Voices

Voices allow you to have notes on a single staff which start at the same time, yet have different durations. Voices are sometimes called 'layers' in other notation software.

Instructions

1. Start by entering the top voice (all the up-stem notes). When you enter the notes, some may have down-stems. You do not need to worry about the stem direction at this point, because they will flip automatically when you add the second voice.
   
2. If you are using a computer or MIDI keyboard to enter notes (instead of the mouse), use the ← key to move your cursor back to the beginning of the staff (or measure)
3. Click on "Voice 2" button
4. Enter all the bottom voice notes (all the down-stem notes). When you are finished, it should look like this:
   

When to use voices

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

Hidden spacer rests

Only the rests of voices 2/3/4 can be deleted, not those of the main voice (1 - blue), they can be only hidden.

To hide a rest, right-click on the rest and select Set Invisible. If you have Display → Show Invisible marked, the rest still shows in gray on your screen. The hidden rest will not appear if you print.

External links

• Video tutorial: How To Write Two Parts On One Staff: Voices
• How to merge/combine/implode two staves in one with two voices
• How to input multiple notes on a staff with different durations
• How to make notes in unison overlapping