Published on MuseScore.org

Swing

    MuseScore's swing feature allows you to change the playback of your score from a straight to a swing rhythm. Swing can be applied globally or only to a section of the score, and is fully variable.

    Apply swing to a score section

    To apply swing to all staves in a system:

    1. Click on the note where you want swing to start;

    2. Click Swing in the Text palette (double-click in versions prior to 3.4);
      This inserts a System Text object which affects all staves in the system with a default swing percentage of 60%.

    3. Edit the Swing text as required;

    4. If you need to vary swing from the default setting, right-click the Swing text and select System text properties... Click on the "Swing Settings" tab and adjust note duration and "Swing ratio" as required.

      Swing properties

    To apply swing only to specific staves in a system:

    1. Click on the note where you want swing to start;
    2. Add Staff text;
    3. Edit the appearance of the text as required;
    4. Right-click on the text, select Staff Text Properties..., and click on the "Swing settings" tab. Modify as required;
    5. Repeat steps 1–4 for other staves if needed.

    Swing text can be edited and formatted just like any other text object.

    Triplet in tempo marking

    Often this notation is used to indicate swing:

    Swing markings

    MuseScore does not have a way to include a triplet in text as a tempo marking, but there is an easy workaround:

    1. Add Swing text as described above and make it invisible (shortcut V, or untick "Visible" in the Inspector);
    2. Add an appropriate Image of the required tempo marking to the score. These can be downloaded from the bottom of the "How To" page: How to create a visual swing marking.
    3. Resize and reposition the image as required.

    Return to straight rhythm

    If you want playback to return to straight time after a swing section, use one of the following options:

    From version 3.4:

    Prior to version 3.4:

    1. Add Swing text to the first note or rest of the "straight" section (see above).
    2. Edit the text to indicate a return to straight time: e.g. "Straight."
    3. Right-click on the text and select System Text Properties…. Click on the "Swing Settings" tab and set "Swing to "Off."

    Apply swing globally

    If you wish to apply swing to the whole score, you can do so from the menu:

    1. Select Format → Style... → Score.

    2. In the "Swing Settings" section, set the desired note value and "swing ratio."

      Format Style Score