect.

Update translation

You can update the translation as explained above, via the preferences settings, but there is another method:

1. From the menu, select Help→Resource Manager;

2. Click on the Update buttons for the languages you want to update.

   

Here too you will have to exit and reopen MuseScore for the update to take effect.

See also

• Helping and improve translation

External links

• How to change the language in MuseScore

Checking for updates

There are two ways to check for updates.

Automated update check

1. From the menu, select Edit→Preferences... (Mac: MuseScore→Preferences...);
2. Select the Update tab:
   
3. Tick the box marked "Check for new version of MuseScore."

Now MuseScore will check for updates on every start and notify you, if need be.

Check for update

1. From the menu, select Help→Check for Update:
   
2. A dialog will appear with the update status: either "No Update Available" or "An update for MuseScore is available:" followed by a link to download it.

Note: These options are only available in the Mac and Windows versions of MuseScore (except the version from the Windows Store), as only those can be updated directly from MuseScore.org. Linux distributions (and the Windows Store) have different mechanisms to make updates available.

See also

• Preferences: Update

Edit mode

Edit mode allows you to perform a wide range of editing operations on individual score elements, such as:

• adjust the length and shape of slurs, lines, barlines etc.
• add, delete and format text in text objects.
• adjust the position of most score elements (but not text).

Enter/exit edit mode

To enter Edit mode use any of the following methods:

• Double-click an element.
• Right-click on an element and, from the menu, select Edit Element.
• Click on an element and press Ctrl+E (Mac: Cmd+E).

To exit Edit mode use any of the following:

• Press Esc.
• Click on a blank area of the document window.

Text

For text edit mode, see Text editing.

Lines

Lines—such as slurs, ties, hairpins, voltas etc.— display square adjustment handles in Edit mode: these turn blue when selected. A slur, for example, looks like this:

The end handles are used to adjust the length of the line. The middle handle is used to adjust its vertical position. In the case of slurs and ties, there are also three more handles to adjust the shape of the curve (see image above).

To reposition a handle, click on it and use a keyboard shortcut (see below). Alternatively you can drag the handle with a mouse.

Each end handle is connected by a dotted line to an anchor on the staff. The start and end anchors mark the boundaries of the region of the score under the control of the line. By default, an end handle is positioned vertically above its anchor.

• To move both an end handle and its attached anchor: Click on the handle and use Shift+→ or Shift+←.
• To move an end handle without affecting its anchor: Click on the handle and use either the left/right keyboard arrows or a corresponding Ctrl (Mac: ⌘) command. See keyboard shortcuts below.

Notes

Offset notes

Sometimes it is necessary to shift a note to the right or left—to avoid a collision with another element or to override automatic notehead sharing for example:

1. Enter Edit mode on the desired note;
2. Press the arrow key in the direction (left or right) that you wish to nudge the note (or use Ctrl+← or Ctrl+→ for larger adjustments);
3. Press the Esc key. This will allow the note stem to be redrawn.

Alternatively, you can select the notehead and change the "Horizontal offset" (under "Chord") in the Inspector.

Adjust note stem length

1. Enter Edit mode on the desired note stem;
2. Use keyboard shortcuts (below) to extend or shorten the stem;
3. Exit edit mode.

Note: To reposition a note stem, you should select it and adjust the "Horizontal offset" in the Inspector.

Keyboard shortcuts

In Edit mode the following keyboard commands can be used to change the position of either (1) a score element (e.g. ornament, accidental etc.) or (2) an adjustment handle (e.g. slur, line etc.):

• ←: Move left 0.1 staff space.
• →: Move right 0.1 staff space
• ↑: Move up 0.1 staff space
• ↓: Move down 0.1 staff space
• Ctrl+← (Mac: ⌘+←): Move left one staff space
• Ctrl+→ (Mac: ⌘+→): Move right one staff space
• Ctrl+↑ (Mac: ⌘+↑): Move up one staff space
• Ctrl+↓ (Mac: ⌘+↓): Moves down one staff space
• Alt+←: Move left 0.01 staff space
• Alt+→: Move right 0.01 staff space
• Alt+↑: Move up 0.01 staff space
• Alt+↓: Move down 0.01 staff space

The following commands only apply to adjustment handles:

• Shift+←: Move end handle's anchor left by one note/rest.
• Shift+→: Move end handle's anchor right by one note/rest.
• Tab: Go to next handle.

See also

• Text editing
• Slur
• Bracket
• Line
• Beam
• Hairpin

Palettes and workspaces

To the left of the document window is the Workspace. This can be toggled on and off using the menu command, View → Palettes, or the shortcut, F9.

A workspace, in turn, consists of a number of palettes. Each palette is a folder containing a group of musical symbols.

Workspaces

MuseScore provides two preset workspaces: Basic (the default option) and Advanced (a version with more palettes and symbols). These contain symbols drawn from the various sections of the Master palette. In addition, you can create your own custom workspaces (below).

• To switch between workspaces: Use the drop-down menu at the bottom of the workspace panel.

The names of palettes within a workspace are listed under the title "Palettes."

Single Palette Mode

If you only want to allow one palette to open at a time, right click at the top of the workspace and check the "Single palette" box. This will cause a palette to automatically close when you open a different one.

Docking/undocking

To dock or undock a workspace, see Side panels.

Custom workspace

A custom workspace allows you to select which palettes are listed, and to customize the contents of those palettes.

To create a customizable workspace:

1. Select an existing workspace. Use the drop-down list at the bottom of the workspace panel if needed.
2. Click the + button, enter a name for the new workspace and press OK. The new workspace is added to the panel.

Alternatively you can use the menu option:

1. Select Edit → Workspaces, and chose a workspace.
2. Select New. Fill in the new workspace name and click OK.

Right-clicking over the workspace will display a menu: this has options allowing you to insert, delete, rename and reorder the palettes within it. The contents of individual palettes can be edited in a similar fashion once you've checked "Enable Editing" for a palette. For more details, see Custom palettes and Palette menu (below).

Palettes

Open/close palette

• Click once on the name of the palette or its accompanying side-arrow.

Apply symbols from a palette

A palette symbol may be applied to the score using one of the following methods:

• Select one or more score elements and double click the palette symbol.
• Drag and drop the symbol onto the desired score element in the staff.

Tip: To prevent accidental rearrangement of contents during use, right-click over a palette name and untick "Enable Editing."

For example, to add tenuto marks (—) to a selection of notes:

1. Select the desired notes.
2. In the Articulations & Ornaments palette, double-click on the tenuto symbol

Once added to the score, objects can be copied, pasted, and duplicated—see Copy and paste.

Preset palettes (Advanced workspace)

The more fully-featured Advanced workspace contains the following palettes:

• Grace Notes
• Clefs
• Key Signatures
• Time Signatures
• Barlines
• Lines
• Arpeggios and Glissandi
• Breaths and pauses
• Brackets
• Articulations and Ornaments
• Accidentals
• Dynamics
• Fingering
• Note Heads
• Tremolo
• Repeats and Jumps
• Tempo
• Text
• Breaks and Spacers
• Bagpipe Embellishments
• Beam Properties
• Frames and Measures
• Fretboard Diagrams

Custom palettes

Once you have created a custom workspace (see above), and enabled editing (see Palette menu below), you can customize the palettes within it to your own requirements.

To add an existing score element (such as a line, text, dynamic, fretboard diagram etc.) to a custom palette:

• Press and hold Ctrl+Shift (Mac: Cmd+Shift), then drag the symbol onto the palette.

To add a symbol to a custom workspace from the Master palette:

• Drag the symbol from the Master Palette window into a custom palette.

To re-arrange a symbol in a custom palette:

• Drag the symbol to the cell you want it to display in: it will swap places with the symbol currently occupying that cell.

Palette menu

Right-clicking on the name of a palette in a custom workspace brings up this menu:

• Palette Properties...: Adjust the appearance of the open palette:

  

  • Name
  • Cell Size: Width, Height
  • Element Offset: Adjust the vertical offset of all elements in the palette.
  • Scale: Make all palette elements appear larger or smaller.
  • Show grid: Visually divide the palette into cells, one for each element.
  • Show ‘More Elements…’: Create a cell which opens the Master Palette.
• Insert New Palette: Create a new empty palette.
• Move Palette Up / Move Palette Down: Reorder the palettes.
• Enable Editing: Allow modifying the contents of the palette.
• Save Palette: Save as an .mpal file.
• Load Palette: Load an .mpal file.
• Delete Palette: Remove the palette from the workspace entirely.

Right-clicking on an element within a palette (if editing of the palette is enabled) brings up this menu:

• Clear: Remove the element from the palette
• Properties...: Open the Palette Cell Properties dialogue:
  • Name: The tooltip that appears when you mouse over the element.
  • Content offset (X, Y): Adjust the position of the element in the palette.
  • Content scale: Make the element appear larger or smaller in the palette.
  • Draw staff: Draw the five lines of a musical staff behind the palette element.
• More Elements: Open the relevant Master Palette section.

Note: Changing values in "Palette Cell Properties" only affects the appearance of elements in the palette. It does not change their sizes or offsets on the score page.

Behavior of applied text and lines

If the symbol you are adding to the score from a palette contains a text element (e.g. staff text, dynamic, fingering, volta etc.), then properties such as font-type, font-size, text color, and alignment will adapt according to the following rules:

1. Text properties which have not been altered by the user will adopt the relevant, prevailing text styles.

2. Custom text-properties—i.e. those changed by the user before saving the symbol to a custom palette—remain as customized.

By contrast, the line properties of lines applied from a palette always remain unchanged (i.e. as set by the user before saving to a custom workspace, or as predefined in the Basic/Advanced workspaces).

See also

• Master palette

Inspector and object properties

Most score elements have properties that can be edited in one of two ways:

• Click on any element, and many of its properties can be viewed and changed from the Inspector panel on the right-hand side of your screen.

• Right-click on an element and select an option with the word Properties in it. This option opens a dialog with advanced properties, only available for certain types of elements.

Inspector

The Inspector is shown by default on the right of your screen. It can be displayed or hidden from the menu: select View and check/uncheck Inspector, or use the shortcut F8 (Mac: fn+F8).

In the Inspector, the properties of any selected object are displayed and can be edited. This applies to virtually every single element in the score window—notes, text, barlines, articulations etc. Multiple elements can also be selected and edited simultaneously, as long as they are of the same type. However, if the selected objects are of different types, then the Inspector restricts you to editing color and visibility only.

The Inspector panel can be un-docked to become a floating panel by clicking the double-chevron symbol or double-clicking the top bar of the panel.

To re-attach the panel double-click on the top bar again. See also: Side panels.

Inspector categories

When you select one or more elements of a specific type, the properties which can be edited are conveniently divided into categories in the Inspector. Categories can be identified by their bold, centered lettering. For example, if you select a barline, you will see the following displayed at the top of the Inspector:

For details about how to adjust the properties of various score elements, refer to the relevant sections in the handbook. However, a few general points will be covered here:

Element

All score elements, except frames, breaks and spacers, display this category in the Inspector when selected. The various options are as follows:

• Visible: Uncheck this box to make selected elements invisible: alternatively, use the shortcut V (toggle). Invisible elements do not appear in the music when printed out or exported as a PDF or image. If you still want them to remain on display in the document window, make sure that the "Show Invisible" option is selected in View → Show Invisible. Invisible elements will then be colored light gray.

• Color: Click on the rectangle to open a "Color Select" dialog. Adjust the color and opacity of selected elements.

• Horizontal offset / Vertical offset: Allows you to position selected elements exactly (in terms of space units). A positive number moves the elements right or down; a negative number moves the elements left or up. Snap to grid buttons are also provided.

Element Group

This category is displayed only when you have selected a mixture of different types of elements, and allows editing of color and visibility only.

Segment

This category is used to increase or decrease the space before/after an element in a music staff. Adjusting leading/trailing space here also affects any associated lyric syllables.

Chord

This category is displayed only if notes are selected. Any change to a notehead property under Chord affects the whole chord (i.e. all the notes in one voice) at that location—and not just the selected note. If you want to make changes to the position of just one note in a chord, then use the Element category (above).

Note

This category allows you to make changes to selected notes (but for note position—see Element). It contains the following properties:

• Small: Make notehead smaller (you can specify the relative size of all small notes from the menu: Style → General… → Sizes…).
• Head group: See Notehead groups.
• Head type: See Notehead types.
• Mirror head: Position notehead to the left or right of the stem (default is "Auto").
• Tuning: Adjust tuning of note to the nearest cent.
• Play: Unticking this box silences the note.
• Velocity type: Sets the MIDI velocity of notes directly. Chose one of two options:
  • Offset: Make the value shown in "Velocity" relative to the previous dynamic marking.
  • User: Make the value shown in "Velocity" absolute (i.e. the MIDI velocity is unaffected by dynamic markings).
• Velocity: Set the MIDI velocity according to the option displayed in "Velocity type."
• Fix to line: When ticked, the note is fixed to the top line of the standard 5-line staff.
• Line: A positive number moves the "fixed" note down; a negative number moves it upwards.

Select

This category appears differently according to the selection you have made:

• If you select a notehead, the "Select" category displays buttons which allow you to easily switch the selection to the stem, beam, hook, duration dot (or dots) or tuplet number associated with the notehead (see image below).

• If you select a range of measures, the "Select" category allows you to select either all notes, grace notes (from version 2.1) or rests.

Beam

This section is displayed in the Inspector when you select one or more note beams, and allows you to make fine adjustments to beam position and angle, and also change the spacing of beamed notes. See Adjust beam with the inspector.

Clef

This section appears when you select a clef: the tick box allows you to turn on/off the display of a preceding courtesy clef.

Properties dialogs

Properties of some objects are accessed by right-clicking on the object and choosing a "Properties" option from the context menu: these are in addition to the object's properties displayed in the Inspector.

(Note: Properties should not be confused with Styles. Changes to properties only affect the single element selected; all style controls apply to the entire score.)

Articulation properties

Right-click on an articulation and select Articulation Properties... See Articulations and ornaments.

Fretboard diagram properties

Right-click on a fretboard diagram and select Fretboard Diagram Properties... Allows you to create custom fretboard diagrams. See Edit fretboard diagram.

Line properties

Right-click on a line and select Line Properties... There are settings for the beginning, end, or continuation of the line. You can add or remove text, adjust the text's placement, and set the length and angle of optional hooks. Click the ... button to access text properties for text included in the line. See Custom lines and line properties.

Measure properties

Right-click on an empty part of the measure and select Measure Properties... Adjust visibility, bar duration, repeats, stretch and numbering. See Measure properties.

Staff properties

Right-click either an empty part of a measure or the name of an instrument and select Staff Properties... This dialog allows you to adjust attributes of both the single staff and the instrument it is a part of. See Staff properties.

Text properties

Right click on a text-based element and select Text Properties... See Text styles and properties. If the element is a line with text in it, see → above.

Time signature properties

Right-click on a time signature and select Time Signature Properties... Used to adjust appearance of time sig. and beam properties of notes. See Time signatures.

See also

• Measure operations
• Note input
• Layout and formatting
• Staff properties
• Part extraction

Measure operations

Note: To ensure that inserted or appended measures display correctly, multimeasure rests should be set to off (toggle M).

Select

Single measure

• To select a single measure, click on a space within the measure.

Range of measures

• To select a continuous range of measures, see Shift + click selection and Shift selection.

Insert

Insert an empty measure into the score

Use one of the following options:

• Select a measure or a frame, then press Ins (no shortcut on Mac).
• Select a measure or a frame, then chose from the menu: Add→Measures→Insert Measure.

Insert multiple measures

Use one of the following options:

• Select a measure or a frame, then press Ctrl+Ins (no shortcut on Mac); fill in the "Number of measures to insert" field and press OK.
• Select a measure or a frame, then chose from the menu: Add→Measures→Insert Measures...; fill in the "Number of measures to insert" field and press OK.

Append

Append an empty measure to the end of a score

Use one of the following options:

• Press Ctrl+B (Mac: ⌘+B).
• Select from the menu: Add→Measures→Append One Measure.

Append multiple measures to the end of a score

Use one of the following options:

• Press Alt+Shift+B (Mac: Option+Shift+B); fill in the "Number of measures to append" field and press OK.
• Select from the menu: Add→Measures→Append Measures...; fill in the "Number of measures to append" field and press OK.

Delete

Delete a single measure

1. Select the measure;
2. Press Ctrl+Del (Mac: Cmd+Del); or from the menu, select Edit→Measures→Delete Selected Measures.

Delete a range of measures

1. Select the range of measures to delete;
2. Press Ctrl+Del (Mac: Cmd+Del); or from the menu, select Edit→Measures→Delete Selected Measures.

Notes: (1) In multi-staff scores, measure deletion also removes all corresponding measures in the other staves of the system; (2) If you wish to delete only the measure contents (and not the measure itself), use the Del command instead at step "2."

Properties

To edit the properties of a measure, right-click an empty part of the measure and select Measure Properties...:

You can use the buttons, at the bottom left of the dialog, to navigate to the previous or next measure.

Staves

• The visible property allows you to show/hide the notes and staff lines for the current measure.
• The stemless property allows you to show/hide all note stems for the current measure. Notes that normally have a stem such as half notes (minims) and quarter notes (crotchets) only show the note head when marked as stemless.

Measure duration

This feature allows you to adjust the time signature of a single measure regardless of the time signature indicated in the score. You can use it to create a pickup measure (also known as anacrusis or upbeat), cadenza, ad lib section etc.

• Nominal is the apparent time signature and cannot be edited.
• Actual can be set to anything you like regardless of the nominal time signature.

Example: In the image below, the quarter note pickup measure has a nominal time signature of 4/4, but an actual time sig. of 1/4. The measures in the middle are in normal 4/4 time. The complementary measure at the end of the staff, with a dotted half note, has an actual time sig. of 3/4.

Other

Exclude from measure count

Use "Exclude from measure count" for "irregular" measures, i.e. ones that should not get counted in the measure numbering. Normally, a pickup measure is marked as "Exclude from measure count".

Add to measure number

You can also use the "Add to measure number" option to influence the measure numbering. You can enter positive or negative numbers here. Please note that this affects all subsequent measures. A value of "-1" has the same effect as marking a measure to be excluded from measure count.

Layout stretch

You can increase or decrease horizontal space between score elements (notes, rests, etc.) with this option. This provides a more precise control over the exact same measure spacing property as the menu commands or keyboard shortcuts for Increase/Decrease Stretch ({ and }), which are accessed outside of the Measure Properties dialog while a measure is selected.

Play Count (as of version 2.1) / Repeat count (prior to version 2.1)

If the measure contains an end repeat barline, you can define how often it is played.

Break multi-measure rests

This property will separate a multi-measure rest at the start of the selected measure. This option should be checked before you turn on the "Create multi-measure rests" option in Style→General..., in the "Score" tab.

Multi-measure rests are automatically broken at important breaks, such as rehearsal marks, time signature changes, double barlines, irregular measures, etc. The default for scores is off, for parts is on.

Numbering

MuseScore automatically numbers the first measure of each System (except for the first system, actually except for a measure with the number 1), but more numbering options are possible. From the main menu, choose Style→General..., in the left pane, choose the "Header, Footer, Numbers" tab. At the bottom of the right pane is the "Measure Numbers" ("Bar Numbers") section.

Mark the checkbox next to the "Measure Numbers" ("Bar Numbers") to turn on automatic measure numbers.

Mark "Show first" if you want the first measure numbered.

Mark "All staves" if you want numbers on all staves. Otherwise, only the top staff of each system shows measure numbers.

Choose to show numbers on "Every system" which numbers the first measure of each line, or show numbers by "Interval" and specify the size of the interval. For example, an interval of 1 numbers every measure; an interval of 5 numbers every fifth measure.

Split and join

You may want have to have a longer or shorter measure without changing the time signature. You can change a measure's duration in Measure Properties, but there is now a new option to split or join measures. (Beams may be automatically modified.)

Join measures

1. Select the measures you want to join;
2. From the menu bar, select Edit→Measure→Join Selected Measures.

Note: If you select measures on only one staff in a score with multiple staves, the same measures will be joined in each staff of the system.

For example, the image below shows the result of applying the Join command to four measures in the top staff:

Split a measure

1. Select a note (or chord);
2. From the menu bar, select Edit→Measure→Split Measure Before Selected Note.

Note: If you select only one note from one staff, each staff of the system will be split at the same place.

External links

• How to delete measures
• How to span a measure over multiple systems
• How to get scores without time signature (and clef)

Voices

A voice is a musical line or part which can have its own rhythm independently of other voices on the same staff. Voices are sometimes called "layers" in other notation software.

You can have up to 4 voices on each staff line. In a polyphonic measure, voice 1 usually takes the up-stem notes and voice 2 takes the down-stem notes.

N.B. Be careful not to confuse the concept of MuseScore voices (1, 2, 3, 4) with the order of voices found in vocal scores (SATB etc.). In particular, when creating a closed SATB score, use only (MuseScore) voices 1 and 2 for both upper and lower staves. There is no need to use (MuseScore) voices 3 and 4 unless there are more than two parts in the same staff.

When to use voices

• If you need stems pointing in opposite directions within a chord, on a single staff.
• If you need notes of different durations within a single staff, played simultaneously.

How to enter notes in different voices

The following instructions show you how to notate a passage of music in two voices:

1. Enter voice 1 notes first: Make sure you are in note input mode : the Voice 1 button becomes highlighted in blue in the toolbar. Enter the notes in the top voice first. When inputting, some notes may have down-stems, but these will flip automatically when the second voice is added.

   The following excerpt shows a treble staff with just the voice 1 notes entered:

   

2. Move cursor back to start of section: When you have finished entering a section of voice 1 notes, press the ← key repeatedly to move the cursor, note-by-note, back to the first note of the section; or alternatively use Ctrl+← (Mac:Cmd+←) to move the cursor back one measure at a time. Or else you can simply exit note input mode (press Esc) and click directly on the first note.

3. Enter voice 2 notes: Make sure you are in note-input mode and that the voice 1 note at the beginning of the section is selected. Click on the "Voice 2" button (on the right of the toolbar), or use the shortcut Ctrl+Alt+2 (Mac: Cmd+Option+2). Enter all the lower voice notes (down-stem).

The following image shows the above example after the addition of voice 2 notes:

Deleting and hiding rests

All rests can be made invisible if required (select the rest and press V, or uncheck the "Visible" checkbox in the Inspector). Rests in voices 2, 3 or 4 can also be deleted but it is not usually recommended: make them invisible instead. Rests in voice 1 cannot be deleted.

Restoring deleted rests

If a rest has been deleted in voices 2-4, you will need to restore it before you can enter a note on that beat in that voice (the problem may arise, for example, in imported XML or MIDI files). The easiest way to fix such a measure is to exchange that voice with voice 1 twice. For the exact method, see Exchange voices of notes (below).

Exchange voices of notes

To swap the notes between any two voices:

1. Select one or more continuous measures (or a range of notes);
2. From the Menu bar, select Edit → Voices;
3. Select the option for the two voices you want to exchange.

Notes: (a) The selection can encompass content of any voice, but only two will be processed at once. (b) If you select a partial measure the operation will still apply to the whole measure.

Move notes to another voice (without swapping)

You can also move notes from one voice to another (without note-swapping):

1. Ensure you are not in note input mode.
2. Select one or more noteheads (in any voice).
3. Click on the destination voice in the Note Input toolbar or use the shortcut Ctrl+Alt+1–4 (Mac: Cmd+Option+1-4).

Note: For a successful move, the following conditions need to be met:

• The chord in the destination voice must be the same duration as the note to be moved there.
• Alternatively, if the destination voice is occupied by a rest, it must be of sufficient duration to accommodate the moved note.
• Notes should not be tied.

See also

• Keyboard shortcuts: Voices
• Noteheads: Shared noteheads

External links

• How to merge/combine/implode two staves in one with two voices
• Video tutorial: How To Write Two Parts On One Staff: Voices

Copy and paste

MuseScore supports standard copy, cut, paste and (from version 2.1) swap with clipboard operations. These commands can be applied to a range of:

• Musical notes: e.g. to repeat a section of music, or shift a passage by a beat or a measure.
• Other score elements: such as articulations, staff text, dynamics, fingering etc.

Note: Lines cannot be copied but they can be duplicated (see below).

Copy/cut/paste/swap commands are accessed in three ways:

• From the Edit menu (above the document window).
• From the menu displayed by right-clicking on an element or range of elements.
• Using one of the standard keyboard shortcuts.

Summary of commands

Note: Before carrying out a copy, cut, paste or swap procedure, you should be in normal mode. Press the Esc key to exit into normal mode.

Notes

You can cut, copy, paste or swap notes as follows:

Copy or cut

To copy/cut a single chord

1. Hold down Shift and click on a note in the chord.
2. Apply a Copy or Cut option (see table above).

To copy/cut a range of chords

1. Click on the first note or measure that you want to select.
2. Shift+Click on the last note or measure that you want to select. A blue rectangle highlights the region you selected.
3. Apply a Copy or Cut option (see table above).

Paste

1. Click on the note or measure where you want your pasted selection to begin.
2. Apply a Paste option (see table above).

Swap with Clipboard

Available from version 2.1 onwards, the swap with clipboard operation combines two commands into one: (1) First it overwrites a selected part of the score with the contents of the clipboard, just like the paste command; (2) Secondly, it transfers the overwritten part of the score back to the clipboard, just like the copy command.

It can be used, for example, to swap two equal-length sections of a score, A and B:

1. Select section A, then apply the cut command;
2. Clear the selection (by pressing Esc or clicking on a blank area of the document window);
3. Press Shift and click on a note at the start of section B. Or, if B begins at the start of a measure, you can also simply select the measure;
4. Apply a Swap with clipboard option (see table above).
5. Section B is now in the clipboard. Paste it back to the blank area of score left by step "1."

Copy pitch of a single note only

It is possible to copy the pitch of a note only (and no other properties), by clicking on the notehead and applying the standard copy and paste, or copy and swap procedure. The pitch of the destination note changes to match that of the copied note but the duration remains the same.

Other elements

Score elements such as staff text, dynamics, fingering, etc. can be cut, copied and pasted one at a time (but from version 2.2 multiple-selection cut/copy/paste is possible for fretboard diagrams).

Multiple-selection cut/copy/paste is available for articulations such as sforzato, staccato etc.

Note: The Swap with clipboard command is only intended for use with sections of music and not other score elements.

Copy or cut

1. Select the element (or elements).
2. Apply a Copy or Cut option (see table above).

Paste

1. Click on the note where you want your pasted selection to begin.
2. Apply one of the Paste options (see table above).

In the case of articulations, they are pasted to the destination notes in exactly the same order (continuous or intermittent) as they were in the initial selection.

Quick repeat

To quickly copy and paste a note, measure, or passage:

1. Select a chord, measure, or passage as described above.
2. Press R .

MuseScore copies and pastes the selected notation to a point immediately after the last note in the selection. Any existing music in the destination range is replaced.

Duplicate

To instantaneously copy and paste a text element, line, or other object:

1. Hold down Ctrl+Shift (Mac: Cmd+Shift), click on the element and drag it anywhere in the score.
2. Release the mouse button, and the selected element is cloned to the new location.

Selection filter

The Selection Filter allows you to chose exactly which voices and elements you want to include in your selection.

• To display the Selection filter, press F6 (Mac: fn+F6); or from the menu, chose View→Selection Filter.

The Selection Filter appears by default below the Palettes. To change the viewing location, see Viewing and Navigation: Side panels.

Example: Suppose you want to copy measures 1 and 2 in the following passage (see image), to give measures 3 and 4:

1. Make sure the Selection Filter is displayed (see above);
2. Uncheck the "Articulations & Ornaments" and "Slurs" tickboxes;
3. Copy and paste the desired measures (in this example, 1-2 into 3-4).

Note: The Selection Filter works with the swap with clipboard command as well.

See also

If you want to change notes without altering the rhythm, you may combine transposition or re-pitch mode with copy and paste.

External links

• Video tutorial: Lyrics, copying & dynamics

Selection modes

Objects in the score—such as notes, measures, articulations etc.—can be selected in several ways: (1) one at a time, (2) as a continuous range, or (3) as a list.

Select a single object

Most score objects can be selected by simply clicking on them in "normal" (i.e. not note-input) mode.

Select a single note

1. Make sure you are not in note input mode;
2. Click on a note.

Note: Selecting a single note then copying and pasting it, will only copy and paste the pitch—not duration or other properties (such as stemless). To copy the entire note, including all properties, you need to hold down Shift—as for chord selection (below).

Select a chord

1. Make sure you are not in note input mode;
2. Press and hold Shift, then click on a note in the chord.

Select a single measure

• Click on a blank space within the measure.

Note: To select a range of consecutive measures, see Shift selection and Shift + click selection (below).

Select a continuous range of objects

There are several ways to select a continuous range of notes, chords or measures:

1. Shift selection

1. Make sure you are not in note entry mode;
2. Select the first note, chord, rest or measure in the range. You can extend the selection up or down to adjacent staves, if needed, using Shift+↑ or ↓;
3. Then choose one of the following options:
   • To advance the selection one chord at a time to the right: Press Shift+→.
   • To advance the selection one chord at a time to the left: Press Shift+←.
   • To advance the selection one measure at a time to the right: Press Shift+Ctrl+→ (Mac: Shift+Cmd+→).
   • To advance the selection one measure at a time to the left: Press Shift+Ctrl+← (Mac: Shift+Cmd+←).
   • To advance the selection to the beginning of the line: Press Shift+Home (Mac: Shift+Fn+←).
   • To advance the selection to the end of the line: Press Shift+End (Mac: Shift+Fn+→).
   • To extend the selection to the beginning of the score: Press Shift+Ctrl+Home (Mac: Shift+Cmd+Fn+←).
   • To extend the selection to the end of the score: Press Shift+Ctrl+End (Mac: Shift+Cmd+Fn+→).

2. Shift + click selection

To select a range of notes or rests:

1. Make sure you are not in note entry mode;
2. Click on the first note or rest in the range;
3. Press and hold Shift, then click on the last desired note or rest.

Note: The final selected element can be in the same staff or in staffs above or below the initial note/rest. All selected elements will be enclosed in a blue rectangle, including associated lines and articulations (but not voltas). You can repeat the operation to extend the selected range as required.

Select a range of measures

1. Click on a blank space in the first desired measure;
2. Hold down Shift, then click on a space in the last measure of the desired range.

Note: As with selecting notes, the range can be extended vertically as well as horizontally.

3. Drag selection

This method can be used to select notes or rests, or, independently, to select non-note symbols such as staccato dots, lyrics etc.:

• Press and hold Shift, then drag the cursor across the desired range.

4. Select All

This method selects the whole musical score including notes, rests and associated elements. Use one of the following options:

• Press Ctrl+A (Mac: Cmd+A).
• From the menu bar, select Edit → Select All.

5. Select section

This method is used to select a section—a region of the score starting and/or ending with a section break:

1. Click on an empty space in a measure in the section;
2. From the menu bar, select Edit → Select Section.

Note: See Copy and paste: Selection filter to disable certain types of elements from being selected in a range selection.

Select a list of objects

To select a list (or discontinuous range) of score elements:

1. Click on the first element;
2. Hold down Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) and successively click on the desired additional elements.

Note: This method cannot be used to select measures. Use single or range selection instead.

Select all similar

To select all elements of a specific type (e.g., all barlines, all text elements, all staccato markings):

1. Select an element;
2. Right click and chose Select…;

3. Several options are available:

   • All Similar Elements: Selects all elements in the score similar to the chosen object.
   • All Similar Elements in Same Staff: Selects all elements in the same staff similar to the chosen object.
   • All Similar Elements in Range Selection: only applies if a range has been selected. Selects all elements in the range similar to the chosen object.
   • More...: opens a dialog that lets you fine-tune more options. For example, if you have a notehead selected, the dialog will look something like this (as of version 2.1—previous versions had fewer options):

   

   Select

   • Same notehead: In this example, only noteheads of the same group will be selected;
   • Same pitch: Only noteheads of the same pitch will be selected;
   • Same type: All noteheads (of any group) will be selected;
   • Same duration: Only noteheads of same duration will be selected;
   • Same note name: Noteheads of that name in all octaves will be selected;
   • Same staff: Only noteheads on the same staff will be selected.

   Action

   • Replace selection: The default option: starts the selection from scratch;
   • Add to selection: Keeps everything you have already selected, and adds the current selection to it;
   • Search in selection:
   • Subtract from selection: Keep everything you have already selected, but takes away the current selection.

What selections are useful for

• Copy and paste
• Edit mode
• Inspector and object properties
• Tools

See also

• Basics chapter, esp. Note input
• Notation chapter, esp. Accidental
• Text chapter, esp. Text editing and Grid-based movement of symbols and staff text

Viewing and navigation

This chapter describes the options available in the View Menu, and in the Zoom and Page View/Continuous View menus (located in the toolbar above the score). It also details the various navigation commands and functions.

View menu

Show sidebars/panels

• Start center: F4
• Palettes: F9
• Master palette: Shift+F9
• Inspector: F8
• Play Panel: F11
• Navigator: F12
• Mixer: F10
• Synthesizer
• Selection filter: F6
• Piano keyboard: P

Zoom in/out

There are several ways to zoom the score in or out:

• Keyboard shortcut:

  • Zoom In: Ctrl++ (Mac: Cmd ++)
  • Zoom Out: Ctrl +- (Mac: Cmd +-).

• View menu:

  • Zoom In: View→Zoom In
  • Zoom Out: View→Zoom Out.

• Mouse

  • Zoom In: Scroll up with the mouse wheel while holding down Ctrl (Mac: Cmd)
  • Zoom Out: Scroll down with the mouse wheel while holding down Ctrl (Mac: Cmd).

• Drop-down menu: To set a specific zoom, use the dropdown menu in the standard toolbar to set the view magnification of the score (25–1600 %) or display it using the options "Page Width", "Whole Page", or "Two Pages".

  

• To return to 100% zoom: Use the shortcut Ctrl+0 (Mac: Cmd+0).

Toolbars (display)

As of MuseScore 2.1, this menu option allows you to hide or display the toolbars above the document window: File Operations, Playback Controls, Concert Pitch, Image Capture, Note Input (see Toolbars below).

Show Status bar

The Status bar, at the bottom of the screen, gives information about selected score elements. Tick/untick this option to display or hide.

Split display

It is possible to split the document display so as to view two documents at once, or to view two different parts of the same document. Tabs allow you to choose which document to display in each view. You can drag the barrier separating the two scores to adjust the amount of space in the window devoted to each:

• Documents Side by Side: Divides the window vertically into two score views.
• Documents Stacked: Divides the window horizontally into two score views, one above the other.

Visibility options

This section allows you to display or hide various non-printing elements:

• Show Invisible: View/hide elements that have been made invisible for printing and export. If this option is ticked, invisible elements are shown in the score window as light gray.
• Show Unprintable: View/hide breaks and spacer symbols.
• Show Frames: View/hide the dotted outlines of frames.
• Show Page Margins: View/hide Page Margins.

Full screen

Full Screen mode expands MuseScore to fill your screen so more content is visible.

Page/Continuous View

You can switch between two different views of the score using the drop-down list in the toolbar area:

To scroll the score:

• Vertically: Move the mouse wheel up or down.
• Horizontally: Press Shift and move the mouse wheel up or down.

Page View

In Page View, the score is formatted as it will appear when printed or exported as a PDF or image file: that is, page by page, with margins. MuseScore applies system (line) and page breaks automatically, according to the settings made in Page settings and Style: General. In addition, you can apply your own system (line), page or section breaks.

To choose between horizontal or vertical page scrolling, see Preferences: Canvas (Scroll pages).

Continuous View

In Continuous View, the score is shown as one unbroken system. Even if the starting point is not in view, measure numbers, instrument names, clefs, time and key signatures will always be displayed on the left of the window.

Note: Because the layout is simpler, MuseScore may perform faster in Continuous View than Page View.

Toolbars

The Toolbar area is located between the Menu bar and document window. It contains symbols which allow you to perform certain operations. It can be divided into the following toolbars:

• File Operations: New score, Load score, Save, Print, Undo, Redo.
• Zoom/Page View.
• Playback controls: Enable MIDI, Rewind, Play/Stop, Loop, Play Repeats, Metronome.
• Concert Pitch: Displays score in written or concert (sounding) pitch.
• Image Capture: Allows you to take a snapshot of part of the score.
• Note Input: Note entry mode, Duration, Tie, Rest, Accidentals, Flip stem direction, Voice (1, 2, 3, 4).

To choose which toolbars to display, right-click on an empty space in the toolbar area (or on the title bar of the Inspector) and, from the menu, check or uncheck the required options. This menu also allows you to view or hide the Piano keyboard, Selection sidebar, Palettes, the Inspector, and (if already displayed) the "Drum Tools" (i.e. Drum input palette).

These display options can also be accessed in the View menu, and, as of 2.1, in View→Toolbars.

Side panels

The workspaces, Inspector and Selection filter are conveniently displayed as side panels to the left and right of the score window. To undock a side panel use one of the following methods:

• Drag the panel;
• Click on the double chevron at the top of the panel;
• Double click in the title area at the top of the panel.

To dock a panel use one of the following procedures:

• Drag the panel to the top/bottom of an existing side panel and it will stack vertically above/below that panel.
• Drag the panel to the middle of an existing side panel and it will overlay that panel. Both panels can then be accessed by tabs.

Alternatively, double-clicking the title bar of the panel will restore it to its previously docked position.

Navigation

There are various commands available to help you navigate through the score. These are listed under Keyboard shortcuts: Navigation.

Navigator

The Navigator is an optional panel which allows you to navigate a long score more easily, or go to specific pages. To view/hide, go to the View→Navigator, or use the shortcut F12 (Mac: fn+F12). It appears at the bottom of the document window if scrolling pages horizontally, or on the right-hand side of the document window if scrolling pages vertically (see Preferences: Canvas).

The blue box represents the area of the score that is currently visible in the main window. You can drag either the blue box or the scroll bar, or click on an area to immediately go to it.

Find

The Find function allows you to speedily navigate to a specific measure, rehearsal mark or page number in the score:

1. Press Ctrl+F (Mac: Cmd+F), or select Edit→Find. This opens the Find (or Go to) bar at the bottom of the workspace.

2. Use one of the following options:

   • To go to a numbered measure: enter the measure number (counting every measure, starting with 1, irrespective of pickup measures, section breaks or manual changes to measure number offsets).
   • To go to a numbered page: enter the page number using the format pXX (where XX is the page number).
   • To go to a numerical rehearsal mark: enter the number using the format rXX (where XX is the name of the rehearsal mark (as of version 2.1).
   • To go to a rehearsal mark starting with a letter: enter the name of the rehearsal mark (the search is case insensitive).

   N.B.: It is best to avoid naming rehearsal marks with the single letters "R," "r," "P", "p," or one of these letters with an integer (e.g. "R1" or "p3"), as this can confuse the search algorithm.

See also

• Save/Export/Print
• File format
• Layout and formatting

Open/Save/Export/Print

In the File menu you can find the following options:

• Open, Open recent.
• Save, Save As..., Save a Copy..., Save Selection..., Save Online...
• Export..., Export Parts...

• Print....

  

Open

Apart from native format files (*.mscz and *.mscx), MuseScore can also open MusicXML, compressed MusicXML and MIDI files, as well as a variety of files in other formats.

To open any supported file:

1. Chose one of the following options:
   • Press Ctrl+O.
   • Click on the "Load score" icon on the left side of the toolbar area.
   • From the menu bar, select File→Open....
2. Select a file and click Open; or simply double-click a file.

Open recent… allows you to chose from a list of recently-opened scores.

Save

Save…, Save As…, Save a Copy… and Save Selection… allow you to save native MuseScore files (.mscz and .mscx).

• Save...: Save current score to file.
• Save As...: Save current score to new file.
• Save a Copy...: Save current score to new file, but continue to edit original file.
• Save Selection...: Save selected measures to new file. In MuseScore versions earlier than 2.1, to ensure that the file is saved correctly, the time signature needs to be displayed in the first measure of the selected passage, unless it is 4/4.
• Save Online...: To save and share your scores on the web at MuseScore.com. For details, see Share scores online.

Export

Export... and Export Parts... allow you to create non-MuseScore files, such as PDF, MusicXML, MIDI, and various audio and image formats. In the Export dialog, you can choose which format to export to:

• Export...: Export current score to format of your choice.
• Export Parts...: Export current score and all linked parts to separate files in a format of your choice.

MuseScore remembers which format you picked the last time and makes that the default for the next time. Note: There is a known issue with Windows XP and Vista, where you have to manually (un)set the filename's extension when choosing a different format than the one selected the previous time.

Print

Print... allows to print your MuseScore file directly to a printer from MuseScore. Depending on your printer you will have different options, but generally you can define the page range, number of copies and collation.

If you have a PDF printer installed, you could also "export" to PDF using Print, but it's usually better to use the native PDF option under Export for more accurate rendition. Note: For this to work properly with Adobe PDF, make sure to uncheck "Rely on system fonts only, do not use document fonts" in Printer properties.

See also

• File format
• Part extraction

Undo and redo

MuseScore remembers an unlimited number of undo/redo actions.

The standard shortcuts are:

• Undo Ctrl+Z (Mac: ⌘+Z)
• Redo Ctrl+Shift+Z or Ctrl+Y (Mac: ⌘+Shift+Z)

Or use the toolbar buttons:

Share scores online

Go to musescore.com/sheetmusic to view other scores from MuseScore.

You can save and share your scores online at MuseScore.com. You can choose to save a score privately for personal access from any computer, or share it publicly. MuseScore.com enables the viewing and playback of scores in your web browser - an additional feature entitled VideoScores allows synchronization between the score and a YouTube video. For use outside of a web browser, you can download the score in a variety of formats (including PDF, MIDI, MP3, MusicXML, and the original MuseScore file).

Create an account

1. Visit MuseScore.com and click on "Create new account". Pick a username and enter a valid email and press "Create New Account".
2. Wait a few minutes for an email from MuseScore.com support. If no email arrives, check your spam folder.
3. Click the link in the email and visit your user profile to change your password.

Share a score directly from MuseScore

To save a score online:

1. Make sure that the Concert Pitch button is off, and that the individual parts are correctly transposed.

2. From the menu, select File→Save Online.... The "Log in to MuseScore" dialog will appear:

   

3. Enter your email address or MuseScore username, and password, then click OK. Note: If you don't have a MuseScore account yet, create one first by clicking on the "Create an account" link. That will open your browser app and bring you to musescore.com/user/register.

4. Upon successfully logging in, you'll be able to enter your score information.

   

   • Title: The title of the score.
   • Description: The descriptive text that will appear next to it.
   • Make the score private: If ticked, the score can only be viewed via a private link. If unticked, the score is visble to all.
   • License: Chose an appropriate copyright license from the drop-down list. Note: Creative Commons license, allows people to use your scores under certain restrictions.
   • Tags: You can add tags to help identify scores on MuseScore.com. Use commas to separate multiple tags.

5. In case you already saved the score online earlier, it will automatically update the existing one, and, as of version 2.1, you can enter some additional information in a changlog section of the dialog, which you can then retrieve on MuseScore.com under "Revision history" for that score. Uncheck Update the existing score to save online as a new score.

   

6. (As of version 2.1) If you are using a different SoundFont than the default one and if you are able to export MP3 files, a checkbox Upload score audio will be visible:
   
   If the checkbox is checked, MuseScore will render the audio of the score using the current synthesizer settings and upload the audio to MuseScore.com.

Upload a score on MuseScore.com

You can also upload a score directly on MuseScore.com.

1. Click the Upload link on MuseScore.com.
2. You have the same options as with the Save Online menu.
3. You have also access to more information, such as Genre.

Note: Should you reach the five score upload limit, you can still upload scores directly from MuseScore, but only the last five are visible. If you wish more than this amount, upgrade to a Pro Account first.

Edit a score on MuseScore.com

If you want to make changes to one of your scores on MuseScore.com, edit the MuseScore file on your own computer, save it, and then do the following:

• If you originally shared the score directly from within MuseScore, simply go to File→Save Online... again to update the online score.
• If you originally uploaded the score via the Upload page on MuseScore.com, then you must follow these steps to update the online score:
  1. Go to the score page on MuseScore.com.
  2. Click the three dots menu ⋮ on the right and choose "Update this score".
  3. In the form, you can upload a replacement score file as well as change the accompanying information and privacy settings.

Switch to the direct method of updating an online score

It is much more convenient to update online scores from directly within MuseScore than by updating the score manually from the score page. Follow these steps if you originally uploaded the score via the Upload page and now want to switch to the direct method:

1. Go to the score page on MuseScore.com and copy the URL.
2. Open the score file on your computer with MuseScore.
3. From the menu, select File→Score Properties... and paste the URL into the "Source" field.

Now whenever you want to update the online score simply go to File→Save Online....

External links

• How to delete a score saved on MuseScore.com

Concert pitch

You can chose to display the score in either written or concert (sounding) pitch. Written pitch displays the score as it should look when printed for musicians to read. However, during preparation you may prefer the convenience of seeing the transposing instruments notated as they sound, without transposition. In this case you should select the "Concert pitch" option.

To toggle the score display between written or concert pitch use one of the following options:

• Press the Concert Pitch button (located in the top right of the toolbar area). When this button is highlighted the score is in concert pitch.
• From the menu bar, select Notes and tick/untick the Concert Pitch option.

Before printing the score, exporting it to PDF or saving it online, you should ensure that the Concert Pitch button is off, and that the individual parts are correctly transposed.

See also

• Transposition: Transposing instruments
• Accidental: Respell pitches

External links

• Concert pitch (Wikipedia article)
• Transposing Instrument (Wikipedia article)
• Concert pitch or not?? (MuseScore forum discussion)

Barlines

Barline symbols are available in the Barlines palette:

Change barline type

To change an existing barline, use one of the following:

• Select a barline, then double click on a symbol in the Barlines palette.
• Drag a symbol from the Barlines palette onto a barline in the score.
• Drag a symbol from the Barlines palette onto a measure.
• Select a measure, then double-click on a symbol in the Barlines palette.
• Select a barline then adjust "Style" in the "Barline" section of the Inspector.

To change a non-single to a single barline:

• Select the barline and press Del.

To hide a barline:

• Select the line and press V, or uncheck Visible in the Inspector.

Insert barline

To insert a new barline between existing ones, either:

• Drag a symbol from the Barlines palette onto a note or rest.
• Select a note or rest, then double-click a symbol in the Barlines palette.

Custom barlines

It is possible to create custom barlines by selecting one or more barlines, and adjusting the properties in the "Barlines" section of the Inspector:

• Style: Chose from a range of preset barlines.
• Spanned staves: The maximum equals the number of staves in the system.
• Span from: Sets the position of the top of the barline. "0" is the top staff line. Positive numbers start lower down the staff, negative numbers above.
• Span to: Sets the position of the bottom of the barline (see "Span from").
• Span preset: Set a span preset option.

See also, Mensurstrich.

Changes to color and horizontal/vertical offset can also be made in the Inspector.

Connect barlines

Barlines may extend over multiple staves, as in the grand staff of a piano, or in an orchestral score to join instruments in the same section. To join barlines:

1. Double-click on a barline to enter Edit mode.

   

2. Click on the lower blue handle and drag it down to the staff you wish to connect to. The handle snaps into position so there is no need to position it exactly.

3. Press Esc to exit edit mode. This will update all other relevant barlines as well.

   

See also

• Measure operations
• Add fermata to barline

Clefs

Commonly used Clefs (Treble, Bass, Alto, Tenor) can be found in the Clefs palette in the Basic workspace. For a more complete range, see the Clefs palette in the Advanced workspace (see image below).

Note: You can tailor the display of clefs to your specific requirements using a custom palette.

Add a clef

Add clef to beginning of measure

Method 1—add clef to beginning of a measure, whether or not it is the first measure in a system

• Select a measure and double-click a clef symbol in the palette, OR
• Drag a clef from the palette onto a measure.

Method 2—only for changing the clef at the start of a system

• Select the existing clef at the beginning of the system and double-click a new clef from the palette, OR
• Drag a new clef from the palette directly onto the existing clef.

Add mid-measure clef

To create a mid-measure clef:

• Click on a note, then double-click a clef in the palette.

Note: If the clef is not the first in the system, it will be drawn smaller.

In this image, the top staff starts with a treble clef and switches immediately to bass clef, then after a note and a rest, changes back to treble clef.

Note: Changing a clef does not change the pitch of any note. Instead, the notes move to preserve pitch. If you want, you can use Transposition in conjunction with a clef change.

Courtesy clefs

When a clef change occurs at the beginning of a system, a courtesy clef will be generated at the end of the previous system.

To show or hide all courtesy clefs:

1. From the menu, select Style→General...→Page;
2. Check/uncheck "Create courtesy clefs."

It is also possible to show/hide courtesy clefs on a case-by-case basis:

1. "Create courtesy clefs" should already be ticked in the "General" menu (see above);
2. Select a clef and tick/untick "Show courtesy" in the Inspector.

Remove a clef

• Select a clef and press Del.

Hide clefs

Display clef only in the first measure (for all staves)

1. From the menu, select Style→General...→ Page;
2. Uncheck "Create clef for all systems."

Display clef only in the first measure (for a particular staff)

1. Right click on the staff, select Staff properties... and uncheck "Show clef;"
2. Open the master palette and select the "Symbols" section;
3. Drag and drop a clef from the master palette onto the first measure of the staff; OR select the first note and double-click a clef in the master palette.

Note: This option may be useful to TAB users who do not want the clef to repeat on every subsequent line.

Hide all clefs in a particular staff

1. Right click on the staff, and select Staff properties...;
2. Uncheck "Show clef."

Key signatures

Standard key signatures are available in the Key Signatures palette in the Basic or Advanced workspaces. It is also possible to create custom key signatures (below).

Add a new key signature

Add new key signature to all staves

Use any of the following methods:

• Drag a key signature from the palette onto an empty part of a measure.
• Select a measure and double-click a key signature in the palette.
• Select a note and double-click a key signature in a palette.

Add new key signature to one staff only

If you wish to change the key signature of only one staff line, leaving others unchanged:

• Press Ctrl (Mac: ⌘) and hold while you drag a key signature from a palette onto a measure.

Replace an existing key signature

Replace key signature for all staves

Use any of the following methods:

• Drag a key signature from the palette onto the key signature to be replaced (or onto the measure containing the key signature).
• Select the key signature to be replaced, and double-click a new key signature in a palette.

Replace key signature for one staff only

If you wish to replace the key signature of only one staff, leaving others unchanged:

• Press Ctrl (Mac: ⌘) and hold while you drag a key signature from a palette onto the key signature to be replaced (or onto the measure containing the key signature).

Remove a key signature

Use any of the following methods:

• Click on an existing key signature and press Del.
• Drag the empty key signature from the palette (in the advanced workspace) onto the measure.

Naturals on key signature changes

By default, MuseScore only shows cancelling naturals when the key signature changes to that of C Major/A minor (no sharps or flats). In all other cases, it simply shows the new key signature without cancellations:

However, you can opt to display cancelling naturals for all key signature changes:

1. From the menu, select Style → General... → Accidentals. You'll see the options:

   

2. Select one of the three options.

3. If you are in a part and want the new option to apply to all parts, click on Apply to all parts.
4. Click OK to exit.

For example, selecting the option "Before key signature if changing to fewer ♯ or ♭" gives:

And the option "After key signature if changing to fewer ♯ or ♭. Before if changing between ♯ and ♭" gives:

Key signature changes and multi-measure rests

Multi-measure rests are interrupted if there is change of key signature:

Courtesy key signatures

To turn off the display of a particular courtesy key signature:

• Select the relevant key signature and untick "Show courtesy" in the "Key Signature" section of the Inspector.

To turn off the display of all courtesy key signatures:

• From the menu, select Style → General... → Page, and untick "Create courtesy key signatures."

Note: Courtesy key signatures are not displayed at section breaks.

Custom key signatures

To create a custom key signature:

1. Press Shift+K to display the Key signatures section of the Master palette.

   

2. In the Create Key signature panel, drag accidentals from the palette onto the "staff" above to create the desired key signature. Use the Clear button, if required, to remove all accidentals from the "staff."

3. Press Add to move the new key signature into the library (center panel).

Note: Playback of custom key signatures is not currently supported.

To move a key signature from the Master palette to a custom palette:

• Drag and drop the key signature onto a palette.

To apply a key signatures to the score directly from the Master palette, use one of the following methods:

• Select a measure and double-click a key signature in the Master palette.
• Drag a key signature from the Master palette onto a measure.

Time signatures

Time signatures can be found in a Palette of the same name in both the Basic and Advanced workspaces.

Add a time signature to a score

To add a time signature, use any of the following methods:

• Drag and drop a time signature from a palette onto a space in a measure.
• Select a measure and then double-click a time signature in a palette.
• Select any note or rest and double-click a time signature in a palette.

The time signature will appear at the beginning of the measure in question.

To replace a time signature, use any of the following methods:

• Drag and drop a time signature onto an existing time signature.
• Select a time signature in the score, then double-click a time signature in a Palette.

Delete a time signature

To delete a time signature in the score, select it and press Del.

Create a time signature

If the time signature you require is not available in any of the existing palettes, it can be created as follows:

1. Press Shift+T to display the Time signatures section of the Master Palette.
2. Select a time signature to edit in the center panel.
3. In the Create Time Signature panel, edit the various parameters (numerator, denominator, text, beaming) to get the time signature and properties you want. To restore the default beaming pattern, press Reset.
4. Press Add to add the newly-created time signature to the center panel. To delete a time signature from the center panel, right-click on it and select Clear.
5. Drag and drop the time signature from the Master Palette to the desired score location.

To move a time signature from the Master Palette to a custom palette:

• Drag and drop the time signature onto a palette in a custom workspace.

Time signature properties

To display the Time Signature Properties dialog:

• Right-click on a time signature and select Time Signature Properties….

• Global value: Shows the global time signature and is set automatically when you add a time signature to the score. It is the reference for beats (as shown in the status bar) and tempo markings.
• Actual value: Shows the time signature associated with a particular staff. This is normally the same as the global time signature, but can be set independently if required. See Local time signatures.
• Note Groups; Allows you to change the default beaming of notes associated with a time signature. See Change default beaming.
• Appearance: Allows you to edit the displayed text without affecting the underlying time signature. For an example, see Additive meters.

Change default beaming

To adjust note-beaming for a particular time signature:

1. Right-click on the time signature and select, Time Signature Properties…;

2. To break a note beam in the Note Groups panel, click on the note following it. To reset the beam, click in the same place. Alternatively, you can change beaming by dragging a beam icon onto a note, as follows:

   • Start beam at this note.
   • Do not end beam at this note.
   • 1/8th note beam to left of this note.
   • 1/16 note beam to left of this note.

   The Reset button cancels any changes made in that session.

   Note: As of version 2.1, checking the box for "Also change shorter notes," means that any beam changes at one level are applied automatically to shorter durations as well. In versions before 2.1 you must adjust beams for the different note durations independently.

Additive (composite) meters

Additive (or composite) time signatures are sometimes used to clarify the division of beats within a measure. To create an additive time signature:

1. Right-click on a time signature in the score and select Time Signature properties…;
2. In the Appearance section, adjust the "Text" property as required;
3. Adjust note beaming in the Note Groups section if required.

Note: The Time Signatures section of the Master palette also allows you to create additive time signatures (see above).

Local time signatures

In certain cases a score may show staves with different time signatures running at the same time. For example, in Bach's 26. Goldberg Variation:

In the above example, the global time signature is 3/4, but the time signature of the upper staff has been set independently to 18/16.

To set a local time signature for just one staff:

• Hold down Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) and drag and drop a time signature from a palette onto an empty measure.

Pickup measures and cadenzas

Occasionally you will need to decrease or increase the duration of a measure without changing the time signature—for example, in a pickup measure (anacrusis) or in a cadenza etc. See Measure operations: Measure duration.

Time signature changes and breaks

Multi-measure rests are interrupted when a time signature change occurs. Also, a section break will prevent a courtesy time signature being shown at the end of the previous measure.

See also

• Key signature

External links

• How To Using Polyrhythm, mixed meters and local time signatures in MuseScore
• Additive meters at Wikipedia.

Accidentals

The most common types of accidentals are provided in the Accidentals toolbar above the score and in the Accidentals palette in the basic workspace. A more comprehensive range can be found in the Accidentals palette in the advanced workspace.

Add accidental

Accidentals are automatically added to a note, as appropriate, when you increase or decrease its pitch:

• ↑: Increase the pitch of a note by one semitone (favors sharps).
• ↓: Decrease the pitch of a note by one semitone (favors flats).

To add either (i) a double flat or double sharp, (ii) a courtesy (also known as cautionary or reminder) accidental, or (iii) a non-standard accidental, use one of the following options:

• Select a note and click on an accidental in the toolbar above the score.
• Select a note and double-click an accidental in the Accidentals palette (basic or advanced workspace).
• Drag an accidental from the Accidentals palette on to a note.

If you wish to add parentheses to a cautionary accidental, use one of the following:

• Select the accidental in the score and double-click the parentheses symbol in the Accidentals palette.
• Drag the parentheses symbol from the palette onto the accidental.
• Select the accidental and check the "Has bracket" box in the Inspector (as of version 2.1).

If you later change the pitch of a note with cursor keys, manual settings to the accidental are removed.

If required, accidentals can be deleted by clicking on them and pressing Del.

Change enharmonic spelling

To change the enharmonic spelling of a note, or notes, in both written and concert pitch views:

1. Select a note, or group of notes;
2. Press J;
3. Continue pressing J to cycle through the enharmonic equivalents.

To change the enharmonic spelling in the written pitch view, without affecting the concert pitch view, or vice versa:

1. Select a note, or group of notes;
2. Press Ctrl+J (Mac: Cmd+J);
3. Continue pressing the same combination of keys to cycle through the enharmonic equivalents.

Note: If the pitches of selected notes are not all the same, the effect may be unpredictable.

Respell pitches

• From the menu, select Notes→Respell Pitches.

See also

• Key signature: Change

External links

• Accidental at Wikipedia
• Enharmonic at Wikipedia

Arpeggios and glissandi

Arpeggio and Glissando symbols can be found in the "Arpeggios & Glissandi" palette in the advanced workspace. This palette also includes strum arrows, an arpeggio bracket, wind instrument articulations, and slide in/slide out symbols.

To add a symbol to the score, use one of the following methods:

• Select one or more notes, then double-click a symbol in the "Arpeggios & Glissandi" palette.
• Drag a symbol from the "Arpeggios & Glissandi" palette onto a note.

Any symbol can be customized by adjusting its properties in the Inspector. Edit handles are also provided in most cases to allow adjustment of length/curvature in Edit mode. If needed for future use, you can save the result in a custom palette.

Arpeggios

When an arpeggio or strum arrow is added to the score, it initially spans only one voice. However, you can easily adjust its height by double-clicking the symbol and dragging the handles up or down (for finer adjustment use the keyboard arrows). Playback of the symbol can be turned on or off in the Inspector.

Glissandi (slides)

A Glissando or, more informally, a slide, spans two consecutive notes, normally in the same voice.

Chord glissandi are also possible.

Adjust start and end points

1. Double-click the symbol to enter edit mode;
2. Click on the start or end handle:
   • Use Shift+↑↓ to move the handle up or down, from note to note.
   • Use Shift+←→ moves the handle horizontally, from note to note.

This method also allows you to move handles between notes in different voices or even from one staff to another—for cross-staff glissandi, for example. You can also use the keyboard arrow buttons or Ctrl + arrow to make final adjustments to the positions of the handles.

Custom glissandi

To customize the glissando to your requirements, select it and adjust the Inspector properties as follows :

• Type: Choose between a straight or wavy line;
• Text: Edit, or delete the text. Note: If there isn't enough room between notes, the text is not displayed;
• Style: Chose how the glissando plays back. There are four options: Chromatic, White keys, Black keys, Diatonic;
• Play: Check/uncheck the box to turn playback on or off.

Wind instrument articulations

Fall, Doit, Plop and Scoop symbols are provided. To change the length and curvature, select the symbol, enter edit mode and adjust the handles as described in Edit mode: Lines.

Slide in/out

Slide in and Slide out lines can also be found in the "Arpeggios & Glissandi" palette. To edit the length and angle of a line, double-click on it and drag the handle (or use keyboard arrows for finer adjustment).

External links

• Arpeggio at Wikipedia
• Glissando at Wikipedia

Articulations and ornaments

A comprehensive set of symbols can be found in the Articulations and Ornaments palette in the Advanced workspace:

There is also an abbreviated version in the Basic workspace.

Articulations

Articulations are the symbols added to the score to show how a note or chord is to be played. The principal symbols in this group are:

• Fermatas
• Staccato
• Mezzo-staccato / Portato
• Staccatissimo
• Tenuto
• Sforzato
• Marcato

Specialist articulations are also included for bowed and plucked strings, wind instruments etc.

Ornaments

Ornaments include:

• Mordents, Inverted Mordents, Pralltrillers
• Trills
• Turns
• Bends

Note: Appoggiaturas and acciaccaturas can be found in the Grace Notes palette.

Add articulation/ornament

Use either of the following methods:

• Select a note or a range of notes, then double-click a symbol in a palette.
• Drag a symbol from a palette onto a notehead.

Add accidental to an ornament

To apply an accidental to an existing ornament, such as a trill:

1. Select the note to which the ornament is attached;
2. Open the Symbols section of the Master palette;
3. Search for and apply the desired accidental to the score (small accidentals can be found using the search term "figured bass");
4. Drag the accidental into position (or reposition using keyboard shortcuts or the Inspector).

Add fermata to a barline

A fermata can be applied directly to a barline by selecting the barline and double-clicking the fermata from a palette. This does not affect playback though.

Keyboard shortcuts

• Toggle Staccato: Shift+S
• Toggle Tenuto: Shift+N
• Toggle Sforzato (accent): Shift+V
• Toggle Marcato: Shift+O
• Add Acciaccatura (grace note): /

Keyboard shortcuts can be customized in MuseScore's Preferences.

Adjust position

Immediately after adding an articulation or ornament from a palette, the symbol is automatically selected: It can then be moved up or down from the keyboard as follows:

• Press up/down arrow keys for fine positioning (0.1 sp at a time);
• Press Ctrl+↑ or Ctrl+↓ (Mac: Cmd+↑ or Cmd+↓) for larger vertical adjustments (1 sp at a time).
• To flip a symbol to the other side of the note (where applicable), select it and press X.

To enable adjustments in all directions from the keyboard:

1. Double click on the symbol to enter Edit mode, or click on it and press Ctrl+E (Mac: Cmd+E) , or right-click on the symbol and select "Edit element";
2. Press arrow keys for fine positioning (0.1 sp at a time); or press Ctrl+Arrow (Mac: Cmd+Arrow) for larger adjustments (1 sp at a time).

You can also change the horizontal and vertical offset values in the Inspector. To position more than one symbol at a time, select the desired symbols and adjust the offset values in the Inspector.

Note: The symbol can also be repositioned by clicking and dragging, but for more precise control, use the methods above.

Articulation properties

Most properties of articulations/ornaments can be edited from the Inspector. Other properties (i.e. direction and anchor position) can also be accessed by right-clicking on the symbol and selecting Articulation Properties….

You can also make global adjustments to all existing and subsequently-applied articulations by selecting Style… → General… → Articulations, Ornaments.

See also

• Grace notes

External links

• Ornaments at Wikipedia

Beams

Note beams are set automatically, based on the time signature. To adjust the default beaming, right-click on a time signature and select "Time Signature Properties." See Change default beaming for details.

However, if you want to adjust note beaming manually, on a case-by-case basis, use the beam symbols found in the Beam Properties palette in the "Basic" or "Advanced" workspaces:

Beam symbols

The following is a list of beam symbols and their effects:

• Start a beam at this note (or rest).
• Do not end a beam at this note (or rest).
• Do not beam this note.
• Start a second level beam at this note.
• Start a third level beam at this note.
• (back to) Automatic mode: the mode MuseScore chooses on note input, dependent on current time signature and its beam settings.
• Start feathered beam (slower) at this note.
• Start feathered beam (faster) at this note.

Change note beaming

To change one or more note beams (except feathered beams, below), use either of the following methods:

• Drag and drop a beam symbol from a workspace onto a note in the score.

• Select one or more notes in the score and double click the desired workspace beam symbol.

To apply feathered note beams, use either of the following methods:

• Drag and drop a feathered-beam symbol from a workspace onto a note beam in the score.

• Select one or more note beams in the score, then double click on a feathered-beam symbol in the workspace.

Notes: (1) Feathered beams may use 2 or 3 lines depending on the tempo and the desired rate of the change; (2) To create a 2-line feathered beam, you need to start with a continuous run of beamed sixteenth notes; (3) To create a 3-line feathered beam, you need to start with continuous run of beamed thirty-second notes; (4) Playback of feathered beams is not supported.

Adjust beam with the keyboard/mouse

Adjust beam angle

1. Double-click on a note beam or select it and press Ctrl+E to put it into edit mode—the right end handle is automatically selected.
2. Use the up/down arrows or drag the right end handle to change the angle of the beam.
3. Press Esc to exit edit mode.

Adjust beam height

1. Double-click on a note beam or select it and press Ctrl+E to put it into edit mode—the right end handle is automatically selected.
2. Press Shift+Tab or click the left handle to select it
3. Use the up/down arrows or drag the left end handle to change the height of the beam.
4. Press Esc to exit edit mode.

Adjust beam with the inspector

Alternatively, you can use the Inspector for all of these operations:

Adjust beam angle

1. Click on a note beam.
2. Tick the "User position" box in the "Beam" section of the Inspector.
3. Set the "Position" values to get the desired beam angle.

Adjust beam height

1. Click on a note beam.
2. Tick the "User position" box in the "Beam" section of the Inspector.
3. Set the "Position" values as desired.

Make the beam horizontal

1. Select a note beam
2. Tick the "Horizontal" box in the "Beam" section of the inspector.
3. If desired, adjust the beam height with the keyboard/mouse: see above.

If you want all note beams in the score to be horizontal there is a "Flatten all beams" option in Style→General→Beams.

Adjust feathered beams

To adjust feathered beams:

1. Select a note beam.
2. Adjust the values in the "Grow left" and "Grow right" boxes in the "Beam" section of the Inspector.

Local relayout

MuseScore (following accepted music engraving practice) spaces notes according to their time values, allowing for accidentals, lyrics etc. In systems where there is more than one staff, this may result in irregular note spacing, as in the following example:

Local relayout is a tickbox option in the Inspector allowing you to specify those passages in the score where you want the note spacing to be independent of other staves in the system. Applying "Local relayout" to the note beams in the top staff of the previous example results in a more even distribution of notes:

To do a local relayout:

1. Select one or more note beams.
2. Tick the option Local relayout in the "Beam" section of the Inspector.

Flip note beam

To flip a beam from above to below the notes, or vice-versa:

1. Select one or more note beams.
2. Use any of the following options:
   • Press the X key;
   • Press the "Flip direction" icon in the bottom right of the toolbar area.
   • Select a "Direction" option (Auto, Up or Down) in the "Beam" section of the Inspector.

Reset Beam Mode

To restore beams to the mode defined in the local time signatures:

1. Select the section of the score you want to reset. If nothing is selected, the operation will apply to the whole score;
2. Select Layout→Reset Beam Mode.

See also

• Cross-staff notation
• Edit mode
• Note input

External links

• How to add a beam over a rest
• How to place a beam between notes

Brackets

MuseScore provides standard brackets and a curly brace within the Brackets palette in the advanced workspace.

Add

To add a bracket or brace to systems, use one of two methods:

• Drag a bracket symbol from a palette on to an empty space in the first measure of the staff where you want the bracket to start.
• Select the first measure of the staff where you want the bracket to start and double-click a bracket symbol in a palette.

Delete

• Select the bracket and press Del.

Change

• Drag a bracket symbol from a palette onto an existing bracket in the score.

Edit

When you first apply a bracket it only spans one staff. To extend to other staves:

1. Enter Edit mode.
2. Drag the handle downwards to span the required staves. The handle snaps into position, so exact placement is not required.

Style

The default thickness and distance from the system of brackets and braces can be adjusted in Style → General... → System.

Breaths and pauses

Breath and pause markings are available in the Breaths & Pauses palette in the advanced workspace.

Add symbol

To add a breath or pause (the latter also called a caesura, or informally "tram lines" or "railroad tracks") to the score, use one of the following options:

• Select a note or rest and double-click a breath or pause symbol in a palette
• Drag a breath or pause symbol from a palette onto a note or rest in the score.

The symbol is placed after the note.

Adjust position

To adjust the position of the breath or pause, use any of the following options:

• Click on the symbol and adjust the Horizontal or Vertical offsets in the Inspector.
• Enter edit mode on the symbol, and use arrow key shortcuts.

Adjust pause length

From version 2.1 onwards, you can adjust the pause length (in seconds) of the added symbol using the "Breath" or "Caesura" category in the Inspector.

Grace notes

A grace note is a type of musical ornament, usually printed smaller than regular notes. The Short grace note, or Acciaccatura, appears as a small note with a stroke through the stem. The Long grace note, or Appoggiatura, has no stroke.

Create grace notes

Grace notes can be found in the "Grace notes" palette in the Basic or Advanced workspace.

Add a grace note

Use one of the following methods:

• Select a regular note and double click a grace note in a palette;
• Drag a grace note symbol from a palette onto a regular note;
• Select a note and press / to create an acciaccatura only.

This will add a grace note of the same pitch as the regular note. To add a sequence of grace notes to a regular note, simply repeat the above actions as many times as required. See also, Change pitch (below).

Note: When a grace note is added to the score, a slur is not automatically created with it, so the latter needs to be added separately. See Slurs.

Add a chord of grace notes

Grace note chords are built up just like regular chords:

1. Enter the first note of the chord as shown above
2. Select this first grace note and enter subsequent notes as you would for any other regular chord (i.e. Shift+A...G).

You can also create a grace note chord by using the add interval shortcut in step 2: Alt+1...9 for intervals from a unison to a ninth above.

Change pitch

The pitch of a grace note can be adjusted just like a regular one:

1. Select one or more grace notes
2. Adjust pitch using the keyboard arrow commands, namely:
   • ↑ or ↓ to increase or decrease the pitch by a semitone;
   • Alt+Shift+↑ or Alt+Shift+↓ to increase or decrease the pitch one step at a time, according to the key signature.

Change duration

If you want to change the duration of a previously created grace note, select it and choose a duration from the toolbar or enter with one of the keys 1...9 (see Note input).

Manual adjustment

The position of a grace note after a note (such as a trill termination) may have to be adjusted by selecting the note, going into edit mode and using the left/right keyboard arrows; or change the chord offset values in the Inspector.

External links

• Grace note at Wikipedia
• Appoggiatura at Wikipedia
• Acciaccatura at Wikipedia

Hairpins

Add a hairpin

Hairpins are line objects. To create a hairpin:

1. Select a range of notes or measures;
2. Use one of the following shortcuts:
   • <: to create a crescendo hairpin.
   • >: to create a diminuendo hairpin (decrescendo).

Alternatively, use one of the following options:

• Select a range of notes or measures, and double-click a hairpin in a palette.
• Drag and drop a hairpin from a palette onto a staff line.

Adjust length

1. Double-click on the hairpin to enter edit mode. Then click on the end handle that you want to move:

   

2. Use one of the following shortcuts:

   • Shift+→ to move the end handle, and its anchor, right by one note or rest.
   • Shift+← to move the end handle, and its anchor, left by one note or rest;

   This method of extending or shortening the hairpin maintains playback integrity and allows it to cross line breaks:

   

3. To change the position of an end handle without changing the position of its anchor, use the following shortcuts:

   • → to move the handle right by 0.1 sp.
   • ← to move the handle left 0.1 sp.
   • Ctrl+→ (Mac: Cmd+→) to move the handle right one sp.
   • Ctrl+← (Mac: Cmd+→) to move the handle left one sp.

   Note: The commands listed in step 3 are only used to tweak the final appearance of the hairpin (e.g. see image below): they do not change its playback extent nor do they allow it to cross line breaks. If you want the latter, use the Shift+→ or Shift+← commands instead (step 2).

   

   Note: The "Reset" command (Ctrl+R (Mac: Cmd+R)) will undo these small adjustments, but will not undo anchor changes.

Cresc. and dim. lines

In addition to hairpins, there are cresc.   _     _     _ and dim.   _     _     _ lines with the same function in the Lines palette. To change the text (e.g. to cresc. poco a poco, or decresc. instead of dim), right-click on the line and choose Line Properties....

To turn a hairpin into its equivalent text line:

1. Select the hairpin.
2. In the Inspector, set "Line style" to "Wide dashed."
3. In the Inspector, select the "Text line" checkbox.

Hairpin playback

Crescendo and diminuendo lines only affect playback from one note to the next: they have no affect (currently) on the playback of a single note or a series of tied notes.

By default, hairpins will affect playback only if dynamics are used before and after the hairpin. For example, a crescendo spanning notes between p and f dynamics will cause a dynamic change on playback. However, between any two successive dynamics only the first appropriate hairpin will have effect: a diminuendo between p and f will be ignored; of two or more crescendos between p and f, all but the first will be ignored.

A hairpin may be used without dynamic marks, by adjusting "Velocity change" in the Inspector (values in the range 0 to 127).

Lines

The Lines palette of the Advanced workspace includes the following types of lines:

• Slur
• Hairpins (crescendo and diminuendo)
• Volta brackets (1st, 2nd, 3rd time endings etc.)
• Octave lines (8va, 8vb, 15ma etc)
• Keyboard pedal markings
• Extended ornament lines (Trills etc)
• Guitar barre line
• Straight line
• Ambitus (early music symbol)

Applying lines to the score

Most lines (except Slurs, Volta brackets and the Ambitus) can be applied from a palette in the following ways:

To apply a line to just one note

1. Click on a note, then Ctrl+Click on the next note;
2. Double-click a line.

To apply a line across a range of notes

1. Select a range of notes;
2. Double-click a line.

To apply a line from a note to the end of that measure

Use any of the following methods:

• Click on a note, then double click a line.
• Drag and drop a line onto the score.

To apply a line across a range of measures

1. Select one or more measures;
2. Double click a line.

Adjust vertical position

To adjust the vertical position of one or more lines:

1. Ensure you are not in note-input or edit mode.
2. Use either of the following:
   • Click on one or more lines and change the vertical offset in the Inspector;
   • Click on a line, press and hold Shift and drag it up/down with a mouse.

Note: You can also adjust the vertical position in Edit mode.

Change length

1. Ensure you are not in note input mode (press Esc to exit);

2. Double click the line that you want to change to enter edit mode;

3. Click on an end handle and use one of the following shortcuts:

   • Shift+→ to move the end handle, and its anchor, right by one note (or, in the case of Voltas, one measure)
   • Shift+← to move the end handle, and its anchor, left by one note (or, in the case of Voltas, one measure);

4. To change the position of an end handle without changing the position of its anchor, use the following:

   • → to move the handle right by 0.1 sp (1 sp = one staff space = the distance between two staff lines).
   • ← to move the handle left 0.1 sp.
   • Ctrl+→ (Mac: Cmd+→) to move the handle right one sp.
   • Ctrl+← (Mac: Cmd+→) to move the handle left one sp.

   Note: You can also drag the endpoint handles with a mouse.

Text lines

A text line is a line that has text embedded within it—such as a volta, ottava, guitar barre line etc.

When you apply a text line to the score from a palette, the line properties (see below) always remain unchanged, but the properties of embedded text may vary depending on circumstances. See Behavior of applied text and lines for details.

Custom lines and line properties

Lines may contain features such as embedded text or hooks at the ends (e.g. ottavas and voltas). They can be customized once they have been added to the score, and the results saved to a workspace for future use:

1. Right-click on a line and select Line Properties…;

2. Add any text you want to appear in the line;

   • Begin: Text added here appears at the beginning of the line.
   • Continue: Text added here appears at the beginning of a continuation line.
   • End: Text added here appears at the end of the line.

   Click on the ... buttons to adjust the Text properties at each position as required.

3. If a hook is required, tick the appropriate "Hook" box, and adjust the hook length and angle;

4. Select an option from "Place": "Above or "Below" positions the text so that it overlaps the line; "Left" places the text to the left of the line;

   Note: Additional placement options are available in the "Text properties" dialog (see step 2, above).

5. Click OK to exit Line Properties;

6. Make adjustments to Color, Thickness and Line type (solid, dashed etc.) in the "Line" section of the Inspector. Ticking "Diagonal" here allows you to create a diagonal line by dragging the end handles;

7. If you wish to save the resulting line for future use, see Custom palettes.

Copying lines

Once applied to the score, lines cannot be copied using the usual copy and paste procedures. However, you can duplicate lines within a score: press and hold Ctrl+Shift (Mac: Cmd+Shift), click on the line and drag it to the desired location.

Extended ornament lines

To add an accidental to an extended ornament, such as a trill line, select the line and double-click a symbol from the Accidentals palette.

External links

• Piano pedal marks at Wikipedia
• Guitar Barre at Wikipedia

Measure rests

Full measure rest

A whole rest, centred within a measure (shown below), is used to indicate that an entire measure (or a voice within a measure) is silent, regardless of time signature.

To create one or more full measure rests

Use the following method if all selected measures are "standard"—i.e. with no custom durations:

1 Select a measure, or range of measures.
2. Press Del.

If one or more of the measures contains a custom duration, use the following method instead:

1. Select a measure, or range of measures.
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+Del (Mac: Cmd+Shift+Del).

To create a full measure rest in a particular voice

1. In the appropriate voice, enter a rest that extends for the full measure.
2. Make sure the rest is selected, then press Ctrl+Shift+Del (Mac: Cmd+Shift+Del).

Multimeasure rest

A Multimeasure rest indicates a period of silence for an instrument: the number of measures is shown by the number above the staff.

Multimeasure rests are automatically interrupted at important points, such as double barlines, rehearsal marks, key- or time signature changes, section breaks etc.

To display multimeasure rests

To turn multimeasure rests on or off:

• Press M on your keyboard.

Alternatively:

1. From the menu, choose Style→General...
2. Click on the "Score" tab, if it is not already selected;
3. Tick/untick "Create multi-measure rests."

Note: It is recommended that you enter all notes in the score first before enabling multi-measure rests.

Break multimeasure rest

You may want to have a multi-measure rest divided into two multi-measure rests:

1. Ensure that the option to display multimeasure rests in the score is off (see above).
2. Right-click on the measure where you want the second multi-measure rest to start;
3. From the menu, chose Measure Properties and tick "Break multi-measure rest."

See also: Measure operations: Break multimeasure rest.

Octave lines

Octave (Ottava) lines are used to indicate that a section of music is to be played one or more octaves above or below written pitch: The line may be dotted or solid. Ottavas are available in the Lines palette of the Basic and Advanced workspaces.

8─────┐or 8va─────┐: Play one octave above written pitch
8─────┘or 8vb─────┘: Play one octave below written pitch

8va/8vb lines are particularly common in piano scores, though they are sometimes used in other instrumental music.¹ 15ma (2 octaves above) and 15mb (2 octaves below) are also occasionally used.

Apply an octave line

Use one of the following:

• Select a range of notes, then double click an octave line from a palette.
• Select one or more measures, then double click an octave line from a palette.
• Click on a note, then double-click an octave line from the palette (extends line from selected note to end of bar).
• Drag an octave line from a palette onto a note (extends line from selected note to end of bar).

See also, Lines: Adjust vertical position.

Change length

See Lines: Change length.

Custom lines

Octaves can be customized just like any other line. See Lines: Custom lines and line properties.

External links

• Octave at Wikipedia

Slurs

A slur is a curved line between two or more notes indicating that they are to be played legato—smoothly and without separation. Not to be confused with Ties, which join two notes of the same pitch.

There are a number of ways to add a slur to a score, and all may be useful depending on the context (adding a slur from the lines palette is also possible but not recommended).

Add slur in note-input mode

1. While in note input mode, type in 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.

Add slur outside note-input mode

Method 1

1. Make sure you are not in note input mode and select the first note that you want the slur to cover:

   

2. Press S to add a slur extending to the next note:

   

3. (Optional) Hold Shift and press → (right arrow key) to extend the slur to the next note. Repeat as required:

   

4. (Optional) Press X to flip the slur direction:

   

5. Press Esc to exit edit mode:

   

Method 2

1. Make sure you are not in note input mode;
2. Select the note where you want the slur to start;
3. Chose one of the following options:
   • To add a slur to one voice only: Hold down Ctrl (⌘ on a Mac) and select the last note that you want the slur to cover.
   • To add slurs to all voices: Hold down Shift (⌘ on a Mac) and select the last note that you want the slurs to cover.
4. Press S.

Adjust slur

If you only want to adjust the position of a slur:

1. Select the slur;
2. Use any of the following methods:
   • Drag the slur.
   • Adjust the horizontal and vertical offset values in the Inspector.

To adjust all the properties of a slur (length, shape and position):

1. Make sure you are not in note input mode;
2. Double-click the slur to enter edit mode (or select it and press Ctrl+E; or right-click it and select "Edit Element");
3. Click on a handle to select it, or use Tab to cycle through the handles;
4. To move the left and right handles from note to note, use the following shortcuts:
   • Shift+→: Move to next note.
   • Shift+←: Move to previous note.
   • Shift+↑: Move to lower voice (voice 2 to voice 1 etc.).
   • Shift+↓: Move to higher voice (voice 1 to voice 2 etc.).
5. To adjust the position of any handle, use any of the following methods:
   • Drag the handle.
   • Use the arrow keys for fine adjustment (0.1 sp. at a time). For larger adjustments (1 sp. at a time) use Ctrl+Arrow.
6. Press Esc to exit edit mode.

Note: The two outer handles adjust the start and end of the slur, whilst the three handles on the curve adjust the contour. The middle handle on the straight line is used to move the whole slur up/down/left/right.

Extended slurs

A slur can span several systems and pages. The start and end of a slur is anchored to a note/chord or rest. If the notes are repositioned due to changes in the layout, stretch or style, the slur also moves and adjusts in size.

This example shows a slur spanning from the bass to the treble clef. Using the mouse, select the first note of the slur, hold down Ctrl (Mac: ⌘) and select the last note for the slur, and press S to add the slur.

X flips the direction of a selected slur.

Dotted slurs

Dotted slurs are sometimes used in songs where the presence of a slur varies between stanzas. Dotted slurs are also used to indicate an editor's suggestion (as opposed to the composer's original markings). To change an existing slur into a dotted or dashed slur, select it and then in Inspector (F8) change Line type from Continuous to Dotted or Dashed.

See also

• Tie
• Edit mode
• Note input

Ties

A tie is a curved line between two notes of the same pitch, indicating that they are to be played as one note with a combined duration (see external links below). Ties are normally created between adjacent notes in the same voice, but MuseScore also supports ties between non-adjacent notes and between notes in different voices.

In note-input mode, if you specify a tie immediately after entering a note or chord, the program automatically generates the correct destination notes to go with the ties. Or, you can simply create ties "after the fact," between existing notes.

Note: Ties, which join notes of the same pitch, should not be confused with slurs, which join notes of different pitches and indicate legato articulation.

Tie notes together

1. Press Esc to make sure you are not in note input mode.

2. Click on a note, or use Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) + click to select more than one note.

   

3. Press + or the tie button, .

   .

Ties will be created between the selected note(s) and the following note(s) of the same pitch.

Tie chords together

To tie all the notes in a chord at once, either:

• Click on the stem of the chord, or
• Hold down Shift and click on any note in the chord.

Then press + or the tie button . Ties will be created between all the notes in the selected chord and the following notes of the same pitches.

Add tied notes in note input mode

To create a single note tie during note input:

1. Select a single note (one that is not part of a chord).
2. Select a new note duration for the following note, if required (but see "Note" below).
3. Press + or the tie button, .

Note: This shortcut works, as described above, only if there is no chord following the selected note. If there is, then the duration is ignored and the tied note is added instead to the following chord.

Add a tied chord in note input mode

1. Make sure one note is selected in a chord.
2. Select a new note duration for the following chord, if required (but see "Note" below).
3. Press + or the tie button, .

Note: This shortcut works, as described above, only if there is no chord following the selected note. If there is, then the duration is ignored and the tied notes are added instead to the following chord.

Tied unison notes

If the chords to be tied contain unison notes the best way to ensure correct notation is:

1. Assign each note of a unison pair to a separate voice.
2. Ensure that one of the unison pairs is set to "stemless" (to remove the duplicate stem and tail).
3. Apply the ties voice by voice. Make adjustments for position, length as required.

Flip a tie

X flips the direction of a selected tie, from above the note to below the note, or vice-versa.

See also

Slur

External links

• How to create ties leading into a 2nd ending
• Ties (music) at Wikipedia

Tremolo

Tremolo is the rapid repetition of one note, or a rapid alternation between two notes or chords. It is indicated by strokes through the stems of the notes or chords. If the tremolo is between two, the bars are drawn between them. Tremolo symbols are also used to notate drum rolls.

The tremolo palette in the advanced workspace contains separate symbols for one note tremolos (shown with stems below) and for two note tremolos (shown with no stem below).

To add tremolo to a single note, select the note head and double-click the desired symbol in the tremolo palette.

In a two note tremolo, every note has the value of the whole tremolo duration. To enter a tremolo with the duration of a half note (minim), enter two normal quarter notes (crotchets), and after applying a tremolo symbol to the first note, the note values automatically double to half notes.

Tuplets

Tuplets are used to write rhythms beyond the beat divisions usually permitted by the time signature. For example, a sixteenth note triplet divides an eighth note beat into three sixteenth notes instead of two:

In 6/8 time, an eighth note duplet divides a dotted quarter note into two eighth notes instead of three:

Create a tuplet

The exact method of tuplet entry depends on whether you are starting off in Note input mode or Normal mode. We'll start off with a simple example: the creation of an eighth note triplet.

Create a triplet in normal mode

1. Select a note or rest that specifies the full duration of the desired triplet group. In the case of an eighth note triplet, you will need to select a quarter note or rest—as in the example below:

   

2. From the main menu, choose Notes→Tuplets→Triplet, or press Ctrl+3 (Mac: ⌘+3). This will give the following result:

   

3. The program automatically changes to note-input mode and selects the most appropriate duration—in this example an eighth note. Now enter the desired series of notes/rests. For example:

   

Create a triplet in note input mode

1. Ensure you are in note input mode (press N).
2. Navigate to the note/rest (or blank measure) where you want the triplet to start (use the left/right arrow keys as required).
3. Select a final duration for the whole triplet group. In the case of an eighth note triplet, click on the quarter note in the note input toolbar (or press 5 on the keyboard).
4. From the main menu, choose Notes→Tuplets→Triplet, or press Ctrl+3 (Mac: ⌘+3). This creates a triplet number/bracket and appropriately divides the original note/rest (see image above).
5. The program automatically selects the most appropriate duration—in this example an eighth note—allowing you to immediately start entering the desired series of notes/rests.

Create other tuplets

To create other tuplets (Duplet (2) to Nonuplet (9)), substitute one of the following commands at the relevant step above:

• Press Ctrl+2–9 (Mac: Cmd+2–9).
• From the menu, select Notes→Tuplets, then click on the desired option.

For more complex cases, see below.

Custom tuplets

To create other tuplets than the default options (e.g. 13 sixteenth notes in the space of one quarter note):

1. In Note input mode, select a note duration equaling the total duration of the tuplet; or, if in Normal mode, select a note or rest of the desired overall duration;
2. Open the Create Tuplet dialog from the menu: Notes→Tuplets→Other...;

3. Select the desired number ratio (e.g. 13/4 for thirteen sixteenth notes in the space of a quarter note) under "Relation" in the "Type" section. Specify "Number" and "Bracket" using the radio buttons in the "Format" section;

   

4. Click OK to close the dialog:

   

5. Enter the desired series of notes/rests.

Delete a tuplet

To delete any tuplet, select the number/bracket and press Del.

Change display of tuplets

• To change the way that tuplets are displayed in the score, adjust the properties in the "Tuplet" section of the Inspector.
• Some general settings for tuplets can also be found in Style→General...→Tuplets.

Using the Inspector

To change the display properties of tuplets in the score, select the tuplet numbers/brackets, and adjust the desired properties in the "Tuplet" section of the Inspector:

If neither the number nor the bracket of the tuplet is shown in the score, select a note from the tuplet, then use the Tuplet button in the Inspector to display the "Tuplet" section:

Direction

• "Auto" places the bracket/number in the default position.
• "Up" places the bracket above the note heads, regardless of the stem, or beam position.
• "Down" places the bracket below the note heads, regardless of the stem, or beam position.

Number type

• "Number" shows an integer.
• "Relation` shows a ratio of two integers.

• "Nothing" turns off number display.

  

Bracket type

• "Automatic" hides the bracket for beamed notes and shows the bracket if the tuplet includes unbeamed notes or rests.
• "Bracket" displays the bracket.
• "Nothing" hides the bracket.

Using the Style menu

To make fine adjustments to the way that all tuplets in the score are displayed, from the menu, select Style → General... and select Tuplets.

Two adjustments are possible: Vertical and Horizontal

• Vertical adjustment has three options with values in space units and one (un)ticked option
  • Maximum slope: default value is 0.50; range is from 0.10 to 1.00
  • Vertical distance from stem (see (2) below): default value is 0.25; range is from -5.00 to 5.00
  • Vertical distance from note head (see (3) below): default value is 0.50; range is from -5.00 to 5.00
  • Avoid the staves: by default ticked
• Horizontal has four options with values in space units
  • Distance before the stem of the first note (see (5) below): default value is 0.50; range is from -5.00 to 5.00
  • Distance before the head of the first note: default value is 0.00; range is from -5.00 to 5.00
  • Distance after the stem of the last note (see (6) below): default value is 0.50; range is from -5.00 to 5.00
  • Distance after the head of the last note: default value is 0.00; range is from -5.00 to 5.00

External links

• How to create triplets and other tuplets
• How to create nonstandard tuplets
• Tuplet at Wikipedia
• The User Guide to Tuplets in MuseScore [video]

Repeats and jumps

Simple repeats

You can create a simple repeat by placing a start and an end repeat barline at the beginning and end of a passage. These barlines are applied from the Barlines palette, and, as of version 2.1, also from the Repeats & Jumps palette.

Note: If the start of a repeat coincides with the beginning of a piece or section, the start repeat barline can be omitted if desired. Similarly, an end repeat barline can be omitted at the end of a score or section.

1st and 2nd endings

First create a simple repeat (as shown above), then apply the first and second time endings—see Voltas.

Playback

To hear repeats during playback, make sure the "Play Repeats" button on the toolbar is selected. Likewise, you can turn off repeats during playback by deselecting the button.

To set the number of times that a repeat section plays back:

1. Make sure the start and end repeat barlines are in place (e.g. Simple repeats above).
2. Right-click on the last measure before the end repeat barline and select Measure properties.
3. Adjust "Play count" ("Repeat count" prior to version 2.1) as required.

Repeat symbols and text

Text and symbols related to repeats are located in the "Repeats & Jumps" palette (in the Basic and Advanced workspaces). This palette contains:

• Symbols for measure repeat, Segno, Coda, and, as of version 2.1, repeat barlines
• D.S., D.C., To Coda, and Fine text

To add a repeat symbol to the score use either of the following:

• Drag and drop a repeat symbol from the palette onto (not above!) the desired measure (so the measure changes color).
• Select a measure, then double-click the desired repeat symbol in the palette.

Jumps

Jumps are symbols in the score which tell the musician, and playback, to skip to a named marker (see below). Jumps include the various kinds of D.C. (Da Capo) and D.S. (Dal Segno) text.

If you click on a jump, some text boxes and a checkbox are displayed in the Jump section of the Inspector. These have the following effects on playback:

• Jump to: Playback jumps to the marker whose "Label" is the same as the "Jump to" tag.
• Play until: Playback continues until it reaches a marker whose "Label" is the same as the "Play until" tag.
• Continue: Playback jumps to the next marker whose "Label" is the same as the "Continue" tag.
• Play repeats: (As of version 2.2) Ticking this box tells MuseScore to play repeats after D.C. (Da Capo) or D.S. (Dal Segno) jumps. If this option is not ticked then simple Repeats are not taken after jumps and playback works as if it were the last repeat. Note: Ticking this option makes no difference to playback in versions prior to 2.2.

Note: The tags start and end, referring to the beginning and end of a score or section, are implicit and don't need to be added by the user.

Markers

Markers are the places referred to by the jumps. A list of markers (in addition to the implicit "start" and "end") follows:

• : Segno (tag: segno)
• : Segno Variation (tag: varsegno)
• : Coda (tag: codab)
• : Coda Variation (tag: varcoda)
• Fine: (tag: fine)
• To Coda: (tag: coda)

If you click on a marker, the following properties appears in the Marker section of the Inspector:

• Marker type: This can be changed from the dropdown list, if required.
• Label: This is the (identifier) tag associated with the marker. See also, Jumps (above).

Examples of jumps

• Da Capo (D.C.): At the "D.C." sign, playback jumps to the start (i.e. to the implicit start tag) and plays the entire score or section again (i.e. up to the implicit end tag).
• Da Capo (D.C.) al Fine: At the "D.C. al Fine" sign, playback jumps to the start (i.e. to the implicit start tag) and plays the score up to the Fine (i.e. the fine tag).
• Dal Segno (D.S.) al Fine: At the "D.S. al Fine" sign, playback jumps to the Segno symbol (i.e. the segno tag) and then plays up to the Fine (i.e. the fine tag)
• Dal Segno (D.S.) al Coda: At the "D.S. al Coda" sign, playback jumps to the Segno symbol (i.e. the segno tag) and then plays up to the To Coda (i.e. the coda tag). Playback then continues at the Coda symbol (i.e. the codab tag).

Note: The properties (i.e. the tag names) of jumps and markers can be set via the Inspector. You need to modify them if using multiple jumps and markers.

See also

• Barlines
• Volta

External links

• MuseScore in Minutes: Repeats and Endings, part 2 (video tutorial)
• How to separate a coda from the rest of the score (MuseScore HowTo)

Voltas

Volta brackets, or first and second ending brackets, are used to mark different endings for a repeat.

To add a volta to the score

Use one of the following methods:

• Select a measure, or range of measures and double-click a Volta icon in the Lines palette.
• Drag-and-drop a volta from the Lines palette, then adjust the length as required (see below).

To change the number of measures that a volta covers

1. Double-click the volta to enter edit mode. The end handle is automatically selected.
2. Press Shift+→ to move the end handle forward one measure. Press Shift+← to move the handle backward one measure. Repeat as required.

Note: Only the Shift commands will alter the playback start and end points of the volta. To make fine adjustments to the visual start or end points you can use other keyboard arrow commands, or drag the handles with a mouse, but these do not affect the playback properties.

When you select a start or end handle, a dashed line appears connecting it to an anchor point on the staff. This anchor shows the position of the playback start or end point of the Volta.

Text

You can change the text and many other properties of a volta bracket using the line properties dialog. Right-click on a volta bracket and choose Line Properties.... The figure below shows the volta text as "1.-5."

You can also right-click on the volta and bring up the volta properties dialog. From here, you can change both the displayed Volta text (the same from the line properties above) and the repeat list. If you want one volta to be played only on certain repeats and another volta on other repeats, enter the repeat times in a comma separated list. In the example below, this volta will be played during repeat 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7. Another volta will have the other ending, like 3, 6 and possibly other higher numbers like 8, 9, etc.

Playback

Sometimes a repeat plays more than two times. In the figure above, the volta text indicates that it should play five times before it continues. If you want to change the number of times MuseScore plays a repeat, go to the measure containing the end repeat barline and change its Play count (Repeat Count prior to version 2.1). See Measure operations: Other properties for details.

External links

• MuseScore in Minutes, Lesson 8: Repeats and Endings, Part 1
• How to create ties leading into a 2nd ending

Transposition

Transposition is the act of raising or lowering the pitch of a selection of notes by the same interval. You can chose to transpose notes either manually or by using the Transpose dialog.

Manual transposition

1. Select the notes that you wish to transpose;
2. Use any of the following options:
   • To transpose chromatically: Press ↑ or ↓. Repeat as required;
   • To transpose diatonically; Press Alt + Shift + ↑ or ↓. Repeat as required;
   • To transpose by an octave: Press Ctrl + ↑ or ↓ (Mac: Cmd + ↑ or ↓).

Note: In versions prior to 2.1, F2 (Mac: fn+F2) transposes the whole score and key signature UP one semitone. Shift+F2 (Mac: Shift+fn +F2) transposes the score and key signature DOWN one semitone.

Automatic transposition

MuseScore's Transpose dialog gives you more options for transposing notes.

Note: By default this dialog opens from the Notes menu, but you can also chose to open it using a keyboard shortcut (see Preferences).

Transpose Chromatically

By Key

To transpose notes up or down to the nearest key:

1. Select the notes you want to transpose; no selection equals "select all.";
2. From the menu bar, choose Notes → Transpose...;
3. Tick "Transpose Chromatically" and "By key;"
4. Tick/untick "Transpose key signature" and "Transpose chord symbols" if required;
5. Tick one of "Closest," "Up" or "Down;" and select a destination key signature from the drop-down menu;
6. Click OK.

By Interval

To transpose selected notes up or down in semitone increments:

1. Select the notes you want to transpose; no selection equals "select all.";
2. From the menu bar, choose Notes → Transpose...;
3. Tick "Transpose Chromatically" and "By Interval;"
4. Tick/untick "Transpose key signature" and "Transpose chord symbols" if required;
5. Tick "Up" or "Down;" and select a transposition interval from the drop-down menu;
6. Click OK.

Transpose Diatonically

To transpose selected notes up or down by a diatonic interval:

1. Select the notes you want to transpose; no selection equals "select all.";
2. From the menu bar, choose Notes → Transpose...;
3. Tick "Transpose Diatonically;"
4. Tick/untick "Transpose key signature" and "Transpose chord symbols" if required;
5. Tick "Up" or "Down;" and select a transposition interval from the drop-down menu;
6. Click OK.

Transposing instruments

Transposing instruments, such as the B-flat trumpet or E-flat alto sax, sound lower, or higher than their written pitch. MuseScore has a number of features to facilitate the scoring of these instruments.

Concert pitch

MuseScore's default viewing mode shows the musical notation in written pitch, but you can chose to display the score in concert pitch instead. In the latter mode, the musical notation of all instruments matches the actual pitches that you hear on playback.

To switch to concert pitch, use one of the following options:

• Press the Concert Pitch button to highlight it.
• From the menu bar, select Notes and tick the Concert Pitch option.

You should ensure that the Concert pitch button is OFF before printing the main score or any parts.

Change staff transposition

Instrument transpositions are already set up in MuseScore. However, if you want a rare instrument or transposition that is not available in MuseScore, you may need to edit the instrument transposition manually.

1. Right-click an empty part of the instrument staff and select Staff Properties....
2. At the bottom of the window, select the interval of transposition, any octave shifts, and whether the interval is "Up" (sounds higher than written) or "Down" (sounds lower than written).

You can also use the Change Instrument… button in the Staff Properties window to automatically change the transposition to that of a different standard instrument.

External links

• How to transpose (MuseScore How-To)
• Concert pitch or not?? (forum discussion)

Drum notation

Entering percussion notation is somewhat different to entering notation for pitched instruments (such as the piano or violin). However, it is recommended that you first read the chapter on Note input for pitched instruments before proceeding.

Percussion staff types

When you create a percussion staff using the New Score Wizard or the Instruments dialog, MuseScore automatically choses the most appropriate staff type (1-, 3-, or 5-line) for the instrument: this can be changed, if required, using the "Staff type" column on the Chose instruments / Instruments page. Any additional changes (e.g. to a 2-line staff) can be made from the score itself (see Advanced Style Properties).

On a 5-line percussion staff, each instrument is assigned a vertical staff position (line or space) and a notehead shape. For a drumset, one or two voices can be used. If the latter, voice 1 (the upper voice) usually contains (up-stem) notes played by the hands while voice 2 (the lower voice) usually contains (down-stem) notes played by the feet (see image below).

Note input methods

You can add notes to a percussion staff from any of the following:

• External MIDI keyboard;
• Piano keyboard (virtual);
• Computer keyboard;
• Mouse.

These methods can be used in any desired combination:

MIDI keyboard

To add notes to a percussion staff from a MIDI keyboard:

1. Ensure that the MIDI keyboard is connected and functioning correctly.

   Note: If you click on the percussion staff without entering note input mode, you can demo the percussion instruments from the MIDI keyboard.

2. Click on the note or rest where you want to start.

3. Enter note input mode.
4. Select the correct voice. For example, snares, sidesticks and all cymbals are normally added to voice 1; bass drum to voice 2.
5. Set note duration.
6. Press an instrument key to add a note to the score. To add another note at the same position, keep the first key held down while pressing the second key.

Note: Refer to a GM2 drum map for details about which MIDI keyboard key corresponds to which percussion instrument. Some keyboards (e.g., Casio) display percussion symbols next to the keys as an aid to the user.

Piano keyboard

To add notes to a percussion staff from the virtual Piano Keyboard:

1. Ensure that the Piano keyboard is displayed. Press P (or select it from the menu, View → Piano Keyboard).

   Note: If you click on the percussion staff without entering note input mode, you can demo the percussion instruments from the Piano keyboard.

2. Click on the note or rest where you want to start.

3. Enter note input mode.
4. Select the correct voice. For example, snares, sidesticks and all cymbals are normally added to voice 1; bass drum to voice 2.
5. Set note duration.
6. Click on a (virtual piano) key to add a note to the score.
7. To add another note to an existing one, press Shift and hold it while pressing the new note (in versions before 2.1, use Ctrl (Mac: Cmd)).

Note: Refer to a GM2 drum map for details about which piano key corresponds to which percussion instrument.

By default, the piano keyboard is docked at the bottom of the screen—to the left of the Drum input palette. However you can undock it by dragging, then dock the panel in several ways:

• Drag the panel downwards to the center and it will overlay the Drum input palette, full length. Both panels can then be accessed by Tabs.
• Drag the panel downwards to the right/left and it will dock to the right/left of the Drum input palette.

Computer keyboard

To enter notes on a percussion staff using your computer keyboard:

1. Click on the note or rest where you want to start.
2. Enter note input mode. The Drum input palette now appears at the bottom of the screen (see below).
3. Select the desired note duration.
4. Press the shortcut key (A–G) for the instrument that you wish to enter—refer to the Drum input palette window.
5. If you wish to add another note to an existing one in that voice, press Shift + [A–G].

Note: Voice allocation is determined by the color of the note in the drum input palette: blue for voice 1, green for voice 2.

Mouse

To add a note to a percussion staff

Use the following method to add a new note or to replace an existing chord.

1. Select the note or rest where you want to start. You can also select a measure.
2. Press N to to enter note input mode. The Drum input palette now appears at the bottom of the screen (see below).
3. Set note duration.
4. Chose one of the following options:
   • Double-click a note in the Drum input palette.
   • Select a note (e.g. Bass drum, or Snare) in the Drum input palette, then click a note or rest in the score.

To add a note to an existing chord in the percussion staff

1. Ensure you are in note input mode.
2. Select a note duration equal to the note you are adding to.
3. Click on the new note in the Drum input palette.
4. Click above or below the existing note in the percussion staff.

Note: Voice allocation is determined by the color of the note in the drum input palette: blue for voice 1, green for voice 2.

Drum input palette

When a percussion staff is selected and note input mode is ON, a window opens at the bottom of the screen called the Drum input palette. This window is essential for mouse input, and displays shortcuts for computer keyboard input, but can be ignored if using a MIDI keyboard or the virtual Piano Keyboard.

Each note in the palette represents a percussion instrument: hovering the mouse pointer over the note displays the instrument name.

The letters A–G (shown above certain notes in the palette) are designated as shortcuts for entering particular instruments (bass drum, snare, closed hi-hat etc.), rather than referring to note pitches. They can be changed or reallocated as desired in the Edit Drumset window.

When the Drum input palette is open, double-clicking a note in the palette or entering a shortcut letter will add that instrument note to the percussion staff. The color of the note in the palette shows the voice allocated for that note—blue for voice 1, green for voice 2. This can be changed in the Edit Drumset dialog if required.

This voice allocation applies only to keyboard and mouse entry of notes: entry via a MIDI keyboard or the virtual Piano keyboard allows any voice to be used.

Edit Drumset

To open the Edit Drumset window, use one of the following options:

• Click on the Edit Drumset button at the left of the Drum input palette.
• Right-click on a percussion staff and select "Edit Drumset...".

The Edit Drumset dialog displays the percussion instruments available and the MIDI notes/numbers to which they are allocated. It also determines how each instrument is displayed on the staff— its name, position, notehead type and note-stem direction. Any changes made here are automatically saved in the parent MuseScore file.

Clicking on a row in the left-hand column allows you to edit the display properties for that note as follows:

Name: The name you want displayed in the Drum input palette when you mouse over the note.
Notehead: Chose a notehead for that instrument from a drop-down list of options (if set to "Invalid," the instrument will not display in the Drum input palette).
Staff line: This number indicates the staff line/space on which the note is displayed. "0" means that the note is displayed on the top line of the 5-line staff. Negative numbers move the note upwards step by step, while positive numbers move it downwards in the same way.
Stem Direction: Auto, Up or down.
Default voice: Assign to one of four voices. This does not affect input from a MIDI keyboard or the virtual Piano keyboard.
Shortcut: Assign a keyboard shortcut to enter that note.

The customized drumset can be saved as a .drm file by pressing Save. You can also import a customized drumset using the Load button.

Note: In MuseScore 2.1, some of the pitches in the Tenor Drums instrument do not play back; there is a DRM file designed to fix this, which you can download here, via right-click→ Save target as.

Roll

To create a drum roll, use Tremolo.

External links

• How to create jazz drum notation [MuseScore How-To]
• Video tutorial: MuseScore in Minutes: Lesson 7 - Tablature and Drum Notation
• Drum Parts [video]
• Editing the Drum Palette in MuseScore 1.1 [video]
• Saving Drumset Changes in MuseScore 1.1 [video]
• Guide to Drum and Percussion Notation

Tablature

Music for fretted, stringed instruments is commonly notated using tablature, also known as tab, which provides a visual representation of the strings and fret numbers:

Tablature can also be combined with traditional staff notation:

Create a new tablature staff

If you wish to create tablature as part of a new score, use the New Score Wizard. If you want to add tablature to an existing score, use the Instruments dialog. Or, alternatively, you can convert an existing standard staff. See below for details.

With the New Score wizard

To create tablature in a new score (for combined staff/tablature systems see → below):

1. Open the New Score wizard.
2. Enter the score details (optional). Click Next.
3. On the Chose template file page, click on Choose Instruments.

4. On the Instruments page, select one (or more) tablature options under "Plucked strings" in the left-hand column (see image below). Then click Add.

   

   Note: You can use the dropdown list above the Instrument list to change the category displayed. Alternately you can search for the instrument using the "Search" field below the Instrument list.

5. Complete the rest of the New Score Wizard.

If the desired tablature is not available in the Choose Instrument list:

1. At step "4" (above), select an existing "Plucked strings" tablature staff.
2. Press Add to move it to the right-hand column.
3. Check the drop-down menu to the right of the newly-added instrument for the most suitable Tab option, if any.
4. Complete the rest of the New Score wizard and exit.
5. Modify the number of strings and tuning of the tablature, if needed, in the Staff properties window (see → below).
6. Change the Instrument name in Staff Properties, if required.

This allows you to create tablature for any chromatically-fretted instrument.

With the Instruments dialog

To add a single tablature staff to an existing score (for combined staff/tab system see → below):

1. Open the instruments dialog (press I; or from the menu bar, select Edit → Instruments…).
2. Add the tab staff as described in Add instruments ("Create a new score").

By changing staff type

To convert an existing standard staff to tablature, or tablature to a standard staff:

1. Right click on the staff and select Staff Properties…. If "Instrument" is already set to a plucked-strings type, then exit staff properties and go to step 4.
2. If "Instrument" is not a plucked-strings type, click on Change instrument and select an appropriate instrument from "Plucked strings."
3. Click on OK twice to exit staff properties.
4. Open the instruments dialog (press I, or from the menu bar select Edit → Instruments…).
5. Click on the staff in the right-hand column and change the "Staff type" to the desired option.
6. Click OK to exit the Instrument editor and return to the score page.

Note: If you subsequently need to make further adjustments to the staff (e.g. tuning, number of lines/strings etc.), right click on the staff and select Staff Properties….

Alternative method (using just the "Staff Properties" dialog):

1. Right click on the staff and select Staff Properties….
2. If the Instrument displayed is in the "Plucked strings" category, go to step 4.
3. If the Instrument displayed is not in the "Plucked strings" category, click Change instrument and select an appropriate instrument from "Plucked strings". Click on OK.
4. Click Advanced Style Properties..., change "Template" to the desired option and press < Reset to Template.
5. Click OK twice to close the Staff Properties dialog box..

Note: Other adjustments to the staff (e.g. tuning, number of lines/strings etc.), can also be made in the Staff Properties… dialog.

Edit string data

Change tuning

Note: If you only want to view (rather than change) the instrument tuning, follow steps 1 and 2 only.

1. Right-click on the staff and select Staff Properties….

   

2. Press the Edit String Data… button at the bottom of the dialog box. The String Data dialog opens:

   

3. Click on a string pitch and select Edit String…. Or, alternatively, just double-click the string pitch.

4. Select a new pitch in the Note Selection box and click OK. Or, alternatively, just double-click the new pitch.
5. Click OK to close the "String Data" dialog box. Then click OK to close the "Staff/Part Edit Properties" dialog box.

Notes: (1) If tuning is changed when the tablature for that instrument already contains some notes, fret marks will be adjusted automatically (if possible); (2) Any change of tuning to a particular instrument applies only to the score at hand, and does not change any program default settings.

Add a string

1. Right-click on the staff, select Staff Properties…, then press Edit String Data.
2. Click on a string pitch and select New String....
3. Select the new pitch and press OK—or, alternatively, just double-click the new pitch. The new string is inserted below the selected string.

Note: After adding a tablature string you will need to adjust the number of lines in the Staff properties dialog.

Delete a string

1. Right-click on the staff, select Staff Properties…, then press Edit String Data.
2. Click on a string pitch and select Delete String.

Note: After deleting a tablature string you will need to adjust the number of lines in the Staff properties dialog.

Mark unfretted string "open"

This feature is used to mark a (bass) course as unstopped (i.e. outside of the fingerboard and always sounding open): as on a Baroque lute or Theorbo etc. This means that only "0" (zero) or "a" is accepted as a fret mark: any other fret mark will be converted to 0/a.

1. Right-click on the staff, select Staff Properties…, then press Edit String Data.
2. Check one or more boxes in the "Open" column.

Change number of instrument frets

This property defines the maximum fret number which can be entered on a tablature staff.

1. Right-click on the staff, select Staff Properties…, then press Edit String Data.
2. Select or enter a new number in the "Number of frets" spin box.

Change tablature display

You can customize both the appearance of a tablature staff and the way that it displays the fret marks. To access these options:

1. Right click on the staff and select Staff Properties….
2. Click on the Advanced Style Properties… button.

Combine pitched staff with tablature

Plucked-string instruments—such as the guitar—are commonly notated using both a music staff and tablature (TAB) together. MuseScore gives you the option of having the two staves either unlinked or linked:

1. Unlinked Staves: You can enter, delete or edit notation in one staff without affecting the other. To transfer music notation from one staff to the other, select the desired range and copy and paste it into the other staff.

2. Linked Staves: Any changes you make in one staff are automatically applied to the other staff as well ("mutual translation").

A note on fret mark conflicts: When the same note is entered in two different voices, MuseScore tries to ensure that the fret marks do not overlap on the same string. Any overlaps which do occur are marked with red squares: these appear only in the document window and not on any printed copy. In almost all cases (e.g. frets 0 to 4 on the 6th string), overlapping is the desired result and no further adjustment is required. As of version 2.2, you can hide the red marks by selecting "View" and unticking "Show Unprintable."

Create a staff/tablature pair with the New Score wizard

1. Open the New Score wizard.
2. Enter the score details (optional). Click Next.
3. On the Chose template file page, click on Choose Instruments.
4. Select a pitched staff in the "Plucked strings" section of the left-hand column. Then click Add.
5. Select the newly-created staff line (i.e. marked "Staff …") in the right-hand column and chose one of two options:
   • Click Add Staff to create an unlinked staff/tab pair.
   • Click Add Linked Staff to create a linked staff/tab pair.
6. In the Staff type column, click on the dropdown list for the newly-created staff and select a tablature option (this can be modified later, if required, on the score page—see Staff Properties).
7. Complete the rest of the New Score Wizard, or click Finish.

Note: To create unlinked staves with separate mixer channels, instead of step "5" (above), select a Tablature staff in the left-hand column and click Add. Then continue with steps 6 and 7.

Create a staff/tablature pair in an existing score

1. Open the Instruments editor (press I, or from the menu bar, select Edit → Instruments…).
2. Select a pitched staff in the "Plucked strings" section of the left-hand column. Then click Add.
3. Select the newly-created staff line (i.e. marked "Staff …") in the right-hand column and chose one of two options:
   • Click Add Staff to create an unlinked staff/tab pair.
   • Click Add Linked Staff to create a linked staff/tab pair.
4. In the Staff type column, click on the dropdown list for the newly-created staff and select a tablature option (this can be modified later, if required, on the score page—see Staff Properties).
5. Change the staff order using the ↑ button if needed.
6. Click OK to return to the score.

Note: To create unlinked staves with separate mixer channels, instead of step "3" (above), select a Tablature staff in the left-hand column and click Add. Then continue with steps 4–6.

Create a staff/tablature pair from an existing staff

To add tablature to a plucked-string staff in the score (or vice versa):

1. Open the Instruments editor (press I, or from the menu bar, select Edit → Instruments…).
2. Select the staff line (marked "Staff 1") in the right-hand column that you want to add to.
3. Chose one of two options:
   • Click Add Staff to create an unlinked staff/tab pair
   • Click Add Linked Staff to create a linked staff/tab pair
4. In the Staff type column, click on the dropdown list for the newly-created staff and select an option (this can be modified later, if required, on the score page—see Staff Properties).
5. Change the staff order using the ↑ button if needed.
6. Click OK.

Notes: To create unlinked staves with separate mixer channels, instead of step "3" (above), select an appropriate staff in the left-hand column and click Add. Then continue with steps 4–6.

Enter notes in tablature

Using a computer keyboard

• First, ensure that you are not in note-input mode. Select the measure or existing note from which you want to begin note entry.
• Switch to note input mode (N): a short 'blue rectangle' appears around one tablature string: this is the current string.
• Select the duration of the note or rest that you wish to enter (see below).
• Press the up/down arrow keys to move the cursor to the desired string. Use the left/right arrow keys to navigate through the score.

• Press 0 to 9 to enter a fret mark from 0 to 9 on the current string; to enter numbers with several digits press each digit in sequence. Keys A to K (skipping I) can also be used: convenient when working in French tablature. For L , M, N, use the alphanumeric keyboard and type respectively 10, 11, 12...

  Note: You cannot enter a number higher than the "Number of frets" value set in the Edit String Data dialog.

• Press ; (semicolon) to enter a rest of the selected duration.

• You can enter notes in different voices if required—just as you would in a standard staff.

See also, Edit notes (below).

Historical tablature

As of version 2.1, period notation for bass strings (lutes and sim.) is supported:

• French tablature: letters with prefixed slash-like strokes right under the tab body: i.e. 7th string: "a", 8th string: "/a", 9th string: "//a" and so on, all in the first position below the tab body.

• Italian tablature: numbers with 'ledger line'- like segment of string above the tab body: i.e. 7th string: "0" one position above the tab body with one 'ledger line'; 8th string: "0" two positions above the tab body with two 'ledger lines' and so on.

Input of is via computer keyboard only: by moving the note entry cursor below (French) or above (Italian) the tab body, 'shadow' slashes or ledger lines will indicate the target string to which the fret mark will be applied; pressing one of the fret keys, will enter (and lay out) the note on that string.

Using a mouse

To enter notes into tablature with a mouse:

• Enter note input mode and select the note or rest duration (see below).
• Click on a string to create a note there. Notes are initially created on fret 0 (or a for French tablatures): to correct, type in the right number from the keyboard.
• You can also increase/decrease the fret mark using Alt+Shift+↑ or Alt+Shift+↓.
• You can enter notes in different voices if required—just as you would in a standard staff.

See also, Edit notes (below).

Select note duration

In note input mode, you can use any of the following methods to set note duration in tablature:

• Press Shift+1 to Shift+9: Sets duration from a 128th note to a longa (availability of these shortcuts may depend on the platform and/or keyboard layout);
• Press NumPad 1 to Numpad 9: Sets duration from a 128th note to a longa (if a numeric keypad exists and NumLock is on);
• Click on a note duration icon in the Note Input toolbar above the document window;
• Press Q to decrease the selected duration and W to increase it.

Edit notes

Note input mode

To edit an existing fret mark in note-input mode:

• Position the cursor above the fret mark and simply retype the number.
• Increment or decrement the fret mark using Alt+Shift+↑ or Alt+Shift+↓.

Non note input mode

To edit an existing fret mark outside note-input mode:

1. Select one or more fret marks.
2. Use any of the following commands:
   • To increment or decrement, without changing the string: Press ↑ / ↓.
   • To increment or decrement, changing strings, when possible, to minimize the fret number: Press Alt+Shift+↑ / ↓
   • To move to an adjacent string (if the string is free and can produce that note): Press Ctrl+↑ / ↓ (Mac: Cmd+↑ / ↓) .

Note: The fret mark cannot be higher than the "Number of frets" value set in the Edit String Data dialog.

Crosshead notes

To change a fret mark to a crosshead note:

1. Select one or more fret marks (in non-note-input mode).
2. Press Shift+X to toggles ghost noteheads on/off.

Summary of keyboard commands

Note input mode

Normal mode

External links

• Video tutorial: MuseScore in Minutes: Lesson 7 - Tablature and Drum Notation

Mid-staff instrument changes

When a musician is required to double on a different instrument for a section of a piece, the instruction to switch instruments is generally placed above the staff at the beginning of that section. A return to the primary instrument is handled in the same manner.

MuseScore enables users to insert a special class of text called Change Instrument text for this purpose. This class of text is different from either Staff or System text in that it links the text to the playback and changes the sound to the new instrument.

Instrument changes as of version 2.1

Version 2.1 introduces a greatly improved mid-staff instrument change over previous versions. There are still some limitations that need to be considered prior to using it.

1. Mid-staff instrument changes are limited to the same type of staff. For example, you cannot change between a percussion staff and a pitched instrument staff or vice versa.

2. The instrument name is not changed in the mixer. It will still be listed under the instrument in the original definition of the staff.

3. The key signature is not automatically updated at the instrument change. You must manually change the Key signature if needed.

4. You can now enter the notes a musician would play once the instrument is changed and the correct key signature is entered if necessary.

5. Unless you are changing the type of staff, you will always use the Change Instrument text.

Instrument changes in version 2.0

There are several limitations to this in version 2.0 which should be understood before attempting to use it.

1. Automatic transposition from concert pitch to the appropriate key for the transposing brass and woodwind instruments is not currently supported. For changes to instruments notated in a different key (C flute to E♭ flute; Oboe to English Horn, etc.), the use of ordinary Staff Text to indicate the change is preferable, and the transposition must be done after the music is entered (using Notes→Transpose from the main menu). To avoid discord on playback, the instrument assigned to that staff should be muted in the F10 Mixer.

2. If it is necessary to hear the new instrument sound on playback, the Change Instrument text function must be used. However, after a mid-staff instrument change where the two instruments on the staff are not notated in the same key, no attempt should be made to enter new music directly from the keyboard. Instead, the music must be (a) pasted in, or (b) entered before the instrument change is affected. New input into measures following an instrument change is subject to two known program bugs, which cannot be resolved in the current 2.0.x versions without adversely affecting backwards compatibility. (This has been fixed in version 2.1) In addition, the score must remain notated in concert pitch, or discord will result from the transposition. As a convenience to the players, a copy of the part may be saved as a separate file and the required sections transposed to the appropriate key before the part is printed. (Note that transposing a linked part will affect the score as well.)

3. When changing from one concert-pitch instrument to another, or from one transposing instrument to another in the same key (Bb trumpet to Bb cornet or Flugelhorn, etc.), the Change Instrument Text may be used to ensure that the playback sound is altered to the new instrument. Input may be done in the usual manner, and is not affected by the bugs mentioned above.

Incompatibilities

There are some incompatibilities between the two versions.

1. Instrument changes created with version 2.0 and opened in version 2.1 or above will continue to either display the notes wrong or play the notes wrongs as in version 2.0. Deleting and reentering the instrument change will fix most incompatibility issues with only minor changes being needed.

2. Instrument changes created with version 2.1 or above and opened in version 2.0 will generally playback correctly but continue to display the wrong notes.

Add an instrument change

1. Select the start point of the change by clicking on a note or rest.
2. Open the main palette by typing F9 (or by using the View menu), and click on Text to open the text sub-palette.
   
3. Double-click on Instrument
4. The word "Instrument" will appear above the anchor note or rest.
5. Double-click the word "Instrument", then type Ctrl+A to select all of it.
6. Type the actual text you wish to appear in the score, then click outside the box to exit text edit mode.

7. Right-click the text and choose "Change Instrument…"

   

8. Choose the instrument, then click OK

   

See also

• Change instrument
• Mid-staff sound change

External links

• How to change instrument sound (e.g. pizz., con sordino) midway through score

Mixer

The Mixer allows you to change instrument sounds and adjust the volume and panning for each staff.

To display/hide the mixer, use one of the following:

• Press F10 (Mac: fn+F10).
• From the main menu, select View→Mixer.

Note: Separate reverb and chorus effects for each channel are not yet implemented; use the synthesizer effects unit instead.

The name of each mixer channel is the same as the Part name in the Staff properties dialog.

Mute and Solo

• To silence a selected staff, tick its "Mute" checkbox. Repeat as required.
• To solo a selected staff, tick the "Solo" checkbox for that staff.

Dials

To turn a dial clockwise, click and drag upwards. To turn a dial counter-clockwise, click and drag downwards. You can also hover the mouse pointer over the dial and then move the mouse wheel. Double-clicking on any dial restores it to its default position.

Sound

The "Sound" drop-down menu lists every instrument supported by your current SoundFont. If you have multiple SoundFonts loaded in the Synthesizer, all the patches from all the SoundFonts (and/or SFZ files) will appear in a single long list—in the order previously set in the Synthesizer.

Tip: To find an instrument, click on the "Sound" list and type the first letter of the instrument name. Repeat as required.

Mid-staff sound change (pizz., con sordino, etc.)

Some instruments come with multiple channels in the Mixer that can be used to change sounds midway through a score. For example, a staff for a stringed instrument (violin, viola, cello etc.) is allocated three channels: one for "arco" (or "normal"), another for "pizzicato" and another for "tremolo." A trumpet staff will have one channel for "normal" and another reserved for "mute," and so on.

The following instructions use pizzicato strings as an example, but the same principle can be applied to any other instrument staff that allows sound changes.

1. Select the first note of the section you want to be pizzicato;
2. From the main menu, choose Add→Text→Staff Text;
3. Type "pizz." This text is for visual reference only and does not affect playback;
4. Right-click on the applied staff text and select Staff Text Properties…;
5. In the "Change Channel" tab of the "Staff Text Properties" dialog, select one or more voices on the left;

6. From the dropdown menu, select pizzicato;

   

7. Click OK to return to the score.

Every note after the staff text you added now sounds pizzicato. To return to a normal strings sound later in the piece, follow the same guidelines as above except type "arco" in step 3 and select normal in step 6.

See also

• SoundFont
• Synthesizer
• Change instrument

External links

• How to change instrument sound (e.g. pizz., con sordino) midway through score

Play mode

Basic playback functions are accessed from the Play toolbar located above the document window:

From left to right, the icons are:

• Rewind to start position: Playback returns to the beginning of the score, or to the start of the loop (if one is set).
• Start or stop playback: See Start/stop playback.
• Toggle loop playback: See Loop playback.
• Play repeats: Turn off if you want playback to ignore repeats.
• Pan score during playback: Turn off if you want the score to remain stationary.
• Play metronome: See Metronome playback.

Playback commands

Start/stop playback

To start playback:

1. Click on a note, rest or the blank part of a measure to establish the starting point. Note: If no selection is made, playback returns to the place it left off—or, if no previous playback, to the start of the score.
2. Press the play button button; or press Space.

During playback you can jump to a specific note or rest in the score by simply clicking on it.

To stop playback:

• Press the Playback button; or press Space.

During playback

Once playback has started, the following commands are available:

• Go back to previous chord: ←
• Advance to next chord: →
• Go back to start of previous measure: Ctrl+← (Mac: Cmd+←)
• Advance to start of next measure: Ctrl+→ (Mac: Cmd+→)
• Rewind to start of score: Home (Mac: ⌘+Home); or press the Rewind button (playback toolbar).

During playback you can still use keyboard shortcuts to open and close panels, such as Play, Synthesizer, Mixer etc.

Play panel

To open the Play Panel use one of the following options:

• Press F11 (Mac: Fn+F11).
• From the menu bar, select View → Play Panel.

The Play Panel offers temporary controls over playback, including playback speed (labelled 'tempo'), loop playback (with specified starting and ending positions), and general volume.

Note: Changes to the parameters in the Play Panel are not saved with the score: they only affect playback in the current session. Permanent changes to tempo should be made using tempo text. To change the default playback volume of the score, see Synthesizer.

Count in

You can switch on and off a count-in to be played each time the playback starts. The count-in plays beats for a full measure (according to nominal time signature at playback starting point); if the starting point is mid-measure or at a 'short' measure (anacrusis), it also plays enough beats to fill that measure. The conductor icon in the play panel enables, or disables count-in.

Metronome playback

You can also switch on/off the accompanying metronome as the score is played (see the metronome icon on the play panel).

Loop playback

You can loop playback of a selected passage in the score using either the Play toolbar (see image above) or the play panel.

To loop from the Play toolbar:

• Playback should be off, and the "Loop playback button" on.
• Select the desired region of the score for loop playback.
• Press the playback button.

Playback will now cycle within the region marked by the blue flags.

• Use the "Loop playback" button to toggle the loop on or off.

To loop from the Play Panel:

• Select the note from which you want playback to start and click on the "Set loop in position" button. The "Loop Playback" button becomes active.
• Select the last note of the desired playback region and click on the "Set loop out position" button.
• Press the play button.

Playback will now cycle within the region marked by the blue flags.

• You can use the "Loop playback" button to toggle the loop on or off.

SoundFonts and SFZ files

Audio playback is provided by MuseScore's onboard synthesizer, which houses a large selection of virtual (or software) instruments—including percussion and sound effects.

MuseScore supports virtual instruments in two formats:

• SoundFont (.sf2/.sf3): A single file containing one or more virtual instruments.
• SFZ (.sfz): A set of audio and definition files containing one or more virtual instruments.

SoundFonts

A Soundfont (.sf2/.sf3) is a single file containing one or more virtual instruments. As of version 2.2, MuseScore is installed with a SoundFont called MuseScore_General.sf3. This is a GM (General MIDI) set containing over 128 instruments, sound effects and various drum/percussion kits.

Note: Older versions of MuseScore are installed with a different Soundfont: MuseScore 2.0–2.1 with FluidR3Mono_GM.sf3; MuseScore 1 with TimGM6mb.sf2.

GM (General MIDI) is a universal format, so once your score is set up for correct playback using MuseScore's native Soundfont, you should be able to export it in a format of your choice and have it play back on any other user's computer.

Many different Soundfonts are available on the Internet: some free, some commercial. For a list of free soundfonts, see below.

Install a SoundFont

After finding and decompressing a SoundFont (see →below), double-click to open it. In most cases, the SoundFont file type will already be associated with MuseScore, and MuseScore will start and a dialog will appear asking if you want to install the SoundFont. Occasionally an application other than MuseScore will be associated with the SoundFont file type; if this is the case, you will need to right-click or control-click on the file, so as to display a menu from which you can choose to open the file in MuseScore. In either case, when the dialog appears asking if you want to install the SoundFont, click "Yes" to place a copy of the SoundFont file in MuseScore's SoundFonts directory. This directory can be viewed or changed in MuseScore's Preferences, but the default location is:

• Windows: %HOMEPATH%\Documents\MuseScore2\Soundfonts

• macOS and Linux: ~/Documents/MuseScore2/Soundfonts

In contrast to user-added SoundFonts, the initial default SoundFont installed with MuseScore is located in a system directory, meant only for that purpose, which should not be modified. This directory and its default SoundFont file is:

• Windows (32-bit): %ProgramFiles%\MuseScore 2\sound\MuseScore_General.sf3

• Windows (64-bit): %ProgramFiles(x86)%\MuseScore 2\sound\MuseScore_General.sf3

• macOS: /Applications/MuseScore 2.app/Contents/Resources/sound/MuseScore_General.sf3

• Linux (Ubuntu): /usr/share/mscore-xxx/sounds/MuseScore_General.sf3 (with xxx being the MuseScore version)

Uninstall

To uninstall a SoundFont, simply open the folder where its file is installed and delete it.

SFZ

An SFZ consists of a bunch of files and directories, an SFZ file and a bunch of actual sound files in WAV or FLAC format, with the SFZ file being a text file that basically describes what sound file is located where and to be used for what instrument and pitch range.

Note: For full support of SFZ, MuseScore 2.1 or later is need, prior versions had only limited support, namely for Salamander Grand Piano

Install an SFZ

After downloading an SFZ (see →below), you need to manually extract all the files that belong to the SFZ (the SFZ file itself and all the subdirectories) into the directory listed above. Leave the subdirectories and their contents as they are.

Uninstall

To uninstall an SFZ, simply open the folder where its files are installed (see above) and delete them all.

Synthesizer

The Synthesizer is MuseScore's central control panel for sound output. Once a SoundFont has been installed, it needs to be loaded into the Synthesizer in order for MuseScore to use it for playback. To make a different SoundFont the default, load it in the Synthesizer and click Set as Default.

To display the Synthesizer, go to View → Synthesizer. For more details, see Synthesizer.

List of downloadable soundfiles

GM SoundFonts

The following sound libraries conform to the General MIDI (GM2) standard. This specification gives you a sound set of 128 virtual instruments, plus percussion kits.

• GeneralUser GS (29.8 MB uncompressed)
  Courtesy of S. Christian Collins
• Magic Sound Font, version 2.0 (67.8 MB uncompressed)
• Arachno SoundFont, version 1.0 (148MB uncompressed)
  Courtesy of Maxime Abbey
• MuseScore 1 came with TimGM6mb (5.7 MB uncompressed)
  License: GNU GPL, version 2
  Courtesy of Tim Brechbill
• MuseScore 2 (up to version 2.1) comes with FluidR3Mono_GM.sf3 (13.8 MB).
• MuseScore 2 (as of version 2.2) comes with MuseScore_General.sf3 (35.9 MB) (SF2 version (208 MB)).
  License: released under the MIT license
  Courtesy of S. Christian Collins
• Timbres of Heaven, version 3.2 (369 MB uncompressed)
  Courtesy of Don Allen

Orchestral soundfiles

• Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra (503 MB uncompressed)
  Downloads: SoundFont | SFZ format
  License: Creative Commons Sampling Plus 1.0
• Aegean Symphonic Orchestra
  Courtesy of Ziya Mete Demircan (352 MB uncompressed)

Piano soundfiles

SF2 Pianos

• Acoustic grand piano, release 2016-08-04
  Description: Yamaha Disklavier Pro Grand Piano, sf2 format, 36MiB compressed, 113MiB uncompressed, 121 samples, 5 velocity layers
  More information: http://freepats.zenvoid.org/ including other soundfonts.
  License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
  Courtesy of Roberto Gordo Saez
• Salamander C5 Light
  Courtesy of Ziya Mete Demircan (24.5 MB uncompressed)

SFZ Pianos

• Salamander Grand Piano
  Downloads: version 2 | version 3
  Description: Yamaha C5, 48kHz, 24bit, 16 velocity layers, between 80 MB and 1.9 GB uncompressed
  License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
  Courtesy of Alexander Holm
• Detuned Piano (244 MB uncompressed)
  License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0
• Plucked Piano Strings
  Description: 44.1kHz, 16bit, stereo, 168 MB uncompressed
  License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0
• The City Piano
  Description: Baldwin Baby Grand, 4 velocity layers, 696 MB uncompressed
  License: Public domain
  Courtesy of Big Cat Instruments
• Kawai Upright Piano, release 2017-01-28
  Description: 68 samples, 44KHz, 24bit, stereo, 2 velocity layers, 58MiB uncompressed
  License: GNU General Public License version 3 or later, with a special exception
  Courtesy of Gonzalo and Roberto

Unzipping downloaded soundfiles

Since soundfiles are large, they are often zipped (compressed) into a variety of formats, including .zip, .sfArk, and .tar.gz. You need to unzip (decompress) these files before they can be used.

• ZIP is standard compression format supported by most operating systems.

• sfArk is a compression format designed especially for compressing SoundFont files. To decompress it, use Polyphone (cross-platform software); or this online service: https://cloudconvert.com/sfark-to-sf2

• .tar.gz is a popular compression format for Linux. Windows users can use 7-Zip; Mac users can use The Unarchiver, or macOS' built-in Archive Utility. Note that if using 7-Zip, you will need to apply decompression twice—once for GZip and once for TAR.

Troubleshooting

If the toolbar play panel is greyed out, or not visible, follow the instructions below to get your sound working again:

1. Right-click on the menu bar and make sure there is a check mark next to the Playback Controls menu item. If this step does not solve your problem, go to Step 2.
2. If the play panel disappears after changing the SoundFont, go to Edit → Preferences... → I/O tab and click OK without making any changes. After restarting MuseScore, the play panel should reappear.

If you are setting up a SoundFont for the first time, please use one of the recommended SoundFonts listed above.

If playback stutters, then your computer may not not able to handle the SoundFont being used. The following advice may help:

• Reduce the amount of RAM (memory) used by MuseScore by using a smaller SoundFont. See the list above for suggestions.
• Increase the amount of RAM available for MuseScore by quitting all applications except MuseScore. If you still have problems and a large SoundFont is important to you, consider more RAM for your computer.

See also

• Synthesizer
• Mixer

External links

• How to change the SoundFont or add another
• The SFZ Format (for details about the sfz specification)

Swing

MuseScore's swing feature allows you to change the playback of your score from a straight to a swing rhythm. Swing can be applied globally or only to a section of the score, and is fully variable.

Apply swing to a score section

1. Click on the note where you want swing to start;

2. Double-click Swing in the Text palette (shown below);

   

3. Edit the Swing text as required;

4. If you need to vary swing from the default setting, right click the Swing text and select System text properties... Click on the "Swing Settings" tab and adjust note duration and "Swing ratio" as required.

Swing text can be edited just like any other text element: you can change it, style it, make it invisible etc.

Triplet in tempo marking

Often this notation is used to indicate swing:

MuseScore does not have a way to include a triplet in text as a tempo marking, but there is an easy workaround:

1. Add Swing text as described above and make it invisible (shortcut V, or untick "Visible" in the Inspector);
2. Add an appropriate Image of the required tempo marking to the score. This can be downloaded from the bottom of the "How To" page: How to create a visual swing marking.
3. Resize and reposition the image as required.

Return to straight rhythm

If you want playback to return to straight time after a swing section:

1. Add Swing text to the first note or rest of the "straight" section (see above).
2. Edit the text to indicate a return to straight time: e.g. "Straight."
3. Right-click on the text and select System Text Properties…. Click on the "Swing Settings" tab and set "Swing to "Off."

Apply swing globally

If you wish to apply swing to the whole score, you can do so from the menu:

1. Select Style → General... → Score.
2. In the "Swing Settings" section, set the desired note value and "swing ratio."

External links

• How to create a visual swing marking.
• Swing (jazz performance style) (Wikipedia)

Synthesizer

Overview

To display the Synthesizer: from the menu, select View→Synthesizer.

The Synthesizer controls MuseScore's sound output and allows you to:

• Load and organize different sound sample libraries to play back the music
• Apply effects such as reverb and compression
• Adjust overall tuning
• Alter the output volume of both music and the (optional) metronome.

The Synthesizer window is divided into four sections/tabs:

• Fluid: A software synthesizer that plays SF2/SF3 SoundFont sample libraries.
• Zerberus: A software synthesizer that plays SFZ format sample libraries.
• Master Effects: Used to apply multi-effects to the score.
• Tuning: Used to adjust overall playback tuning.

Save/Load Synthesizer settings

The buttons at the bottom of the Synthesizer window have the following functions:

Notes: (1) "Synthesizer settings" include the order of Soundfonts and SFX files, the effects configuration, master tuning and volume. (2) Only one set of Synthesizer settings can be in effect at a time—i.e. if multiple scores are open at once, it is not possible to make changes to the Synthesizer in one score and leave other scores' settings untouched. (3) Changes to synthesizer settings will not be heard in exported audio files unless saved to the score first (see table, above). See also Tuning (below).

Fluid

Click on the Fluid tab to access the control panel for SF2/SF3 SoundFont sample libraries. By default, the SoundFont FluidR3Mono_GM.sf3 should already be loaded.

You can load, rearrange and delete soundfonts as required. Playback can be shared between any combination of different soundfonts (and/or SFZ files). The order of soundfonts in Fluid is reflected in the default order of instruments in the mixer.

To load a soundfont

1. Click on the Add button
2. Click on a soundfont in the list.

To be able to load the soundfont, it first needs to be installed in your Soundfonts folder. This will ensure that it appears in the list in step 2 (above).

To reorder the soundfonts

1. Click on a soundfont
2. Use the up/down arrows (on the right-hand side) to adjust the order.
3. Repeat with other soundfonts in the list if required.

If you have not changed any sounds in the Mixer, then the SoundFont at the top of the list is the one that will be used for playback. However, if you are using the Mixer to play different instruments with sounds from different SoundFonts, playback will only work correctly if you have the same SoundFonts loaded in the same order in the Synthesizer. Therefore, if you are using multiple SoundFonts, it is advised to click the Save to Score button in the Synthesizer, so that the next time you open that score you can recall the list of SoundFonts loaded (and other Synthesizer settings) with the Load from Score button.

To remove a soundfont

1. Click on the name of the soundfont
2. Click on the Delete button.

This removes the soundfont from the synthesizer but does not uninstall it from the Soundfonts folder: it will still be available if you wish to reload it later.

Zerberus

Click on the Zerberus tab to access the control panel for SFZ sound sample libraries. You can add or delete files in a similar way to the Fluid tab. Note that, as with Fluid, the the SFZ files must first be installed in your soundfonts folder before they can be loaded into the synthesizer.

Volume

At the right in the Synthesizer are two sliders. One controls the playback volume, the other controls the volume of the optional built-in metronome. You can turn the metronome on or off by clicking the button underneath its volume slider. As with all the rest of the Synthesizer controls, any changes made here are temporary unless saved to the score or set as the new default.

Effects

The Master Effects tab of the Synthesizer allows you to adjust the degree of reverb and, as of version 2.0.3, compression applied to your score.

To turn an effect on or off:

• Select an option from the drop-down list next to Effect A or Effect B (the effects are applied in series, A → B).

To store and load effects configurations, use the buttons at the bottom of the Synthesizer window. See Synthesizer settings (above) for details.

Zita 1 reverb

The Zita 1 stereo reverb module allows you to simulate the ambience of anything from a small room to a large hall. The pre-delay, reverb time and tone of the reverb can be finely tuned using the controls provided:

• Delay: Set a pre-delay for the reverb from 20-100 ms.
• Low RT60 (Low frequency reverb time): Use the grey control to adjust the center frequency (50–1000 Hz) of the low frequency band which you want to affect: the green control adjusts the reverb time (1–8 secs) of this frequency band.
• Mid RT60 (Mid-range reverb time): Adjust the reverb time (1–8 secs) of the mid-range frequency band.
• HF Damping: Adjusts the high frequency component of the reverb. Increasing this value increases the frequency of the cut-off point and makes the reverb appear brighter and longer.
• EQ1: Allows you to cut or boost (-15 to +15) a frequency band (center = 40 Hz - 2 KHz) in the lower part of the spectrum.
• EQ2: Allows you to cut or boost (-15 to +15) a frequency band (center = 160 Hz - 10 KHz) in the higher part of the spectrum.
• Output: Controls the amount of effect applied. "Dry" is no effect. "Wet" indicates 100% reverb. "Mix" is a 50/50 balance of wet/dry signal.

Note: EQ1 and EQ2 affect the tone of the reverb only, not the dry (unprocessed) signal.

To quickly set up an effects patch, set "Output" to "Mix" and adjust the "Mid RT60" control to the desired reverb time. Then fine tune the effect as explained above.

SC4 compressor

The SC4 stereo compressor (available as of version 2.0.3) gives you fine control over the playback's dynamic range, reducing the volume variation between loud and soft sounds. It offers the following controls:

• RMS: Adjusts the balance between RMS (0) and Peak (1) compression. In the former, the compressor responds to averaged-out levels in the signal; in Peak mode, the compressor responds to peak levels.
• Attack: (1.5–400 ms) The length of time it takes for compression to engage fully after the signal exceeds the threshold level.
• Release: (2–800 ms) The time it takes for compression to return to zero after the signal falls below the threshold level.
• Threshold: (in dB) The signal level above which compression starts to take effect. Lowering the threshold increases the amount of signal that is compressed.
• Ratio: The amount of compression applied to the signal above the threshold. The higher the ratio, the greater the compression. Varies between 1:1 to 20:1.
• Knee: Allows you to select a range between "soft knee" and "hard knee". The softer the knee, the more gradual the transition between uncompressed and compressed signal.
• Gain: Compression tends to lower the volume, so use this control to boost the signal as required.

To quickly set-up, try setting RMS = 1, Threshold = -20 db, Ratio = 6. Increase Gain to restore the lost volume. Then fine-tune as explained above.

Tuning

The Tuning tab is where you can adjust the program's master tuning. For Concert Pitch instruments, A4 = 440 Hz by default.

To change the Master tuning:

• Enter a new value in the Master tuning field, then press Change Tuning.

Notes: (1) This tuning applies to all scores in the current session only. To make this the program default or to store it to a particular score, see Save/Load Synthesizer settings. (2) To apply the new tuning to exported audio files (WAV, MP3, OGG), press Save to Score before exporting.

See also

• SoundFont
• Mixer

Tempo

Tempo markings can be found in the Tempo palette of the Basic and Advanced workspaces. They are supplied as metronome marks, but can be subsequently edited to display any tempo or expression you want. Playback tempo can be varied throughout the score by using multiple tempo markings, visible or invisible.

Add a tempo marking

Use any of the following methods:

• Select a note or rest and press the keyboard shortcut Alt+T.
• Select a note or rest, and from the menu bar chose Add→Text...→Tempo Marking.
• Select a note or rest and double-click an appropriate metronome mark in the Tempo palette;
• Drag-and-drop a metronome mark from the Tempo palette directly onto a note or rest.

Note: If a tempo marking is applied from the menu or using a keyboard shortcut, the beat note automatically follows the time signature. The advantage of applying from a palette is that you can chose which beat note to use.

Edit tempo

To change the tempo of an existing metronome mark in the score:

1. Enter Edit mode for the tempo mark in question;
2. Edit the metronome number and/or the beat note as required;
3. Exit Edit mode.

You can also override the tempo of an existing metronome mark from the Inspector:

1. Select the tempo mark;

2. Untick "Follow text" in the "Tempo Marking" section of the Inspector;

   

3. Set the desired playback tempo in the "Tempo" field underneath.

Note: Playback may be faster or slower if the tempo setting in the play panel is at a percentage other than 100%.

Edit tempo text

Tempo marks can be edited and formatted just like any other text object. To set text properties or text style, see Text styles and properties.

The tempo indicated by a metronome mark usually persists even if overwritten by an expression—such as Andante, Moderato etc. You can also add further text to a plain metronome mark. e.g.

Overriding the tempo marking

You can temporarily override the indicated tempo, and play the score back at any tempo you like using the play panel:

1. Display the play panel: View→Play Panel or F11 (Mac: fn+F11):

   

2. Move the tempo slider up or down as required. The tempo is shown both as an absolute value and as a percentage of the currently indicated tempo mark. Double-click the tempo slider to reset it.

Note: BPM is always measured and displayed in quarter note beats per minute, regardless of the (denominator of the) time signature in effect.

Ritardando and accelerando playback

You can simulate ritardando ("rit.") and accelerando ("accel.") playback by adding hidden tempo markings to the score. The printed indication to the musician should be added as staff/system text in addition.

In the example illustrated below, the tempo was originally 110 BPM (beats per minute). At the ritardando, the tempo decreases by 10 BPM on the first note of each measure. Each tempo change is made invisible by unchecking the Visible checkbox in the Inspector, so that only the ritardando shows on the printed score:

A plugin has been developed to automate this process: TempoChanges

Fermatas

Fermatas, available in the Articulations and Ornaments palette, have a Time stretch property that can be set via the Inspector. By default, this property is set to 1.00. To have MuseScore play back a fermata for twice its normal duration, click on the fermata and set "Time stretch" to 2.00. This of course does not work for fermatas applied to barlines, as barlines don't have a duration to stretch.

See also

• Play mode
• Time signature

Dynamics

Dynamics are symbols indicating the loudness of a note or phrase of music. Symbols can be found in the Dynamics palette in either the Basic or Advanced workspace:

Note: Overall playback volume of the score can be changed using the volume slider in the Play Panel or Synthesizer.

Add a dynamic

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

• Select a note and double-click a dynamic symbol in a palette.
• Drag a dynamic symbol from a palette onto a note.

For additional dynamics use the Master Palette (Shift+F9). You can also create a custom palette for future use.

To create a crescendo or decrescendo sign, see Hairpin.

Adjusting playback volume for a dynamic

Click on the dynamic to select it, and adjust its Velocity in the Inspector—higher for louder, lower for softer.

Adjusting range for a dynamic

Via the Inspector you can set the staves affected by a dynamic. The "Dynamic range" is by default set to "part," which means all staves for an instrument will be affected. Changing this to "staff" will limit the dynamic to the staff it is entered on only. Changing this to "System" will cause all instruments to play this dynamic.

List of dynamics in palettes

In the Basic workspace, there are 8 options in the Dynamics palette: ppp, pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff, fff.

In the Advanced workspace, there are all of the above plus 15 additional options in the Dynamics palette: fp, sf, sfz, sff, sffz, sfp, sfpp, rfz, rf, fz, m, r, s, z, n.

In the Dynamics section of the Master Palette, there are all of the above plus 6 additional options: pppppp, ppppp, pppp, ffff, fffff, ffffff.

Edit a dynamic

Any dynamic can be edited after being added to the score, just like standard text. See Text editing.

See also

• Tempo

External links

• Video tutorial: Lesson 10 - Articulations, Dynamics and Text
• Dynamics at Wikipedia

Text basics

Add text

To add a text-based element to the score, use one of the following general methods:

• Keyboard shortcut: For example, press Ctrl+Tto enter Staff text , Ctrl+L to enter Lyrics, and so on.
• Menu command: Add→Text allows you to chose from a range of text-based elements.
• Workspace: Select a note and double-click an icon in one of the palettes; or, alternatively, drag a symbol from a palette onto the staff. e.g. Swing text, Tempo text etc.

Notes: (1) The exact method depends on the type of text you are adding (see Text). (2) For general-purpose text boxes attached to staves, see Staff and system text.

Format text

Every text-based element in the score has three levels of formatting:

• Text style: This is the highest level of formatting and applies to all text elements in the score of a particular type. For details, see Text style.
• Text properties: This applies to the style of one specific text object only. For details, see Text properties.
• Character formatting; The style applied to individual text characters during editing. For details, see Text editing.

Adjust position of text objects

To position a text object, use any of the following methods:

• Drag the object.
• Select the object and adjust the horizontal or vertical offset values in the Inspector.
• Select the object and apply any of the following keyboard shortcuts:
  • ←: Move text left 0.1 staff space.
  • →: Move text right 0.1 staff space.
  • ↑: Move text up 0.1 staff space.
  • ↓: Move text down 0.1 staff space.
  • Ctrl+← (Mac: ⌘+←): Move text left one staff space.
  • Ctrl+→ (Mac: ⌘+→): Move text right one staff space.
  • Ctrl+↑ (Mac: ⌘+↑): Move text up one staff space.
  • Ctrl+↓ (Mac: ⌘+↓): Moves text down one staff space.

Text anchors

When you apply a text element to the score, its anchor position will depend on the type:

• Title, Subtitle, Composer, Poet: Anchored to a frame.
• Fingering: Anchored to note heads.
• Lyrics: Anchored to a time position (a note/chord, but not a rest).
• Chord symbol: Anchored to a time position.
• Staff text: Anchored to a time position.
• System text: Anchored to a time position.

Text editing

Enter/exit text edit mode

To enter Text edit mode use one of the following methods:

• Double click on a text element.
• Right-click on a text element and select Edit element.
• Click on a text element and press Ctrl+E (Mac: Cmd+E).

In this mode you can apply formatting to individual characters, including options such as bold, italic, underline, subscript, superscript, font family and font size. These are accessed from the Text toolbar below the document window:

To exit Text edit mode use one of the following:

• Press Esc.
• Click on a part of the score outside the edit window.

Keyboard shortcuts

In Text edit mode, the following keyboard shortcuts are available:

• Ctrl+B (Mac: ⌘+B) toggles bold face.
• Ctrl+I (Mac: ⌘+I) toggles italic.
• Ctrl+U (Mac: ⌘+U) toggles underline.
• Home End ← → ↑ ↓ moves cursor.
• Backspace (Mac: Delete) removes character to the left of the cursor.
• Del (Mac: → Delete or fn+Delete) removes character to the right of the cursor.
• ↵ starts new line.
• F2 (Mac: fn+F2) Inserts special characters (see below).

Symbols and special characters

You can use the Special Characters window to insert quarter notes, fractions, and many other kinds of special symbols or characters into your text. A few symbols can also be accessed by shortcut (see below).

To open Special Characters, use any of the following methods:

• Click on the icon in the text toolbar (below the score window).
• Press F2 (Mac: fn+F2).

Note: (1) This only works in Text edit mode; (2) The Special Characters dialog should not be confused with the menu item of the same name in the macOS version of MuseScore.

The dialog is divided into 3 tabs: Common symbols, musical symbols and unicode symbols. The musical and unicode tabs are further subdivided into alphabetically-arranged categories.

Double-clicking an item in the Special Characters dialog immediately adds it to the text where the cursor is positioned. Multiple items can be applied without closing the dialog box, and the user can even continue to type normally, delete characters, enter numerical character codes etc., with it open.

Special character shortcuts

In Text edit mode the following keyboard shortcuts can be used to access certain special characters:

Ctrl+Shift+B: Flat.
Ctrl+Shift+F: Forte.
Ctrl+Shift+H: Natural.
Ctrl+Shift+M: Mezzo.
Ctrl+Shift+N: Niente.
Ctrl+Shift+P: Piano (dynamic mark).
Ctrl+Shift+R: Rinforzando.
Ctrl+Shift+S: Sforzando.
Ctrl+Shift+Z: Z.
Ctrl+Shift+#: Sharp.

See also

• Chord symbol
• Lyrics
• Frame
• Edit mode

Text styles and properties

Text Style

This is the highest level of text formatting and applies to all text elements in the score of a particular type. Staff text objects, for example, have a unique style, as do all tempo markings, all lyrics, all chord symbols and so on. Editing a text style allows you to change the appearance of all objects which share that style in one go.

Edit style

To edit a text style, use any of the following methods:

• From the main menu, chose Style→Text…. Then select the relevant style from the list.
• Right-click a text object and select Text Style….

This will display the Edit Text Styles dialog:

The options available are divided into categories:

• Text
  • Font: name of the font such as "Times New Roman" or "Arial"
  • Size: size of the font in points
  • Style: style of the font, italic, bold, underline
  • Color: click on the color demonstrated to change
  • Size follows "Staff space" setting: whether size follows the distance between two lines in a 5-lines standard staff
  • System flag: text applies to all staves of a system.
• Offset
  • Horizontal
  • Vertical
  • Offset Unit: in mm or Staff space units
• Alignment
  • Horizontal: left, right, center
  • Vertical: align top edge of text to reference point, center text vertical to reference point, center text vertical to text baseline or align bottom edge of text to reference point
• Frame
  • Frame: add a frame around the text
  • Frame Type: Circle or Box
  • Border thickness: thickness of the line of the frame in space units
  • Border radius: for box frame, radius of rounded corner
  • Text margin : inner frame margin in space units
  • Foreground color: of the frame border
  • Background color: of the background within the frame.

Note: Opacity is set by the parameter "Alpha channel" in the colors dialogs: a value between 0, transparent, and 255, opaque.

Create a new text style

1. From the menu bar, select Style → Text...; or right-click on a text object and select Text Style...;
2. Click on New ;
3. Set a name;
4. Set all properties as desired.

This text style will be saved along with the score. It will not be available in other scores, unless you explicitly save the style sheet and load it with another score.

Apply options

You can apply any changes made to either the score or the part you are seeing, by pressing Apply and then OK.

If you are in one of the parts of your score, you also have the option to use the Apply to all parts button before OK, so you don't have to manipulate all parts individually.

Reset text to style

If you have made changes to an individual piece of text and you want to return it to the defined text style for the score, or if you changed the style with an old version of MuseScore and you want the style to correspond to the default text style in MuseScore 2, you can use the Reset Text to Style option.

Select the text you want to reset to style and click on Reset Text to Style in the Inspector. If you need all text from a given style to be "reset", right-click on one, then from the context menu choose Select → All Similar Elements first.

Save and load text styles

Text styles (together with all other styles in a document) can be saved as a style file and loaded into other MuseScore files. See Save and load style.

Text Properties

This is the next level down in the formatting hierarchy and affects the style of the text in one specific text object only.

Edit properties

To edit the text properties of a particular object—and no other:

• Right click on the text and select Text Properties….

This displays the following dialog:

Most of the properties on display will be familiar from the Edit Text Styles dialog. You also have a Reset to Style button allowing you to apply a style to the object from a drop-down list.

See also

• Text editing
• Header/Footer
• Behavior of applied text and lines

Staff and system text

For general-purpose text, use Staff Text or System Text. The difference between these two types of text is whether you want it to apply to a single staff, or the whole system. This matters when extracting parts: staff text will only appear in a part that contains the specific instrument the text is attached to, while system text will appear in all parts. Additionally, if you choose to hide empty staves, any staff text belonging to an empty staff will also be hidden. System text is never hidden by the "hide empty staves" feature.

Staff text

Staff text is general purpose text associated with a particular staff at a particular location in the score. To create staff text, choose a location by selecting a note or rest and then use the menu option Add → Text → Staff Text, or use the shortcut Ctrl+T (Mac: ⌘+T). A small text box appears and you can immediately start typing. You can exit the text box at any time (even without typing anything) by pressing Esc.

Staff text can, for example, be used to apply indications such as "Solo" or "Pizzicato" to one staff in a score. Depending on what the instructions of the staff text are, MIDI playback of that staff at the text location can be altered to match the instructions by right-clicking on the staff text and selecting Staff Text Properties…. See Mid-staff sound change.

System text

System text is used when you wish to apply text indications to a whole system rather than just to one staff line. This makes a difference when extracting parts, or if you choose to hide empty staves. To create system text, chose a location by selecting a note or rest and then use the menu option Add → Text → System Text, or use the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+T (Mac: ⌘+Shift+T). A small text box appears and you can immediately start typing. You can exit the text box at any time (even without typing anything) by pressing Esc.

See also

• Mid-staff sound change

External links

• How to change instrument sound (e.g. pizz., con sordino) midway through score

Chord symbols

Chord symbols are an abbreviated way of representing musical chords (see Chord names and symbols (Wikipedia) for further details). For example:

Enter a chord symbol

1. Select a note or a slash;
2. Press Ctrl+K (Mac: ⌘+K).

The cursor is now positioned above the score ready for input. Enter the chord symbol just like normal text, as follows:

• Root note: A, B, C, D, E, F, G.
• Sharp: # (hash symbol).
• Flat: b (small letter "b").
• Double sharp: x (small letter "x") or ## (two hash symbols).
• Double flat: bb (small letter "b" twice).
• Natural: natural (no space before "natural").
• For other symbols, see Chord symbol syntax (below).

When you exit the chord symbol, the characters you have typed will automatically assume the correct format: by default a root note typed in lower case will turn into upper case (for alternative options, see Automatic Capitalization); a "#" or "b" will turn into a proper sharp (♯) or flat (♭) and so on. Do not try to use actual flat and sharp signs as MuseScore will not understand those properly.

After you have finished entering a chord symbol you can either:

• Move the cursor forward or backwards to continue entering or editing chord symbols (see commands below).
• Exit chord symbol mode by pressing Esc.

Note: To fill measures with slashes, see Fill with slashes or Toggle rhythmic slash notation.

Keyboard Commands

The following commands are available during chord symbol entry:

• Space move Cursor to next note, rest, or beat
• Shift+Space move cursor to previous note, rest, or beat
• Ctrl+Space (Mac: ⌘+Space) add a space to the chord name
• ; move cursor to next beat
• : move cursor to previous beat
• Tab move cursor to next measure
• Shift+Tab move cursor to previous measure
• Ctrl plus number (1 - 9) move Cursor by duration corresponding to number (e.g.; half note for 6)
• Esc exit.

Chord symbol syntax

MuseScore understands most of the abbreviations used in chord symbols:

• Major: M, Ma, Maj, ma, maj, Δ (type t or ˆ for the triangle)
• Minor: m, mi, min, -
• Diminished: dim, ° (entered with lowercase letter o, shows as ° if using the the Jazz style, as o otherwise)
• Half-diminished: ø (type 0, zero). Alternatively, you can, of course, chose abbreviations such as mi7b5 etc.
• Augmented: aug, +
• The following abbreviations are also valid: extensions and alterations like b9 or #5, sus, alt, and no3; inversions and slash chords, such as C7/E; commas; parentheses, which can enclose part, or even all, of a chord symbol.

Edit a chord symbol

An existing chord symbol can be edited in a similar way to ordinary text: See Text editing.

Transpose chord symbols

Chord symbols are automatically transposed by default if you apply the menu Transpose command to the containing measures. If this is not required, you can untick the "Transpose chord symbols" option in the same dialog.

Chord symbol text

To adjust the appearance of all chord symbol text, use any of the following options:

• From the main menu, chose Style → Text… → Chord Symbol
• Right click on any chord symbol and select Text Style…

This displays the Edit Text Styles dialog, allowing you to make changes to any text property.

Chord symbol style

Formatting options for chord symbols are available in Style→General...→Chord Symbols, Fretboard Diagrams. Adjustable properties are listed under the following headings:

Appearance

Three options are possible: Standard and Jazz and Custom. You can select between these using the radio buttons.

• In the Standard style, chords are rendered simply, with the font determined by your chord symbol text style.

  

• In the Jazz style, the MuseJazz font is used for a handwritten look, with distinctive superscript and other formatting characteristics. The Jazz style is selected by default if you use any of the Jazz templates.

  

• The Custom style option allows you to customise the look of chord symbols (and also ensures compatibility with older scores). Select a customised Chord symbols style file in the field below: this can be created by copying and modifying one of the pre-existing files in the "styles" folder. Documentation can be found in the same folder. Note, however, that this is for advanced users only, and there is no guarantee these files will be supported in the future.

Note spelling

By default, MuseScore uses letter names for chord symbols. For users in regions where other note naming schemes are used, MuseScore provides the following controls:

• Standard: A, B♭, B, C, C♯,...
• German: A, B♭, H, C, C♯,...
• Full German: A, B, H, C, Cis,...
• Solfeggio: Do, Do♯, Re♭, Re,...
• French: Do, Do♯, Ré♭, Ré,...

Automatic Capitalization

By default, MuseScore automatically capitalizes all note names on exit, regardless of whether you entered them in upper or lower case. However, you can also choose other automatic capitalization options:

• Lower case minor chords: c, cm, cm7,...
• Lower case bass notes: C/e,...
• All caps note names: DO, RE, MI,...

You can also turn off the automatic capitalization completely, in which case note names are simply rendered the way you type them.

Positioning

• Default vertical position: The height at which the chord symbol is applied above the staff (negative values can be used)
• Distance to fretboard diagram: If a fretboard diagram is present, this value is the height at which the chord symbol is applied above the diagram (negative values can be used).
• Minimum chord spacing: The space to leave between chord symbols.
• Maximum barline distance: Changes the size of the gap between the last chord symbol in the measure and the following barline. You only need to adjust this value if there is a continuous problem in the score with overlap between the last symbol in one measure and the first symbol in the next.

Note: In addition to the settings described here, the default position of applied chord symbols is also determined by settings in the Text Styles dialog. The effect is cumulative.

Capo

Enter the number of the capo position at which you want to display substitute chords, in brackets, after all chord symbols in the score.

Fingering

Fingering symbols for various instruments are found in the Fingering palette in the Advanced workspace.

• Keyboard music employs the numbers 1–5 to represent fingers of the left or right hand. There is also a fingering positioner plugin to help you optimize the layout of piano or keyboard fingerings.

• Guitar music uses the numbers 0–4 to represent left-hand fingering (T is occasionally used for the thumb). Right-hand fingering is indicated by the letters p, i, m, a, c. Circled numbers represent instrument strings.

• The last five symbols in the palette are used for lute fingering in historical music. Note: To enable display of fingering in tablature, right-click on the TAB, select Staff Properties...→Advanced style properties, and tick "Show Fingerings".

Add fingering to a single note

Use any of the following methods:

• Select a note and double click one of the fingering symbols in a Palette.
• Drag and drop a fingering symbol from a palette onto a note

When fingering is added to a note, the focus immediately shifts to the symbol, so you can adjust it right away.

Add fingering to several notes

1. Select the desired notes;
2. Double-click a fingering symbol in a palette.

Adjust position of fingering

Single fingering

To change the position of one symbol, use any of the following methods:

• For fine adjustments (0.1 sp) use the arrow keys; For larger adjustments (1 sp) use Ctrl+Arrow.
• Change horizontal and vertical offsets in the Inspector.
• Drag the symbol using your mouse.

Multiple fingering

To change the position of multiple symbols:

1. Select the desired fingering symbols;
2. Adjust using the horizontal and vertical offset fields in the Inspector.

Note: You can also use the fingering positioner plugin mentioned above to optimize the layout of piano fingerings.

To restore a symbol to its default position, select it and press Ctrl+R.

Edit fingering text

Fingering is a form of text symbol and can be edited and styled like any other. Right-clicking on the symbol gives you a range of options.

Lyrics

Enter a lyrics line

First line

1. Enter the notes of the melody line;
2. Select the note where you want to start entering lyrics;
3. To enter lyrics mode, type Ctrl+L (Mac: ⌘+L); or from the main menu, select Add→Text→Lyrics;
4. Type a syllable;
5. Use the following options to continue entering lyrics:
   • Go to the next syllable: Press Space (or Ctrl+→) at the end of a syllable.
   • Hyphen (to connect syllables): Press - at the end of a syllable.
   • Go to the previous syllable: Press Shift+Space (or Ctrl+←).
   • Move left: Press ← (left arrow). If the cursor is at the beginning of a syllable, it will jump to the previous one.
   • Move right: Press → (right arrow). If the cursor is at the end of a syllable, it will jump to the next one.
   • Move to the syllable below: Press ↓ (down arrow).
   • Move to the syllable above: Press ↑ (up arrow).
   • Start new lyrics line: Press ↵ (Return) at the end of an existing lyrics syllable (Note: Don't use the Enter key from the numeric keypad!).
6. To exit lyrics mode, press Esc.

Subsequent lines

If you want to add another lyrics line to an existing one (e.g. a 2nd or 3rd verse etc.):

1. Chose one of the following options:
   • Select the note where you want to start the new lyrics line. Enter lyrics mode as shown in step 3 (above). The cursor moves to a new (blank) line.
   • Enter text edit mode on an existing syllable, go to the end of the syllable and press ↵ (Return). The cursor moves to the next line.
2. Continue entering lyrics from step 4 (above).

Example:

Special characters

In most cases, lyrics can be edited just like normal text. However, special keyboard shortcuts are required to enter the following characters:

• Character space: Ctrl+Space (Mac: ⌥+Space).

• - (hyphen): Ctrl+- (Mac: ⌥+-) or AltGr+-.

• Line feed: Ctrl+↵ (Mac: ⌥+Return) or Enter (from the numeric keypad).

Melisma

A melisma is a syllable or word that extends over two or more notes. It is indicated by an underline extending from the base of a syllable to the last note of the melisma. The underline is created by positioning the cursor at the end of a syllable and pressing Shift+_: once for each note in the melisma. See the image below:

The above lyric was created in the following manner:

1. Type the letters, soul,.
2. At the end of the word, press Shift+___.
3. Type the letters To, then press Esc.

For non-last syllables to extend, just use additional dashes -, usually only one of them will show (more when the distance between the syllables is large enough), and the syllable will right-align to the first note, similar to last syllables that got notated with a melisma, see above.

Elision (Lyric) slur / Synalepha

Two syllables under a note can be joined with an elision slur, also known as a "lyric slur" or "synalepha". For example:

To create the example lyric text, starting with the syllable text "te":

1. Type te;
2. Click on the keyboard icon , or press F2 to open the Special Characters palette;

3. Use one of the following options:

   • Double-click one of the three elision slurs in the "Common Symbols" tab: "Narrow elision", "Elision", or "Wide elision" (these can be found between the "C Clef" and the "p" dynamic—see image below):
     
   • Double-click the elision slur found after the 7/8 fraction in the "Common Symbols" tab (next to last character in the image above). Depending on the font, add one or more spaces before/after the slur using Ctrl+Space (Mac: ⌥+Space).
     Note: Not all fonts include the "undertie" character (U+203F ‿ "undertie", present in "Special Characters" mainly for compatibility with MuseScore 1.x scores). To find out which fonts on your computer support it, see "fontlist" (look for any font that shows a tie between "te" and "A" instead of a blank rectangle).

4. Type A.

Edit Lyrics

1. Enter text edit mode on an existing syllable;
2. Use standard text editing commands to make changes;
3. Continue entering lyrics (see above); or exit lyrics mode by pressing Esc.

Adjust position of lyrics

The top and bottom margins and the line height of all lyric lines can be set globally:

1. From the menu, select Style→General...→Page;
2. Adjust the properties marked "Lyrics top margin," "Lyrics bottom margin" and "Lyrics line height" (see General: Page: Lyrics Margins).

To adjust the position of a particular lyrics line:

1. Select the lyrics line: i.e. right click on a word in the line, and (from the menu) chose Select→More...; then check the relevant options, which should include "Same system";
2. Adjust the Horizontal and Vertical offsets in the Inspector.

Copy lyrics to clipboard

To copy all lyrics to the clipboard (as of version 2.0.3):

• From the menu bar, select Edit→Tools→Copy Lyrics to Clipboard.

Paste lyrics from clipboard

To copy and paste lyrics from a text file (say) into a score:

1. Enter the notes in the score to which the lyrics will be attached.
2. Set up your lyrics in a text file, with appropriate spaces, hyphens, line-breaks etc.
3. Copy the lyrics from the text-file into the clipboard.
4. Select the start note in MuseScore, and press Ctrl+L (Mac: Cmd+L) (step 3 under Enter lyrics in a score).
5. Repeatedly applying paste will enter successive words of the lyrics. You may need to enter melismas and make other corrections as you go along.

See also

• Text
• Chord symbol

External links

• How to insert Lyrics
• How to move lyrics
• How to copy lyrics, or lyrics with rhythm
• How to add a block of text to a score
• Video tutorial: MuseScore in Minutes: Lesson 6 - Text, Lyrics and Chords

Rehearsal marks

Rehearsal marks can be used in a number of ways:

• To identify specific points in a score to facilitate rehearsing.
• As bookmarks in the score to which you can instantly navigate—using the Find/Search command.
• To mark the various sections in the score.

Typically, rehearsal marks consist of one or more letters and/or numbers, and appear in sequence in the score—e.g. A, B, C…, or 1, 2, 3… etc. Alternatively, they may display measure numbers (usually larger than standard measure numbers, boldface and/or enclosed in boxes). Multi-measure rests are automatically broken before and after rehearsal marks.

Rehearsal marks can be added to the score (i) automatically—which ensures that they are named in sequence—or (ii) manually, allowing you to name them as you wish.

Add a rehearsal mark

Manual Placement

To create a rehearsal mark manually:

1. Click on a note (or rest) at the desired location;
2. Select one of the following options:
   • Press Ctrl+M (Mac: Cmd+M);
   • From the menu, chose Add → Text → Rehearsal Mark;
3. Enter the desired text.

Automatic placement

Add an alphanumeric rehearsal mark

Use either of the following options:

• Click on a note (or rest) at the desired location, then double-click the [B1] rehearsal mark icon in the "Text" palette.
• Drag and drop the rehearsal mark from the "Text" palette onto the score.

Notes: (1) By default, marks are added in the sequence, A, B, C etc. (2) To change the format of subsequently-added marks (to lower case letters, or numbers), edit the previous rehearsal mark accordingly. (3) Marks added between existing rehearsal marks append a number or letter to the previous mark: it is a good idea to apply the Resequence command afterwards (see below).

Add a measure-number rehearsal mark

1. Add the first rehearsal mark in the series as an alphabetical one; then edit it to read the same as the number of the measure it is attached to;
2. Add subsequent marks as shown above. They will automatically adopt the measure-number format.

Automatically resequence rehearsal marks

MuseScore allows the user to automatically re-order a series of rehearsal marks if they have got out of sequence for any reason. Use the following method:

1. Before making a selection, you can, if desired, establish a new format for the rehearsal marks (lower/upper case, number, or measure number) by manually altering the first mark in the range accordingly.
2. Select the range of measures you wish to apply the Resequence command to (if there is no selection then the program assumes you wish to resequence all measures).
3. From the menu, select Edit → Tools → Resequence Rehearsal Marks.

MuseScore automatically detects the sequence based on the first rehearsal mark in the selection—all rehearsal marks in the selection are then altered accordingly. The following sequences are possible:

• A, B, C etc.
• a, b, c etc.
• Numerical: 1, 2, 3 etc.
• Numerical: according to measure numbers. This requires the number of the first mark in the series to be equal to the number of the measure it is attached to.

Text style

Rehearsal marks are a variety of system text, appearing both on the score and on every part. By default, they are in a large bold font, and enclosed in frames with rounded corners. All aspects of their appearance can be changed globally via the rehearsal mark Text style.

Search for a rehearsal mark

See Find (Viewing and navigation).

See also

• Text properties

External links

• Rehearsal Letter (Wikipedia article)

Layout and formatting

Layout and formatting options for the score can be accessed mainly from the Layout and Style menus.

Ways to affect layout

This section lists the main commands and dialogs affecting score layout. Other formatting options are covered in either Layout menu or Style menu below (for text, see Text styles and properties).

From the Layout menu:

• Page Settings: Adjust the overall dimensions of your score such as page size, page margins, and scaling.

• Increase Stretch/Decrease Stretch: Adjust the score spacing by stretching or squashing selected measures.

From the Style menu:

• Score Style: Set overall score details, such as music font, display of multi-measure rests, and whether to hide empty staves.

• Page Style: Adjust staff and system spacing, score and lyric margins etc.

• Measure Style: Set the measure spacing, which affects the number of measures per line.

• Sizes: Set the default size of "small" and grace notes, small staves and small clefs.

Other commands:

• Add/Remove line breaks: Set the number of measures per system.

• Breaks and spacers: Apply line, page or section breaks. You can also add extra space between particular systems or staves where needed.

Layout menu

Page Settings...

See Page settings.

Reset

The Reset command restores all selected score elements to their default position. It also restores the default directions of note stems and beams. To apply:

1. Select the elements or the region of the score that you wish to reset. Or use Ctrl+A to select the whole score.
2. Press Ctrl+R; or from the menu select Layout→Reset.

Increase Stretch/Decrease Stretch

Increase or decrease the horizontal spacing of notes within selected measures. To apply:

1. Select a range of measures. Or use Ctrl+A to select the whole score.
2. Chose one of two options:
   • To increase stretch:
     • Use the shortcut } (right curly bracket) (Mac: Ctrl+Alt+9);
     • Or from the menu bar, select Layout→Increase Stretch;
   • To decrease stretch:
     • Use the shortcut { (left curly bracket) (Mac: Ctrl+Alt+8);
     • Or from the menu bar, select Layout→Decrease Stretch.

See also Measure Properties: Layout stretch. This allows you to set the stretch more precisely.

Reset Stretch

To reset stretch to the default spacing of 1:

1. Select a range of measures. Or use Ctrl+A to select the whole score.
2. From the menu, select Layout→Reset Stretch.

Reset Beam Mode

To restore beams to the mode defined in the local time signatures:

1. Select the section of the score you want to reset. If nothing is selected, the operation will apply to the whole score;
2. Select Layout→Reset Beam Mode.

See also Beams.

Regroup Rhythms

As of version 2.1, this option corrects note ties, durations and beaming so that they are grouped according to standard music notation practice. For example:
Before:

After:

Any notes that are tied and are the same length as a dotted note will be changed to the dotted note with two limitations. (i) Only the last note of a group of tied notes will have a single dot. Notes with more than one dot are not produced using this option. (ii) Dotted notes will not span from one group of beamed notes to another unless their duration is the same as all of the beam groups it covers. Any notes with more than one dot will be regrouped according to the above rules.

To apply:

1. Select the section of the score you want to reset. If nothing is selected, the operation will apply to the whole score;
2. Select Layout→Regroup Rhythms.

Note: This is an experimental feature and there are known bugs. Articulations and ornaments are deleted and some pitches respelt. Ties across barlines may be lost on UNDO.

Style menu

General: Score

To open the Score dialog: from the menu, select Style→General...→Score.