Deleting notes and rests
You'd think this was basic but I can't work out how to delete a note or a rest from the score.
I've just started with this software and I need to remove a rest from a bar but nothing I try deletes it. I've tried highlighting the rest and hitting [Delete] or [Back Space] on my keyboard, I've tried right-clicking, I've tried select and [Ctrl}+{x] ... nothing - it's still there.
The manual doesn't help.
Help, please.
Comments
The rest of the Voice 1 may be hidden (press V or open Inspector) see: https://musescore.org/en/handbook/voices-0#hidden-spacer-rests
In reply to The rest of the Voice 1 may by Shoichi
Why would you want to delete rests? In a 4/4 measure you need 4 quarters worth of notes and rests. Unless it is an irregular measure, in that case see https://musescore.org/en/handbook/measure-operations-0#duration
Music is either sound AKA note or silence AKA rest.
In reply to Why would you want to delete by Jojo-Schmitz
I should have made myself clearer and I'm really sorry for the confusion. I'm used to software packages that simply leave the bar blank until I put something in like a rest or a note. I know it sounds odd to allow me to have 7 quavers in a 4/4 bar but it does make sense when you get used to it. I've now realised that MuseScore inserts rests even when I don't want them and I have to CONVERT a rest to a note. I have to admit I'm having to learn not to find this irritating ... but I'm getting there. :-)
Thank you all for your input - I know it took time and effort to help this possibly deranged newbie asking existential questions ("Why can't I delete silence?!?") but it is really comforting to know that, as I get to know this software better and I can ask more coherent questions, you're all there to help. I truly look forward to being a proper member of this community.
Think of any rest/note as a temporal place holder within a measure. At that moment in time there will either be a) silence - represented by the rest; or b) sound - represented by the musical note. There is no other option.
a) To 'delete a rest', then, means replacing the silence with a sound (note) at that moment in time.
So... simply type in your desired pitch to replace that rest. As to the choice of pitch - that's up to you. MuseScore will not guess.
If, however, you want to delete a rest and have other notes 'automatically' take its place, this will not happen. MuseScore does not guess which notes (or how many) you want moved. Copy/Paste is the way to go - simply copy the note(s) you want moved and paste onto the rest you want to delete.
b) To 'delete a note', then, means replacing with silence: i.e. a rest.
So... since silence has no pitch, press delete and MuseScore will replace the note with a rest at that moment in time. (No guessing involved.)
See:
https://musescore.org/en/handbook/note-input
and:
https://musescore.org/en/handbook/note-input#duration
and:
https://musescore.org/en/handbook/copy-and-paste-0
Regards, and welcome aboard.
Lots of different ways to say essentially the same thing. Here's my version:
A rest is silent, there is nothing to delete. I assume what you *really* want is to take some unspecified of subsequent notes and move them earlier, to start where the rest starts currently. MuseScore won't move notes unless you ask it to. So simply do so directly - sleect the notes you wish to move earlier, cut, click the place you want to to move them to (the rest), paste.
You are in good company with your question. It seems that many new users have trouble with the concept.
You might consider watching the videos found on the home page. I think they do a good job introducing how to use Musescore.
To Forum members: seeing many of the same questions over and over makes me wonder if the FAQ should be expanded to cover (very) common questions on how to use the software. If nothing else it might save a lot of repetitive typing. BTW, I am not suggesting duplicating what is in the handbook. But the handbook is better at explaining how to do things than it is how not to do things. And I think it should stay that way.
In reply to You are in good company with by jim.weisgram
Jim, that is a VERY comforting comment - I really was beginning to think I was "way out there" ... Good to know I'm not alone.