Windows

macOS

Linux

AppImage

在 Linux 中安装 Musescore，最简单的方式是使用 AppImage：

1. 打开 musescore.com 的 下载→软件 界面；
2. 在 Linux→AppImage (recommended) 下，点击 下载（64位） 链接；
3. 下载完成后，右键 AppImage 文件并选择 属性；
4. 切换到 权限 栏；
5. 接下来的步骤取决于您使用的文件管理器：
   • Nautilus-based (Nemo, Files, Caja) : Check the “Allow executing file as program” box.
   • Dolphin: Check the "Is executable" box.
   • Thunar: Check the “Allow this file to run as a program” box.
   • PCManFM: Change the “Execute” option in the drop down list to “Anyone”.
6. 关闭对话框。

虽然该文件现在已经可以直接运行（双击打开或其他方式），但为了将程序添加到菜单中，并正确关联文件格式，您需要您需要完全安装它。

1. 右键安装了 AppImage 的目录，选择 在终端中打开；
2. 在 终端 中输入
   ./[文件名] install

您也可以使用该 AppImage 的绝对文件路径：

1. 打开 终端
2. 输入
   [文件路径] install

提示: 如果您在文件管理器中复制 AppImage 后，在终端按 Ctrl+Shift+V，则会输入所“复制”的文件的绝对文件路径。

不需要正式的卸载程序来删除已安装的 AppImage。只要手动删除菜单项和快捷方式，再删除 App 本身及其链接即可（在 ~/.local/bin 中）。

我们将从模板创建一个新乐谱。(如果您想从头创建一个新乐谱，您可以参考新建乐谱）。

从模板创建一个乐谱需要四步:

1. 从乐谱面板点击新建乐谱
2. 在出现的新建乐谱的对话框里选择从模板创建，按类别浏览不同的模板，或者直接搜索你想要的模板
3. 点击下一步，然后输入更多的乐谱信息（或者跳过这一步，让 MuseScore 用默认方式创建乐谱，然后在后续修改）
4. 点击完成

输入乐谱信息

在其他乐谱信息界面，你可以设置：

• 初始调号(默认调号不包含任何升调或降调)
• 初始拍号(默认拍号是 4/4)
• 初始速度(如果你要在乐谱上显示初始速度，请点击速度，然后点击在我的乐谱上显示速度记号)
• 弱起小节的时长
• 初始乐谱拥有的小节的数量（默认是32，你仍可在后续编辑乐谱时增加或删除小节）

输入音符

在 MuseScore 中输入音符的最简单方法是:

1. 按N键进入音符输入模式
2. 开始输入音名(A, B, C, D, E, F, G)

您现在正在在 Musescore 中输入音符！在音符输入模式中，您将能看到蓝色的高亮光标，它能告诉你的下一个音符将被输入的位置。

您可以在音符输入工具栏中指定您输入的每个音符的时值。更改时值的方法：

1. 确保您正处于音符输入模式(见上)
2. 单击所需的时值，或者
3. 使用键盘快捷键1到7来选中不同的时值

您可以从输入音符和休止符学到更多相关操作。

从符号面板中添加元素

符号面板包含几乎所有符号元素，您可能需要添加其中的一些元素到您的乐谱中。从符号面板中添加元素的最简单的方法是:

1. 在你的乐谱中选择一个（或一些）已有的元素（例如，音符，谱号，小节等）
2. 在符号面板中单击三角形箭头按钮打开一个细分的面板
3. 点击要添加的元素

您可以从使用符号面板学到更多相关操作。

调整元素属性

点击屏幕左侧的属性选项卡可以显示属性面板:

（旧版本 MuseScore 的用户可能称之为元素检视器）

属性面板将会显示您选中的对象的相关可用设置。这些设置通常会影响所选对象的视觉外观。大多数情况下，您在属性面板中所做的更改将只适用于您所选择的那些对象（例如，您将只会改变选中的渐弱记号，而不是乐谱中的每一个渐弱记号）。

当你添加细节到你的乐谱中后，您可以单击任何元素查看哪些设置是可用的。

您可以从属性面板学到更多相关操作。

添加和删除小节

插入一个小节需要三步：

1. 选中一个小节
2. 在属性面板中的小节部分，点击插入小节
3. 点击 + 按钮

只需在小节部分设置您想插入的小节数量，您就能一次性插入多个小节。您还可以使用下拉菜单更改插入新小节的位置。

删除一个或多个小节需要两步：

1. 选中您想要删除的一个（或多个）小节
2. 点击小节部分的垃圾桶图标

您可以从小节学到更多相关操作。

导出乐谱

导出功能允许您导出非 Musescore 文件，例如PDF、MusicXML、MIDI、以及各种不同的图像或音频格式。

导出您的乐谱需要6步：

1. 选中发布选项卡
2. 点击导出
3. 选择您想要导出的部分
4. 选择您想要导出的文件格式
5. 如果导出多个分谱，请选择“每个分谱作为单独文件”或“所有分谱合为一个文件”
6. 点击导出

您也可以选择分享乐谱到互联网将乐谱分享到musescore.com。

保存乐谱

乐谱可以被保存在本地或您的 MuseScore 云存储空间内。

保存乐谱需要两步:

1. 点击文件
2. 点击保存

然后会弹出一个对话框，询问你“你想如何保存”，您可以选择“保存到云端”或“保存到本机”。

保存到本机

保存到本机选项会打开操作系统的“保存”对话框，引导您将乐谱保存为压缩 MuseScore 文件 .mscx 。

保存到云端

保存到云端的乐谱将出现在程序的主页：乐谱选项卡，同时在文件图标的角落会有一个云的符号。另外，备份文件也会自动保存在你的电脑上的 MuseScore 4 文件夹里的 Cloud scores 文件夹中。

您可以从打开或保存乐谱学到更多相关操作。

如果你从旧版本更新到 Musescore 4，你会注意到不仅图形界面发生了变化，而且许多熟悉的功能和编辑的方式也发生了变化。这些更改旨在改善用户体验，以及提供更强大的功能。下面是主要变化的概述：

新的图形界面

MuseScore 4 拥有更加优美的新界面。为了方便阅读，几乎每一个窗口都经过了完全的重新设计。您可以选择浅色、深色和高对比度的主题，也可以选择你喜欢的主题色。您可以在偏好设置中更改上述选项。

乐器和分谱

一个新的乐器面板能够使你在不打开新窗口的前提下隐藏，重新排列或自定义你的乐器。

乐器面板和分谱的功能现在被紧密结合到了一起。您可以轻松地使用不同的乐器组合生成不同的分谱。工具栏上还有一个按钮可以使你方便地打开任何一个分谱。

元素检视器

MuseScore早期版本的元素检视器现在被称为属性面板。为了简化操作，面板中的每一个选项都被重新组织了。在没有选中任何元素的情况下，属性面板能够显示多个可用的选项，例如显示或隐藏空白谱表以及其他不可见元素。另外，对于以前需要选中单个类型的元素才能进行的某些操作，现在Musescore能够做到不管选中多少的元素都能分类地显示那些不同操作的选项。

新的播放和VSTi支持

Musescore 4 的最大的改进是播放功能。除了新的音色库(Muse Sounds, 可单独下载)之外，现在 Musescore 还支持VSTi，您可以使用新的混音器将VSTi效果应用到某一乐器上。混合器还可以让您轻松地在VSTi，SoundFonts和 Muse Sounds 之间切换，同时还支持VST效果。不同乐谱的声音设置现在将始终分别保存不同乐谱中，因此在 MuseScore 4 中不再需要旧版本的合成器面板(这在 MuseScore 4 中已被删除)。如果你以前在 MuseScore 3 中使用SFZ文件播放，我们现在建议你使用免费的VST采样器，例如Sfizz，或Sforzando。（两者都支持SFZ回放）

排版的改进

Musescore 4 有许多排版的改进，其中一些会对旧版本创建的文件的外观和布局产生影响。最重要的变化影响到符杠、连奏线、同音连线、垂直间距和页面布局。还有很多更改没有在这里列出来，因此那些有兴趣了解更多新特性的人可以阅读这个详细地解释和说明了所有内容的文档(即将推出)。

当你使用 Musescore 4 中打开一个旧版本创建的文档时，这种排版的改进将会不可避免地会造成乐谱看起来不和旧版本打开它看起来的完全相同。

云存储

当你第一次保存一个文档时，系统会问你是想把文件保存到本地还是保存到云端。这个新功能是我们在musescore.com上开发的新服务的一部分。您可以在打开或保存乐谱和保存乐谱到云端中了解更多信息。

其他更改

当你使用 Musescore 4 时，你会发现许多其他小但重要的变化，这些变化能够使作曲或打谱的过程更加轻松。这些包括:

• 可扩展的输入工具栏。您能够在其中一键使用常用的元素，例如三连音和演奏记号。另外还有一个“+”按钮，可以快速地往输入工具栏中添加从音符和音程到文本框和文本元素的所有内容
• 在属性面板中快速地添加或者删除小节或显示或隐藏谱表
• 新的优美的混音器
• 拍号面板对话框的改进
• 简化了设置应用程序语言的体验
• 一个新的能够获得关于如何使用 Musescore 4 的视频教程的学习中心

屏幕阅读器

Musescore 4 分别在以下操作系统中支持这些屏幕阅读器：

• Windows 10 和 11： 讲述人 和 NVDA
• macOS： 旁白
• Linux： Orca

大部分时候，基于JAWS的屏幕阅读器能够工作，但是朗读的结果不像使用旁白或NVDA那样完整。

在Windows系统中使用屏幕阅读器

如果屏幕阅读器的语音输出突然停止工作，您可以尝试按Alt+F来选中文件菜单，然后按Esc两次以返回你原来在应用程序中的位置，此时，屏幕阅读器理应能够正常工作。如果你想要先运行 Musescore，再启动屏幕阅读器，您就必须这么做。

在Mac系统中使用屏幕阅读器

在使用 Musescore 4 时，“旁白”的旁白快速导览必须被关闭。您可以通过在“旁白”运行时同时按下左和右箭头键来打开或关闭快速导览，或者你可以从“旁白实用工具>管理”关闭旁白快速导览。

MuseScore 的界面既可以用 Tab 跳转，又可以用“旁白”自己的光标跳转。一般来说，最好使用 Tab，因为这既与其他平台上的界面相匹配，又是大多数文档和教程中讲述的内容。“旁白”的光标可以用来到达应用程序中不能通过 Tab 光标访问的区域。当使用 Tab 时，记得配合使用方向键（参见在用户界面中跳转）。

在Linux系统中使用屏幕阅读器

在 Linux 上，在启动 MuseScore 之前必须启动屏幕阅读器，否则辅助功能将被禁用以节省系统资源。如果您忘记这样做，只需退出 MuseScore 并再次启动它。所有构建在 Qt 框架上的 Linux 应用程序也是如此。

Orca 是 Linux 上功能最齐全的屏幕阅读器。Orca 内置于 GNOME 桌面环境中，因此建议有无障碍需求的 Linux 用户使用基于 GNOME 或其衍生产品的发行版。

键盘控制

在用户界面中跳转

MuseScore 4 用户界面(UI)中的键盘跳转既依赖于 Tab 键又依赖于方向键。您可以使用 Tab 键循环遍历每个控件组，然后使用方向键跳转到组内的各个控件。在其他应用程序（包括以前版本的 MuseScore）中通常是用 Tab 键访问每个单独的控件。但是 Musescore 4 的全新的跳转系统允许你用更少的按键跳转到界面中的任何地方。新的跳转系统仍在改进中，欢迎在开发论坛提出反馈意见。

除了方向键和 Tab 键，您可以使用F6键在程序中的不同面板之间切换。下面是如何使用各个快捷键来跳转的方法：

• 上、下、左、右箭头：将光标从控件组中的一个控件移动到下一个控件（例如在工具栏中的按钮之间切换）。

• Tab和Shift+Tab：将光标从一个控件组移到下一个控件组（例如在工具栏之间切换）。

• F6和Shift+F6：在面板和其他大块的UI之间移动光标（例如从工具栏切换到符号面板或乐谱中）。

默认情况下，重音符`（有时被称为反撇号）可以用来代替F6来在面板和其他大块的UI之间移动光标。在大部分QWERTY的键盘上，重音符在Tab的上方。如果你的键盘上那个键不是重音符，你可以考虑在偏好设置里把快捷键修改到那个在Tab上方的按键，因为这个位置使得所有的跳转快捷键被排在一起方便使用。

一旦你的光标已经移动到某个控件，在大多数情况下，你可以通过按Spacebar、Enter或Return键进行操作。在列表或其他某些杂项中，空格键通常用于选择项目而不是激活它们。某些项目一旦被选中就会被激活，于是就可以通过按Delete键删除，或可以通过按Tab键移动到其他UI控件来修改。例如，您可以在乐器面板中使用此方法删除之前添加到乐谱中的乐器。

在乐谱中跳转

在乐谱中（即在记谱视图中）跳转的方式与 MuseScore 3 基本相同。以下快捷方式可能对无障碍用户特别有用：

快捷键	操作
Alt+右和Alt+左	移动到下一个或上一个元素。这些快捷键使您能够访问各种符号元素，而不仅仅是音符和休止符。
Alt+上和Alt+下	移动到上面或下面的音符。这些快捷键使您可以在和弦中的单个音符之间移动，也可以移动到其他声部和五线谱的音符和休止符中。
F2或Alt+Shift+E	编辑所选元素。这相当于用鼠标双击一个元素。它使您能够编辑文本对象，包括歌词、力度和节奏标记。它还允许您调整线元素的长度，如渐强渐弱记号，连奏线和跳跃号（使用Tab键在左端和右端之间切换）。完成编辑后，您需要按下Esc键以回到正常模式。

键盘导航的其他操作在这本手册的各个页面上都有描述。

视频教程

下面的无障碍教程旨在让您使用键盘和屏幕阅读器启动和运行MuseScore。它们并没有涵盖程序的每一个方面，但它们应该会为你充分理解和运用本手册的其余部分打下一个坚实的基础。

视频	描述
安装 MuseScore	本视频介绍了 MuseScore 在 Windows 上的安装过程，包括 Muse Hub 和 Muse Sounds。这个过程在 macOS 和 Linux 上是相似的，尽管在 Linux 上你需要分别安装 Muse Hub 和 MuseScore。
初始化乐谱	本视频介绍了乐谱的初始设置，包括选择乐器和选择键和拍号以及其他设置。
输入音符	此视频介绍了基本的音符输入。
添加标记	此视频介绍如何使用符号面板向乐谱添加力度变化等标记。
用户界面	此视频将介绍程序的各个窗口，您可以从中了解所有不同面板、工具栏和控件的位置，以及如何通过键盘访问它们的方式。

菜单栏

Musescore 4 的菜单栏包含以下菜单：

• 文件：这里可以创建新文件、打开或保存文件、以各种格式导入或导出、创建和编辑分谱、打印乐谱
• 编辑：这里可以找到撤销或恢复、复制或剪切或粘贴、查找或跳转命令
• 视图：这里可以显示或隐藏各种面板、对话框和其他工作区元素
• 添加：这里可以添加不同种类的乐谱元素，例如音符、文本、线性记号
• 格式：这里可以调整全局或部分乐谱的格式。也可以拉伸或收缩乐谱、加载或保存乐谱样式，等等
• 工具：这里有许多有用的命令，包括移调、交换声部、用斜杠填充小节等
• 插件：这里可以管理您的插件
• 帮助：这里可以访问在线手册、报告错误并提供反馈、恢复出厂设置

Windows 和 Linux 的用户可以通过按住Alt键和您想要选中的那个菜单后面跟的字母对应的那个键快速打开该菜单，然后按您想要选择的那个选项后面跟的字母所对应的按键选中该选项。例如，您可以按Alt+F打开文件菜单，然后按Alt+A选择另存为。当Alt模式被激活时，字母'F'和'a'都被加上了下划线。

在 MacOS 上，MuseScore 的菜单是系统菜单栏的一部分，你可以通过按Ctrl+F2来跳转到不同的菜单。

主页

在主菜单下面有三个选项卡，第一个是主页选项卡。该选项卡包含以下部分:

我的账户

您可以在这里创建一个新的 MuseScore 账户，或者登录到您现有的账户。在登录到账户之后，您可以在musescore.org的论坛上获取技术帮助或汇报 Bug。您也可以到上传您的乐谱到云存储musescore.com中。

乐谱

这个部分允许您创建一个新的乐谱或打开一个现有的乐谱。您可以在初始化您的分数中详细了解如何创建新的乐谱。

插件

此处显示您已经可以使用的插件的列表。在插件章节，您可以了解如何管理这些有用的插件。

学习

这里您可以看到视频教程。您可以点击任何视频教程打开MuseScore官方YouTube频道（注：中国大陆地区无法访问）。

乐谱

这是您在 MuseScore 中完成大部分工作的地方，您可以在这里添加音乐符号和试听您的乐谱。工作区由以下几个区域组成（按照下图中的标签编号）：

1. 分谱：位于窗口顶部中心附近，在那里，您可以创建、编辑和删除分谱。
2. 混音器：位于 分谱 按键的右边，可以打开 混音器 面板。
3. 播放面板：位于混音器图标的右侧。
4. 音符输入面板：位于整个屏幕的上部，在这里您可以找到乐谱中的基本符号。也可以在这里设置音符的时值，切换临时记号，使用常见演奏记号，输入三连音，或者切换声部。
5. 侧边栏：位于窗口的左侧。您可以在这里找到符号面板、属性以及乐器。可以根据需要被隐藏或显示。
6. 乐谱：程序的主要窗口，包含了您的乐谱。您可以在这里添加、编辑或删除符号元素。
7. 状态栏：位于窗口的最底部。当选择一个或多个元素时，它的左侧会显示有关乐谱的相关信息。您可以在它的右侧更换工作区，选择是否使用标准音高，并指定页面显示和缩放倍率。

键盘用户可以使用Tab或F6键来在不同区域之间切换。您可以在每个区域内使用方向键和Tab键切换到不同的元素。

Musescore 4 中几乎所有的面板和工具栏都可以根据您的需求和工作区偏好设置隐藏或修改位置。在工作区中了解更多信息。

发布

这个选项卡可以让你在没有杂乱的音符输入工具栏或侧边栏面板的情况下查看你的乐谱。可以选择打印乐谱，并以各种图像、音频和文档格式导出它。当你的乐谱完成后，你也可以发布到musescore.com。

右键菜单

在应用程序的某些特定部分，特别是在乐谱选项卡中，右键菜单具有更多的功能，例如复制、编辑、自定义、删除或查看菜单里显示的每一项的属性的选项。

元素的右键菜单

在乐谱中，每一个元素都有一个右键菜单。您可以通过鼠标右键单击某元素，或者按下Shift+F10（有些电脑键盘在右Ctrl键旁边还有一个菜单键）。每种元素的右键菜单里的内容都不尽相同，您可以大胆地尝试，看看不同元素的右键菜单里面有些什么。例如，当您右键单击一个小节的空白部分时，右键菜单会包括谱表/分谱属性和小节属性的选项。目前来说，这是唯一打开这些对话框的方法。

UI（用户界面）的“右键菜单”

在乐谱之外，“右键菜单”通常是一个有一个齿轮图标或者是三个点图标的按钮。您可以按下按钮打开菜单。有时候按钮会与其他的界面相关联，例如在符号面板中每一个分类都有一个菜单。在这里，除了直接按那个有三个点图标的按钮以外，您可以右键任意一个分类，或者用键盘选中它，然后按Shift+F10或菜单快捷键打开这个菜单。

滚动

鼠标滚轮

• 您能使用滚轮上下滚动界面。
• 您能使用Shift加滚轮左右滚动界面。

滚动条

在乐谱的右侧和底部有两个滚动条。拖动它们可以快速上下或左右移动乐谱。大部分时候滚动条会被隐藏，但您可以通过将鼠标悬停在乐谱的边缘来让它们显示出来。

键盘

您还可以使用键盘上的PgUp、PgDn、Home、以及End键来滚动乐谱。如果您的键盘没有这些专门的按键，大部分情况下您可以按住Fn或其他具有类似功能的按键，然后分别按下上、下、左、或右。

注意：按PgUp或PgDn键并不是一次滚动一页，而是一次滚动一个屏幕的宽度。如果您想让屏幕一次滚动一整页，您可以在按下PgUp或PgDn的同时按住Ctrl（Mac：Cmd）键。

在元素之间切换

当您在乐谱中选中一个元素的时候，您可以像操纵光标一样使用常用的键盘快捷键来更改光标的位置，从而选中其他的元素。

按下左或右键可以在相邻的音符（或休止符）之间切换。如果您想一次跳过一个小节，您可以在按下左或右键的同时按下Ctrl（Mac：Cmd键。

您可以按下Alt+Up或Alt+Down（Mac：Option+Up或Option+Down）键让光标在不同音符，声部，谱表之间纵向移动。

您也可以使用快捷键Alt+左或Alt+右（Mac：Option+左或Option+右）键来选中除了音符和休止符以外的几乎任何其他元素（包括奏法文本、小节线、渐强渐弱记号等）。

另外，您可以按下Ctrl+Home（Mac：Cmd+Home）来选中整个乐谱的第一个元素，或者按下Ctrl+End（Mac：Cmd+End）来选中整个乐谱的最后一个元素。同样地，对于有些没有直接的Home和End键的键盘，大部分系统都可以通过按Fn+Left或Fn+Right来代替。

参阅默认键盘快捷键了解更多信息。

导航视图

导航视图是一个能够展示乐谱缩略图的面板。您可以点击视图 → 导航面板打开或关闭导航面板。

导航面板里面的蓝色边框代表了当前屏幕显示的乐谱区域。您可以拖动方框来移动乐谱。

时间轴

时间轴是一个用来显示乐器和乐谱结构的辅助工具。参阅时间轴了解更多。

视图

您可以在状态栏右侧的弹出窗口中切换不同的乐谱视图。

多页视图

多页视图将乐谱按被打印或导出成 PDF 文件的样子显示（每一页单独显示，且带有页边距）。Musescore 能够根据页面设置和偏好设置中的设置自动应用换行符和分页符。另外，您还可以自己插入换行符和分页符。

单行连续视图

单行连续视图将乐谱不间断地显示在屏幕上。即便乐谱的起点不在屏幕中，小节号、乐器名称、谱号、调号和拍号也会被显示在窗口的最左侧。

垂直连续视图

乐谱被一页一页显示，页面具有页眉，但是没有页边距，并且能够垂直无限延申。Musescore 能够根据页面设置和偏好设置中的设置自动应用换行符和分页符。另外，您还可以自己插入换行符和分页符。

缩放

下面列出了一些能够缩放乐谱的方法：

放大

Ctrl++（Mac：Cmd++）
或在按下Ctrl（Mac：Cmd）的同时向上滚动鼠标滚轮。

缩小

Ctrl+-（Mac：Cmd+-）
或在按下Ctrl（Mac：Cmd）的同时向下滚动鼠标滚轮。

状态栏缩放控制

您可以通过下面方法从状态栏用鼠标放大或缩小您的乐谱：

• 点击状态栏右侧的放大镜图标。
• 单击这些图标右侧的数字，然后输入自定义缩放倍数
• 在最右边的弹出列表中选择一个预设的缩放倍数

回到100%缩放

下面操作能将缩放恢复至默认倍数（100%）。

Ctrl+0（Mac：Cmd+0）

查找/前往

查找/前往面板可以让您在乐谱中快速找到一个特定的小节，排练记号或页码。

您能够按下面操作打开查找/前往面板

• 找到编辑 → 查找/前往，或
• 按下Ctrl+F（Mac：Cmd+F）。

您能够按下面操作关闭查找/前往面板

• 单击面板左上角X（关闭）按钮，或
• 当面板被选中是按下Esc键。

跳转到特定小节号

输入小节号（从1开始计数，不包括弱起小节、中断或者手动更改小节号）。

跳转到特定页码

输入页码，格式为pXX（其中XX是页码）。

跳转到数字排练记号

输入rXX（其中XX是排练记号）。

跳转到字母排练记号

输入排演记号的名称(搜索不区分大小写)。

高级技巧：最好避免使用单个字母“R”，“r”，“P”，“p”或其中一个字母与另一个整数（例如“R1”或“p3”）来命名排练记号，因为这可能会混淆搜索算法。

概述

时间轴能逐个小节显示乐器和乐谱中主要要素的变化情况。它显示在整个窗口的底部。您可以通过单击任何一个小节或者要素轻松地跳转乐谱到您选择的位置。

时间轴分为四个部分：

要素标签

要素标签在整个时间轴界面的左上角。每一行都展示了后续对应的要素的名称。

乐器标签

乐器标签在整个时间轴界面的左下角。这些是主网格中每一行的对应的乐器名称。

要素

乐谱中的主要要素的变化可以显示在整个时间轴界面的右上角。它们体现了整个乐谱在不同地方的元数据。

主网格

主网格在整个时间轴界面的右下角。每一个网格中的正方形都对应了一个乐谱中某一乐器的某一小节。

要素

要素是指那些虽然不是音符，但是仍然对乐谱有重要作用的元素。例如调号、拍号、速度、排练标记、小节线和反复或跳跃记号。

基础操作

选中某一小节

您可以通过单击某一单元格来选中时间轴中的某一个小节。当小节被选中后，这个单元格周围会出现一个蓝色的框，并且乐谱中的对应小节也会被同时自动选中，屏幕会自动跳转到您选择小节的位置。

选中多个小节

拖动选择

要拖动选择多个小节，您可以在按住Shift的同时按住鼠标左键并将鼠标在主网格上拖动。这会创建一个选择区域。松开鼠标后，所有在选择区域范围内的单元格以及对应乐谱中的小节都会被选中。

[Shift]选择

与在乐谱中的操作类似，如果一个单元格已经被选中，您可以按住Shift的同时单击时间轴上的另一个单元格来将选区延申至那个单元格。

[Ctrl]选择

如果当前没有选中任何单元格，按住Ctrl的同时再单击某一个单元格会选中一整列。

清除选区

您可以通过按下Ctrl的同时单击任意一个网格或要素来清除当前的选区。

选中某一特定要素

在时间轴上选中任意一个要素都会在乐谱中选中对应的要素。

滚动

鼠标滚轮

向上或向下滚动鼠标滚轮将分别向上或向下移动网格和乐器标签。要素标签和要素不会移动。

[Shift]滚动

按住Shift后，向上或向下滚动鼠标滚轮将分别向左或向右移动网格和要素。要素标签和乐器标签不会被移动。

[Alt]滚动

按住Alt后，向上或向下滚动鼠标滚轮将分别向左或向右移动网格和要素，且比按下Shift后移动的速度更快。要素标签和乐器标签不会被移动。

拖动

按住鼠标左键并移动可以拖动时间轴的内容。

标签操作

重新排列要素标签

除了小节号之外的所有要素标签都可以以任何方式被重新排列。将鼠标光标移动到某一个要素标签上后，该要素标签右侧将出现小的上下箭头。您可以用鼠标左键单击上箭头将要素标签与上面的要素标签交换，单击下箭头上的鼠标左键将要素标签与下面的要素标签交换。

折叠要素标签

您可以单击小节号的要素标签将其他所有要素折叠，这不会删除时间轴上的要素。所有其他的要素都会被折叠成一行，不同种类的要素在里面交错排列。您可以再次单击小节号的要素标签将其他所有要素展开。

隐藏乐器

不论隐藏与否，所有的乐器都会被显示在时间轴上。这个功能只能够将某一乐器从乐谱中隐藏。想要在乐谱上隐藏或显示乐器，您可以将鼠标光标移动到乐器标签上，然后单击出现在乐器标签右侧的小眼睛图标。如果乐谱上这个乐器是可见的，小眼睛图标就是睁着的，如果乐谱上这个乐器是不可见的，小眼睛图标就是闭着的。您可以单击这个小眼睛来在两个状态间切换。

缩放

要放大或缩小时间线，您可以按住Ctrl（Mac: Cmd），然后滚动鼠标滚轮。

概述

您可以使用下列任意一种方式创建新乐谱：

• 在 主页：乐谱 选项卡中，选择 新建乐谱，或点击 新建 按钮（在右下角）。
• 在菜单栏中，选择 文件(F) → 新建...(N)。
• 使用键盘快捷键 Ctrl+N（Mac：Cmd+N）。

随后将会弹出 新建乐谱 对话框（更多介绍见下文），新建的乐谱将会出现在 乐谱 选项卡中。

乐器

创建新的乐谱时，您可以自己选择乐器，也可以使用预先配有乐器的模板（这些乐器以后可以随时更改）。

选择乐器

在 新建乐谱 对话框中，请确定您选中了顶部的 选择乐器 选项卡。

MuseScore包含超过500种乐器。乐器被分在不同类别的乐器族里面。如果你有想要的乐器，你可以直接在搜索栏中输入你想要的乐器的名字。或者，您可以从乐器族下拉菜单中按分类浏览乐器。

添加乐器

若要在乐谱中添加乐器：

1. 点击乐器名称以选中；
2. 点击 → 按钮，将乐器添加到乐谱（高阶提示：双击乐器名称也可以将乐器添加到乐谱）。

乐器会自动按照 您的乐谱 下的下拉菜单中显示的次序排列。您可以在下拉菜单中选择各类标准的乐谱次序，也可以使用自定义次序。

改变乐器次序

若要手动调整乐器次序：

1. 在 您的乐谱 面板下选择一个乐器；
2. 点击 ↑ 或 ↓ 改变位置。

移除乐器

若要移除乐谱中的乐器：

1. 在 您的乐谱 面板下选择一个乐器；
2. 点击垃圾桶图标。

您也可以按住 Shift 多选乐器，并点击垃圾桶图标同时删除多个乐器。

使用模板

您也可以用预置好的模板创建乐谱。

模板根据音乐风格或编制分为多个类别。模板中有这种编制通常使用的乐器，乐器的顺序和排版也符合惯例。

若要使用模板创建乐谱：

1. 点击 从模板创建
2. 在 类别 面板中选择一类模板
3. 在 模板 面板中选择需要的模板
4. 点击 完成

您一样可以在搜索栏里搜索所有可用的模板。

您可以在模板和样式中找到更多关于模板的信息，包括如何创造你自己的模板。

其他乐谱信息

在 新建乐谱 对话框中点击 下一步 以调整更多乐谱信息。

调号

创建新乐谱时调号默认不含升降号（即C大调），点击 调号 下的按钮以指定调号。默认显示大调调号，可以点击 小调 选项卡以显示小调。

拍号

创建新乐谱时拍号默认为 4/4 拍，点击 拍号 下的按钮以指定拍号。用左边的数字输入框输入每小节多少拍，用右边的下拉菜单选择以几分音符为一拍。您也可以在弹窗中选择 common（C拍号，4/4拍）和cut-common（￠拍号，2/2拍）两种拍号。

速度

创建新乐谱时速度默认为 四分音符=120bpm。新乐谱中默认不带速度记号。

若要自定义速度，并在乐谱开头显示速度记号：

1. 点击 速度 下的按钮；
2. 勾选 在我的乐谱上显示速度记号；
3. 选择以几分音符为一拍；
4. 在文本框中输入需要的 bpm（20-400之间），或使用框内的上下箭头调整速度。

您可以在节奏记号中找到更多关于速度文本、节拍标记和播放速度的信息。

小节

新乐谱默认有32个小节且没有弱起。若要在新乐谱中改变小节数：

1. 点击 小节 下的按钮；
2. 在 小节初始数量 中输入需要的小节数。

您可以在这里找到如何在创建乐谱之后添加或删除小节。

若要让乐谱以弱起开始：

1. 点击 小节 下的按钮；
2. 勾选 创建弱起小节；
3. 在左侧文本框中输入弱起需要的节拍数量；
4. 在右侧下拉菜单中选择以几分音符为一拍。

你可以在这里找到如何在创建乐谱之后增加弱起或非规范小节。

标题与其它文本

您可以在新建乐谱对话框的最底下的文本框中输入这些信息，这样 MuseScore 将自动将其以适当的格式放入新乐谱中：

• 标题
• 作曲
• 副标题
• 作词
• 版权

这些信息同时会被保存在项目属性（在文件菜单中）中，你可以随时改变这些信息。

一旦您完成乐谱信息的输入，点击完成将会保存您的输入并创建乐谱。

在创建乐谱后修改乐器

以下是三种可以在创建乐谱后修改乐器的方法：

• 在乐谱选项卡中按下键盘快捷键I
• 在乐器面板中点击添加 （如果你看不见这个面板，你可以按下F7或选中视图 → 乐器）
• 在谱表/分谱属性对话框中单击替换乐器

概述

通过电脑键盘输入音乐既快捷又容易。要输入音符或休止符，只需选择一个时值，然后键入音名(A - G)，或为休止符键入0(零)。您还可以使用鼠标，MIDI 键盘或 MuseScore 自己的虚拟钢琴键盘输入音符（详细信息见下文）。

MuseScore 支持几乎无限的撤销，所以你不必太担心输错。要撤销输入，只需单击工具栏最右边的撤销按钮，或使用标准键盘快捷键Ctrl+Z（Mac: Cmd+Z）。

输入音符

本页的信息主要涵盖如何在标准五线谱上输入音符。其他类型乐谱的输入请参考指法谱和打击乐谱。

最常见的输入方法，也是本页面所教的方法是每次输入一个音符或休止符。在这里你可以找到其他输入音符的方法.

选择一个起点

要在乐谱中添加音符或休止符，首先你应该选择开始添加的位置。你可以使用鼠标或键盘导航指令来选中。

进入音符输入模式

接下来，您可以点击工具栏中的钢笔按钮或使用键盘快捷键N进入音符输入模式。屏幕上将会显示一个光标告诉您哪里将被插入音符。

如果您忘记在进入音符输入模式前选择一个输入起点，音符输入可能会从上一次输入音符的地方继续，或者是从一些其他的地方开始。因此在输入音符前，请确认光标在您预设的位置上。

进入音符输入模式后，您可以从前到后输入音符。首先您应该选择时值，然后输入音高或休止符。当您一个地方输完了音符，想要做一些其他的事情——例如在别的地方输入音符，添加记号，或执行其他操作（如复制或粘贴）——的时候，您可以单击音符输入按钮或者再次按N。您也可以按Esc返回到正常模式。

选择时值

在音符输入模式下，您可以按照以下几种方法为下一个被输入的音符选择时值：

• 在音符输入工具栏直接单击对应的音符图标（在乐谱的正上方）

• 使用键盘快捷键1–9选择对应的时值

  

使用键盘快捷键可以高效地选择时值。最常见的时值是八分音符、四分音符、和二分音符，他们对应的键盘快捷键是4、5、6（数字小键盘的中间一行）。较短的时值用较小的数字表示，较长的时值用较大的数字表示。完整快捷键列表如下：

• 六十四分音符：1
• 三十二分音符：2
• 十六分音符：3
• 八分音符：4
• 四分音符：5
• 二分音符：6
• 全音符：7
• 二全音符：8
• 四全音符：9
• 附点：. （使音符或休止符带上附点）

其他时值，例如复附点或一百二十八分音符，可以通过自定义工具栏或修改键盘快捷键输入。

注：如果您设置了对应的按键，您也可以使用 MIDI 键盘选择时值。

输入音符

在选择了一个时值之后，您可以使用电脑键盘、鼠标、MIDI 键盘或虚拟钢琴键盘输入音符。

使用电脑键盘输入音符

这几乎是 Musescore 里最高效的输入音高的方法。

只需在键盘上按下您想要输入的音的音名（A–G），您就可以轻松地输入音符。

使用这种方式输入的音符会替换掉光标处任何已有的音符或休止符。若您想要在现有音符或和弦中添加一个音，您需要在输入音符的时候按住Shift。您可以在下面的输入和弦部分学到更多信息。

当你通过音名输入音符的时候，Musescore 将自动选择最接近前一个音符的音高。如果您想要更大的跨度，您可以按Ctrl+↑或Ctrl+↓ （Mac：Cmd+↑或Cmd+↓）使刚才输入的音符升高或降低一个八度。

使用鼠标输入音符

要使用鼠标输入音符，您需要将鼠标放置在五线谱中的您想要的线或间上，然后单击。鼠标光标将显示您即将输入的音符的预览，以帮助您准确地放置它。

如果在您输入音符的位置已经有一个存在的音符，新的音符将会添加在已有音符的上方或者下方。如果想要替换现有的音符，您可以在单击鼠标的同时按下Shift。

使用这种方法很难直接输入很高的或者很低的音，因为 Musescore 可能会以为您想要在上面或下面一个谱表输入音符。您可以尝试在高八度或低八度的位置输入对应的音符，然后通过按Ctrl+↑或Ctrl+↓（Mac：Cmd+↑或Cmd+↓）使您刚才输入的音高一个八度或低一个八度。

注：虽然一般情况下，音符是从前到后被输入的，但鼠标输入实际上允许您在现有乐谱中的任何一个位置输入音符。

使用 MIDI 键盘输入音符

如果您有一台 MIDI 键盘连接到您的电脑上，您可以通过按下对应的键输入对应的音符。

当您在 MIDI 键盘上输入音符时，如果您在输入下一个音符前完全松开上一个键，音符就会被连续地输入，否则，新的音符将会被添加到原有音符的上方或下方。

使用 MIDI 键盘输入的音符可能会自动使用变音号，但是这些变音号可能不符合您的预期。您可以通过按下J改变变音号的形式。

使用虚拟钢琴键盘输入音符

您也可以通过钢琴键盘窗口输入音符。您可以在视图→钢琴键盘或按下键盘快捷键P打开或关闭这个窗口。

要输入某个音高的音符，只需用鼠标单击对应的钢琴键。

与使用电脑键盘输入音符一样，以这种方式输入的音符会自动替换掉任何现有的音符或休止符。如果您想要创建和弦，请在输入音符的同时按下Shift。

注：如果您想改变虚拟钢琴键盘的大小，您可以先选中虚拟钢琴键盘窗口，然后按住Ctrl（Mac：Cmd）同时向上或向下滚动鼠标滚轮。

输入和弦

在本节中，和弦是指在同一时间开始的多个音符的组合，且这些音符都具有相同的时值且共用一个符干。

如果您希望输入两个音，但是它们的开始时间、持续时间或是结束时间不同，或不共享同一个符干，请参见声部。形如“Dm7”的文本是一个和弦记号，参见和弦记号.

就像输入单个音符一样，和弦可以通过电脑键盘、鼠标、MIDI 键盘或虚拟钢琴键盘被输入。除了在 MIDI 键盘上您可以一次演奏多个音符以外，音符输入仍然是一次一个，你需要以某种方式告诉 MuseScore 将它们组合成一个和弦，而不是按顺序添加它们。

• 要使用电脑键盘在和弦中添加一个音符，请在输入音符时按住Shift
• 要使用鼠标在和弦中添加一个音符，请直接单击您想要添加音符的地方
• 要使用 MIDI 键盘在和弦中添加一个音符，您可以同时弹奏全部的音符，或者一次弹奏一个，但是在按下下一个音符前不要松手
• 要使用虚拟钢琴键盘在和弦中添加一个音符，请在输入音符时按住Shift

当您使用Shift+A–G往和弦中添加一个音符的时候，该音符将被添加到光标处的任何一个已经存在的音符的上方。您也可以基于音程来输入音符。

• 要在选中音符上方添加音程，你可以：
  • 在菜单栏中选择添加→音程然后从列表中选择一个音程；
  • 使用键盘快捷键Alt+1-9。
• 要在选中音符下方添加音程，您可能需要自定义键盘快捷键（参见偏好设置）。

输入休止符

休止符可以通过电脑键盘或鼠标被输入。选择休止符的时值的方式与选择音符的时值的方式相同（例如，您可以使用键盘快捷键1–9）。选择时值之后，您不需要像输入音符那样输入音高，而是：

• 使用电脑键盘：按下0（零）
• 使用音符输入工具栏：点击休止符按钮，然后点击乐谱上对应的位置

• 使用鼠标：在乐谱上右键

  

变音号

标准的变音号（还原号、升号、降号、重升号、重降号）既可以在输入音符前被选中，也可以在现有的音符上被添加。

在输入音符之前选中变音号

要想指定下一个被输入的音符的变音号，您可以点击乐谱上方的音符输入工具栏中的对应按钮或者使用对应的键盘快捷键。 这步操作既可以在选择时值之前完成，也可以在选择时值之前完成。

默认的键盘快捷键是：

• 降号：-
• 升号：+
• 还原号：=

与时值不同，变音号的选择仅对下一个被输入的音符有效。但是通常的记谱规则仍然适用，即如果你给一个音符加了降号，那么你在同一小节中输入的任何相同音高的后续音符也会被降音，即使它们没有明确的写在乐谱上的降号。

在输入音符之后添加变音号

当你升高或降低被选中音符的音高时，合适的变音号会被自动添加到乐谱中：

• ↑：使音符上升一个半音（使用升号）。
• ↓：使音符下降一个半音（使用降号）。

您也可以通过点击符号面板→变音号中的适当图标向现有音符添加一个变音号。符号面板里面还包含了大量的微分音记号或是其他特殊的变音号。

添加辅助变音号

尽管记谱规则确定同一小节内的同一个音共用变音号，下一个小节里的同一个音会回到到原来的音高，但无论如何，添加辅助 变音号可以帮助演奏者更顺畅地识谱。这不会改变音符的音高，所以它们不能够通过键盘快捷键↑和↓被添加。然而，您仍然可以使用前面所说的其他几种方法添加辅助变音号。

虽然辅助变音号不需要括号或者方括号，但是有一部分人仍然习惯给这些记号加一个括号。如果您想向一个变音号外围添加一个圆括号或者方括号，您需要暂时退出音符输入模式，然后在属性面板里面选择您想要的括号类型，或者在符号面板的变音号菜单里面的更多里面找到括号。

注：Musescore 还预装了一些插件，您可以使用它们来根据需要自动添加辅助变音号。

延音线

延音线是连接两个具有相同音高音符的曲线，表示了它们要作为一个组合音符被演奏。尽管延音线和圆滑线十分相似，但是您不应该将这两者混淆。圆滑线将不同音高的音符连接在一起，并表示不同的发音。

在 Musescore 里输入延音线十分容易，因为延音线总是出现在具有相同音高的音符之间。所以你不需要输入第二个音符的音高，只需要选择时值并输入延音线，Muesecore 会自动添加一个新的音符。要想创建一个延音线，你应该：

1. 为第二个音符选择时值

2. 单击工具栏上的延音线按钮或使用键盘快捷键T

   

延音线会自动添加第二个音符，并直接将这个音符与第一个音符绑定。如果你选中的第一个音符是一个和弦的一部分，延音线会为第二个音符创建完整的一个和弦。和弦里的每个音与前面一个和弦完全相同，且每个对应的音之间用延音线连起来。

注：尽管延音线通常用来连接相同声部中的两个相邻音符，但是 MuseScore 同样支持连接两个非相邻的音符，以及连接两个不同声部的音符。参见编辑音符和休止符。

另请参阅

• 编辑音符和休止符
• 声部
• 三连音
• 其他音符输入模式
• 指法谱
• 鼓谱
• 斜杠
• 符头

概述

“声部”是独立于同一谱表上的其他声部的一串音符。在同一谱表上，两个声部通常是用相反的符干来表示的：一个符干朝上，一个符干朝下。虽然“声部”一词来自声乐，但这个概念同样适用于键盘乐器或吉他，虽然后者在同一声部上可能会同时出现多个音符：

Musescore 允许至多为一个谱表创建4个声部，但是每个谱表总是拥有第一声部，新增的声部通常是第二声部。第三和第四声部并不常见，因为很少有需要在一个谱表上标记超过两个声部的需求。

例如，在一个四声部的合唱队乐谱里面，我们通常用两个谱表来记谱。使用高音谱号的谱表的第一第二声部分别是女高音和女低音，使用低音谱号的谱表的第一第二声部分别是男高音和男低音：

当五线谱上只有一个声部的时候，音符符干的方向通常由音高决定，即音高高于中线的音符干朝下，即音高低于中线的音符干朝上。然而，当五线谱上有多个声部的时候，第一第三声部的符干朝下，第二第四声部的符干朝上。您可以使用工具栏中的翻转方向按钮或使用键盘快捷键X翻转符干方向。

在多声部中输入音符和休止符

默认情况下，音符被输进第一声部中。如果要在其他声部中输入音符，您可以：

1. 在您的乐谱中选择输入音符的起点。
2. 点击工具栏里的笔按钮或使用键盘快捷键N进入音符输入模式。
3. 在工具栏中选择您想要的声部或使用键盘快捷键Ctrl+Alt+1–Ctrl+Alt+4。
4. 按输入音符中所述正常输入音符和休止符。

您可以重复上述步骤在其他声部中输入音符。

注：在选择自己想要的声部之前，请确保您已经进入音符输入模式。在正常模式下，尝试改变声部会改变现有选中元素所属的声部。然而，这也是一种输入技巧，将在下文在正常模式下改变声部详细说明。

注：音符输入工具栏默认情况下只会显示出第一和第二声部。要想使所有声部的按钮被显示，您可以点击工具栏上的齿轮图标，改变音符输入工具栏中显示的内容。详细说明请参阅自定义音符输入工具栏。

在多声部中编辑音符和休止符

调整休止符

通常情况下，为了显示小节中的所有节拍，每个声部都包含全部的休止符。然而，这可能会导致乐谱看上去乱糟糟的。Musescore 会自动调整休止符的位置以避免休止符与其他声部中的音符发生冲突。但在某些情况下，您可能想要手动调节休止符的位置。在节拍足够清晰的情况下，您可能希望隐藏或删除一些不必要的休止符。

删除或隐藏休止符

您可以先选中你想要隐藏的休止符，然后在属性面板中取消勾选可见选择框，或者使用键盘快捷键V使一个休止符被隐藏。

对于在第二或第四声部中的休止符，您也可以也在选中它们之后按下Delete键删除它们。然而，这会使一个声部中存在一个空洞，使得后续很难编辑这一部分。您可以使用工具→声部来将存在空洞的声部对调到第一声部，这会使得这些空洞被休止符填充。然后您可以使用相同的操作将两个声部对调回去。

注：为了确保每个小节持续的时间是正确的，第一声部中的休止符可以被隐藏，但是不可以被删除。

调整休止符位置

即使 MuseScore 会自动避免休止符与其他声部的音符发生冲突，有时候手动调整休止符的上下位置可以使得休止符到底归属于哪个声部变得更清楚。

要垂直移动休止符，您只需在选中那个休止符之后按下Up或Down，这会使休止符被移动五线谱上两条线之间的距离。

您可以在改变元素位置中找到更多相关信息

改变已有音符所属的声部

本来在某一声部中的音符可以被移动到另一个声部。您可以在在正常模式下修改声部中找到更多相关信息。

合并多声部

在节奏匹配的情况下，原本在多个声部中的音符可以被合并成一个声部中的和弦。您可以在合并谱表中找到更多相关信息。

参见

• 编辑音符和休止符
• 符干和符头
• 改变元素位置
• 合并或拆分谱表

如何进入其他音符输入模式

除了默认的阶跃时间音符输入模式，Musescore 还提供了几种其他的音符输入模式。

要想进入其他音符输入模式，您可以：

1. 单击并长按音符输入工具栏中的音符输入按钮。
2. 从几种不同的音符输入模式中选择一种。

使用键盘的用户可以通过多次按下Shift+Tab或Shift+F6选中音符输入按钮。如果您使用了屏幕阅读器，它会朗读诸如"音符输入工具栏：默认（阶跃时间）"的话。您可以继续按下空格键以展开选择其他音符输入模式的菜单。

您也可以使用指定好的键盘快捷键直接进入这些音符输入模式（不会管理键盘快捷键？请看Keyboard shortcuts）。

请注意，您选中的音符输入模式会被 Musescore 记住。下一次进入音符输入模式的时候，Musescore 仍然会进入上一次您使用的的音符输入模式。所以如果您如果想要暂时使用重调现有音符的音高模式，别忘了在退出音符输入模式前切换回默认（阶跃时间）模式。

节拍编辑（非音高）

节拍编辑（非音高）音符输入模式让你可以在仅按一次键盘的情况下编辑音符的时值。这对于编辑单一音高的无音高打击乐器的乐谱十分有用。另外，在某些情况下，您还可以将节拍编辑模式和重调现有音符的音高模式混合使用以增加您的效率。

1. 在乐谱中选择编辑的起点。
2. 如上文所述进入节拍编辑（非音高）音符输入模式。
3. 从音符输入工具栏中选中一个时值，或者使用键盘快捷键1-9增加一个音符。
4. 按.先选中附点，然后选择您想要的时值。在这个模式下，附点会被持续选中而不是在输入一个音符之后自动取消。值得注意的是，您应该在输入音符之前就选择好附点，而不是之后。
5. 按下音符输入工具栏中的休止符图标进入休止符输入模式，然后选中一个时值可以直接输入休止符。如果您想要的时值已经被选中，您可以直接按下0输入休止符。重新按下音符输入工具栏中的休止符图标可以退出休止符输入模式。
6. 继续选择时值输入其他音符。

默认情况下，音符被输入到五线谱的中线上。你可以使用键盘的上下箭头微调刚才输入的音的音高，每一个新音符的音高跟前一个音符的音高相同。您也可以使用重调现有音符的音高模式快速地在一段已经输入节奏的乐谱上面修改音高。

重调现有音符的音高

重调现有音符的音高音符输入模式能让你在保持音符时值不变的情况下方便地改变音符的音高。

1. 在乐谱中选择编辑的起点。
2. 如上文所述进入重调现有音符的音高音符输入模式，也可以使用快捷键Ctrl+Shift+I（Mac：Cmd+Shift+I）进入该模式。
3. 使用电脑键盘，MIDI 键盘或是虚拟钢琴键盘输入音高。注意您不能在重调现有音符的音高音符输入模式里使用鼠标输入音符。

重调现有音符的音高模式可以让你非常高效地输入具有重复节奏的音乐片段。您可以直接复制粘贴节奏相同的段落，然后使用重调现有音符的音高模式改变音高。同样的技巧也可以用在一些共享节奏，但是音高不同的多乐器或声乐段落。

实时

实时音符输入模式基本允许您在 MIDI 键盘（或 Musescore 的虚拟钢琴键盘）上演奏乐曲来输入音符。然而，您应该注意这个模式有以下的一些限制：

• 您必须提前选择您想用的最小的时值。
• 您不能在实时音符输入模式内输入三连音。
• 就像其他音符输入模式一样，您只能在单个谱表的单个声部上输入音符。
• 您不能在实时音符输入模式内使用电脑键盘输入音符。

这些限制意味着 MuseScore 在计算应该如何将输入转换为五线谱时几乎不需要做猜测，这有助于保持产出的乐谱和您预期的相符。

实时（节拍器）

在实时（节拍器）音符输入模式中，您需要听节拍器以一个固定的节拍演奏乐谱。您可以在菜单中改变节拍器的速度：编辑→偏好设置...→音符输入（Mac: MuseScore→偏好设置...→音符输入）。

1. 在乐谱中选择编辑的起点。
2. 如上文所述进入实时（节拍器）音符输入模式。
3. 在音符输入工具栏中选择您想要的最小的时值。
4. 按下 MIDI 键盘或虚拟钢琴键盘输入对应时值的音符。
5. 听节拍器—节拍器每响一次，音符增长所选时值一次。
6. 当音符达到您所需的长度时，松开键盘。

一旦您松开了键盘，音符输入就停止了。如果您想要在松开键盘的情况下仍然让程序继续输入休止符，您可以使用实时增强快捷键启动或停止节拍器。

实时（踏板）

在实时（踏板）音符输入模式里，您可以通过按键盘或者踏板的方式自己打节拍。您可以以任何的速度演奏，而且你不需要维持一个恒定的节奏。默认用来打节拍的键（称作“实时增强”）是数字小键盘上的Enter（Mac：Fn+Return）但是我们强烈推荐您把这个快捷键设到 MIDI 键盘上的某个键或者踏板上。（见下方）。

1. 在乐谱中选择编辑的起点。
2. 如上文所述进入实时（踏板）音符输入模式。
3. 在音符输入工具栏中选择一个时值，您打的节奏的时值以你选择的时值为基准。
4. 按下 MIDI 键盘或虚拟钢琴键盘输入对应时值的音符。
5. 按下“实时增强”按键，音符的长度将会增长一个(3)中所选的时值。
6. 当音符达到您所需的长度时，松开键盘。

实时增强快捷键

“实时增强”快捷键是用来在实时（节拍器）音符输入模式中启动节拍器，或实时（踏板）音符输入模式插入一个所选时值的休止符。它被称作“实时增强”是因为它能使输入光标在乐谱中的位置向后移。

实时增强的默认按键是数字小键盘上的Enter（Mac：Fn+Return），但是我们强烈推荐您把这个快捷键通过 Musescore 的远程控制设到 MIDI 键盘上的某个键或者踏板上。您可以在下面菜单中找到 Musescore 的远程控制设置：编辑→偏好设置...→MIDI 映射（Mac：MuseScore→偏好设置...→MIDI 映射)。

另外，如果你有一个 USB 脚踏开关或电脑踏板，你可以将他们设置到数字小键盘上的 Enter 键。

插入

插入音符输入模式能使您在两个音符之间插入音符或休止符，这会自动向前或向后移动插入点前后音符的位置。 小节时值会被自动修改。

要插入一个音符，您需要：

1. 在乐谱中选择被插入位置之后的一个音符（或休止符）。
2. 如上文所述进入插入音符输入模式。
3. 像在阶跃时间音符输入模式里面一样输入音符或休止符。每一个音符都被插入在当前光标之前，小节的总时值被自动拉长，但是小节线位置不变。

输入音符时，新的音符会被放置在用蓝色方框高亮的选中元素之前。被选中的元素和相同小节后续的元素都会自动向后移。您可以使用方向键→或←调整插入点，之后新的插入点将会被高亮显示。

另外，如果您只有一两个音符要被插入，您可以直接在默认的阶跃时间音符输入模式里在用鼠标或键盘（A-G）插入音符时使用键盘快捷键Ctrl+Shift（Mac：Cmd+Shift）。

要插入休止符，您可以首先插入所需时值的音符，然后按Delete。

要清除音符或休止符，您可以使用键盘快捷键Ctrl+Shift+Delete。小节长度会被自动缩短。此快捷键在阶跃时间和插入音符输入模式中均可用。

由于插入音符可能会导致小节时值增加或减少，使小节真正时长与拍号不符，因此当这种情况发生时，小节上方将显示一个小的“+”或“-”符号。

插入小节

Musescore 允许您使用多种不同的方法插入或删除小节。小节可以被用以下几种方式插入：

• 选区后
• 选区前
• 在乐谱开头
• 于乐谱结尾

小节菜单栏

您可以通过以下方式插入一个或多个小节：

1. 右击某小节的空白区域
2. 选择菜单栏中的插入小节
3. 在侧面的子菜单中选择您想插入小节的位置
4. 在对话框中输入想要插入的小节数量，然后点击好

属性面板

您还可以通过以下方式插入一个或多个小节：

1. 单击选中一个小节
2. 切换到属性面板
3. 点击小节下面的插入小节
4. 输入您想要插入的小节数量（默认为“1”）
5. 选择您想要插入小节的位置（默认为“所选区域之后”）
6. 点击+按钮

这个临时弹窗在你点击+按钮后仍然不会自动被关闭，所以你可以继续点击+按钮插入小节。

另外，你还可以通过下面几种方法插入小节：

音符输入工具栏

1. 在乐谱中选中除了线性记号以外的某个东西
2. 点击音符输入工具栏中的+按钮
3. 找到小节
4. 选择你想要插入小节的位置

菜单栏

1. 在乐谱中选中除了线性记号以外的某个东西
2. 点击菜单栏中的添加
3. 找到小节
4. 选择你想要插入小节的位置

使用键盘快捷键插入小节

您可以使用以下方法在您选中的选区之前快速插入一个小节：

1. 在乐谱中选中除了线性记号以外的某个东西
2. 按下Ins

您可以多次按下Ins插入多个小节。

您可以使用以下方法在您选中的选区之前插入多个小节：

1. 在乐谱中选中除了线性记号以外的某个东西
2. 按下Ctrl+Ins（Mac：⌘+Ins）
3. 在弹出的对话框中输入想要插入的小节的数量
4. 单击好

如果您想要在乐谱末尾插入小节，您可以使用键盘快捷键Ctrl+B（Mac：⌘+B）插入一个小节，或者Alt+Shift+B（Mac：Option+Shift+B）插入多个小节。

在占位框前后插入小节

您也可以向乐谱中的占位框前后插入小节：

1. 单击占位框
2. 使用上述“音符输入工具栏”、“菜单栏”方法或键盘快捷键

删除小节

您可以使用下述的键盘快捷键删除一个或多个小节：

1. 选中某个小节（或者按下Shift选中多个小节）
2. 按下Ctrl+Backspace或Ctrl+Del（Mac：⌘+Backspace或⌘+Del）。

或者，您也可以：

1. 选中某个小节（或者按下Shift选中多个小节）
2. 右键您选中的任意一个小节
3. 点击删除小节

您也可以：

1. 选中某个小节（或者按下Shift选中多个小节）
2. 点击菜单栏中的工具
3. 点击移除所选区域

移除末尾空小节

要想移除乐谱末尾的空小节，您可以：

1. 点击菜单栏中的工具
2. 点击移除末尾空小节

另请参阅

一些其他与小节有关的页面：

• 小节号
• 全休止符和多小节休止符
• 弱起小节和不规范小节
• 小节属性
• 有量记谱法和 Mensurstrich 记谱法

You can select elements in MuseScore using the keyboard or mouse. Selections can consist of a single element, a list of individual elements that may possibly be discontinuous, or a range of measures and staves that includes the elements within it. Certain commands work only on single elements or lists; some work only on ranges; others work on any type of selection. The documentation for any given command should explain which types of selection are allowed.

When selected, elements display in blue (or whatever color is defined for the voice the element belongs to).

For range selections, a blue rectangle appears around the entire range.

Selecting a single element

To select a single element with the mouse, simply click it.

To select a single element with the keyboard, use the cursor keys to navigate to the element. Note that there is no separate concept of a “cursor” in MuseScore that is separate from the selection, except while in Note Input mode. In Normal mode, the left and right cursor keys select elements one by one as you navigate, so even though there is technically not a cursor, the selection itself acts in a similar way.

By themselves, the cursor keys navigate through notes and rests only. When combined with Alt, they navigate through all elements, including articulation, dynamics, and other markings.

Notes

A note normally consists of multiple elements: the notehead, stem, flag, dot, accidental, etc. Most commands that operate on a single note expect you to select the notehead itself.

Chords

The notes of a chord share a single stem and flag. Even a single note can be considered a “chord” in the sense that it consists of these multiple elements.

To select a complete chord (all noteheads plus the stem and other elements), first make sure nothing is currently selected (you can press Esc to be sure) and then Shift+click the chord. This creates a range selection that encompasses the chord.

Note that the selection may also include content in other voices if present, but see the section on excluding elements from range selections for information on how to avoid that if necessary.

Overlapping elements

If multiple elements overlap, clicking selects the topmost element. To select the element underneath a currently-selected element, Ctrl+click it. This deselects the currently-selected element and selects the next element beneath it, if any. Thus, repeated Ctrl+click operations cycle through a set of overlapping elements.

Selecting a list of individual elements

You can select a list of elements manually by selecting each individually or automatically by using commands to select elements that are similar to a given element.

Selecting multiple elements manually

To add an element to the list of selected elements, Ctrl+click it. If an element is already selected, Ctrl+click removes it from the list of selected elements.

You can also use Ctrl+click to add or remove individual elements from a range selection. In the process, this converts the selection into a list selection.

If the elements you wish to select are outside of the staff and clear of other elements, you may be able to create a list selection by using Shift+drag to draw a selection box around the desired elements. If any notes or rests are included, however, a range selection is performed instead.

Selecting similar elements automatically

To select all elements of a given type in the entire score or in a given staff:

1. Right-click one such element
2. In the resulting menu, click Select→Similar or Select→Similar on this staff as appropriate

To select all elements of a given type within a range:

1. Click the first such element
2. Shift+click the last such element

—OR—

1. Perform the range selection using the techniques described below
2. Right-click one element within the range
3. In the resulting menu, click Select→Similar in this range

To create more complex selections of similar elements:

1. (Optional) Perform a range selection
2. Right-click an element
3. In the resulting menu, click Select→More
4. Check the desired boxes within the resulting dialog (see below)

The options available in the select dialog will depend on the type of element you right-clicked.

The selection options specific to notes are:

• Same notehead: notes with the same notehead group (normal, cross, slash, etc.)
• Same pitch: notes with the same pitch name, accidental, and octave
• Same string: notes with the on the same string (tablature only)
• Same type: notes of the same type (normal, acciaccatura, appoggiatura)
• Same note type: notes of the same duration, not considering presence of dots or tuplets
• Same duration: notes of the same actual duration
• Same note name: notes with the same pitch name and accidental, not considering octave
• Same staff: notes in the same staff
• Same voice: notes in the same voice
• In selection: notes within the current selection
• Same system: notes in the same system

In addition to the type-specific selection options, there are action options at the bottom of the dialog that are common to all element types. These control what happens to the selected elements, and only one of these can be chosen at a time:

• Replace selection: if checked, this action selection replaces an existing selection
• Add to selection: if checked, this action adds elements to an existing selection
• Subtract from selection: if checked, this action removes elements from an existing selection

Selecting a range of measures and staves

A range selection includes all elements from a given beginning and ending time position across a given set of staves. It is the usual starting point for operations such as copy and paste.

Selecting a range by dragging

To select a range of measures and staves with the mouse alone, use Shift+drag to draw a rectangle around it. Note that this is only feasible for relatively small selections that fit on screen at once.

Selecting a range by clicking

A more flexible method for making selections uses a combination of mouse and keyboard:

1. Click the first note or rest of the desired selection
2. Shift+click the last

In between the click and Shift+click, you can use [navigation commands to position the score. This allows you make selections that span several pages.

This method works just as well if you first click the last note/rest then Shift+click the first.

Selecting a range using the keyboard

You can also make range selections using the keyboard alone or primarily:

1. Select the first note or rest using keyboard navigation or by clicking
2. Hold Shift while using keyboard navigation to extend the selection as you navigate

The available commands include:

• Shift+Left and Shift+Right to extend the selection one note or rest at a time
• Shift+Ctrl+Left and Shift+Ctrl+Right to extend the selection one measure at a time (Mac: use Cmd instead of Ctrl)
• Shift+Up and Shift+Down to extend the selection one staff at a time
• Shift+Home and Shift+End to extend to the beginning or end of the system
• Shift+Ctrl+Home and Shift+Ctrl+End to extend to the beginning or end of the score (Mac: use Cmd instead of Ctrl)

Special range selections

MuseScore includes some special commands to make command selections:

• Edit→Select all or Ctrl+A (Mac: Cmd+A) to select the entire score
• Edit→Select section to select the current section of the score (everything between the previous and next section breaks)

Excluding elements from a range selection

For certain operations involving range selections, you might want to exclude elements of a given type from the selection. For example, you may wish to copy the notes, rest, and most other markings in a phrase, but skip the lyrics. Or in a passage with multiple voices, you may wish to delete everything not in voice 1. To exclude elements of a given type from a range selection:

1. Perform the range selection normally
2. Open the Selection Filter with View→Selection filter
3. Remove the checkmarks next to any element types you want excluded from the selection

Note that if you exclude voice 1, you will not be able to select any measures that lack content in other voices. So be sure to restore voice 1 after performing the operation for which you are excluding voice 1. For example, if you wish to copy and paste only voice 2, make your range selection, use the Selection Filter to exclude voice 1, use Edit→Copy or Ctrl+C, then restore the checkbox next to voice 1 before attempting to select the destination to paste.

Overview

After you have entered notes into your score, you may wish to change something about them - pitch, duration, time position, etc. MuseScore provides a number of commands for this purpose. Many of the most powerful commands are only available after you leave note input mode and return to normal mode, but there are a number of quick edits possible while still in note input mode.

Making changes in note input mode

Immediately after entering a note or rest, it is selected, and there are a handful of commands that operate on the selected note or rest while in note input mode. These commands also work if you use the cursor keys to navigate to a previously-entered note or rest.

Changing duration in note input mode

There are two commands that alter the duration of an existing note or rest while in note input mode:

• Shift+W increases the duration
• Shift+Q decreases the duration

Both commands will first add or remove a dot if appropriate, then will move to the next larger or smaller note value. So for instance, pressing Shift+W on a quarter note changes it into a dotted quarter, and pressing Shift+W again changes it to a half note.

Changing pitch in note input mode

The commands for changing the pitch of a selected note while in note input mode are:

• ↑ - move pitch up a semitone (spells with sharps)
• ↓ - move pitch down a semitone (spells with flats)
• Alt+Shift+↑ - move pitch up a step diatonically
• Alt+Shift+↓ - move pitch down a step diatonically
• Ctrl+↑ (Mac: Cmd+↑) - move pitch up an octave
• Ctrl+↓ (Mac: Cmd+↓) - move pitch down an octave

Replacing notes and rests in note input mode

Most note input in MuseScore is in what a word processor might call "replace" or "overwrite" mode. This means that if you wish to replace a note with a different one, you don't need to delete the old note first—just enter the new one directly, and it automatically overwrites what was there before.

Note: sometimes you may wish to add a new note and move some of the subsequent notes later to make room. In MuseScore, this is done by moving the subsequent notes directly using cut and paste.

Deleting notes in note input mode

To delete a note and replace it with a rest, simply press Del.

Note: if you instead wish to move subsequent notes earlier to take the place of the deleted note, there is no need to first delete the original note - simply move the subsequent notes directly using cut and paste.

Moving notes in note input mode

Although for the most part, moving notes to a different time position is done in normal mode, there is one pair of commands that can be used to change the time position of a note or rest in certain cases while in note input. If you have two notes or rests of the same duration and you wish to exchange them while in note input mode, you can use Shift+← or Shift+→ to exchange a note or rest with its neighbor of the same duration.

Making changes in normal mode

Most changes one might want to make to notes and rests already entered are more easily performed in normal mode—the mode you are in when you leave note input or any other mode.

Except where noted, the methods described below work on either a single selected note or rest, a list selection consisting of multiple notes or rests, or entire range selections. See the page on selections for more information.

Changing duration in normal mode

Changing selected notes to a specific note value

To change the duration of one or more selected notes in normal mode to a specific note value, simply click the appropriate duration icon or use the keyboard shortcuts 1–9.

Increasing or decreasing the duration of a selected note

To increase the duration of a selected note, you can use the Shift+W command as described above. This adds an augmentation dot if one is not already present, or changes to the next longer note value if the note is already dotted. For example, an eighth note will be changed into a dotted eight note, and a dotted quarter will be changed into a half note. You can also use W to double the duration, thus changing an eighth note into a quarter note directly, or a dotted eighth into a dotted quarter.

The commands Shift+Q and Q to perform the opposite operation, decreasing or halving the duration in the same way.

All of these commands work on only a single selected note.

Doubling or halving all note values in a range selection

If you have entered a passage using eighths and sixteenths but wish to double the durations of all notes and rests—thus doubling the duration of the passage itself—see the section on the paste half/double duration commands.

Changing pitch in normal mode

The same commands that work to change pitch in note input also function in normal mode, including single, list, and range selections. These commands are:

• ↑ - move pitch up a semitone (spells with sharps)
• ↓ - move pitch down a semitone (spells with flats)
• Alt+Shift+↑ - move pitch up a step diatonically
• Alt+Shift+↓ - move pitch down a step diatonically
• Ctrl+↑ (Mac: Cmd+↑) - move pitch up an octave
• Ctrl+↓ (Mac: Cmd+↓) - move pitch down an octave

In addition, when in normal mode, the accidental buttons on the Note input toolbar and corresponding keyboard shortcuts will toggle (add or remove) accidentals on any selected notes, thus potentially changing their pitch. The Accidentals palette can also be used to add accidentals to selected notes.

Deleting notes and rests in normal mode

To delete a note and replace it with a rest, simply press Del.

If multiple notes are selected as a list, Del replaces them each by rests individually.

If you select a range, Del replaces the entire passage with the correct rests according to the meter.

Rests cannot normally be deleted, as removing them would leave a measure with fewer beats than it should have. However, see the remove selected range command below for information on how to do this when required. Also, rests in voices 2–4 can be deleted without removing time from a measure.

Removing notes and rests and their associated time

To completely remove selected notes or rests—thus leaving the piece with fewer measures if entire measures are selected, or fewer beats within the measure if a partial measure is selected—use Tools→Remove selected range or the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Del (Mac: Cmd+Del).

Adding ties in normal mode

Ties can be added in normal mode, but unlike in note input mode where the tie command automatically adds a note and creates a tie, in normal mode, both notes must already exist.

To add a tie in normal mode:

1. Select a note that you wish to tie to the next note of the same pitch
2. Click the tie button or use the shortcut T

This works even if the next note of the same pitch is in a different voice.

If you select multiple notes, MuseScore will start a tie at each of them. You can use the technique to tie entire chords at once.

This technique also allows you to tie notes that are not adjacent, such as to show an arpeggiate-and-hold pattern on piano.

Changing voice in normal mode

A note entered into a given voice may be moved into another voice if this is musically possible, or the contents of two voices may be exchanged.

Moving selected notes into another voice

To move a selection of one or more notes into another voice, either press one of the voice buttons on the toolbar or use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+Alt+1–4 (Mac: Cmd+Option+1–4). Notes will be moved to the extent it is possible without compromising the current content of the destination voice.

A note can be moved into another voice if there is currently silence (rests, or nothing at all) in the destination voice at that time position for the duration of the note to be moved. In that case, the note will simply be moved to the new voice.

A note can also be moved into another voice if there is already a note or chord of the same duration starting at that time position. In that case, the note will be combined with the existing note or chord.

Exchanging the contents of two voices

MuseScore can also exchange the contents of any pair of voices. These commands work only on full measures (or multiple measures), not on individual notes.

To exchange the contents of any two voices, use the corresponding command in Tools→Voices:

• Exchange voice 1-2
• Exchange voice 1-3
• Exchange voice 1-4
• Exchange voice 2-3
• Exchange voice 2-4
• Exchange voice 3-4

See also

Entering notes and rests

The cut, copy, and paste commands are powerful tools in MuseScore. They can be used to reproduce entire passages of music, to move music earlier or later, to copy text or other markings between staves, to exchange the content in different measures, and more.

Accessing the commands

In all cases, the first step is to select what you want to cut or copy.

As with other programs that support cut, copy, and paste, you can access these commands from the Edit menu, from a context menu that appears upon right-click or related gesture (e.g., Ctrl+click, or two-finger tap), or via the standard keyboard shortcuts.

Command	Shortcut (Windows)	Shortcut (Mac)	Context menu	Main menu
Cut	Ctrl+X	Cmd+X	Cut	Edit→Cut
Copy	Ctrl+C	Cmd+C	Copy	Edit→Copy
Paste	Ctrl+V	Cmd+V	Paste	Edit→Paste
Swap with clipboard	Ctrl+Shift+X	Cmd+Shift+X	Swap with Clipboard	Edit→Swap with clipboard
Paste half duration	Ctrl+Shift+Q	Cmd+Shift+Q	N/A	Edit→Paste half duration
Paste double duration	Ctrl+Shift+W	Cmd+Shift+W	N/A	Edit→Paste double duration

Note: When using the context menu, take care to always right-click on a selected item; if you right-click on an empty space by mistake your selection will be lost!

Copying a range

To copy a range—whether a single chord, a single measure, several measures on one staff, or multiple measures across multiple staves—do the following:

1. Select the range you want to copy
2. Use the Copy command from the menu or press Ctrl+C (Mac: Cmd+C)
3. Select the first note or rest of the destination

4. Use the Paste command from the menu or press Ctrl+V (Mac: Cmd+V)

   

Copied music will replace the existing content of the destination. All elements in the selected range will be copied, with the exception of system-wide elements such as tempo text, key and time signature changes, and repeats. You can use the Selection Filter to exclude other elements of a given type from the operation.

Copying a single element or list of elements

MuseScore allows you to copy lyrics, chord symbols, dynamics, articulation, or other markings from one place to another while keeping the notes in the destination intact. For chord symbols and dynamics, MuseScore will preserve the relative beat positions of the markings if possible. For lyrics and articulations, MuseScore will copy note by note.

To copy a single element or list of elements to a new destination:

1. Select the elements you want to copy
2. Use the Copy command from the menu or press Ctrl+C (Mac: Cmd+C)
3. Select the first note or rest of the destination
4. Use the Paste command from the menu or press Ctrl+V (Mac: Cmd+V)

Moving elements

In MuseScore, cut and paste is way to move element from one location to another. This can be used to move a passage from a flute part to a clarinet part, from one measure to another within a single part, or simply shift a passage earlier or later. The latter is especially useful as a way to “insert” or “delete” a note or rest while shifting existing notes to the right or left. Simply cut and paste the notes you wish to shift to their new position.

To move a selection:

1. Select what you want to move
2. Use the Cut command from the menu or press Ctrl+X (Mac: Cmd+X)
3. Select the first note or rest of the destination
4. Use the Paste command from the menu or press Ctrl+V (Mac: Cmd+V)

Swapping a selection with the clipboard

The swap with clipboard command combines two operations into one: (1) First it overwrites a selected part of the score with the contents of the clipboard, just like the paste command; (2) Second, 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
2. Apply the cut command
3. Select section B
4. Apply the swap with clipboard command to paste A over the contents of B while moving the contents of B to the clipboard
5. Select section A again (or just the first note, rest, or measure)
6. Apply the paste command

Like the other commands discussed here, you can access the swap with clipboard command from the menu or via a keyboard shortcut—in this case, it is Ctrl+Shift+X (Mac: Cmd+Shift+X).

Repeating a selection

A common use for copy and paste is to duplicate a given passage immediately after the original. MuseScore provides a special repeat selection command to simplify this process. To quickly repeat a note, chord, measure, or other passage to the location immediately following the selection:

1. Select the passage to be repeated
2. Press R

Unlike the other commands discussed here, repeat selection works in note input mode and it repeats the entire chord containing the selected note. This is useful for creating a series of repeated chords.

Copying a selection to multiple staves

If you wish to copy a passage to multiple staves—for instance, to double a flute part in the oboes and clarinets—you can use the explode command:

1. Select the passage you wish to copy
2. Extend the selection to include the staves below (e.g., by pressing Shift+↓)
3. Use Tools→Explode

This copies the original selection, assuming it contains only single notes—no chords and no multiple voices. If there are chords or multiple voices, then these are distributed among the remaining staves as described in the section on the explode command.

Paste half/double duration

If you have entered a passage using mostly eighth notes but wish to halve the entire passage to using mostly sixteenth notes, or double it to quarter notes, MuseScore provides a pair of special commands to accomplish this. You can either modify the durations of a selection in place or create a separate copy of the passage with the modified durations. To halve or double the duration of a passage:

1. Select a range to modify
2. Use the copy command
3. If you wish to create a separate copy of the passage with the modified durations, select the destination
4. Use the paste half duration or paste double duration command

Duplicating individual elements

Individual elements—even those that are not normally copied as part of a range select, like time signatures or voltas—can be duplicated using the mouse:

1. While pressing Ctrl+Shift (Mac: Cmd+Shift), and click and hold on an element
2. Drag it anywhere in the score

3. When you release the mouse button, the selected element is copied to the new location

   

See also

• Selecting elements
• Implode and explode

Overview

The Palettes panel contains musical symbols that can be applied to your score. These symbols are organized into a number of different palettes such as Key Signatures and Articulations. There is a basic set of palettes that are shown by default, but MuseScore also provides optional palettes you can add easily, and you can also create and customize your own palettes.

Accessing the palettes panel

The Palettes panel is normally displayed on the left sidebar of the main window. There are three tabs displayed at the top of the sidebar: Palettes, Instruments, and Properties. If one of the other tabs is currently being displayed in the sidebar, click the Palettes tab to display the palettes instead.

You can open and close the Palettes panel using View→Palettes or the keyboard shortcut F9. If all of the panels in the sidebar are closed, the sidebar itself closes as well, allowing more room for the score display.

Like most other panels within MuseScore, the Palettes can also be undocked to function as a separate window.

Adding palette items to your score

To add a palette item to your score, first open the appropriate palette if it is not already open, by clicking its title or the arrow icon to the left. The items in that palette will be displayed in a grid.

in general, to apply palette items to your score, you can either select the target elements in the score and then click the palette item, or drag the item from the palette to a target element. See the section on searching and navigating below for information on applying palette items via the keyboard.

Items applied to individual score elements

Many palette items—for example, articulations, dynamics, and most other text—can be applied to individual notes, rests, or other score elements. When using drag and drop, be sure to drag the palette item onto a specific score element, and do not release until the target element highlights to indicate it can accept the palette item.

It is usually more efficient, however, to select the target elements in your score first and then click the palette item. This is especially true if you wish to apply the same palette item to multiple score elements, since this method allows you can apply the palette item to multiple score elements at once.

To apply a palette to one or more score elements:

1. Select the elements you wish to apply the palette item to (single, list, or range selection)
2. Click the palette item

The palette item will normally be added to each of the selected elements. Note that with a range selected, when clicking a palette item representing text (including dynamics and tempo markings), the item will be added to the first element in the range only. System text (including tempo markings) will be applied to the top staff only; other text will be applied to the first selected element of each selected staff.

Items applied to ranges

Palette items such as hairpins, slurs, ottavas, and pedal markings are applied to a range rather than a single note or rest. The process for adding them is the same:

1. Select the range of elements you wish to apply the palette item to
2. Click the palette item

Items applied to full measures

Certain palette items such as barlines, time signatures, voltas, and layout breaks are normally applied to a measure as a whole—or a range of measures—instead of a specific note or rest. The process for adding these to the score is the same as for other palette items:

1. Select the measure or range of measures you wish to apply the palette item to
2. Click the palette item

Expanding and collapsing palettes

A palette can be opened (expanded) or closed (collapsed) individually by clicking on the title bars or the icon to the left of the title. In addition, you can expand or collapse all palettes at once, or let MuseScore close palettes automatically. To access these options, click the ... button at the top of the palette window to popup the palettes menu.

• Single-click to open a Palette: controls whether palettes are opened by single or double click
• Open only one Palette at a time: if checked, then whenever you open a palette, any already-open palettes are automatically closed
• Collapse all Palettes: immediately close all open palettes
• Expand all Palettes: immediately open all palettes

Searching and navigating the palettes

You can also search and navigate the palettes using your keyboard instead of a mouse.

Search

To search for palette elements by name, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+F9 (Mac: Cmd+F9), or click the magnifying glass icon at the top of the Palettes panel.

This will display a search box. As you type characters into the box, MuseScore will display any matching palette items.

To close the search box, click the "X" icon.

Navigation

The palettes are completely accessible by keyboard. The search facility described above is one method you can use to start the process, but you can also focus the keyboard on the Palettes panel by using Shift+F6 to move focus to the sidebar.

Once focus is on the palette panel, the ↑ and ↓ keys will move through the various individual palettes. You can then open and close a palette by pressing Enter. To access the elements with a palette, press → to access the palette, then ↑ and ↓ to move through the elements on the palette. Pressing Enter will apply element in the same way as clicking it.

Accessing more palette items

Some palettes also contain additional elements that are not displayed by default. To access those, click the More button at the bottom right of the palette.

You can add any of these additional items to the main part of the palette by simply dragging. For more information, see Palettes under Customization.

Adding more palettes

The palettes that are shown by default are the ones most users will need often. But MuseScore provides additional palettes that you may find useful. To access these, click the Add Palettes button at the top of the Palettes panel.

This will display a list of palettes you can add to your Palettes panel. To add any palette, click the + button next to the palette name.

Any palettes you add in this way will be displayed added at the top of the panel, but you can then drag them down to reorder the panel as you like.

Also, in addition to the standard Palettes panel, there is a Master palette you can access via View→Master palettes or the keyboard shortcut Shift+F9.

This provides all the symbols found on the other palettes, as well the controls for creating custom key signatures and custom time signatures, plus the Symbols palette that provides thousands of additional symbols from any of the available music fonts.

See also

• Palettes under Customization

The Properties panel shows settings for objects you select in the score. It was known as the “Inspector” in MuseScore 2 and 3.

You can select one object (say, a dynamic mark) or multiple objects at a time (say, a dynamic mark, a notehead, and a hairpin). If any of the objects you have selected contains editable settings, Properties will be the place to find them.

An important thing about Properties is that by default it affects only the object(s) you have selected, so changing how one hairpin looks won’t change all of the hairpins in your score—only those you have selected. However, for most settings, you can also choose to save as the default style for the score.

Accessing the Properties panel

From the Score window, click on the Properties tab in the panel on the left side of the screen:

Global settings

This is what the Properties panel looks like when you have nothing selected in your score. All these settings affect your entire score (not just individual elements):

Show

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

Score appearance

• Empty staves hides/shows staves that contain no notated music within a system. This setting mirrors the Hide empty staves within systems settings in the Style dialog.
• Page settings triggers the Page settings dialog.
• Style settings triggers the Style dialog.

General settings

These settings are visible whenever something is selected in your score.

Visible

Click this box to hide/unhide selected elements, or use the keyboard shortcut V.

Use this feature to hide elements so they don't appear in your exported or printed score. This can be useful when, for example, applying tempo marks or dynamics solely to affect playback in MuseScore. Use the Invisible toggle in Properties (when nothing is selected) to show or hide these hidden elements in the score view (hidden elements will be rendered in a lighter shade).

Auto-place

Usually checked by default, this feature positions the selected object according to MuseScore's vertical and horizontal collision avoidance algorithms. Uncheck Auto-place to have more control over the positioning of certain elements. Learn more about this feature in Positioning elements.

Cue size

This feature is used to create small cue notes: i.e. notes provided to assist the performer by indicating what another ensemble/orchestra member is playing at the same time. Checking the box makes any selected notes smaller, including their stems and any attached beams.

Play

When checked, this property allows playback of the selected element. Uncheck Play to silence the element.

Playback settings

The Playback button displays the editable playback properties of the element (if none, it will be greyed out).

Appearance settings

Leading space

This changes the leading space of selected elements: i.e. the space in front of the element. The leading space adjustment is applied across all staves, so that notes at the same time position remain aligned.

Measure width

This changes the width of the measure as a proportion of the original width: e.g. 1.5 = one-and-a-half times the default width.

Minimum distance

This is used by the auto-place collision avoidance algorithm and applies only to elements that are applied above/below the staff by default, such as staff text, dynamics, fingerings, lines etc. It sets the minimum distance (in sp.) of the selected objects from other elements that are closer to the staff, or the staff itself.

Offset

When newly applied, elements assume a default position. The horizontal/vertical offsets give you a more precise way of positioning an element than dragging it or moving with the keyboard arrows.

Snap to grid

This feature allows you to constrain drag operations to increments of a desired distance. First you need to check the Snap to grid box, then press Configure grid and set the desired horizontal/vertical step distances.

You can switch Snap to grid on/off as required by checking/unchecking the box.

Arrange

The four buttons in this section control how overlapping elements are drawn. They work as follows:

• Forwards moves the selected element in front of the next element
• Backwards moves the selected element behind the next element
• To front moves the selected element in front of all other elements.
• To back moves the selected element behind all other elements, including the staff lines.

Color

Click on this button to change the color of selected element(s). Choose a preset or custom color, or create your own by clicking the + button. This is stored for future reference in the list of custom colors to the right.

Saving and restoring default settings

After changing any given setting, you can click the "three dots" menu button adjacent to the setting to reveal a menu that allows you to either Reset the setting to the default for the score, or Save as default style for this score. The latter option is only available for properties that correspond to style settings, but this includes many of the properties in this panel.

Changing the position of elements

To reposition most score elements, use any of the following methods:

• Click and drag the element with your mouse. You can constrain movement to a vertical or horizontal straight line by pressing Shift before dragging (see also Snap to grid).
• Press the keyboard arrows, either on their own for small steps (0.1 sp), or in combination with Ctrl (Mac: ⌘) for larger steps (1 sp).
• Adjust the horizontal and vertical offsets in the Properties panel.

Certain score elements, such as articulations, ornaments, symbols, and notes and rests, can only be moved with the keyboard arrow keys after placing the element into "Edit mode". To move these elements with the arrow keys:

1. Right-click on the desired element
2. Select Edit element to place the object in "Edit mode", or use the keyboard shortcuts F2 or Alt+Shift+E (Mac: ⌥+Shift+E)
3. Use the ← → ↑ ↓ keys to move the object in increments of 0.5 sp, or click and drag it with the mouse

Changing the shape of elements

To change the shape of elements such as slurs and ties after adding them to the score:

1. Click on the slur or tie to be adjusted
2. Click and drag the adjustment handles that appear around the element (N.b. red letters in the below diagram are for reference only)
   

Note that:

• Handles B, C, and D change the shape of the curve at that point
• Handles A end E adjust the element's length (This can also be achieved by pressing Shift+←/→ to move the ends one chord/rest at a time)
• Handle F repositions the whole line without changing its shape or length

If you wish to change the note to which a slur or tie is connected, the recommended method is to use the keyboard shortcuts described above (Shift+←/→). This is the most efficient way of changing both the visual and playback range of notes encompassed by a slur or tie.

Working with lines

Changing the range of a line

To change the start and end points of a line:

1. Select the line to reveal its adjustment handles
   
2. Click either the start or end adjustment handle
3. Press Shift+←/→ to move the handle one step at a time (a step = one note/rest, or one measure—depending on the line type). Note: You can use Tab to move the focus between handles when adjusting.
4. Fine-tune the position of handles using the keyboard arrows ←/→ if required. Note that this does not affect the playback range of the line.

As with slurs and ties, it is recommended to use Shift when adjusting line length with the arrow keys to ensure that the playback range also adjusts accordingly.

Creating diagonal lines

Although lines are horizontal by default, they can be set at any angle simply by dragging the start or end adjustment handles; or by selecting a start/end handle and using the Up/Down keyboard arrows.

Editing line text

To edit the text of text line elements such as "system text line", "staff text line", and "barré line":

1. Select a text line element in your score
2. Go to the Properties panel
3. Click the Text tab in the Text line section
4. Enter the desired text in the Beginning text field.

Note: If the text line spans more than one system, you may also wish to modify the contents of the Text when continuing to a new system field.

See also

• Other lines: Line properties
• Positioning of elements

Opening a part

MuseScore 4 automatically creates a separate (default) part for every instrument in your score.

To open all parts at once:

1. Click Parts in the toolbar (This will open the Parts dialog)
2. Click Open all

To open an individual part:

1. Click Parts in the toolbar
2. Click a part to select it
3. Click Open selected

You can also select specific parts to open at once. Do this by holding Control (Mac: ⌘) while selecting the parts you’d like to open, then click Open selected. You can also select a range of contiguous parts by clicking the first and holding Shift while clicking the last.

Closing a part

Click the X close button in a part tab to close a part.

Note that changes you make to a part will be saved with that part and retrievable the next time you open it from the Parts dialog.

Creating custom parts

The Parts dialog is tightly integrated with the new Instruments panel. This integration makes it easy for you to create parts with any combination of instruments from your score.

There are two ways to customize parts in MuseScore 4: using the default (i.e. ready-made) parts to reveal other instruments, and creating entirely new parts.

Reveal instruments in default parts

As we’ve already seen, MuseScore 4 automatically creates a new (default) part for every instrument in your score. All you have to do is open the part from the Parts dialog.

In fact, each default part already contains all of the instruments in your score – they’re simply hidden from view (except, of course, the chosen part instrument).

This means you can “reveal” other instruments within any of the default parts. To do this:

1. Open a part (as described above)
2. Select the Instruments panel
3. Click the eye icon next to another instrument

This instrument will now be visible in the chosen part.

This makes creating custom parts an incredibly flexible process. Revealing or hiding other instruments is completely non-destructive, meaning you can customize every instrument in every part, and hide or show only what you want to reveal to different players (or for different musical projects) without having to create entirely new parts each time.

Create a new part

MuseScore 4 does of course give you the option to create a completely "blank" part from scratch, allowing you complete customization control. To do this:

1. Click Parts in the toolbar to open the Parts dialog
2. Click Create new part
3. Give your new part a name
4. Click Open selected

Your new part will now be open in the Score tab, but it will appear to contain no instruments. To add instruments to this part:

1. Go to the Instruments panel
2. Click the "eye" icon next to each instrument you’d like to appear in your part

Choose which voices appear in each part

Sometimes it will be necessary to create individual parts from staves that contain multiple voices. You might, for example, want to extract separate parts for orchestral players who share a staff in the main score (E.g. Flute I and Flute II). Or you might wish to create individual vocal parts from choral scores where, for example, four voices are notated across two staves.

You'll need to first create (see above) or duplicate (see below) a part. To then select which voices will appear in a part:

1. Open a part (see above)
2. Go to the Instruments panel
3. Expand an instrument by clicking on the triangular dropdown icon
4. Click the settings icon next to the staff name
5. Select which voice(s) you want to appear in your part by ticking/un-ticking the checkboxes under Voices visible in the score

Applying styles to parts

Style settings for a wide range of engraving elements can be applied specifically to parts without affecting the main score.

To change style settings for a specific part:

1. Ensure a part has been opened and is currently selected in the Score tab
2. Go to Format → Style...
3. Make your desired style settings changes (applicable changes will be visible in the score in real time)
4. Click OK to confirm your changes

Changes you make in this dialog will affect only the part selected in the Score tab. If you want changes to affect all parts (but not the main score), select Apply to all parts before clicking OK.

Learn more about saving and loading default style settings in Templates and styles.

Renaming, duplicating and deleting parts

This all takes place in the Parts dialog (accessible from the Parts button in the toolbar).

Simply click the "three dots" menu icon next to a selected part to reveal its options. Note that only newly created parts (created by clicking the Create new part button) can be deleted. All parts can be duplicated or renamed.

To duplicate any part:

1. Select a part in the Parts dialog
2. Click the "three dots" menu icon for the selected part
3. Select Duplicate from the context menu that appears
4. Enter a new name for the part (or leave the default name as is)
5. Hit Enter, or click anywhere in the Parts dialog

To rename any part:

1. Select a part in the Parts dialog
2. Click the "three dots" menu icon for the selected part
3. Select Rename from the context menu that appears
4. Type your new part name
5. Hit Enter to confirm the new name

Note you can also double click on any part in the Parts dialog to rename it.

To delete a newly created part:

1. Select a newly created part in the Parts dialog
2. Click the "three dots" menu icon for the selected part
3. Select Delete from the context menu that appears

When a part is deleted, its tab in the Score tab (if already opened) will be closed. Any customizations made to that part will also be lost. The part will also no longer appear in the Parts dialog.

Exporting and printing parts

To export parts:

1. Click File → Export... (alternatively, select the Publish tab and click Export...)
2. Check the box next to the part(s) you want to export, or click Select all to choose all parts at once
3. Select whether to export all parts combined in one file, or leave the default export setting as each part to a separate file
4. Click Export...
5. Select your destination file and name your score in your operating system's Export dialog
6. Click Save

Parts will be exported in the PDF format by default. To change the export format, select your preferred format from the dropdown menu in Export settings. You can export your parts in a range of image and audio formats, as well as the braille format for compatible printers. For more information, see File Export.

To print parts:

1. Ensure the part you wish to print is selected in the Score tab
2. Click File → Print
3. Use your operating system's print dialog to print the selected part

Note that parts can currently only be printed one at a time.

Navigation

Page navigation

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Zoom in	Ctrl+=	Cmd+=
Zoom out	Ctrl+-	Cmd+-
Zoom to 100%	Ctrl+0	Cmd+0
Go to first element in score	Ctrl+Home	Cmd+Fn+Left
Go to last element in score	Ctrl+End	Cmd+Fn+Right
Jump to next screen	PgDn	Fn+Down
Jump to previous screen	PgUp	Fn+Up
Jump to top of first page	Home	Fn+Left
Jump to bottom of last page	End	Fn+Right
Jump to next page	Ctrl+PgDn	Cmd+Fn+Down
Jump to previous page	Ctrl+PgUp	Cmd+Fn+Up
Find / Go to	Ctrl+F	Cmd+F

Score navigation

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Select next chord	Right	Right
Select previous chord	Left	Left
Go to next measure	Ctrl+Right	Cmd+Right
Go to previous measure	Ctrl+Left	Cmd+Left
Select next element in score	Alt+Right	Option+Right
Select previous element in score	Alt+Left	Option+Left
Select note/rest above	Alt+Up	Option+Up
Select note/rest below	Alt+Down	Option+Down

Note input

General

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Note input: toggle note input mode	N	N
Show/hide piano keyboard	P	P
Use voice 1	Ctrl+Alt+1	Cmd+Option+1
Use voice 2	Ctrl+Alt+2	Cmd+Option+2

Duration

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Set duration	1 – 9	1 – 9
Set duration: 32nd note	2	2
Set duration: 16th note	3	3
Set duration: 8th note	4	4
Set duration: quarter note	5	5
Set duration: half note	6	6
Set duration: whole note	7	7
Toggle duration dot	.	.
Enter tuplet	Ctrl+2 – Ctrl+9	Cmd+2 – Cmd+9
Enter tuplet: duplet	Ctrl+2	Cmd+2
Enter tuplet: triplet	Ctrl+3	Cmd+3
Enter tuplet: quadruplet	Ctrl+4	Cmd+4
Add tied note	T	T
Halve selected duration (includes dotted values)	Shift+Q	Shift+Q
Double select duration (includes dotted values)	Shift+W	Shift+W

Pitch

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Enter note	A – G	A – G
Add note to chord	Shift+A – Shift+G	Shift+A – Shift+G
Enter interval	Alt+1 – Alt+9	Option+1 – Option+9
Toggle accidental: flat	-	-
Toggle accidental: natural	=	=
Toggle accidental: sharp	+	+
Enter rest	0	0
Add grace note: acciaccatura	/	/

Tablature

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Set duration (TAB)	Shift+0 – Shift+9	Shift+0 – Shift+9
Set duration: 32nd note (TAB)	Shift+2	Shift+2
Set duration: 16th note (TAB)	Shift+3	Shift+3
Set duration: 8th note (TAB)	Shift+4	Shift+4
Set duration: quarter note (TAB)	Shift+5	Shift+5
Set duration: half note (TAB)	Shift+6	Shift+6
Set duration: whole note (TAB)	Shift+7	Shift+7
Enter TAB: fret	0 – 9	0 – 9
Enter TAB: fret	A – K	A – K
Go to string above (TAB)	Up	Up
Go to string below (TAB)	Down	Down
Toggle ghost note	Shift+X	Shift+X

Selecting

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Select all	Ctrl+A	Cmd+A
Add to selection: previous note/rest	Shift+Left	Shift+Left
Add to selection: next note/rest	Shift+Right	Shift+Right
Add to selection: staff above	Shift+Up	Shift+Up
Add to selection: staff below	Shift+Down	Shift+Down
Select to beginning of measure	Ctrl+Shift+Left	Cmd+Shift+Left
Select to end of measure	Ctrl+Shift+Right	Cmd+Shift+Right
Select to beginning of score	Ctrl+Shift+Home	Cmd+Shift+Fn+Left
Select to end of score	Ctrl+Shift+End	Cmd+Shift+Fn+Right

Editing

General

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Escape	Esc	Esc
Undo	Ctrl+Z	Cmd+Z
Redo	Ctrl+Shift+Z	Cmd+Shift+Z
Copy	Ctrl+C	Cmd+C
Cut	Ctrl+X	Cmd+X
Paste	Ctrl+V	Cmd+V
Repeat selection	R	R
Insert one measure before selection	Ins	Ins
Insert measures before selection	Ctrl+Ins	Cmd+Ins
Insert one measure at end of score	Ctrl+B	Cmd+B
Insert measures at end of score	Alt+Shift+B	Option+Shift+B
Delete	Del	Del
Delete selected measures	Ctrl+Del	Cmd+Del
Show/hide properties	F8	Fn+F8
Edit element	F2	Fn+F2

Duration

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Set duration	1 – 9	1 – 9
Enter tuplet	Ctrl+2 – Ctrl+9	Cmd+2 – Cmd+9
Add tied note	T	T

Pitch

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Toggle accidental: flat	-	-
Toggle accidental: natural	=	=
Toggle accidental: sharp	+	+
Move pitch/selection up	Up	Up
Move pitch/selection down	Down	Down
Move pitch up an octave	Ctrl+Up	Cmd+Up
Move pitch down an octave	Ctrl+Down	Cmd+Down
Change enharmonic spelling (concert and written pitch)	J	J
Move note to higher string (TAB)	Ctrl+Up	Cmd+Up
Move note to lower string (TAB)	Ctrl+Down	Cmd+Down

Notation

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Flip direction	X	X
Use voice 1	Ctrl+Alt+1	Cmd+Option+1
Use voice 2	Ctrl+Alt+2	Cmd+Option+2

Manual adjustment

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Move text left	Left	Left
Move text right	Right	Right
Move text left quickly	Ctrl+Left	Cmd+Left
Move text right quickly	Ctrl+Right	Cmd+Right
Move selection up	Up	Up
Move selection down	Down	Down
Move selection up quickly	Ctrl+Up	Cmd+Up
Move selection down quickly	Ctrl+Down	Cmd+Down

Text

General

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Add text: staff text	Ctrl+T	Cmd+T
Add text: expression text	Ctrl+E	Cmd+E
Add text: system text	Ctrl+Shift+T	Cmd+Shift+T
Add text: tempo marking	Alt+Shift+T	Option+Shift+T
Add text: rehearsal mark	Ctrl+M	Cmd+M

Formatting

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Format text: bold face	Ctrl+B	Cmd+B
Format text: italic	Ctrl+I	Cmd+I
Format text: underline	Ctrl+U	Cmd+U

Lyrics

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Add text: lyrics	Ctrl+L	Cmd+L
Go to next syllable	Space	Space
Go to previous syllable	Shift+Space	Shift+Space
Lyrics: enter hyphen	-	-
Lyrics: enter melisma	_	_
Add lyric verse	Return	Return
Go to next lyric verse	Down	Down
Go to previous lyric verse	Up	Up

Chord symbols, Roman numeral analysis, Nashville numbers, figured bass

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Add text: chord symbol	Ctrl+K	Cmd+K
Next text element	Space	Space
Previous text element	Shift+Space	Shift+Space
Advance cursor: next beat	;	;
Advance cursor: previous beat	Shift+;	Shift+;
Advance cursor: duration	Ctrl+1 – Ctrl+9	Cmd+1 – Cmd+9

Other score elements

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Show/hide palettes	F9	Fn+F9
Search palettes	Ctrl+F9	Cmd+Fn+F9
Add slur	S	S
Add articulation: accent	Shift+V	Shift+V
Add articulation: marcato	Shift+O	Shift+O
Add articulation: staccato	Shift+S	Shift+S
Add articulation: tenuto	Shift+N	Shift+N
Add hairpin: crescendo	<	<
Add hairpin: decrescendo	>	>

Score setup and formatting

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Add/remove instruments	I	I
Open instruments dialog	F7	Fn+F7
Toggle visibility of elements	V	V
Decrease layout stretch	{	{
Increase layout stretch	}	}
Add/remove system break	Return	Return
Add/remove page break	Ctrl+Return	Cmd+Return
Reset shapes and positions	Ctrl+R	Cmd+R

File Operations

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
New	Ctrl+N	Cmd+N
Open	Ctrl+O	Cmd+O
Close	Ctrl+W	Cmd+W
Save	Ctrl+S	Cmd+S
Print	Ctrl+P	Cmd+P
Quit	Ctrl+Q	Cmd+Q

User interface

Playback

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Play	Space	Space
Show/hide mixer	F10	Fn+F10

Overview

The Instruments panel is a new feature in MuseScore 4. It gives you control over your instruments and some basic staff properties without having to leave the score view. All of the instruments in your score will appear in this panel.

Adding and ordering instruments

Accessing the Instruments panel

Open the Instruments panel by clicking on the Instruments tab on the left side of the screen:

Adding instruments

Click Add. This will open the Instruments dialog (see Choose instruments for more information).

Deleting instruments

To delete an instrument from the score, select the instrument and click the trash can icon, or press Delete.

Changing the order of instruments

Select any instrument and use the ↑ or ↓ buttons to change its position in the score. Alternatively, you can drag the instrument up/down using the mouse.

Instrument settings

Hiding/showing instruments

The visibility of entire instrument staves can be toggled by clicking the eye icon next to an instrument label.

Hidden instruments aren't ever deleted — they are simply hidden. This means they won't be printed, but you can still generate and export parts for them.

This feature might be useful if you have alternative instruments or alternative versions of a part that you'd like to toggle between (e.g. for different performers or instrumental configurations). You might also like to isolate different sections of a larger score (say, for orchestra) without actually deleting anything or generating any new project files.

Renaming instruments

Click the cog icon to expose settings for renaming your instruments. Leaving any of these fields blank will ensure that no label appears on the score or in the part for that instrument.

Replacing instruments

To replace an instrument in the Instruments panel:

1. Click the cog icon to the right of the instrument name
2. In the popup that appears, click Replace instrument
3. Select your desired replacement instrument in the dialog that appears
4. Click OK

Adding and configuring staves

The Instruments panel can also be used to add staves to an existing instrument and configure some of their basic properties.

To add a staff to an existing instrument

1. If there are no staves visible under the instrument label, click the small black triangle to the left of the label to reveal them
2. Click Add staff
3. Click the cog icon of the newly-added staff, and adjust "Staff type", if required.

Added staves share the same instrument but their notation can be edited independently. Amongst other things, they can be used to create staff/tablature for stringed-instrument players (e.g. guitar, banjo, ukulele etc.).

To add a linked staff to an existing instrument

Certain notational objects on one staff can be made to automatically appear on other staves if they are linked together. Linked staves can be used to create staff/tablature for stringed-instrument players (guitar, banjo, ukulele etc.).

To create a linked staff:

1. If there are no staves visible under the instrument label, click the triangular "show more" icon next to the label
2. Click the cog icon next to the staff label (E.g. "Treble clef")
3. Click Create a linked staff
4. Click the cog icon of the newly-added staff, and adjust "Staff type", if required.

Configuring a staff

Each stave contains some independently configurable properties. By clicking on the cog icon alongside a staff label (E.g. "Treble clef"), you can:

• Change its staff type (including the clef and number of staff lines)
• Reduce the size of the staff (Small staff)
• Hide any measures that do not contain notation

Learn more about staff customization in Staff/part properties.

Deleting staves

The Instruments panel can also be used to delete extra staves from an instrument:

1. If there are no staves visible under the instrument label, click the small black triangle to the left of the label to reveal them
2. Click the staff you want to delete
3. Click the trash icon at the top of the instruments panel, or press Delete.
   

Note: Deleting a staff from an instrument will delete the staff in the main score as well as in any part that the instrument is used.

By default, a score will show all measures of all staves on all pages throughout the score, whether they contain notes or not. However, you may wish to have certain staves appear only on systems where they are needed. You may even wish to have a staff appear or disappear mid-system. MuseScore provides a number of controls for this purpose.

Hiding empty staves

Ensemble scores often typically omit the staves for instruments that are not playing on any given system.

Hiding all empty staves

To automatically hide staves on systems where they are empty:

1. Ensure that nothing in your score is selected (press Esc if necessary).
2. Go to the Properties panel.
3. Click the icon next to Empty staves.

Alternatively, you can enable the Hide empty staves within systems option in Format→Style→Score.

MuseScore will normally continue to show all staves on the first system, in accordance with common convention. If you would like to force MuseScore to hide empty staves on the first system as well, disable the Don't hide empty staves in first system option in the dialog. You can also control whether or not brackets are shown if, for example, only a single instrument from a section is playing, via the Show brackets when spanning a single staff option.

Excluding specific staves from being hidden

You can specify that certain staves should not be hidden when empty:

1. Right-click a staff.
2. Click Staff/Part properties.
3. In the resulting dialog, set Hide when empty to Never.

For instruments that use two or more staves (like piano, organ, and harp), you may wish to specify that individual empty staves should be shown unless all staves for the instrument are empty. To do this, set the Hide when empty option to Instrument for each of the staves.

Temporary staves

In scores where some empty staves are not hidden in general, there may nonetheless be special staves that you wish to only show where needed. For example, this might be a solo part in an ensemble score, or a bass staff in a lead sheet. To set an individual staff to hide when empty without forcing all staves to be hidden when empty:

1. Right-click a staff.
2. Click Staff/Part properties.
3. In the resulting dialog, set Hide when empty to Always.

Cutaway staves

Film scores and other contemporary scores often use a style of notation where individual measures are hidden when empty. These are sometimes called cutaway scores.

To accomplish this in MuseScore:

1. Right-click a staff.
2. Select Staff/Part properties.
3. In the resulting dialog, set Hide when empty to Always.
4. Enable the Cutaway option.

If you wish all staves to be displayed in this manner, you can use the Properties panel or the Hide empty staves style setting to hide the staves. However, you will need to set the Cutaway option for each staff individually. You can speed up this process by using the arrow buttons in the Staff/Part Properties dialog:

1. Set the Cutaway option for the top staff.
2. Press the Apply button.
3. Press the ↓ button to move to the next staff.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 until you have gone through all staves.

Ossia

An ossia is a special type of cutaway staff in which a given musical passage is notated using a small staff above the normal staff, such as to show an alternate interpretation.

These can be created in MuseScore using a combination of features:

1. Add a staff as described in Adding and configuring staves.
2. Select and delete or otherwise adjust any automatically added bracket.
3. Enter the desired notation.
4. Right-click the staff.
5. Select Staff/Part properties.
6. In the resulting dialog, set Hide when empty to Always.
7. Enable the Cutaway and Small options.
8. Press OK.

If you wish to hear the ossia playback instead of the normal staff, select the corresponding measures on the normal staff and uncheck the Play setting on the Properties panel. Do the same for the ossia staff if you would rather hear the normal staff playback.

Depending on the look you desire, you might also want to hide the initial or final barline for the passage. To do this, select the barline and press V or uncheck the Visible option in the Properties panel.

You may also wish to decrease the distance between the ossia and the normal staff. To do this, use a Staff spacer fixed down from the Layout palette.

Other invisible measures

MuseScore also allows you to make individual measures invisible on any given staff, whether empty or not.

To set a measure to be invisible on a given staff:

1. Right-click the measure.
2. Select Measure properties.
3. Disable the Visible checkbox for the staff or staves in which you wish the measure to be set invisible.

Note: you cannot make a measure invisible on all staves—it must remain visible on at least one.

Implode

The Implode command allows you to do either of the following:

• Combine the notation of several voices in the same staff into one voice
• Combine notation from several staves into separate voices in one staff.

Combine notes from multiple voices in a single staff into one voice

1. Select a range of measures in a single staff.
2. From the menu bar, select Tools→Implode.

All selected notes in the staff are now displayed in voice 1.

Combine notes from multiple staves into multiple voices on a single staff

1. Ensure that there is only one voice in each staff to be imploded;
2. Select a range of measures in the top staff and extend this selection downwards to include up to 4 staffs.
3. From the menu bar, select Tools→Implode.

The notation initially in the upper staff will now be in voice 1, that from the staff below in voice 2, and so on.

Explode

Explode allows you to do either of the following:

• Copy a passage of single notes, in a single staff, into one or more staves below.
• Transform the chords of a selected passage of music, in a single staff, into their constituent notes on one or more staves below.

Copy passage of single notes to multiple staves

1. Ensure that the passage is in voice 1 (there should be no notes or rests in other voices).
2. Select the desired range of measures
3. Extend the selection downwards through as many staves as you wish to copy to.
4. From the menu bar, select Tools→Explode.

The passage in the top staff is copied to each of the selected staves below.

Separate a passage of chords into its constituent notes

In this case the chords in a selected passage of music are separated into their constituent notes as follows:

• If the passage is all in voice 1, the top note of the chord is retained on the top staff, while the lower notes are moved to subsequent staves.
• If the passage contains multiple voices, voice 1 notes are retained on the top staff, while other voices are moved to subsequent staves.
• All exploded notes end up in voice 1.

1. Ensure that there are enough staves underneath the source staff to receive the exploded notes. Create extra staves if necessary using the Instruments panel.
2. Choose one of two options:
   • Select a range of measures in the source staff: this allows all notes to be exploded if there are enough staves available.
   • Select a range of measures that includes both the source staff and also extends downwards to include one or more destination staves: This limits the number of exploded notes/voices to the number of selected staves.
3. From the menu bar, select Tools→Explode.

Notes: (1) If the selection is all in voice 1, MuseScore will discard the lowest note(s) of any chord that contains more notes than the number of staves in the selection. (2) If the selection is all in voice 1, and If a given chord has fewer notes than the number of destination staves, then notes will be duplicated as needed so that every staff receives a note. (3) Any existing music in the destination staves is overwritten. (4) If you select a partial measure, the explode command will automatically expand it to a full measure.

Adding an instrument change

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.

In MuseScore, the instruction to change to a different instrument is handled by the Change Instrument text element, which is found in the Text Palette. This text element is different from Staff and system text in that it is linked to playback, allowing for a change in sound to the new instrument.

To add an instrument change:

1. Click on a note or rest to select the start point for the change
2. Click on the Change instr. palette item in the Text Palette
3. Choose which instrument you wish to change to in the Select instrument dialog that appears
4. Click OK

The instruction to change to the new instrument will appear above the selected insertion point in the score.

Working with instrument changes

Removing an instrument change

To remove an instrument change, click once on a Change instrument text element to select it, and press either Del or Backspace.

Re-labelling an instrument change

You can re-label any Change instrument text element in the score by double-clicking on it and entering new text. This will not affect the playback sound of the new instrument.

Instrument changes in the mixer

Playback sounds for instrument changes are reflected in the Mixer as separate channel strips stacked to the right of the primary instrument channel strip. These instruments are labelled in parentheses. You can change the assigned playback library, apply effects, adjust the volume, and mute, solo, and pan these channel strips just as you would any other instrument channel strip. For more information, see the Mixer.

Changing staff type

Changing to a different instrument may necessitate the use of different key signatures, clefs, and even staff type. Learn more about changing staff type in Staff type change.

You can change the appearance of a staff mid-score by adding a "Staff type change" element to a measure, and adjusting its properties in the Properties panel. This can be used when changing between pitched and unpitched staves or for various experimental notation effects.

Adding a staff type change

1. Select a measure in the score and, in the Layout palette
2. Click the "Staff type change" symbol to add it to your score

Alternatively, you can drag the symbol from the palette to a measure in your score.

Setting staff properties

When you alter a "Staff type change" property in the Properties panel, the new value takes precedence over the value shown in the global Staff/Part properties dialog. Only those property values in Staff/Part properties that cannot be changed for the "Staff type change" will be valid throughout the score.

The properties that can be altered for the "Staff type change" in the Properties panel are:

Cue size
Use the Small staff size that is defined for the score

Offset
Displace the staff vertically

Scale
Change the size of the staff using a custom percentage

Number of lines
Change the number of lines making up the staff

Line distance
Change the distance between two staff lines

Step offset
Offset the notes on the staff relative

Invisible staff lines
Toggle visibility of the staff lines

Staff line color
Set the color of the staff lines

Notehead scheme
Specify alternate noteheads such as pitch names or shape note

Stemless
Toggle display of note stems

Show barlines
Toggle display of barlines

Show ledger lines
Toggle display of ledger lines

Generate clefs
Toggle display of clefs

Generate time signatures
Toggle display of time signatures

Generate key signatures
Toggle display of key signatures

Overview

The Staff / Part Properties dialog allows you to make changes to the display of a particular staff; and to adjust the name, tuning, transposition, and instrument of the corresponding instrument part.

To open the dialog:

• Right-click onto either an empty area in a staff, or the instrument name, and select Staff / Part Properties….

An instrument part often consists of only one staff (e.g. violin, trumpet, flute) but there are notable exceptions. For example, a piano requires two staves—treble and bass; a guitar may need both an 8vb treble staff and a tablature staff, and so on.

Staff properties

The top section of the dialog allows you to adjust many aspects of the appearance of an individual staff. The following options are common to all types of staves:

• Lines: The number of lines making up the staff.
• Line Distance: The distance between two staff lines—measured in spaces (sp.).
  Note: It is not recommended to change this value from the default. If you need to make the staff larger or smaller, use the Page Settings dialog instead.
• Extra distance above staff: Increases or decreases the distance between the selected staff and the one above in all systems.
  Note: (1) This setting does not apply to the top staff of a system, which is controlled by the minimum/maximum system distance (see Formatting). (2) To adjust the spacing above just one staff line in a particular system, see Fitting systems on a page: Spacers.
• Scale: Changes the size of the selected staff and all associated elements as a percentage (to adjust the overall score size, use "Scaling" (Format→Page Settings…).
• Hide when empty: Together with the “Hide empty staves” setting in Format→Style…→Score, this determines if the staff will be hidden when it is empty:
  • Auto (default): The staff will be hidden if it is empty and “Hide empty staves” is set.
  • Always: The staff will be hidden when empty, even if “Hide empty staves” is not set.
  • Never: The staff will never be hidden when empty.
  • Instrument: For instruments containing multiple staves, the staff is hidden only if all staves for that instrument are empty.
• Show clef: Whether the staff clef will be shown.
• Show time signature: Whether the staff time signature(s) will be shown or not.
• Show barlines: Whether the staff barlines will be shown.
• Hide system barline: Show/hide barline at left-hand edge of the staff.
• Merge matching rests: Check if you want matching rests in different voices to be merged rather than separate.
• Do not hide if system is empty: Never hide this staff, even if the entire system is empty. This overrules any “Hide empty staves” setting in Format→Style…→Score.
• Small staff: Create a reduced-size staff. You can set the default from the menu in Format→Style…→Sizes.
• Invisible staff lines: Make staff lines invisible.
• Staff line color: Use a color picker to change the color of the staff lines.
• Cutaway: Used to create a cutaway staff in which only measures containing notes are visible (e.g. Ossia (Wikipedia); or cutaway scores). This can be used independently of “Hide when empty” or “Hide empty staves”.
• Advanced style properties: (see below)

Advanced style properties

Clicking on Advanced Style Properties… opens a dialog giving access to advanced display options for the staff. These options will vary depending on the staff type chosen.

Template (all staves)

At the bottom of the Advanced Style Properties dialog there are a number of buttons which allow you to make changes to the staff display by selecting a different template.

Note: The options available here depend on the type of staff—whether standard, plucked-string staff/tab, or percussion.

To change the template:

1. Make a selection from the drop-down list labeled “Template”;
2. Press < Reset to Template;
3. Press OK to accept the changes and exit the dialog (or Cancel to cancel the operation).

Standard and Percussion staff options only

• Lines / Line distance:
• Show clef / time signature / barlines / key signature / ledger lines: Set to give the desired display on the staff.
• Stemless: If checked, staff notes will have no stem, hook or beam.
• Notehead scheme: See Notehead scheme.

Tablature options only

• Lines: This number usually matches the number of strings in the String Data dialog (exceptions being the Baroque Lute, Theorbo etc. which have more strings than lines).
  Line distance:
• Show clef / time signature / barlines: Set to give the desired display on the staff.
• Upside down: If not checked, the top tablature line will refer to the highest string, and the bottom tablature line to the lowest string (this is the most common option). If checked, the top tablature line refers to the lowest string, and the bottom tablature line to the highest line (e.g. Italian-style lute tablatures).
• Preview: Displays a short section of a specimen score as it would look with the current properties applied.

Fret Marks tab

Fret marks are the numbers or letters used to indicate the location of notes on the fingerboard. The following group of properties define the appearance of fret marks:

• Font: The font used to draw fret marks. A selection of eight fonts are provided supporting all the necessary symbols in 8 different styles—both modern and historic..
• Size: Font size of fret marks in typographic points. Built-in fonts usually look good at a size of 9-10pt.
• Vertical offset: MuseScore tries to place symbols in a sensible way and you do not usually need to alter this value (set to 0) for built-in fonts. If the font has symbols not aligned on the base line (or in some other way MuseScore does not expect), this property allows you to move fret-marks up (negative offsets) or down (positive offsets) for better vertical positioning. Values are in sp.
• Marks are: Select from using Numbers (“1”, “2”…) or Letters (“a”, “b”…) as fret marks. When letters are used, the letter “j” is skipped and “k” is used for the 9th fret.
• Marks are drawn: Choice of placing fretmarks On lines or Above lines.
• Lines are: Choice of Continuous (lines pass through fret marks) or Broken (a small space appears in the line where the fretmark is displayed).
• Show back-tied fret marks: If unchecked, only the first note in a series of tied notes is displayed. If ticked, all notes in the tied series are displayed.
• Show fingering in tablature: Check to allow the display of fingering symbols applied from a palette.

Note Values tab

This group of properties defines the appearance of the symbols indicating note values.

• Font: The font used to draw the value symbols. Currently 5 fonts are provided supporting all the necessary symbols in 5 different styles (modern, Italian tablature, French tablature, French baroque (headless), French baroque). Used only with the Note symbols option.
• Size: Font size, in typographic points. Built-in fonts usually look good at a size of 15pt. Used only with the Note symbols option.
• Vertical offset: Applies only when Note symbols is selected (see below). Use negative offset values to raise the note value symbols, positive values to lower them.
• Shown as:
  • None: No note value will be drawn (as in the examples above)
  • Note symbols: Symbols in the shape of notes will be drawn above the staff. When this option is selected, symbols are drawn only when the note value changes, without being repeated (by default) for a sequence of notes all of the same value.
  • Stems and beams: Note stems and beams (or hooks) will be drawn. Values are indicated for each note, using the same typographic mechanics as for a regular staff; all commands of the standard Beam Palette can be applied to these beams too.
• Repeat: If several notes in sequence have the same duration, you can specify if and where to repeat the same note symbol. i.e. Never / At new system / At new measure /Always.
  Note: This option is only available if “Shown as: Note symbols” is selected (see above).
• Stem style:
  • Beside staff: Stems are drawn as fixed height lines above/below the staff.
  • Through staff: Stems run through the staff to reach the fret marks.
    Note: This option is only available when “Shown as: Stems and Beams” is selected (see above).
• Stem position:
  • Above: Stems and beams are drawn above the staff.
  • Below: Stems and beams are drawn below the staff.
    Note: This option is only available when “Shown as: Stems and Beams” and “Stem style: Beside staff” is selected (see above).
• Half notes: None / As short stems / As slashed stems.
  Note: This option is only available when “Shown as: Stems and Beams and “Stem style: Beside staff” is selected (see above).
• Show rests; Whether note symbols should be used to indicate also the rests; when used for rests, note symbols are drawn at a slightly lower position. Used only with the Note symbols option.

Part properties

Instrument

The name of the instrument is shown here. To change the instrument,

• Click on Replace instrument and make a choice from the "Select Instrument" dialog.

Names

• Long instrument name: Name displayed to the left of the staff in the first system of the score or section.
• Short instrument name: Name displayed to the left of the staff in subsequent systems of the score.

Usable pitch range

• Amateur: Notes outside the amateur range are colored olive green / dark yellow in the score.
• Professional: Notes outside the professional range are colored red in the score.

Note: To disable out-of-range coloration of notes, from the menu, select Edit→Preferences… (Mac: MuseScore→Preferences…), click on the “Note Input” tab, and uncheck “Color notes outside of usable pitch range.”

Transposition

Set the octave, and up/down interval to ensure that transposing instruments are notated correctly. This is automatically done by the program for most instruments.

For transposing instruments an additional option is shown: "Prefer sharps or flats for transposed key signatures". There are three options:

• Default: Let MuseScore decide
• Flats: Prefer flats
• Sharps: Prefer sharps

Strings and frets

Staves of fretted, plucked-string instruments have a few extra options in addition to those listed above,

• Number of strings: Displays the number of instrument strings.
• Edit String Data…: This button opens a dialog box which allows you to set the number and tuning of strings. See Change tuning.

Various types of brackets and a curly brace are provided in the "Brackets" palette.

Brackets/braces are automatically applied when a score is created in the New Score dialog. You can easily change them if the default is not what you want (see below)

Adding brackets

To add a bracket or brace to all systems:

1. Click on the first measure of the staff where you want the bracket/brace to start, hold Shift and click on the measure where you want the bracket/brace to end.
2. Click the desired bracket icon in the "Brackets" palette.

Alternatively:

1. Select the start measure, and click the bracket into place from the "Brackets" palette.
2. Select the bracket, click on the adjustment handle and drag it down to the desired position. It will snap into place.

Nested brackets can also be applied using these methods, applying the innermost first and ending with the outermost. The order can be edited subsequently using the "Column" property (see below)

Editing brackets

If you select a bracket/brace, you can edit its properties in the Properties panel (sidebar).

• Column: Moves the bracket inwards/outwards.
• Span: Extends or retracts the end of the bracket/brace.

Changing bracket type

• Select the bracket/brace in the score to be changed, then click on a new bracket/brace from the "Brackets" palette.

Changing bracket span

Use one of the following methods:

• Select the bracket, click on the adjustment handle, and drag it to the desired position.
• Select the bracket, click on the adjustment handle, and press Shift+↑/↓ to move it from staff to staff.
• Alter "Span" in the Properties panel.

Deleting brackets

• To delete a bracket/brace, select it and press Del.

Customizing bracket appearance

Brackets/Braces also have a few global properties which can be adjusted from the Style menu:

• Adjust thickness and distance from the staff in Format→Style→System.
• Adjust distance above/below in Format→Style→Page→Enable vertical justification of staves.

Overview

Time signatures are applied to the score from the "Time Signatures" palette.

Setting the initial time signature for your score

This is done from page 2 of the New Score dialog.

Adding a time signature change to your score

Use any of the following methods:

• Select an existing time signature, measure, note or rest in the score, and click a time signature in a palette.
• Drag and drop a time signature from a palette onto a space in a measure, or onto an existing time signature.

Deleting a time signature

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

Controlling the visibility of time signatures

To hide/show time signatures on a particular staff:

1. Right-click on the staff and choose "Staff/Part properties";
2. Uncheck/Check "Show time signature".

To disable/enable all courtesy time signatures (at the end of systems):

1. From the menu bar, select Format→Style→Page.
2. Uncheck/Check "Create courtesy time signatures".

To hide or show an individual courtesy time signature:

1. Select the parent time signature;
2. In the Time signature section of the Properties panel, uncheck/check "Show courtesy time signature".

Creating a custom time signature

1. In the Time Signatures palette, click on More, then, in the supplementary palette, click on the “Create Time Signature” button;
2. In Value enter the Numerator, Denominator, and Text (the latter is optional, when you need the display to be different from the actual time signature);
3. Adjust the default note beaming in the Beam Groups section (see Beam groups (below). To restore the default beaming pattern, press Reset;
4. Press Add to transfer the newly-created time signature to the Time Signatures palette.

You can also do the same thing from the Master Palette (Shift+F9).

Adding a local time signature for a single staff

In certain cases a score may show staves with different time signatures running at the same time. For example, in the following (J. S. Bach’s Goldberg Variation no. 26):

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.

Resizing a time signature

1. Select a time signature
2. In the Time signature section of the Properties panel, adjust the horizontal and vertical Scale values.

Time signature properties

To open the Time signature properties dialog use one of the following:

• Right-click on a time signature and from the context menu select "Time signature properties".
• Select a time signature, then click on Time signature properties in the "Time signature" section of the Properties panel.

Appearance

This part of the dialog allows you to adjust the nominal appearance of the signature without affecting its underlying rhythmic value.

• Text: Insert the nominal numerator and denominator that you wish to appear on the score.

Alternatively, you can make a selection from a range of time signature symbols below.

Beam Groups

This section allows you to adjust the default beaming patterns of notes occurring in the section controlled by the time signature.

• Click on a note to break the beam in front of it. Click again to reform the beam.
• Alternatively you can drag and drop a "beam selector" icon to the note after the beam you want to make or break.
• Click Reset to restore the default beaming pattern.

Check the "Also change shorter notes" box if you want changes to apply to beam groups below as well.
For more information on beams, see Beams.

Time signature style

There are a few global style properties for time signatures (see Format→Style).

• Create courtesy time signatures: Found in the Page section. Check or uncheck to turn on or off.
• Clef to time signature / Key signature to time signature / Barline to time signature / Time signature to barline / Time signature to first note: Found in the Measure section. Allows you to set spacing for various aspects of time signature layout.

Stem direction

Default stem direction

MuseScore aligns the stems of voice 1 notes according to the conventions of music theory. By contrast, voice 2 and voice 4 stems point downwards by default, while voice 3 stems point upwards. Voice 1 stems automatically flip upwards in the presence of voice 2 or 4 notes.

Flipping stem direction

1. Select either the notehead, stem or attached beam (if any)
2. Use any of the following methods:
   • Press X
   • Click on the "Flip direction" icon in the Note input toolbar
   • Select a stem direction from the Stem tab in the Properties panel

This action will flip any attached beam as well.

Changing stem length

1. Select the stem
2. Use one of the following methods:
   • Press ↑/↓ to extend or shorten the stem
   • Change Length in the Properties panel

Creating stemless notes

To hide the stems of individual notes:

1. Select one or more notehead/s
2. Go to the Properties panel
3. Select the Stem tab
4. Select the checkbox next to Stemless

To hide all stems in an instrument part:

1. Right-click on the staff and select Staff/Part properties
2. Click on Advanced style properties
3. Select the checkbox next to Stemless

Stem and flag properties

Properties specific to stems and flags can be edited from the Stem tab in the Note section of the Properties panel:

• Stemless removes the stem (and associated beams) from the selected note(s)
• Stem direction:
  • Auto determines the direction of the stem according to the voice of the selected note(s)
  • Up and Down override the default stem direction
• Flag style sets the appearance of flags for the entire score to either traditional (default) or straight
• Thickness determines the stem's width
• Length determines the stem's length
• Stem offset can be used to move the stem in a horizontal and/or vertical direction

Stem and flag style

Global settings for Stem thickness and Flag style may also be set in Format→Style→Notes.

See also

Beams

Controlling which notes are beamed

Setting the default beaming for a time signature

By default, MuseScore beams notes according to settings in the Time signature properties dialog. To change this automatic pattern of note-beaming, see Beam groups.

Changing the beaming for selected notes

You can override the default beaming of any individual note, using beam symbols in the Beam Properties palette, or in the Beam tab of the Properties toolbar. Hover over the icons for more info on what each one does.

To change one or more note beams use one of the following methods:

• Select one or more notes and/or rests in the score and click the desired symbol in the Beam Properties palette.
• Select one or more notes and/or rests in the score and click on a symbol under "Beam types" (Beam tab of the Properties panel).
• Drag and drop a beam symbol from the Beam Properties palette onto a note or rest in the score.

The following table describes the effect of each beam symbol:

Icon	Name	Description
	Auto Beam	Apply default beaming as determined by the current time signature (see above).
	No beam	Break beams before and after the selected note.
	Break beam left	If the note is beamed to a previous note, break the beam.
	Break inner beams (eighth)	Start a second level beam at this note.
	Break inner beams (sixteenth)	Start a third level beam at this note.
	Join beams	Join beams on both sides of the note.
	Add feathered beam: decelerate	Start feathered beam to indicate gradually slower tempo.
	Add feathered beam: accelerate	Start feathered beam to indicate gradually faster tempo.

Note: The beam between two notes/rests is determined by both of the note/rests. For example: Two consecutive notes with a status of start beam here will not have a beam between them. If the two consecutive notes are set up to connect to each other they will beam, if one of them is not set up for this, the two notes will not beam.

Controlling the appearance of beams

Changing the angle of a selected beam

1. Click on the beam you wish to adjust;
2. Click on the left/right adjustment handle and adjust the height using one of the following methods:
   • Drag the handle.
   • Move the handle using ↑/↓.
   • In the Beam section of the Properties panel, adjust the "Beam height" properties.
3. Use the center adjustment handle to set the overall height of the beam.

Creating a feathered beam

To create feathered beams use one of the following methods:

• Select one or more beams, notes or rests in the score and click the desired symbol in the Beam Properties palette.
• Select one or more beams, notes or rests in the score and click on a symbol under "Beam types" (Beam tab of the Properties panel).
• Drag and drop a beam symbol from the Beam Properties palette onto a beams in the score.

Please note that only beams with two or more components (i.e. 16th notes or shorter) can become feathered.
See the table above for a description of the beam symbol effects.

Beam properties

Properties specific to beams can be edited from the Beam tab of the Note section in the Properties panel:

Beam types: Alter the beaming pattern at selected notes.
Feather beams: Ditto.
Force horizontal: Make beams of selected notes horizontal.
Beam height: Adjust height and angle of beams.

Editing of these properties is covered in the sections above.

Beam style

A few global properties of beams can be set from Format→Style→Beams:

Beam distance: The vertical distance from one beam to the next.
Beam thickness
Broken beam minimum length
Flatten all beams: Check to make all note beams horizontal, regardless of context.

Overview

Standard music notation normally follows a set of conventions designed to facilitate the reading of rhythm. The basic idea is to group notes in ways that clarify which notes belong to which beat. Rules include:

• sixteenth notes should be beamed in a way that clarifies each beat
• eighth notes should be beamed in a way that clarifies each group of two beats
• longer notes that start off the beat should be broken up with ties to clarify each beat or group of two beats

A full discussion of this topic is beyond the scope of this Handbook, but for more information, see this handout.

Here is an example of a rhythm written incorrectly and then correctly:

MuseScore can correct many of these cases automatically.

Regrouping rhythms

To regroup rhythms according to the common conventions of standard music notation:

1. Select the passage you wish to regroup.
2. From the main menu, select Tools→Regroup rhythms.

The rhythm itself is not changed—only the notation of it.

See also

• Notation Rules: Rhythm

Creating tuplets

A tuplet is any group of notes that divide the beat in a way other than what is normally permitted by the time signature. Triplets consisting of three eighth notes in one beat are the most familiar type of tuplet.

Simple tuplets

A simple tuplet such as the triplet shown above can be entered in note input mode or in normal mode.

In note input mode

1. Navigate to the note/rest (or blank measure) where you want the tuplet to start.
2. Select a final duration for the whole tuplet group (e.g. for an eighth note triplet, this will be a quarter note—keyboard shortcut 5).
3. Use one of the following commands:
   • Press the keyboard shortcut for the required tuplet: i.e. Ctrl+3 for a triplet; Ctrl+4 for quadruplet … and so on, up to Ctrl+9 for a nonuplet. (Mac: Cmd+3 … Cmd+9);
   • From the menu, choose Add→Tuplets…, then select the required tuplet.
   • From the note input toolbar, click on the Tuplet icon and select from the dropdown.

The note or rest is automatically divided for you and an appropriate annotation is applied.

4. Enter the desired series of notes/rests.

In normal mode

1. Select a note or rest that specifies the full duration of the desired tuplet group. You may need to create this in the score beforehand. Thus, if you want an eighth note triplet you need to select a quarter note/rest.
2. Use one of the following commands:
   • Press the keyboard shortcut for the required tuplet: i.e. Ctrl+3 for a triplet; Ctrl+4for quadruplet … and so on, up to Ctrl+9 for a nonuplet. (Mac: Cmd+3 … Cmd+9).
   • From the menu, choose Add→Tuplets…, then select the required tuplet.
   • From the note input toolbar, click on the Tuplet icon, and select from the dropdown.

The note or rest is automatically divided for you and an appropriate annotation is applied.

3. Enter the desired series of notes/rests.

Consecutive tuplets

If you need to input a series of tuplets, and don't want to continually repeat the tuplet command, you can select the notes of the first tuplet and press R (Repeat) as many times as needed; then move subsequent notes into position using keyboard arrows, retyping or re-pitch mode.

Custom tuplets

More complex tuplets can be created as follows:

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 either the menu (Add→Tuplets…), or by clicking on the tuplet icon (note input toolbar).
   
3. In the Ratio field, specify the desired number ratio of the tuplet.
4. Set Number and Bracket to get the required tuplet display.
5. Press OK to close the dialog.
6. Enter the desired series of notes and rests.

Nested tuplets

Tuplets can be nested within other tuplets.

To create a nested tuplet:

1. Create the outer tuplet as described above.
2. While entering the individual notes, create inner tuplets in the way (select the total notated duration for the inner tuplet, then use one of the tuplet commands to divide it appropriately).

Changing the display of tuplets

You can choose to display or hide a tuplet number or bracket, change its orientation, or adjust line thickness. See Tuplet properties (below) for details.

Tuplet properties

The display of selected tuplets can be changed in the Tuplet section of the Properties panel.

Direction: Whether the tuplet indication appears above or below the staff. Available settings are "Auto", "above" (↑) or "below" (↓).
Number type: Affects the numerical display. Choice of "Number", "Ratio" or "None".
Bracket type: Sets bracket display. Settings are "Auto", "bracket", or "no bracket".
Line thickness: The thickness of the tuplet bracket, if displayed.

Tuplet style

You can set the global properties of tuplets in the score from Format→Style→Tuplets. These settings provide fine control over the default display of tuplets.

The settings include:

• Properties
  • Direction
  • Number type
  • Bracket type
• Brackets
  • Bracket thickness
  • Bracket hook height
• Vertical distance from notes
  • Maximum slope
  • Vertical distance from stem
  • Vertical distance from notehead
  • Avoid staves
• Horizontal distance from notes
  • Distance before stem of first note
  • Distance before head of first note
  • Distance after stem of last note
  • Distance after head of last note

A full range of common barlines is contained in the Barlines palette.

Adding double and other special barlines

Changing barline type for all staves

1. Select one or more barlines in a staff ;
2. Click on the desired barline in the palette.

Alternatively, you can drag a barline from the palette onto a barline in the score.

Changes are applied automatically to all barlines at the same point in the score.

Changing barline type for a single staff

1. Select one or more barlines in the score;
2. Hold Ctrl then click on the desired barline in the palette.

Alternatively, you can hold Ctrl and drag a barline from the palette onto a barline in the score.

Only barlines in the one staff are affected.

Adding mid-measure barlines

1. Select one or more notes.
2. Click on a barline in the palette.

This will add a "barline" in front of each selected note. The barline is for visual purposes and does not factor into any measure operations.

If you wish to divide a measure, inserting a real barline in the process, see Splitting a measure.

Changing barline length

Here we are concerned with the vertical extension of barlines in order to link staves together, or their reduction to create partial barlines.

Extending all barlines in a staff

1. Select a barline on the "start" staff;
2. Use either of the following:
   • Drag the end handle downwards until it meets the destination staff. This method is the best for extending barlines through multiple staves.
   • Select the edit handle and press ↓.
   • Check the "Span to next staff" in the Barlines section of the Properties panel; then click Set as staff default
3. Repeat if required for subsequent staves.

The barline snaps into place, and all other barlines in that staff follow.

Extending selected barlines in a staff

1. Select one or more barlines (and their counterparts in the staves below if there are more than two staffs to join).
2. Check the "Span to next staff" in the Barlines section of the Properties panel.

Creating partial barlines

Partial barlines can be easily created by adjusting "Span from" and "Span to" in the Barlines section of the Properties panel.

Creating barlines between staves only (Mensurstrich)

See Working with Mensurstrich.

Barline properties

You can edit properties specific to barlines in the Barlines section of the Properties panel:

Style: Used to change selected barlines to one in the dropdown list.
Span to next staff: Check this to make selected barlines extend to the staff beneath.
Span from/to: used to set the vertical start and end points of one or more selected barlines.
Set as staff default: Applies the changes made in Span to next staff and Span from/to to all barlines in the staff.
Span presets: Applies the selected preset to one or more selected barlines in the score.

Barline style

Selected properties for all barlines in the score can be changed in Format→Style→Barlines:

See also

• Fixed Measure Widths for a workaround to ensure barlines are aligned vertically between systems.
• Repeat signs

Showing and hiding measure numbers

Showing measure numbers automatically

By default, MuseScore shows measure numbers at the start of each system except the first one in a section. Numbering starts at the first complete measure in a section.

if you wish to change measure numbering:

1. From the menu bar, select Format→Style→Measure numbers.
2. Edit the following properties as required:
   • Measure numbers: This is ON by default. Uncheck to turn off measure numbering.
   • Show first: Check to show measure number on the first system of a section.
   • All staves: Check to show measure numbers on every staff.
   • Every system / Interval: If "Every system" is selected, measure numbers are shown at the start of each system. If "Interval" is selected, you can choose a measure interval at which to display measures.
3. Make changes to positioning using the controls on the right.
4. Edit the display of multimeasure numbers in the section below:
   • Show measure number range at multimeasure rests. If checked, you can also customize the appearance and position of the numbering. Unchecked (the default setting), only the count of multimeasure rests is displayed.

Showing measure numbers manually

To always show the number of a particular measure, regardless of style settings, open Measure properties and select "Always show" from the Measure number mode dropdown.

Hiding measure numbers

To hide all measure numbers, uncheck "Measure numbers" in Format→Style→Measure numbers.

To hide the number of a particular measure, regardless of style settings, open Measure properties and select "Always hide" from the Measure number mode dropdown.

Changing the measure number sequence

Excluding a measure from the count

In Measure properties, check "Exclude from measure count" (in the Other pane).

Altering the numbering of a measure

In Measure properties, edit "Add to measure number". Both positive and negative numbers are accepted.

Resetting measure numbering for a new section

By default, numbering of measures always restarts at the beginning of a new section. To prevent this, and make numbering continuous, select the break and in the Properties panel uncheck "Reset measure numbers for new section".

Changing the position of measure numbers

To adjust the position of all measure numbers, edit the X and Y offsets of "Position above" and "Position below" in Format→Style→Measure numbers.

Measure number properties

Note that any changes made to a measure number in the Properties panel may be lost if the layout changes.

Measure number style

Various properties for all measure numbers in the score can be adjusted in Format→Style→Measure numbers. Most are dealt with in the sections above.

See also

Other measure-related pages:

• Measure rests and multimeasure rests
• Pickup and non-metered measures
• Measure properties
• Adding and removing measures
• Mensural notation and Mensurstrich

Measure rest

A measure rest looks like a whole rest, but is centered within a measure and indicates that the entire measure (or a voice within it) is silent:

It is commonly used in all meters (except 4/2 and 8/4).

Multimeasure rest

A multimeasure rest is used to indicate a run of empty measures, the number of measures being shown by a figure above/below the staff.

Enabling and disabling multimeasure rests

Multimeasure rests can be turned on/off with the shortcut M, or by checking "Multimeasure Rests" in Format→Style…→Rests.

By default, if multimeasure rests are enabled, any sequence of two or more empty measures is automatically converted to multimeasure rests.

To change the minimum number of empty measures needed to trigger multimeasure rests:

1. From the menu, choose Format→Style…→Rests.
2. Check "Multimeasure rests" (if the option is not already enabled).
3. Edit "Minimum number of empty measures".

Multimeasure rests can be turned on/off independently in the score and instrument parts.

Breaking multimeasure rests

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

However, you can opt to break a multimeasure rest elsewhere as follows.

1. Disable multimeasure rests;
2. Right-click on the measure at which you want the multimeasure rest to break, and select Measure properties.
3. In the dialog, check "Break multimeasure rest".
4. Click OK.
5. Re-enable multimeasure rests.

Multimeasure rest properties

You can edit properties specific to multimeasure rests in the Multimeasure rest section of the Properties panel:

Show number: This box is checked by default. Uncheck it to hide the multimeasure number.
Number position: Adjust the vertical position of the multimeasure number, above or below the rest.

Multimeasure rest style

Some global properties of multimeasure rests can be set from Format→Style…→Measure numbers:

Others from Format→Style…→Rests:

See also

Other measure-related pages:

• Measure numbering
• Pickup and non-metered measures
• Measure properties
• Adding and removing measures
• Mensural notation and Mensurstrich

Creating a pickup measure

A pickup measure, also known as an upbeat or anacrusis, is a partial, or incomplete, measure at the beginning of a score or section.

Note: By convention, measure numbering starts at the first complete measure.

Specifying the pickup duration during score creation

1. Click on Measures in the "Additional score information" page (page 2) of the New Score dialog;
2. Check "Create pickup measure";
3. Choose an underlying time signature using the spin controls below.

Converting a measure into a pickup

1. Right-click on the measure and choose Measure properties;
2. In the Measure duration section, next to "Actual", choose an underlying "time signature";
3. Click OK; or click Apply and then ← or → if you want to configure an adjacent partial measure.

It is accepted musical practice to omit the same duration as the pickup from the final measure of the piece or of the same repeat section. The same method of shortening the measure applies here.

Creating non-metered measures

A non-metered measure is one which is less or greater in duration than the indicated time signature.

A measures of less duration than the indicated signature may be created in exactly the same way as a pickup measure (see above).

Other ways of creating non-metered measures are described below:

Inserting notes and rests

Extra notes/rests can be inserted in a measure with the help of either a keyboard shortcut, or by using a special mode of entry called Insert mode:

Using a keyboard shortcut

1. Select the note or rest in the score before which you want to insert notes/rests;
2. Enter note-input mode;
3. Select a duration;
4. Press Ctrl+Shift (Mac: Cmd+Shift) while adding the note/rest from the keyboard or mouse.

Using Insert mode

1. Make sure you have the element selected where you want to start inserting notes/rests;
2. Click and hold the Note input icon, and select Insert (or if Insert is the current default, just press N);
3. Enter a note or rest as you would in step-time mode. Each note is inserted before the current cursor position;
4. Move the cursor forward and backward if required (using the arrow keys), to change the insertion point.

If, at any time, the total duration of the notes and rests within the measure does not match the time signature, a small + or - sign will be shown above the measure.

Joining measures

This command joins selected measures into one measure.

Method A. To join two measures only:

1. Select the barline between the two measures;
2. Press Ctrl+Del; or select Tools→Remove selected range.

Method B. To join any number of measures:

1. Select the measures you want to join;
2. From the menu bar, select Tools→Measures→Join selected measures.

Notes: (1) 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. (2) Beaming may be automatically modified.

Splitting a measure

This command inserts a barline before a selected note, splitting the measure into two.

Use one of the following methods:

• Select a note; then hold Ctrl and click a barline in a palette.
• Hold Ctrl and drag a barline (from a palette) to a note.
• Select a note; then, from the menu bar, select Tools→Measures→Split Measure Before Selected Note/Rest.

See also

• Working with non-metered music.

Other measure-related pages:

• Measure numbering
• Measure and multimeasure rests
• Measure properties
• Adding and removing measures
• Mensural notation and Mensurstrich

Opening and using the dialog

The Measure properties dialog allows you to adjust various properties of an individual measure—such as visibility, duration, numbering and width ("Stretch").

• To open Measure properties, right-click on a measure and select "Measure properties".

  

If you only want to adjust one measure, click OK to make the changes permanent. However, if you also want to adjust adjacent measures there is no need to close the dialog; simply click Apply, then use the arrows on the bottom left of the window to move the dialog to the new measure. The new measure number appears both at the top of the dialog and in the status bar.

Staves

Visible : Uncheck/check the boxes to hide/show the selected measure.
Stemless: Check/uncheck the box to hide/show stems.

Measure duration

Nominal: This is the time signature set in the score.
Actual: Adjust these figures to increase or decrease the duration of a measure.

Other

Exclude from measure count: Check to make the count skip the selected measure.
Break multimeasure rest: See Measure rests and multimeasure rests.
Measure number mode: Allows you to display/hide measure number for the selected measure irrespective of style settings.
Add to measure number: Changes numbering from this measure onwards in the score.
Layout stretch: This property is normally adjusted first with a shortcut (see Stretch); use "Measure properties" for fine adjustment.
Play count: This only appears if the measure is before an end repeat barline. It indicates the number of times the repeat section is played.

The play count of the measure with the end repeat barline must be set one higher than the number of times you want the measure to play (this is usually equal to the number of entries in that volta repeat list + 1).

Take the following score:

Measure 4 should have play count set to 4
Measure 6 should have play count set to 3

See also

• Fixed Measure Widths for a workaround to ensure barlines are aligned vertically between systems.

Other measure-related pages:

• Measure numbering
• Measure and multimeasure rests
• Pickup and non-metered measures
• Adding and removing measures
• Mensural notation and Mensurstrich

Clefs are applied to the score from the "Clefs" palette.

Setting the initial clef for a staff

MuseScore automatically applies the most appropriate clef(s) for the instrument when creating a new score. You can easily change this from the score window if needed.

Adding or changing a clef

Add/Change a start clef

To change a clef at the start of a system, use one of the following:

• Select the first measure in the system and click a clef symbol in the palette.
• Drag a clef from the palette onto the first system measure.
• Select the clef and click a clef in the palette.
• Drag a new clef from the palette onto the clef.

Add/Change a mid-measure clef

To add/change a mid-measure clef before a note, use one of the following:

• Click on the note, then click a clef in the palette.
• Drag a clef from a palette onto the note

To add/change a mid-measure clef in front of a barline, use one of the following:

• Select the following measure and click a palette clef.
• Drag a clef from a palette onto the following measure.

Notes: (1) “Mid-staff” clefs are always smaller than the main system clef. (2) Notes after a clef change are automatically repositioned so that they continue to sound at the original pitch.

Delete

To delete a clef, just select it and press Del. Note that clefs at the beginning of systems cannot be deleted.

Controlling the visibility of clefs

Standard clefs

To hide/show clefs at the beginning of all systems except the first:

1. From the menu bar, select Format→Style→Page;
2. Uncheck/check Create clef for all systems.

Mid-measure clefs are unaffected.

To hide/show all clefs on a selected staff:

1. Right-click on a measure;
2. Choose "Staff/Part properties";
3. In the dialog, uncheck "Show clef".

This affects clefs at the start of a system and mid-measure.

Courtesy clefs

To hide/show courtesy clefs:

1. From the menu bar, select Format→Style→Page;
2. Uncheck/Check the Create courtesy clefs.

If courtesy clefs are enabled, you can still hide an individual courtesy clef as follows:

1. Select the relevant standard clef;
2. In the Properties panel, uncheck/check Show courtesy clef on previous system.

Clefs and transposition

Using octave clefs

[To be added]

Using different clefs for transposed and concert pitch

[To be added]

Clef properties

See Courtesy clefs (above).

Clef style

Tablature users can select the type of TAB clef displayed:

1. From the menu, select Format→Style→Clefs
2. Set the default TAB clef to "Standard" or "Serif" as required.

Other style properties are available in Format→Style→Page, namely:

Create clef for all systems
Create courtesy clefs

For details, see Controlling the visibility of clefs (above).

Overview

Key signatures are applied to the score from the "Key signatures" palette.

Setting the initial key signature for your score

The initial key signature is set from page 2 of the New Score dialog.

Adding a key signature change to your score

Use one of the following methods:

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

Note: It is also possible, though uncommon, to add a key-signature mid measure by selecting a note then clicking a palette key signature, or dragging the key signature to a note.

Adding a local key signature for a single staff

If you wish to add a key signature to only one staff, leaving others unchanged, apply one of the following methods:

• Select the measure from which you want the new key signature to apply, then press and hold Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) and click on a key signature in the (Key signatures) palette.
• Press and hold Ctrl (Mac: Cmd), then drag a key signature from a palette on to a measure.

Selecting a key signature for a single staff

If you wish to select a key signature for a single staff only, press and hold Ctrl (Mac: Cmd), then click on the key signature.

Replacing an existing key signature

Use any of the following methods:

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

To replace the key signature on a single staff only, press and hold Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) before carrying out the above operations.

Deleting a key signature

• To delete a key signature in the score, select it and press Del.
• To delete a key signature from single staff only, hold Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) while selecting it, then press Del.

Controlling the visibility of key signatures

To show key signatures only at beginning of a score, and at a key change:

1. From the menu bar, select Format→Style→Page;
2. Uncheck/Check "Create key signature for all systems".

To hide/show all courtesy key signatures (at the end of systems):

1. From the menu bar, elect Format→Style→Page;
2. Uncheck/Check "Create courtesy key signatures".

To hide/show a particular courtesy key signature:

1. Select the parent key signature;
2. In the Properties panel, uncheck/check "Show courtesy key signature on previous system".

Key signatures and transposing instruments

Care needs to be taken when working in written pitch and applying a key signature directly to a transposing instrument. For example, a Bb clarinet is written a tone higher than it sounds; so, to get the clarinet to display in G major, you need to apply a key signature of F major from the palette. And so on.

Open/Atonal key signature

Some instruments (e.g. French horn) are conventionally written with no key signature. To achieve this, you need to add an open/atonal local key signature to the staff (this is already done in scores created from templates).

An open/atonal key signature looks similar to a 'C major/A minor' key signature. However, unlike standard key signatures, an open key signature always remains the same, regardless of key changes to the rest of the score.

Creating a custom key signature

To create a custom signature:

1. In the "Key signatures" palette, click More, then Create key signature
   

2. Drag accidentals onto the staff image as required. Note: Accidentals are horizontally aligned by default. If you want to an accidental in a custom position, hold Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) while dragging it.

   

3. To remove an accidental select it and press Del. Note: The Clear button deletes all added accidentals.

4. To add the completed signature to the main palette, click Add.

Note: Custom key signatures are adapted to transposing instruments automatically. If You want transposing instrument to use custom key signature exactly the same, as it is in palette, You need to transpose it back. Select measure where key signature is placed and use Tools→Transpose.

Key signature properties

You can edit properties specific to key signatures in the Key signature section of the Properties panel:

Show courtesy key signature on previous system: See Controlling the visibility of key signatures (above).
Mode: You can select a mode for the key signature if required—major, minor, dorian etc. The default is "unknown".

Key signature style

Various style properties affect key signature display.

Format→Style→Page

Create key signature for all systems
Create courtesy signatures

The use of these properties is discussed in Controlling the visibility of key signatures (above).

Format→Style→Accidentals

Here you can change the way accidentals are displayed in key signature changes in the score.

Format→Style→Measure

Clef to key signature
Key signature to time signature
Barline to key signature
Key signature to barline
Key signature to first note

These properties control the various distances before and after key signatures in the score.

See also

• Transposition

Overview

Transposition is the act of raising or lowering the pitch of a selection of notes by the same interval.

In MuseScore, you can transpose your music using keyboard shortcuts, or via the Transpose dialog.

Transposing with keyboard shortcuts

To transpose with keyboard shortcuts, first select a range of notes (See Selecting elements). Then use one of the following options, depending on how you need to transpose your music:

Transpose chromatically

Press ↑ or ↓ to move the selection up/down in semitone steps

Transpose diatonically

Press Alt+Shift+↑/↓ to move the selection up/down in scale degrees (Mac: ⌥+Shift+↑/↓).

Transpose by an octave

Press Ctrl+↑/↓ to move the selection up/down in octave steps (Mac: ⌘+↑/↓).

Using the transpose dialog

The Transpose dialog gives you more control over transposition, with options to transpose to selected keys or by specific intervals.

First select a range of notes you wish to transpose. (See Selecting elements). If no selection is made, the whole score is automatically selected for transposition.

Then open the dialog by selecting Tools → Transpose...

Transpose Chromatically

When this is selected, you can choose to transpose to a specific key, or by specified interval.

To transpose chromatically to a specific key:

1. Select To key
2. Select whether to transpose to the Closest key (relative to the current key signature of the selection), or Up or Down to the destination key signature
3. Choose your destination key signature from the drop down menu
4. Leave Transpose key signatures selected to transpose any existing key signatures in your selection (deselecting this will leave any existing key signatures unchanged)
5. Leave Transpose chord symbols selected to transpose any existing chord symbols in your selection (deselecting this will leave any existing chord symbols unchanged)
6. Click OK

To transpose chromatically by interval

To transpose selected notes up or down in semitone increments:

1. Select By interval
2. Select whether to transpose your selection Up or Down by the specified interval
3. Select the transposition interval from the drop down menu
4. Select options for Transpose key signatures and Transpose chord symbols as required (see above)
5. Click OK

Transpose Diatonically

Select this to transpose the selection by a specified interval without changing the existing key signature(s). Note: the intervallic relationships between pitches in your selection will change as a result!

1. Select Transpose Diatonically
2. Select whether to transpose your selection Up or Down by the specified interval
3. Leave Keep degree alterations selected to retain any accidentals in the selection (Note: accidentals will be modified relative to the existing key signature. Note also: Deselecting this will remove any existing accidentals upon transposition)
4. Leave Transpose chord symbols selected to transpose any existing chord symbols in your selection (see above)
5. Click OK

Working with transposing instruments

Transposed and concert pitch

Transposing instruments (such as the clarinet, French horn, trumpet etc.) are notated at a different pitch (and key signature) to how they sound. The notated pitch is called the written pitch, while the actual pitch is called concert or sounding pitch.

By default the program is displayed with all the staves at written pitch. However, if you wish to view the score at concert pitch just check the "Concert pitch" box (to the left of the tuning fork icon) in the status bar.

Setting the interval of transposition

When you set up a score in the New Score, or Add or remove instruments dialogs, transposed key signatures are automatically applied to any transposing instruments. However if for any reason you need to set up the staff transposition manually, this is how to do it.

1. Right-click on the instrument staff and select Staff/Part properties;
2. Next to "Transpose" in the lower part of the dialog, select the interval that the instrument sounds above/below concert pitch. (Music for the Bb clarinet, for example, is written a tone above its sounding pitch and the transpose setting is therefore a major second down.)
   
3. Click OK.

The correct transposed key signature will now appear on the staff.

Controlling enharmonic spelling

The enharmonic spelling of the transposed key signature, whether in sharps or flats, is set in Staff/Part properties (see Setting the interval of transposition ).

To change the enharmonic spelling of pitches in the score, see Change spelling.

Overview

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:

8--------┐or 8va--------┐: Play one octave above written pitch.
8--------┘or 8va--------┘: Play one octave below written pitch.

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

MuseScore automatically adjusts playback of the score under the ottava to the correct pitch.

Ottava lines may be found in the Lines palette.

Adding an octave line to your score

See Adding a line to your score.

To adjust the range and vertical position of the line, see Adjusting elements directly.

Octave line properties

Properties specific to the selected ottava(s) can be adjusted in the Ottava section of the Properties panel, namely:

Style tab

Type: Specifies whether the Ottava line is 8va, 8vb etc.
Show number only: Hides any text (such as “va”).
Show line: Makes the line visible / invisible. Text is unaffected.
Allow diagonal: Allow line to slope if required.

For other properties in this tab, see Line properties.

Text tab

This has a similar user interface to general lines (see Line properties), but uses special code to specify the ottava text.

Octave line style

Default properties for ottavas can be adjusted in Format→Style→Ottava.

You can choose from an extensive range of alternative noteheads including diamond, crosshead, and many others.

A number of alternative notehead systems are also available allowing you, for example, to write music with pitch names in noteheads, solfege, or shape-note music. e.g.

Changing notehead direction

To flip a notehead horizontally (left to right of stem or vice-versa), use one of the following:

• Press Shift+X.
• Set Note direction in Properties: Note.
  

This also works for a selection of notes.

(Note: Contrast this command with X which flips the stem and beam vertically (top to bottom or vice versa)

Changing notehead shape

1. Select one or more noteheads;
2. Use one of the following:
   • Select a notehead from Notehead type in Properties: Note.
   • Click on a notehead in the Noteheads palette.

Alternatively, you can drag a notehead symbol from a palette onto a notehead in the score.

Sharing noteheads between voices

To force two offset noteheads in different voices to share a single notehead, use one of the following methods:

• Make the smaller-value notehead invisible. This works for the majority of cases.
• Select the smaller value notehead and in the Note section of the Properties toolbar change "Head type (visual only)" to that of the higher value note.

Note: MuseScore uses the following rules for sharing noteheads:

• Notes with stems in the same direction do not share noteheads.
• Dotted notes do not share noteheads with undotted notes.
• Black notes do not share noteheads with white notes.
• Whole notes never share noteheads.

Remove duplicate fretmarks in tablature

If you are using paired standard and tablature staves you will come across situations where a shared notehead in the standard staff generates two fretmarks in tablature. In this case simply hide one of the fretmarks by making it invisible.

Alternative notehead systems

If you wish to notate music in a shape-note style, solfege, or show pitch names in noteheads, for example, you should first score it in conventional notation. Then select all the noteheads and choose an option from Notehead system in Properties: Note.

Adding pitch and velocity information to notes

To edit the playback velocity of a note:

• In the Playback: General section of the Properties panel, edit "Velocity". This adds or subtracts the displayed value to/from the absolute velocity of the note indicated in the score.

To modify the playback pitch of a note (without altering notation):

• In the Playback: General section of the Properties panel, edit "Tuning (cents)". This adds/subtracts the displayed value to/from the note pitch shown in the score.

Notehead properties

After selecting a notehead, the following properties can be edited in the Note section of the Properties panel:

Notehead parentheses: Add or remove parentheses.
Notehead type: See Changing notehead shape (above).
Hide notehead: Makes notehead invisible (see also, Properties: visibility).
Small notehead:
Duration dot position: This provides an alternative vertical offset for the duration dot.
Notehead system: See Alternative notehead systems (above).
Notehead type (visual only): See Change offset noteheads to a shared notehead (above).
Note direction: See Changing notehead direction (above).
Notehead offset: This changes the offset of the notehead only (to change the offset of the complete note, use "Offset" in Properties: Appearance instead).

Adding an ambitus to your score

Changing the range of an ambitus

Ambitus properties

Manually changing the enharmonic spelling of notes

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.

Automatically respelling all notes in a selection

Respell pitches

• From the menu, select Tools→Respell Pitches.

Articulations can be found in the Articulations palette.

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

Adding articulations to your score

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

Toolbar

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

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

Articulations palette

To add any articulation:

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

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

Keyboard shortcuts

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

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

Articulations playback

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

Articulation properties

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

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

Articulation style

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

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

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

Dynamics can be edited just like other text objects. They also have a playback effect on the score.

Adding dynamics to your score

Dynamics palette

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

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

Custom dynamics

If the dynamic you want is not available in the palette, you can customize an existing one in the score. Since a dynamic is a form of text, you can edit it as such.

1. Enter edit mode.
2. Edit the text just as you would in a word processor.

Dynamic indications such as p, mf, f etc., are actually special characters and need to be entered from the special characters box. Alternatively you can use shortcuts from the following table:

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

Changing playback of dynamics

[To be added]

Dynamics properties

[To be added]

Dynamics style

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

Types of hairpin

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

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

All can be found in the Lines or Dynamics palettes.

Adding a hairpin to your score

Lines palette

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

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

Keyboard shortcuts

To enter a hairpin using a keyboard shortcut:

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

Changing appearance of hairpins

Range

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

Height

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

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

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

Set at angle

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

Other adjustments

See Hairpin properties.

Changing playback of hairpins

[To be added]

Hairpin properties

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

Style tab

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

Text tab

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

Hairpin style

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

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

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

Adding a slur to your score

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

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

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

Adding slurs in normal mode

Method 1

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

Method 2

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

Adding slurs in note input mode

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

Multi-voice and cross-staff slurs

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

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

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

Changing appearance of slurs

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

Slur properties

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

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

Slur style

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

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

These symbols also have an adjustable playback effect.

Types of pauses

Fermata

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

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

Breath mark

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

Caesura

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

Adding a pause to your score

To add a fermata:

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

Alternatively drag a fermata symbol onto a note.

To add a breath mark or caesura:

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

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

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

Changing pause playback

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

Pause properties

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

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

Pause style

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

Ornaments and ornament lines can be found in the Ornaments palette.

These include turns, trills, mordents and so on.

Adding an ornament to your score

Add an ordinary ornament

To add an ordinary ornament to the score:

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

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

Add an ornament line

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

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

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

Adding accidentals to ornaments

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 Master Palette (Shift+F2, or View→Master Palette).
3. In the "Symbols" section, search using the terms "figured bass", and the name of the accidental.
4. Click on the desired (small) accidental to apply it to the note. Close the Master palette.
5. Drag the accidental into position (or reposition using keyboard arrows or the offsets in the Properties panel).

Note, that accidentals added in this way do not affect playback.

Ornament properties

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

Performance: Choice of Standard or Baroque style of playback.
Placement: Choose from Above staff, Below staff, Chord automatic, Above chord, Below chord.

Ornament style

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