Text types

Overview

This chapter describes Musescore Text, a type of score object that contains individual characters that can be entered and removed by using (typing on) a computer keyboard. Some items are text in common sense, but are not Musescore Text - the tr "short" trill ornament marking shown below is Articulations type rather than a Musescore Text subtype, similar misunderstanding often occurs on Time signatures etc.

Chapters immediately after this one, such as Text editing mode, explains features that are only applicable to Musescore Text.

The following chart summaries Musescore Text subtypes. Type or subtype of a single selected score item is displayed on the status bar.

The Features column suggest the most irreplacable features. Leaving out does not imply lack of feature. See their dedicated chapters for musical information. The wording "playback" used below refers to in-program audio created by Synthesizer.

The Anchor column shows item each type always anchor to. Functionalities based heavily on anchor include notably playback, Selecting and copying elements and Musescore Part. Item selected when adding a new item does not neccessary become its anchor. For example, adding a System text requires user to select a note or rest. Definitions of layout terms like system are in the Layout and formatting chapter.

• Item anchored to a staff is displayed in the Musescore Part that features the staff. Item anchored to a time position is displayed in all.
• Item anchored to a staff is hidden along with "Hide empty staves within systems" option and the sub-option "Don't hide empty staves in first system" under Format → Style → Score. See the Layout and formatting chapter.
• Item anchored to a time position is positioned above the top staff of the system. Also, it is not copied with Range selection.
• Item anchored to a note or a rest is removed when the user updates or removes the item it anchors to.

These types are explored immediately after this chapter.

Type	Features	Anchor
Staff Text	One of the options to change playback sound samples usage. Playback capo transposition. See the Staff Text and System Text and chapter. One of the options for general engraving purpose. Compare and contrast with System Text's anchoring. See also Frame text / text block below.	A note or a rest on a staff.
System Text	Similar function to Staff Text, see above.	A time position.
Chord notations	Automatic format. Chord symbol and Nashville number have playback and can generate notes. Roman Numeral cannot. See the Chord notation systems chapter.	A note or a rest on a staff.
Fingering	Has its own "Text Style" profile. See the Fingering and the Text styles and properties chapters.	A note on a staff. Cannot anchor or be copied to a rest.
Lyrics	Improved alignment. Ctrl+V keyboard shortcut breaks up words stored in clipboard, paste and then jump to next anchor conveniently. Automatically adjusts layout of melisma entered. See the Lyrics chapter.	A note on a staff. Cannot be copied to a rest, can anchor deliberately but not advisable.
Rehearsal mark	The boxed B1 item in the Text Palette. Seek with Ctrl+F. Can be re-sequenced across the score. See the Rehearsal marks chapter.	A time position.

These types are explored in their respective chapters inside the handbook. Text Palette usage see the Palette chapter.

Type	Features	Anchor
Expression button on the Text Palette	A styled Staff Text. Has its own "Text Style" profile. No playback. See the Text styles and properties chapter.	See Staff Text.
Tempo marking	Changes playback - tempo and metronome (tick sound). See the Tempo chapter.	A time position.
Dynamics marking	Such as p, mf. Changes playback loudness. See the Dynamics chapter. Hairpin offers similar function. See the Hairpins chapter.	A note or a rest on a staff.
The pizz. button etc on the Text Palette	A pre-configured Staff Text. One of the options to changes playback sound samples usage. Also known as Articulation Text (not to be confused with Articulations type which is not Musescore Text). See the Mid-staff sound (channel) change text chapter.	See Staff Text.
Instrument change (text)	Switches Musescore Instrument starting from the point, which can affect notation drastically. One of the options to change playback sound samples usage. Also known as (mid-staff) instrument change, or Instrument type. See the Mid-staff instrument changes and the Instruments, staff setup and templates chapters.	A note or a rest on a staff.
Instrument names (Long and short name)	Displayed to the left each system (a layout concept). See the Staff / Part properties chapter.	Each system automatically.
Figured bass	Extended formatting settings. No playback. See the Figured bass chapter.	A note on a staff. Cannot be copied to a rest, can anchor deliberately but not advisable.
Frame text / text block (Title, Subtitle, Composer, Lyricist, and Text (text block type))	One of the options for general engraving purpose. Usually added to the start of a score. Suitable for songsheet, lyrics sheet etc. See the Frames chapter.	A frame. Frame anchors to time position.
Headers and Footers	Automatically on every page. Suitable for page numbers, copyright info etc. Also for displaying digital data, or tags, stored on the score file. See the Score properties chapter.	Each page automatically.
Repeats and jumps	Such as Coda, Fine etc. Affects playback. See the Repeats and jumps chapter.	A time position (measure boundary).
Sticking	Has its own "Text Style" profile. See the Percussion:Sticking chapter.	A note on a staff. Cannot be copied to a rest, can anchor deliberately but not advisable.
The Swing button on the Text Palette	A pre-configured System Text. Apply swing to playback. See the Swing text chapter.	See System Text.
Text Lines including hairpins, cresc---, voltas, ottavas, pedal lines, guitar barre lines etc.	Affects playback - loudness, ring duration, note pitch etc. See Musescore Lines and respective chapters.	Varies, adjustable.
Measure numbers	Automatic creation. Hiding. Skipping. See Layout and formatting: measure numbers, and Measure operations: measure number chapters.	Measures automatically.

See also

• Musescore Lines - Musescore Line object can be configured to show pieces of text, some customization methods applicable to Musescore Text can be applied to them.
• Notation types

Text basics

This chapter describes Musescore Text. See also the Notation types chapter and the Text types chapters.

Adding a text

To add a Musescore Text, either use,

• Keyboard shortcut: For example, press Ctrl+Tto enter Staff text , Ctrl+L to enter Lyrics, and so on.
• Palette (Workspace):
  • Select a note and click an icon in one of the palettes (double-click in versions prior to 3.4); or,
  • Drag a symbol from a palette onto the staff. E.g. Swing text, Tempo text etc.
• Menu command: Add→Text, or
• Plugin: such as Expression Dictionary

Basic formatting

See also the Text styles and properties chapter.
As of Musescore 3.6.2, the inspector interface is not available for editing 1. Instrument names (Long and short name) and 2. Header and Footer. See workaround on the Text styles and properties chapter.

The basic formatting options recommended for beginners are:

• edit object properties with the Inspector, and
• edit individual character's formatting with Text Toolbar, see Text editing chapter.

Options in the Inspector:

• Font: The name of the font (e.g. Times New Roman, Arial etc.), also see Fonts.
• Size and Font style icons: Font style includes e.g. Italic, Bold or Underline.
• Line Spacing and Follow staff size: "Follow staff size" option determines whether text size changes proportionally, see Layout and formatting chapter.
• Alignment icons: Horizontal (left, center, right) and Vertical.
• Frame: Choose to have a circular or square frame around the text.
• Remove Custom Formatting: Removes all individual characters' formatting previously applied with Text toolbar, see level of formatting in Text styles and properties chapter.

To revert changes press the "Reset to style default" (the circular shape) button on the right.

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 X or Y 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: Cmd+←): Move text left one staff space.
  • Ctrl+→ (Mac: Cmd+→): Move text right one staff space.
  • Ctrl+↑ (Mac: Cmd+↑): Move text up one staff space.
  • Ctrl+↓ (Mac: Cmd+↓): Moves text down one staff space.

Text editing

This chapter describes Musescore Text. See also the Notation types chapter and the Text types chapters.

Use Text edit mode to add or delete text, and apply formatting (e.g. bold, italic, underline etc.) to individual characters.

As of Musescore 3.6.2, this mode is not available on 1. Instrument names (Long and short name) 2. Header and Footer 3. Measure Number. All of them have respective editable "Text Style" profiles. There is a workaround for editing the former two. See Text styles and properties chapter.

Enter/exit text edit mode

To enter Text edit mode use one of the following methods:

• Double-click a text object.
• Click on an already selected text object.
• Right-click on a text object and select Edit element.
• Click on a text object and press Alt+Shift+E.

Note: Creating a new text object (see Text basics) also puts the program into text edit mode.

The Text toolbar appears at the bottom of the window, you can use it to apply formatting to individual characters

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:

Function	Windows & Linux	Mac
Toggles bold face.	Ctrl+B	Cmd+B
Toggles italic.	Ctrl+I	Cmd+I
Toggles underline.	Ctrl+U	Cmd+U
Moves cursor.	Home, End, ←, →, ↑, ↓	(Alt+) ←, →, ↑, ↓
Removes character to the left of the cursor.	Backspace	Delete
Removes character to the right of the cursor.	Del	→ Delete or Fn+Del
Starts new line.	↵	return
Inserts special characters (see below).	F2	Fn+F2

Symbols and special characters

Use the Special Characters window (Inside Musescore. Not be confused with the macOS menu item.) to insert quarter notes, fractions, and many other kinds of special symbols or characters. To open this window, either,

• Click on the icon in the text toolbar (below the score window); or
• Press F2 (Mac: Fn+F2).

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. It is preferable to use items in Common symbols tab as they are functional. See the Notation types and the Master palette chapters.

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.

Formatting of some symbols and special characters are treated specially and use Style window > Score : "Musical symbol font" (6 options). See the Fonts chapter.

Special character shortcuts

In Text edit mode the following keyboard shortcuts can be used to access certain special characters:

Character	Windows & Linux	Mac	Note
Sharp ♯	Ctrl+Shift+#	Cmd+Shift+#	May not work on some keyboard layout
Flat ♭	Ctrl+Shift+B	Cmd+Shift+B
Natural ♮	Ctrl+Shift+H	Cmd+Shift+H
Piano p	Ctrl+Shift+P	Cmd+Shift+P
Forte f	Ctrl+Shift+F	Cmd+Shift+F
Mezzo m	Ctrl+Shift+M	Cmd+Shift+M
Rinforzando r	Ctrl+Shift+R	Cmd+Shift+R
Sforzando s	Ctrl+Shift+S	Cmd+Shift+S
Niente n	Ctrl+Shift+N	Cmd+Shift+N
Z z	Ctrl+Shift+Z	Cmd+Shift+Z
Elision ‿	Ctrl+Alt+-	Cmd+Alt+-

See also

• Chord symbol
• Lyrics
• Frame
• Edit mode

Text styles and properties

Overview

Layout and formatting concepts, and methods to re-use settings are covered in the Layout and formatting chapter. With regard to Text objects on a score file,

• Overview of settings,
  • Properties of each individual Text object includes,
    • Settings on individual character,
    • Settings on object.
  • Global settings includes,
    • "style for type of object" under Format → Style → [item], and
    • "Text Style" or "style for text inside type of object" under Format → Style → Text Styles → [item]. ("Text Style" is the wording displayed inside musescore 3. To avoid confusions such as "Staff Text Style" and "Staff Text Text Style", the handbook uses wording "Style for text inside [item]" whenever necessary.)
• Formatting can be assigned to individual character. To edit or clear settings on all characters, see Text editing: Text edit mode chapter. Characters do not have any specific formatting initially. When formatting are added to them, they will always be used.
• A Text object itself does not have any specific properties initially. When properties are assigned in the Inspector, they will always be used, except for characters that already have formatting setting. To remove item properties, or set a property as global (move to style), see the Inspector chapter.
• User can edit values of "style for type of object" and "style for text inside type of object".
• User can apply "style for text inside type of object" onto Text objects on a score.
• User can utilize custom "style for text inside type of object" section.
• The "style for text inside Staff Text" is special. In addition to its original role for Staff Text, it also serves as the master fallback profile of all Text objects. All Text objects on a score use its values unless overridden by other more speific settings.
• A subset of characters are treated specially. They always use font settings in Format → Style → Score : Musical symbol font. This includes musical glyphs such as Segno, Coda, ottavas, dynamics glyphs such as mf and some Symbols and special characters. See Fonts chapter.

Text properties

• See the Inspector and Text basics chapter.

The "style for type of object"

• Edit settings under Format → Style → [item]. Settings are explained in 'Style' window chapter.

"Text Style" or "style for text inside type of object"

To edit style for text (profile), either:

• Edit settings under the Format → Style → Text Styles → [item], or
• Edit properties in the Inspector, and click the Set as style.

Contains these options

• Name : Editable in User-1 to User-12 only.
• Font and Size: The name of the font (e.g. Times New Roman, Arial etc.) and its size in points, also see Fonts.
• Line Spacing
• Follow staff size: determines whether text size changes proportionally, see Layout and formatting chapter.
• Font style: The font style to use, e.g. Italic, Bold or Underline.
• Align: Horizontal (left, center, right) and Vertical.
• Color: Color and opacity of the text. Opacity is set by the parameter "Alpha channel" in the "Select Color" dialog: a value between 0, transparent, and 255, opaque.
• Offset X/Y: Horizontal and vertical offsets in sp. units.
• Frame: Choose to have a circular or square frame around the text.
• Border: Color and opacity of the frame border.
• Highlight: Color of the background within the frame.
• Thickness: Thickness of the line of the frame in space units.
• Margin: Inner frame margin in space units.
• Corner radius: For box frame, radius of rounded corner.

Applying to score object

• Change score object's Style property in the Inspector.

Editing and applying custom profile

1. Edit custom style under Format → Style → Text Styles → User-1" to "User-12.
2. Change score object's Style property in the Inspector.

Workaround for lack of inspector and text editing mode

Edit using internal xml-like code when the interface is not available. See reference 1.

Applicable to,

• Instrument names (Long and short name). Main chapter Staff / Part properties.
• Header and Footer. Main chapter Score properties.

Syntax ptions are,

• Set font size: <font size="fontsizept">text</font>. Exactly one blank space. Nesting is mandatory.
• Set font family: <font face="typefacename">text</font>. Exactly one blank space. Nesting is mandatory.
• Set bold: <b>text</b>.
• Set italic: <i>text</i>.
• Set underline: <u>text</u>.
• Set subscript: <sub>text</sub>.
• Set superscript: <sup>text</sup>.
• Add symbol: <sym>internalname</sym>. See reference 2.

The TUTORIAL: How to use ANY font for Instrument Names (and Chords) and still have a cool Flat sign is written for Musescore 4, it also works on Musescore 3.6.2.

See also

• Text editing
• Fonts
• Header/Footer
• Behavior of applied text and lines

External

• Reference 1 textbase.cpp sourcecode bookmark
• Reference 2 sym.h sourcecode bookmark

Staff Text and System Text

Overview

Staff Text object and System Text object are used for,

• Adding capo playback for guitarists (Staff Text only),
• Applying swing and straight time,
• Changing playback sound sample usage inside Musescore (see below and the Mid-staff sound change chapter), and
• Adding general purpose text not covered by other Text types. For example,
  • Adding musical expressions and performance indications not supported or not found inside Musescore (eg a2); and
  • Adding score and movement titles.
  • General purpose text are also commonly added with a frame with text. See Frames chapter.

Their main difference is related to anchor as covered in details in the Text types chapter. Also, Staff Text affects the playback of staff / voice of the note it anchored to; System Text affects all staves.

The Expression button on the Text Palette is a styled Staff Text. It has its own "Text Style" profile. See "Style" section below and the Palette chapter.

Adding to a score

To add one onto a score:

1. Do either one of:
   • Select a note or rest; then for Staff Text, press Ctrl+T; or for System Text, press Shift+Ctrl+T, or
   • Select a note or rest; then select the desired option from Add→Text, or
   • Select a note or rest, then click the desired text from Palettes (double-click in versions prior to 3.4), or
   • Drag the desired text from a palette onto a note or rest.
2. Start entering text.
3. Press Esc or click on an empty space outside of the box to exit.

Repeating System Text on other staves

New System Text is positioned above the top staff of each system (layout concept). If you need a similar indication on a lower staff, add it to that staff using Staff Text.

Properties

Fomatting of a Staff Text object or System Text object on a score is edited in the Inspector, covered in Text basics chapter.

The playback settings are edited in "Staff Text properties" and "System Text properties" window

Staff Text contains settings that affect playback. Only the section after the attached note or rest is affect. When a Staff Text is duplicated, or reused through customized palette, the playback settings are reused.

"Staff Text properties" window

The playback settings can be accessed in two ways:

• Select the Staff Text, and click on "Properties" in the "Staff Text" section of the Inspector.
• Right-click on the text and choose "Staff Text Properties," then click on the relevant tab.

The four tabs on top are:

• Change Channel : Change the channel used by each Musescore Voices independently, understand channel by reading Mixer chapter first. This only works with Musescore Instrument that has more than one channel.
• Swing Settings: Use "straight" or "swing" rhythm. To change rthythm of this instrument everywhere in the score or all instruments, see Swing: global chapter for more info.
• Capo Settings: For stringed instruments you can apply a "capo", transposing the playback up by a number of frets/halftone steps. See Capo playback chapter for more info.
• MIDI Action: For advanced users only, send a MIDI Continuous Controller / Control Change (MIDI CC) Message. You must setup a custom instrument using a instruments.xml and declare MIDI Actions for of its channel first. You cannot edit instruments.xml inside Musescore. More info see https://github.com/lminiero/musescore-vpo-midi-actions#musescore-tool-t….

"System Text properties" window

Works like "Staff Text properties", but only has "Capo Settings" and "MIDI Action" tabs.

Style

See main chapters Layout and formatting and Text styles and properties.

• Format → Style → Staff Text.
• Format → Style → Text Styles → Staff Text.
• Format → Style → Text Styles → Expression.
• Format → Style → Text Styles → System.

See also

• Mid-staff sound change

External links

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

Chord notation systems

To enter notes, see Voices chapter.

A chord notation Text describes harmony. MuseScore supports

• Chord symbol: alphabetical chord name plus chord quality eg Am (wikipedia),
• Nashville Number System (NNS) (MuseScore 3.3 and above): arabic numeral plus chord quality eg 6m (wikipedia), and
• Roman Numeral Analysis (RNA) (MuseScore 3.3 and above): roman numeral plus chord quality eg vi (wikipedia).

Side note: To fill measures with slashes as shown above, see Fill with slashes or Toggle rhythmic slash notation.

Chord symbol

Adding a chord symbol

1. Select a note or a rhythmic slash symbol;
2. Press Ctrl+K (Mac: Cmd+K) to create an empty symbol. It is now in Text editing mode;
3. Enter as explained below without any space;
4. Optionally use keyboard shortcuts to proceed to edit a neighbouring chord symbol;
5. Press Esc to exit Text editing mode. Once exited, the text assumes correct format.

To enter root (shown below Standard spelling, eg Am7. See "Note spelling" section for alternatives.)

• Letter name: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and their lowercase. See "Automatic Capitalization" section.
• Sharp: # (hash symbol, Alt+3 on a UK keyboard).
• Flat: b (small letter "b").
• Double sharp: x (small letter "x") or ## (hash character twice).
• Double flat: bb (small letter "b" twice).

To enter extension and modifiers

• Major: (no extension), M, Ma, Maj, ma, maj, Δ (entered with lowercase t or ˆ, the latter doesn't seem to work on Windows though, or not with a German keyboard, where ˆ is a dead key).
• Minor: m, mi, min, -.
• Augmented: aug, +.
• Diminished triad: dim, ° (entered with o, lowercase "o". Shows as superscript if using the Jazz style, as o, the Greek omicron, otherwise).
• Dominant seventh: 7 (shows as superscript if using the Jazz style).
• Diminished seventh: dim7, °7 (entered with o7, lowercase "o" and number seven).
• Half-diminished seventh: m7b5, mi7b5, -7b5, ø7 (entered with 07, number zero and seven. Shows as superscript if using the Jazz style).
• Major seventh: M7, Ma7, Maj7, ma7, maj7, Δ7 (Δ alone is interpreted as major triad).
• Minor-major seventh: mM7 ...
• 69: 69, 6/9.
• Suspended and others: sus, sus4, sus2, 4 (4 = add11), 6, add6, 6-9 (6-9 = 6b9), 6+9 (6+9 = 6#9), 9, 7(add9), b9, 11, 7#5, no3 (no3 = omit the third), alt ...
• Commas; and Parentheses enclosing part or the whole symbol.
• Unsupported: drop2

To enter slash chord and inversion eg C7/E, use /. Fine vertical adjustment unsupported.

Advanced users can add the following characters, which are incompatible with playback, transposition and MusicXML export.

• To enter natural(♮): Ctrl+Shift+H. (Mac: Cmd+Shift+H)
• To enter blank space: Ctrl+Space (Mac: Alt+Space).

Navigation keyboard shortcuts

Use these to navigate while in text-editing mode. New item is automatically created where necessary. Beat information is obtained from Time signatures only.

• One note, rest, or beat forward: Space.
• One note, rest, or beat backward: Shift+Space.
• One beat forward: ;.
• One beat backward: :.
• One measure forward: Tab.
• One measure backward: Shift+Tab.
• A duration forward: Ctrl+1-9(Mac: Cmd+1-9).

Editing a chord symbol

1. Double click a chord symbol.
2. Follow step 3 onwards in "Adding a chord symbol" section.

Appearance settings

Covered in the Layout and formatting chapter. With regard to chord symbols, there are

• Properties of individual score item editable in Inspector; and
• Global profiles (the "Full Score" and each Musescore Part has its own independent set)
  • Format → Style → Chord Symbols, which contains rendering style; and
  • Format → Style → Text Styles → Chord Symbol, or any other TextStyle applied manually, such as Format → Style → Text Styles → Chord Symbol (Alternative), an unused, separate profile desinated for reharmonization scores.

Rendering style

Rendering style (term used in handbook only) is chord symbol's specialized automatic formatting feature. It is

• not a property of individual score item, but
• a global setting in Format → Style → Chord Symbols: Style.
  • Standard: No extra automatic formatting. This is the default if a non-Jazz template is used to create the score.
  • Jazz: Automatic formatting such as superscripting extensions and modifiers (eg the 7 in G7); Applies MuseJazzText fontface. Other fontface settings are ignored. This is the default if a Jazz template (eg "Jazz Lead Sheet") is used to create the score.
  • Custom: Use a custom chord symbols style file (*.xml) under the "styles" directory (in Windows 10 C:\Program Files\MuseScore 3\styles\). For advanced user and file compatibility only. See documentation under the same folder, and "External links" section.

Font face

Font (font face, typeface, or font family) is available as

• a property of individual score item (higher priority); and
• a global setting in Format → Style → Text Styles → Chord Symbol, or the profile applied to the score item.

Not as useful as rendering style, because assigning a fontface (eg MuseJazzText) does not automatically apply appropiate superscript or subscript to extension and modifiers, but see "Adjusting position" section. Fontface assignments are ignored when using "Jazz" rendering style, as shown below.

Note spelling

Chord root note spelling convention is a global setting in Format → Style → Chord Symbols. Options are,

• Standard: A, B♭, B, C, C♯,... The default setting.
• 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

Automatic capitalization is a global setting in Format → Style → Chord Symbols. Options are,

• Check box: Enabled by default.
• Lower case minor chords: Disable conversion if the chord is a minor, diminished, half-diminished 7th, or diminished 7th chord. When disabled, "c, cm, cm7" converts to "C, Cm, Cm7". When enabled, "c, cm, cm7" converts to "C, cm, cm7".
• Lower case bass notes: Disable conversion of note after slash. When disabled, "c/e" converts to "C/E". When enabled, "c/e" converts to "C/e".
• All caps note names: For "Solfeggio" and "French" spelling only. eg "do, re, mi" to "DO, RE, MI"

Adjusting position and size

Position and size adjustments of the extension and modifier portion are global settings in Format → Style → Chord Symbols → Extension scaling, Modifier scaling, Extension vertical offset, Modifier vertical offset.

Position adjustments affecting the whole symbol are culminative. They are available as

• Properties of individual score item
  • Offset X and Y, and
• Global settings
  • Under Format → Style → Chord Symbols: Positioning.
    • Distance to fretboard diagram: Above the diagram.
    • Minimum chord spacing: Between neighbouring chord symbols.
    • Maximum barline distance: Between a measure's last chord symbol and the following barline. Increase this value to remove overlapping between symbols across a barline. Rarely needed.
    • Maximum shift above/below: Adjust to align symbols vertically.
  • Under Format → Style → Text Styles → Chord Symbol, or the profile applied to the score item.
    • Offset X and Y

Automatically create extra chord symbols with capo

For capo device users. Enable this feature to create extra bracketed chord symbol next to each existing chord symbol on the score. The bracketed symbol, when played using capo, sounds identical to the unbracketed one.

• In Format → Style → Chord Symbols: Capo fret position.
• Assign the capo position for the appended extra chord symbol. Default value 0 does not create extra chord symbols.

Converting chord symbols into notes

To lay down chord notes onto a score,

1. Select one or more measures
2. From the menu, select Tools → Realize Chord Symbols.

Configuration of which notes to lay down is covered in the Playback: Chord symbols / Nashville numbers chapter.

Editing notes afterwards is covered in the Voices chapter. There are also plugins such as,

• Chord Level Selector
• PruneStack
• Next inversion: replaces all chord(s) in (keyboard) selection with their next inversion

Transpose chord symbols

Chord symbols within the selection are transposed with Transpose command unless "Transpose chord symbols" option is unchecked.

Playback of Chord symbols

(MuseScore 3.3 and above)

See Playback: Chord symbols / Nashville numbers.
Note: The triangle symbol Δ in Musescore creates a Major triad only.

Nashville Number System

(MuseScore 3.3 and above)

The Nashville Number System is a shorthand way of representing chords based on scale degrees rather than chord letters. This allows an accompaniment to be played in any key from the same chord chart.

To start entering Nashville notation:

1. Select a start note;
2. Add → Text → Nashville Number.

Input syntax and navigation keyboard shortcuts are similar to that of chord symbols.

Convert Nashville into notes

Same as chord symbol, see "Convert chord symbols into notes" section.

Playback of Nashville

(MuseScore 3.3 and above)

See Playback: Chord symbols / Nashville numbers.

Roman Numeral Analysis

Not to be confused with Figured bass.

(MuseScore 3.3 and above)

The Roman Numeral Analysis system is a type of musical analysis where chords are represented by upper and lower case Roman numerals (I, ii, III, iv etc.), superscripts, subscripts and other modifying symbols.

Enter RNA

1. Select a start note;
2. Add → Text → Roman Numeral Analysis, or the keyboard shortcut assigned in Preferences;
3. Input the RNA symbols for the chord just like normal text, as follows;
   • Major chord: Upper case roman numerals
   • Minor chord: Lower case roman numerals
   • Diminished chord: o (lower case)
   • Half-diminished chord: 0 (zero)
   • Augmented chord: +
   • Seventh chord and inversions: Enter up to 3 single-digit numbers, top note first.
   • Accidentals: enter hash character (#) for a sharp, small letter b for a flat and h for natural. Do not use unicode eg U+226D (flat sign, ♭).
   • To disable automatic conversion into professional glyph or superscript, prefix the character with a backslash, "\". For example, "\h" adds a literal letter "h" instead of a natural symbol.
   • Inversion notation using alphabet a,b,c,d can be created with the method described above.
   • Inversion notation using vertically aligned arabic numerals without accidentals such as 64 can be created with the method described below.
   • Inversion notation using vertically aligned arabic numerals with accidentals such as 6#3, ie altered chord, is unsupported, workaround : create Figured bass text instead; or create separate text objects and manually nudge them into place.
   • For other symbols, see the images below.
4. Move the cursor forward or backwards to continue entering or editing symbols for other chords;
5. When RNA is completed, exit by pressing Esc, or by clicking on a blank section of the score.

RNA input offers the same keyboard shortcuts for navigation as in chord symbols (see above ).

Upon each computer keyboard input, characters are automatically converted to the correct format. MuseScore uses a specialist font, Campania, to provide the correct formatting for RNA. See also Fonts.

Examples of RNA

Type this:

To get this:

Playback of RNA

Musescore 3.6.2 does not create playback for RNA.

Identify harmony or chord

Use a plugin such as:

• Chord Identifier (Pop & Jazz) for music that features harmonic chromaticism heavily, as the RNA created has jazz influence.
• Chord ID and Roman numeral analysis for music that features stable tonality, as conventional RNA are created.
• Harmony analysis tool (keys, chords and harmonies)

External Links

• Campania font
• Chord Symbol Voicings for Playback

Chord symbols style file (*.xml):

• chords.xml with sub/superscript and stacked chord alterations shared by RunasSudo
• github issue Support for chords with stacked extensions #16241 workaround by MarcSabatella

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.

• 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 the display of fingering in tablature, right-click on the TAB, and select Staff/Part Properties...→Advanced Style Properties; then check the box labelled "Show fingering in tablature".

Add fingering to a single note

Use any of the following methods:

• Select a note and click one of the fingering symbols in a Palette (double-click in versions prior to 3.4).
• 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. Click a fingering symbol in a palette (double-click in versions prior to 3.4).

Easy fingering input mode (version 3.1 and above)

This special feature allows you to add fingering quickly and easily to successive notes.

1. Choose one of the following options:
   • Add the first fingering symbol using one of the methods shown above: this can be a "Left Hand Guitar Fingering", "Fingering" or "String Number";
   • For "Fingering" only: select a note and press the keyboard shortcut for "Add fingering," then type the desired number.
     Tip: Create a shortcut for this command in Preferences: Shortcuts: Ctrl+Alt+F, for example.
2. Choose one of the following options:
   • To move the cursor to the next note: Press Space, or Alt+→;
   • To move the cursor to the previous note: Shift+Space, or Alt + ←;
3. Type the desired number;
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as required;
5. Press Esc, or click on an empty space in the document window, to exit.

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+← → ↑ ↓.
• Change X and Y 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 X and Y offsets in the Inspector.

To restore a symbol to its default position, select it and press Ctrl+R.

Edit fingering text

Fingering symbols are text objects and can be edited in the usual way. Text properties and overall style can be adjusted in the Inspector.

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: Cmd+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+→ (Mac: Alt+→)) 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+← (Mac: Alt+←)).
   • 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 or click outside of the text box.

Subsequent lines

If you want to add another lyrics line to an existing one (e.g. a 2nd or 3rd verse etc.):

1. Choose 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:

• Space character: Ctrl+Space (Mac: Alt+Space).

• - (hyphen): Ctrl+- (Mac: Alt+-).

• _ (underscore): Ctrl+Shift+_ (Mac: Alt+Shift_).

• Line feed: Ctrl+↵ (Mac: Alt+Return) or Enter (from the numeric keypad).

Verse numbers

To number verses, simply type the number (e.g. 1.) and a space before the first syllable. MuseScore will automatically align the numbers and first syllable correctly.

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 in the bottom-left corner of the screen, 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: Alt+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.

As of 3.6: Ctrl+Alt+- or AltGr+- (Mac: Cmd+Alt+-).

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.

Copy lyrics to clipboard

To copy all lyrics to the clipboard:

• From the menu bar, select 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.

Adjust settings of lyrics

To edit selected lyrics object(s) on a score:

1. Select object(s), see Selection modes.
2. Edit properties in the Inspector as required.

Note: in Musescore 3.6.2, the Minimum distance property for lyrics objects is not implemented, see patch file by upx on https://musescore.org/en/node/357739#comment-1218262

To edit default setting, edit the style profile, see https://musescore.org/en/handbook/3/layout-and-formatting#concept2 and https://musescore.org/en/handbook/3/text-styles-and-properties

• "Style for lyrics objects" Format→Style→Lyrics
• "Style for text inside staff text" Format→Style→TextStyles→Staff
• "Style for text inside lyrics odd lines" Format→Style→TextStyles→Lyrics odd lines
• "Style for text inside lyrics even lines" Format→Style→TextStyles→Lyrics even lines

Layout settings are culminative

Adjust the vertical position of lyrics at the same line (same vertical position on a page)

All lyrics at the same line (same vertical position on a page) are in the same system (layout concept), see Layout and formatting chapter. To select them, see Selection mode : Select All similar chapter. Check Same system option in the selection window. To assign one value to all of them, enter a new value in the X and Y offsets property in the Inspector.

See also

• Text types
• Chord symbol

External links

• How to insert Lyrics (MuseScore HowTo)
• How to move lyrics (MuseScore HowTo)
• How to add a block of text to a score (MuseScore HowTo)
• How to copy lyrics, or lyrics with rhythm (MuseScore HowTo)
• How to add lyrics in columns (MuseScore HowTo)
• 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). Multimeasure 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, choose 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 click the [B1] rehearsal mark icon in the "Text" palette (double-click in versions prior to 3.4).
• 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 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. 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)