Measure numbers, 1st measure offset, time signature, rests

• Aug 28, 2024 - 23:43

Hi, I'm Jay and I've just got started with MuseScore. My need is simple: I need empty staff paper that I can write notes on and add chord symbols above. Just notes and chords. So question 1 is: How do I get rid of measure numbers?

Question 2 is: how do I make the first staff line up with the rest of the staves instead of being indented?

Question 3: How do I get rid of the time signature?

Question 4: How do I enter rests? I don't see them anywhere.

So, no measure numbers, no offset first staff and no time signature, just a blank page of staff paper, and access to rests.

Thanks all.


Comments

Exploration is knowledge

  1. Format→Style→Measure Numbers→Uncheck the option
  2. Disable indentation via: Format→Style→Enable indentation on first system
  3. One way is to select it and press the default shortcut for [toggle visible] which is 'v'. Another is to select it and press delete.
  4. Go to Edit→Preferences→Shortcuts and where "Search shortcut" is, type "rest" and see what the shortcut is for "Enter Rest"

Exploring the application and searching the handbook will save yourself some time from submitting questions and relying on wait-time for others to reply ;)

In reply to by worldwideweary

My Edit dropdown doesn't have a preferences option. I'm still struggling to work out a way to enter a rest without having to go through a needlessly complicated procedure. Should be able to just click on a note and put it in the measure, click on a rest and put it in the measure, and so on. But there are no rests to click on. Weird.

I'll get used to it eventually, but I'll most likely need to submit questions from time to time.

Interesting that the cross-platform nature of MSStudio isn't uniform for accessibility, but it is what it is.

P.S. Your need to have empty staff paper makes your desire to place rests seem a little out of place. Usually no rests would be desired for that purpose, and you'd then make them invisible so you can write manually into the measures - you could [Select All] and then toggle visibility for that.

If you do want to change a whole measure rest for whatever reason though to a set of smaller durations, and you're using your mouse like it sounds like - you can click the duration toggles to change them so long as you're not in "Note Entry" (where the blue highlighter "cursor" thing shows up)

restsviaMouser.gif

Good luck with your intentions:)

In reply to by worldwideweary

Oh, also you can enter rests while in note entry, but the method is different.
Instead of changing the duration of a currently selected rest like previously demonstrated, you can use the Right mouse button (not sure if your mac has that) or use the keyboard shortcut for "Enter Rest" which it seems is "0" by default.

Here's right mouse clicking (while in note entry this time):

restsRightMouseButton.gif

In MuseScore, measures are always 100% filled in.
So there is never need to enter rests, there is no empty space to put them, any space without notes is filled in by rest.
You may need to split existing rests to "create" the beats to enter notes, as the only way to say to MuseScore where you want your notes is by replacing an existing rest.
Or you may need to replace a note by a rest, that can be achieved by explicitly putting a rest instead of the note, but also just by deleting the note.
Up to you of course, but using the keyboard to enter notes and rests is quick and easy in MuseScore. I know that several mouse users will answer that keyboard is not easy, but fwiw here an example of how to enter a 1/4 rest followed by a A followed by a 1/8 rest followed by a dotted 1/4 G, making a complete 4/4 measure:
5 0 A 4 0 5 . G

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