MuseScore Drumline - Introduction to MuseScore Drumline

What is MuseScore Drumline?

MuseScore Drumline is an extension for MuseScore 3 that extends the functionality of MuseScore and optimizes the experience for writing for marching ensembles and percussion.

What is included in MuseScore Drumline?

• 14 MDL instruments
• Professionally produced soundfont with custom recorded marching percussion samples
• MDL Workspace with palettes optimized for marching music
• MDL Pictograms for marching music
• 25+ templates for various marching ensembles and instruments

What instruments are included in MuseScore Drumline?

- MDL Snare (single marching snare drum)
- MDL Snare A (single marching snare drum, notated on 1 line percussion staff)
- MDL Tenors (single marching multi-tenor drum)
- MDL Snare Line (multiple unison marching snare drums)
- MDL Snare Line A (multiple unison marching snare drums, notated on 1 line percussion staff)
- MDL Tenor Line (multiple unison multi-tenor drums)
- MDL Flubs (multiple unison single-tenor drums)
- MDL Show Tenor Line (multiple tonal show-style tenor drums)
- MDL Bass Line 5 (five tonal marching bass drums)
- MDL Bass Line 10 (10 tonal marching bass drums)
- MDL Cymbal Line (3 marching cymbals)
- MDL Drum Set (8-piece drum set)
- MDL Rail (single-line Orchestra Percussion kit for pairing with pitched percussion instrument)
- MDL Sampler (MIDI sampler instrument for in score sample triggering)

How are the MuseScore Drumline sounds different than the default soundfont (MuseScore_General.sf3)?

While previous MuseScore soundfonts have been a community effort, the MuseScore Drumline soundfont is the first MuseScore soundfont that was created entirely by a professional virtual instrument designer using samples recorded in a studio with professional musicians.

The MuseScore Drumline Soundfont is also created using the SFZ format vs. SF3, which enables a much wider range of articulations and expression. Rather than being a single soundfont, it consists of 9 separate soundfonts.

If MDL is successfully installed, the following SFZ files should be visible in the Zerberus tab of the synthesizer (View > Synthesizer > Zeberus):

How is the MuseScore Drumline workspace optimized for writing for marching music?

The MDL Workspace has been optimized to support only the elements commonly used in writing for marching percussion. Two new palettes have been added to support the use of new MDL Pictograms:

- MDL Battery
- MDL Front Ensemble

What are MDL Pictograms and how are they used?

MDL Pictograms are illustrated symbols currently available in the Master Palette that may be used to not only communicate composer intent to a performer, but may also have a specific practical function within MuseScore.

For example, dragging the glockenspiel pictogram to a specific point in a xylophone part would not only communicate the instrument change in the score for the performer, but automatically creates a mid-staff instrument change for playback within MuseScore.

What templates are included in MuseScore Drumline?

- Solo Snare
- Solo Snare A
- Solo Tenors
- Bass Line 5
- Bass Line 10
- Cymbal Line
- Drum Set
- Battery
- Battery A
- Front Ensemble
- Indoor Percussion
- Indoor Percussion A
- Indoor Winds
- Drum Corps (full)
- Drum Corps (winds)
- Drum Corps (G bugles)
- Marching Band (full)
- Marching Band A (full)
- Marching Band (winds)
- Marching Band (university)
- Marching Band (OSU)
- Marching Band (show style)
- Marching Band A (show style)
- Battery (show style)
- Battery A (show style)
- Pep Band
- Pep Band (drum set)

What are the System Requirements for using MuseScore Drumline?

While MuseScore 3 may run quite well on systems with limited hardware resources (scroll down to Minimum Requirements ) , MuseScore Drumline requires additional system resources.

It is recommended that MuseScore Drumline be used on systems with hardware that meets the following requirements:

Minimal System Requirements - All Operating Systems

CPU with SSE2 support (all processors since 2006), but see Unsupported versions for Windows.
250MB hard disk space
1024x600 pixel resolution
2GB RAM

Recommended System Requirements - All Operating Systems

CPU with SSE2 support (all processors since 2006), but see Unsupported versions for Windows.
500MB hard disk space
1024x600 pixel resolution
4GB RAM

MDL Tutorials
MuseScore Drumline - Download & Installation
MuseScore Drumline - Introduction to MuseScore Drumline
MuseScore Drumline - Using MDL Pictograms
MuseScore Drumline - Using MDL Rails