Barlines

Barline symbols are available in the Barlines palette:

Change barline type

To change an existing barline, use one of the following:

• Select a barline, then double click on a symbol in the Barlines palette.
• Drag a symbol from the Barlines palette onto a barline in the score.
• Drag a symbol from the Barlines palette onto a measure.
• Select a measure, then double-click on a symbol in the Barlines palette.
• Select a barline then adjust "Style" in the "Barline" section of the Inspector.

To change a non-single to a single barline:

• Select the barline and press Del.

To hide a barline:

• Select the line and press V, or uncheck Visible in the Inspector.

Insert barline

To insert a new barline between existing ones, either:

• Drag a symbol from the Barlines palette onto a note or rest.
• Select a note or rest, then double-click a symbol in the Barlines palette.

Custom barlines

It is possible to create custom barlines by selecting one or more barlines, and adjusting the properties in the "Barlines" section of the Inspector:

• Style: Chose from a range of preset barlines.
• Spanned staves: The maximum equals the number of staves in the system.
• Span from: Sets the position of the top of the barline. "0" is the top staff line. Positive numbers start lower down the staff, negative numbers above.
• Span to: Sets the position of the bottom of the barline (see "Span from").
• Span preset: Set a span preset option.

See also, Mensurstrich.

Changes to color and horizontal/vertical offset can also be made in the Inspector.

Connect barlines

Barlines may extend over multiple staves, as in the grand staff of a piano, or in an orchestral score to join instruments in the same section. To join barlines:

1. Double-click on a barline to enter Edit mode.

   

2. Click on the lower blue handle and drag it down to the staff you wish to connect to. The handle snaps into position so there is no need to position it exactly.

3. Press Esc to exit edit mode. This will update all other relevant barlines as well.

   

See also

• Measure operations
• Add fermata to barline

Clefs

Commonly used Clefs (Treble, Bass, Alto, Tenor) can be found in the Clefs palette in the Basic workspace. For a more complete range, see the Clefs palette in the Advanced workspace (see image below).

Note: You can tailor the display of clefs to your specific requirements using a custom palette.

Add a clef

Add clef to beginning of measure

Method 1—add clef to beginning of a measure, whether or not it is the first measure in a system

• Select a measure and double-click a clef symbol in the palette, OR
• Drag a clef from the palette onto a measure.

Method 2—only for changing the clef at the start of a system

• Select the existing clef at the beginning of the system and double-click a new clef from the palette, OR
• Drag a new clef from the palette directly onto the existing clef.

Add mid-measure clef

To create a mid-measure clef:

• Click on a note, then double-click a clef in the palette.

Note: If the clef is not the first in the system, it will be drawn smaller.

In this image, the top staff starts with a treble clef and switches immediately to bass clef, then after a note and a rest, changes back to treble clef.

Note: Changing a clef does not change the pitch of any note. Instead, the notes move to preserve pitch. If you want, you can use Transposition in conjunction with a clef change.

Courtesy clefs

When a clef change occurs at the beginning of a system, a courtesy clef will be generated at the end of the previous system.

To show or hide all courtesy clefs:

1. From the menu, select Style→General...→Page;
2. Check/uncheck "Create courtesy clefs."

It is also possible to show/hide courtesy clefs on a case-by-case basis:

1. "Create courtesy clefs" should already be ticked in the "General" menu (see above);
2. Select a clef and tick/untick "Show courtesy" in the Inspector.

Remove a clef

• Select a clef and press Del.

Hide clefs

Display clef only in the first measure (for all staves)

1. From the menu, select Style→General...→ Page;
2. Uncheck "Create clef for all systems."

Display clef only in the first measure (for a particular staff)

1. Right click on the staff, select Staff properties... and uncheck "Show clef;"
2. Open the master palette and select the "Symbols" section;
3. Drag and drop a clef from the master palette onto the first measure of the staff; OR select the first note and double-click a clef in the master palette.

Note: This option may be useful to TAB users who do not want the clef to repeat on every subsequent line.

Hide all clefs in a particular staff

1. Right click on the staff, and select Staff properties...;
2. Uncheck "Show clef."

Key signatures

Standard key signatures are available in the Key Signatures palette in the Basic or Advanced workspaces. It is also possible to create custom key signatures (below).

Add a new key signature

Add new key signature to all staves

Use any of the following methods:

• Drag a key signature from the palette onto an empty part of a measure.
• Select a measure and double-click a key signature in the palette.
• Select a note and double-click a key signature in a palette.

Add new key signature to one staff only

If you wish to change the key signature of only one staff line, leaving others unchanged:

• Press Ctrl (Mac: ⌘) and hold while you drag a key signature from a palette onto a measure.

Replace an existing key signature

Replace key signature for all staves

Use any of the following methods:

• Drag a key signature from the palette onto the key signature to be replaced (or onto the measure containing the key signature).
• Select the key signature to be replaced, and double-click a new key signature in a palette.

Replace key signature for one staff only

If you wish to replace the key signature of only one staff, leaving others unchanged:

• Press Ctrl (Mac: ⌘) and hold while you drag a key signature from a palette onto the key signature to be replaced (or onto the measure containing the key signature).

Remove a key signature

Use any of the following methods:

• Click on an existing key signature and press Del.
• Drag the empty key signature from the palette (in the advanced workspace) onto the measure.

Naturals on key signature changes

By default, MuseScore only shows cancelling naturals when the key signature changes to that of C Major/A minor (no sharps or flats). In all other cases, it simply shows the new key signature without cancellations:

However, you can opt to display cancelling naturals for all key signature changes:

1. From the menu, select Style → General... → Accidentals. You'll see the options:

   

2. Select one of the three options.

3. If you are in a part and want the new option to apply to all parts, click on Apply to all parts.
4. Click OK to exit.

For example, selecting the option "Before key signature if changing to fewer ♯ or ♭" gives:

And the option "After key signature if changing to fewer ♯ or ♭. Before if changing between ♯ and ♭" gives:

Key signature changes and multi-measure rests

Multi-measure rests are interrupted if there is change of key signature:

Courtesy key signatures

To turn off the display of a particular courtesy key signature:

• Select the relevant key signature and untick "Show courtesy" in the "Key Signature" section of the Inspector.

To turn off the display of all courtesy key signatures:

• From the menu, select Style → General... → Page, and untick "Create courtesy key signatures."

Note: Courtesy key signatures are not displayed at section breaks.

Custom key signatures

To create a custom key signature:

1. Press Shift+K to display the Key signatures section of the Master palette.

   

2. In the Create Key signature panel, drag accidentals from the palette onto the "staff" above to create the desired key signature. Use the Clear button, if required, to remove all accidentals from the "staff."

3. Press Add to move the new key signature into the library (center panel).

Note: Playback of custom key signatures is not currently supported.

To move a key signature from the Master palette to a custom palette:

• Drag and drop the key signature onto a palette.

To apply a key signatures to the score directly from the Master palette, use one of the following methods:

• Select a measure and double-click a key signature in the Master palette.
• Drag a key signature from the Master palette onto a measure.

Time signatures

Time signatures can be found in a Palette of the same name in both the Basic and Advanced workspaces.

Add a time signature to a score

To add a time signature, use any of the following methods:

• Drag and drop a time signature from a palette onto a space in a measure.
• Select a measure and then double-click a time signature in a palette.
• Select any note or rest and double-click a time signature in a palette.

The time signature will appear at the beginning of the measure in question.

To replace a time signature, use any of the following methods:

• Drag and drop a time signature onto an existing time signature.
• Select a time signature in the score, then double-click a time signature in a Palette.

Delete a time signature

To delete a time signature in the score, select it and press Del.

Create a time signature

If the time signature you require is not available in any of the existing palettes, it can be created as follows:

1. Press Shift+T to display the Time signatures section of the Master Palette.
2. Select a time signature to edit in the center panel.
3. In the Create Time Signature panel, edit the various parameters (numerator, denominator, text, beaming) to get the time signature and properties you want. To restore the default beaming pattern, press Reset.
4. Press Add to add the newly-created time signature to the center panel. To delete a time signature from the center panel, right-click on it and select Clear.
5. Drag and drop the time signature from the Master Palette to the desired score location.

To move a time signature from the Master Palette to a custom palette:

• Drag and drop the time signature onto a palette in a custom workspace.

Time signature properties

To display the Time Signature Properties dialog:

• Right-click on a time signature and select Time Signature Properties….

• Global value: Shows the global time signature and is set automatically when you add a time signature to the score. It is the reference for beats (as shown in the status bar) and tempo markings.
• Actual value: Shows the time signature associated with a particular staff. This is normally the same as the global time signature, but can be set independently if required. See Local time signatures.
• Note Groups; Allows you to change the default beaming of notes associated with a time signature. See Change default beaming.
• Appearance: Allows you to edit the displayed text without affecting the underlying time signature. For an example, see Additive meters.

Change default beaming

To adjust note-beaming for a particular time signature:

1. Right-click on the time signature and select, Time Signature Properties…;

2. To break a note beam in the Note Groups panel, click on the note following it. To reset the beam, click in the same place. Alternatively, you can change beaming by dragging a beam icon onto a note, as follows:

   • Start beam at this note.
   • Do not end beam at this note.
   • 1/8th note beam to left of this note.
   • 1/16 note beam to left of this note.

   The Reset button cancels any changes made in that session.

   Note: As of version 2.1, checking the box for "Also change shorter notes," means that any beam changes at one level are applied automatically to shorter durations as well. In versions before 2.1 you must adjust beams for the different note durations independently.

Additive (composite) meters

Additive (or composite) time signatures are sometimes used to clarify the division of beats within a measure. To create an additive time signature:

1. Right-click on a time signature in the score and select Time Signature properties…;
2. In the Appearance section, adjust the "Text" property as required;
3. Adjust note beaming in the Note Groups section if required.

Note: The Time Signatures section of the Master palette also allows you to create additive time signatures (see above).

Local time signatures

In certain cases a score may show staves with different time signatures running at the same time. For example, in Bach's 26. Goldberg Variation:

In the above example, the global time signature is 3/4, but the time signature of the upper staff has been set independently to 18/16.

To set a local time signature for just one staff:

• Hold down Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) and drag and drop a time signature from a palette onto an empty measure.

Pickup measures and cadenzas

Occasionally you will need to decrease or increase the duration of a measure without changing the time signature—for example, in a pickup measure (anacrusis) or in a cadenza etc. See Measure operations: Measure duration.

Time signature changes and breaks

Multi-measure rests are interrupted when a time signature change occurs. Also, a section break will prevent a courtesy time signature being shown at the end of the previous measure.

See also

• Key signature

External links

• How To Using Polyrhythm, mixed meters and local time signatures in MuseScore
• Additive meters at Wikipedia.

Accidentals

The most common types of accidentals are provided in the Accidentals toolbar above the score and in the Accidentals palette in the basic workspace. A more comprehensive range can be found in the Accidentals palette in the advanced workspace.

Add accidental

Accidentals are automatically added to a note, as appropriate, when you increase or decrease its pitch:

• ↑: Increase the pitch of a note by one semitone (favors sharps).
• ↓: Decrease the pitch of a note by one semitone (favors flats).

To add either (i) a double flat or double sharp, (ii) a courtesy (also known as cautionary or reminder) accidental, or (iii) a non-standard accidental, use one of the following options:

• Select a note and click on an accidental in the toolbar above the score.
• Select a note and double-click an accidental in the Accidentals palette (basic or advanced workspace).
• Drag an accidental from the Accidentals palette on to a note.

If you wish to add parentheses to a cautionary accidental, use one of the following:

• Select the accidental in the score and double-click the parentheses symbol in the Accidentals palette.
• Drag the parentheses symbol from the palette onto the accidental.
• Select the accidental and check the "Has bracket" box in the Inspector (as of version 2.1).

If you later change the pitch of a note with cursor keys, manual settings to the accidental are removed.

If required, accidentals can be deleted by clicking on them and pressing Del.

Change enharmonic spelling

To change the enharmonic spelling of a note, or notes, in both written and concert pitch views:

1. Select a note, or group of notes;
2. Press J;
3. Continue pressing J to cycle through the enharmonic equivalents.

To change the enharmonic spelling in the written pitch view, without affecting the concert pitch view, or vice versa:

1. Select a note, or group of notes;
2. Press Ctrl+J (Mac: Cmd+J);
3. Continue pressing the same combination of keys to cycle through the enharmonic equivalents.

Note: If the pitches of selected notes are not all the same, the effect may be unpredictable.

Respell pitches

• From the menu, select Notes→Respell Pitches.

See also

• Key signature: Change

External links

• Accidental at Wikipedia
• Enharmonic at Wikipedia

Arpeggios and glissandi

Arpeggio and Glissando symbols can be found in the "Arpeggios & Glissandi" palette in the advanced workspace. This palette also includes strum arrows, an arpeggio bracket, wind instrument articulations, and slide in/slide out symbols.

To add a symbol to the score, use one of the following methods:

• Select one or more notes, then double-click a symbol in the "Arpeggios & Glissandi" palette.
• Drag a symbol from the "Arpeggios & Glissandi" palette onto a note.

Any symbol can be customized by adjusting its properties in the Inspector. Edit handles are also provided in most cases to allow adjustment of length/curvature in Edit mode. If needed for future use, you can save the result in a custom palette.

Arpeggios

When an arpeggio or strum arrow is added to the score, it initially spans only one voice. However, you can easily adjust its height by double-clicking the symbol and dragging the handles up or down (for finer adjustment use the keyboard arrows). Playback of the symbol can be turned on or off in the Inspector.

Glissandi (slides)

A Glissando or, more informally, a slide, spans two consecutive notes, normally in the same voice.

Chord glissandi are also possible.

Adjust start and end points

1. Double-click the symbol to enter edit mode;
2. Click on the start or end handle:
   • Use Shift+↑↓ to move the handle up or down, from note to note.
   • Use Shift+←→ moves the handle horizontally, from note to note.

This method also allows you to move handles between notes in different voices or even from one staff to another—for cross-staff glissandi, for example. You can also use the keyboard arrow buttons or Ctrl + arrow to make final adjustments to the positions of the handles.

Custom glissandi

To customize the glissando to your requirements, select it and adjust the Inspector properties as follows :

• Type: Choose between a straight or wavy line;
• Text: Edit, or delete the text. Note: If there isn't enough room between notes, the text is not displayed;
• Style: Chose how the glissando plays back. There are four options: Chromatic, White keys, Black keys, Diatonic;
• Play: Check/uncheck the box to turn playback on or off.

Wind instrument articulations

Fall, Doit, Plop and Scoop symbols are provided. To change the length and curvature, select the symbol, enter edit mode and adjust the handles as described in Edit mode: Lines.

Slide in/out

Slide in and Slide out lines can also be found in the "Arpeggios & Glissandi" palette. To edit the length and angle of a line, double-click on it and drag the handle (or use keyboard arrows for finer adjustment).

External links

• Arpeggio at Wikipedia
• Glissando at Wikipedia

Articulations and ornaments

A comprehensive set of symbols can be found in the Articulations and Ornaments palette in the Advanced workspace:

There is also an abbreviated version in the Basic workspace.

Articulations

Articulations are the symbols added to the score to show how a note or chord is to be played. The principal symbols in this group are:

• Fermatas
• Staccato
• Mezzo-staccato / Portato
• Staccatissimo
• Tenuto
• Sforzato
• Marcato

Specialist articulations are also included for bowed and plucked strings, wind instruments etc.

Ornaments

Ornaments include:

• Mordents, Inverted Mordents, Pralltrillers
• Trills
• Turns
• Bends

Note: Appoggiaturas and acciaccaturas can be found in the Grace Notes palette.

Add articulation/ornament

Use either of the following methods:

• Select a note or a range of notes, then double-click a symbol in a palette.
• Drag a symbol from a palette onto a notehead.

Add accidental to an ornament

To apply an accidental to an existing ornament, such as a trill:

1. Select the note to which the ornament is attached;
2. Open the Symbols section of the Master palette;
3. Search for and apply the desired accidental to the score (small accidentals can be found using the search term "figured bass");
4. Drag the accidental into position (or reposition using keyboard shortcuts or the Inspector).

Add fermata to a barline

A fermata can be applied directly to a barline by selecting the barline and double-clicking the fermata from a palette. This does not affect playback though.

Keyboard shortcuts

• Toggle Staccato: Shift+S
• Toggle Tenuto: Shift+N
• Toggle Sforzato (accent): Shift+V
• Toggle Marcato: Shift+O
• Add Acciaccatura (grace note): /

Keyboard shortcuts can be customized in MuseScore's Preferences.

Adjust position

Immediately after adding an articulation or ornament from a palette, the symbol is automatically selected: It can then be moved up or down from the keyboard as follows:

• Press up/down arrow keys for fine positioning (0.1 sp at a time);
• Press Ctrl+↑ or Ctrl+↓ (Mac: Cmd+↑ or Cmd+↓) for larger vertical adjustments (1 sp at a time).
• To flip a symbol to the other side of the note (where applicable), select it and press X.

To enable adjustments in all directions from the keyboard:

1. Double click on the symbol to enter Edit mode, or click on it and press Ctrl+E (Mac: Cmd+E) , or right-click on the symbol and select "Edit element";
2. Press arrow keys for fine positioning (0.1 sp at a time); or press Ctrl+Arrow (Mac: Cmd+Arrow) for larger adjustments (1 sp at a time).

You can also change the horizontal and vertical offset values in the Inspector. To position more than one symbol at a time, select the desired symbols and adjust the offset values in the Inspector.

Note: The symbol can also be repositioned by clicking and dragging, but for more precise control, use the methods above.

Articulation properties

Most properties of articulations/ornaments can be edited from the Inspector. Other properties (i.e. direction and anchor position) can also be accessed by right-clicking on the symbol and selecting Articulation Properties….

You can also make global adjustments to all existing and subsequently-applied articulations by selecting Style… → General… → Articulations, Ornaments.

See also

• Grace notes

External links

• Ornaments at Wikipedia

Beams

Note beams are set automatically, based on the time signature. To adjust the default beaming, right-click on a time signature and select "Time Signature Properties." See Change default beaming for details.

However, if you want to adjust note beaming manually, on a case-by-case basis, use the beam symbols found in the Beam Properties palette in the "Basic" or "Advanced" workspaces:

Beam symbols

The following is a list of beam symbols and their effects:

• Start a beam at this note (or rest).
• Do not end a beam at this note (or rest).
• Do not beam this note.
• Start a second level beam at this note.
• Start a third level beam at this note.
• (back to) Automatic mode: the mode MuseScore chooses on note input, dependent on current time signature and its beam settings.
• Start feathered beam (slower) at this note.
• Start feathered beam (faster) at this note.

Change note beaming

To change one or more note beams (except feathered beams, below), use either of the following methods:

• Drag and drop a beam symbol from a workspace onto a note in the score.

• Select one or more notes in the score and double click the desired workspace beam symbol.

To apply feathered note beams, use either of the following methods:

• Drag and drop a feathered-beam symbol from a workspace onto a note beam in the score.

• Select one or more note beams in the score, then double click on a feathered-beam symbol in the workspace.

Notes: (1) Feathered beams may use 2 or 3 lines depending on the tempo and the desired rate of the change; (2) To create a 2-line feathered beam, you need to start with a continuous run of beamed sixteenth notes; (3) To create a 3-line feathered beam, you need to start with continuous run of beamed thirty-second notes; (4) Playback of feathered beams is not supported.

Adjust beam with the keyboard/mouse

Adjust beam angle

1. Double-click on a note beam or select it and press Ctrl+E to put it into edit mode—the right end handle is automatically selected.
2. Use the up/down arrows or drag the right end handle to change the angle of the beam.
3. Press Esc to exit edit mode.

Adjust beam height

1. Double-click on a note beam or select it and press Ctrl+E to put it into edit mode—the right end handle is automatically selected.
2. Press Shift+Tab or click the left handle to select it
3. Use the up/down arrows or drag the left end handle to change the height of the beam.
4. Press Esc to exit edit mode.

Adjust beam with the inspector

Alternatively, you can use the Inspector for all of these operations:

Adjust beam angle

1. Click on a note beam.
2. Tick the "User position" box in the "Beam" section of the Inspector.
3. Set the "Position" values to get the desired beam angle.

Adjust beam height

1. Click on a note beam.
2. Tick the "User position" box in the "Beam" section of the Inspector.
3. Set the "Position" values as desired.

Make the beam horizontal

1. Select a note beam
2. Tick the "Horizontal" box in the "Beam" section of the inspector.
3. If desired, adjust the beam height with the keyboard/mouse: see above.

If you want all note beams in the score to be horizontal there is a "Flatten all beams" option in Style→General→Beams.

Adjust feathered beams

To adjust feathered beams:

1. Select a note beam.
2. Adjust the values in the "Grow left" and "Grow right" boxes in the "Beam" section of the Inspector.

Local relayout

MuseScore (following accepted music engraving practice) spaces notes according to their time values, allowing for accidentals, lyrics etc. In systems where there is more than one staff, this may result in irregular note spacing, as in the following example:

Local relayout is a tickbox option in the Inspector allowing you to specify those passages in the score where you want the note spacing to be independent of other staves in the system. Applying "Local relayout" to the note beams in the top staff of the previous example results in a more even distribution of notes:

To do a local relayout:

1. Select one or more note beams.
2. Tick the option Local relayout in the "Beam" section of the Inspector.

Flip note beam

To flip a beam from above to below the notes, or vice-versa:

1. Select one or more note beams.
2. Use any of the following options:
   • Press the X key;
   • Press the "Flip direction" icon in the bottom right of the toolbar area.
   • Select a "Direction" option (Auto, Up or Down) in the "Beam" section of the Inspector.

Reset Beam Mode

To restore beams to the mode defined in the local time signatures:

1. Select the section of the score you want to reset. If nothing is selected, the operation will apply to the whole score;
2. Select Layout→Reset Beam Mode.

See also

• Cross-staff notation
• Edit mode
• Note input

External links

• How to add a beam over a rest
• How to place a beam between notes

Brackets

MuseScore provides standard brackets and a curly brace within the Brackets palette in the advanced workspace.

Add

To add a bracket or brace to systems, use one of two methods:

• Drag a bracket symbol from a palette on to an empty space in the first measure of the staff where you want the bracket to start.
• Select the first measure of the staff where you want the bracket to start and double-click a bracket symbol in a palette.

Delete

• Select the bracket and press Del.

Change

• Drag a bracket symbol from a palette onto an existing bracket in the score.

Edit

When you first apply a bracket it only spans one staff. To extend to other staves:

1. Enter Edit mode.
2. Drag the handle downwards to span the required staves. The handle snaps into position, so exact placement is not required.

Style

The default thickness and distance from the system of brackets and braces can be adjusted in Style → General... → System.

Breaths and pauses

Breath and pause markings are available in the Breaths & Pauses palette in the advanced workspace.

Add symbol

To add a breath or pause (the latter also called a caesura, or informally "tram lines" or "railroad tracks") to the score, use one of the following options:

• Select a note or rest and double-click a breath or pause symbol in a palette
• Drag a breath or pause symbol from a palette onto a note or rest in the score.

The symbol is placed after the note.

Adjust position

To adjust the position of the breath or pause, use any of the following options:

• Click on the symbol and adjust the Horizontal or Vertical offsets in the Inspector.
• Enter edit mode on the symbol, and use arrow key shortcuts.

Adjust pause length

From version 2.1 onwards, you can adjust the pause length (in seconds) of the added symbol using the "Breath" or "Caesura" category in the Inspector.

Grace notes

A grace note is a type of musical ornament, usually printed smaller than regular notes. The Short grace note, or Acciaccatura, appears as a small note with a stroke through the stem. The Long grace note, or Appoggiatura, has no stroke.

Create grace notes

Grace notes can be found in the "Grace notes" palette in the Basic or Advanced workspace.

Add a grace note

Use one of the following methods:

• Select a regular note and double click a grace note in a palette;
• Drag a grace note symbol from a palette onto a regular note;
• Select a note and press / to create an acciaccatura only.

This will add a grace note of the same pitch as the regular note. To add a sequence of grace notes to a regular note, simply repeat the above actions as many times as required. See also, Change pitch (below).

Note: When a grace note is added to the score, a slur is not automatically created with it, so the latter needs to be added separately. See Slurs.

Add a chord of grace notes

Grace note chords are built up just like regular chords:

1. Enter the first note of the chord as shown above
2. Select this first grace note and enter subsequent notes as you would for any other regular chord (i.e. Shift+A...G).

You can also create a grace note chord by using the add interval shortcut in step 2: Alt+1...9 for intervals from a unison to a ninth above.

Change pitch

The pitch of a grace note can be adjusted just like a regular one:

1. Select one or more grace notes
2. Adjust pitch using the keyboard arrow commands, namely:
   • ↑ or ↓ to increase or decrease the pitch by a semitone;
   • Alt+Shift+↑ or Alt+Shift+↓ to increase or decrease the pitch one step at a time, according to the key signature.

Change duration

If you want to change the duration of a previously created grace note, select it and choose a duration from the toolbar or enter with one of the keys 1...9 (see Note input).

Manual adjustment

The position of a grace note after a note (such as a trill termination) may have to be adjusted by selecting the note, going into edit mode and using the left/right keyboard arrows; or change the chord offset values in the Inspector.

External links

• Grace note at Wikipedia
• Appoggiatura at Wikipedia
• Acciaccatura at Wikipedia

Hairpins

Add a hairpin

Hairpins are line objects. To create a hairpin:

1. Select a range of notes or measures;
2. Use one of the following shortcuts:
   • <: to create a crescendo hairpin.
   • >: to create a diminuendo hairpin (decrescendo).

Alternatively, use one of the following options:

• Select a range of notes or measures, and double-click a hairpin in a palette.
• Drag and drop a hairpin from a palette onto a staff line.

Adjust length

1. Double-click on the hairpin to enter edit mode. Then click on the end handle that you want to move:

   

2. Use one of the following shortcuts:

   • Shift+→ to move the end handle, and its anchor, right by one note or rest.
   • Shift+← to move the end handle, and its anchor, left by one note or rest;

   This method of extending or shortening the hairpin maintains playback integrity and allows it to cross line breaks:

   

3. To change the position of an end handle without changing the position of its anchor, use the following shortcuts:

   • → to move the handle right by 0.1 sp.
   • ← to move the handle left 0.1 sp.
   • Ctrl+→ (Mac: Cmd+→) to move the handle right one sp.
   • Ctrl+← (Mac: Cmd+→) to move the handle left one sp.

   Note: The commands listed in step 3 are only used to tweak the final appearance of the hairpin (e.g. see image below): they do not change its playback extent nor do they allow it to cross line breaks. If you want the latter, use the Shift+→ or Shift+← commands instead (step 2).

   

   Note: The "Reset" command (Ctrl+R (Mac: Cmd+R)) will undo these small adjustments, but will not undo anchor changes.

Cresc. and dim. lines

In addition to hairpins, there are cresc.   _     _     _ and dim.   _     _     _ lines with the same function in the Lines palette. To change the text (e.g. to cresc. poco a poco, or decresc. instead of dim), right-click on the line and choose Line Properties....

To turn a hairpin into its equivalent text line:

1. Select the hairpin.
2. In the Inspector, set "Line style" to "Wide dashed."
3. In the Inspector, select the "Text line" checkbox.

Hairpin playback

Crescendo and diminuendo lines only affect playback from one note to the next: they have no affect (currently) on the playback of a single note or a series of tied notes.

By default, hairpins will affect playback only if dynamics are used before and after the hairpin. For example, a crescendo spanning notes between p and f dynamics will cause a dynamic change on playback. However, between any two successive dynamics only the first appropriate hairpin will have effect: a diminuendo between p and f will be ignored; of two or more crescendos between p and f, all but the first will be ignored.

A hairpin may be used without dynamic marks, by adjusting "Velocity change" in the Inspector (values in the range 0 to 127).

Lines

The Lines palette of the Advanced workspace includes the following types of lines:

• Slur
• Hairpins (crescendo and diminuendo)
• Volta brackets (1st, 2nd, 3rd time endings etc.)
• Octave lines (8va, 8vb, 15ma etc)
• Keyboard pedal markings
• Extended ornament lines (Trills etc)
• Guitar barre line
• Straight line
• Ambitus (early music symbol)

Applying lines to the score

Most lines (except Slurs, Volta brackets and the Ambitus) can be applied from a palette in the following ways:

To apply a line to just one note

1. Click on a note, then Ctrl+Click on the next note;
2. Double-click a line.

To apply a line across a range of notes

1. Select a range of notes;
2. Double-click a line.

To apply a line from a note to the end of that measure

Use any of the following methods:

• Click on a note, then double click a line.
• Drag and drop a line onto the score.

To apply a line across a range of measures

1. Select one or more measures;
2. Double click a line.

Adjust vertical position

To adjust the vertical position of one or more lines:

1. Ensure you are not in note-input or edit mode.
2. Use either of the following:
   • Click on one or more lines and change the vertical offset in the Inspector;
   • Click on a line, press and hold Shift and drag it up/down with a mouse.

Note: You can also adjust the vertical position in Edit mode.

Change length

1. Ensure you are not in note input mode (press Esc to exit);

2. Double click the line that you want to change to enter edit mode;

3. Click on an end handle and use one of the following shortcuts:

   • Shift+→ to move the end handle, and its anchor, right by one note (or, in the case of Voltas, one measure)
   • Shift+← to move the end handle, and its anchor, left by one note (or, in the case of Voltas, one measure);

4. To change the position of an end handle without changing the position of its anchor, use the following:

   • → to move the handle right by 0.1 sp (1 sp = one staff space = the distance between two staff lines).
   • ← to move the handle left 0.1 sp.
   • Ctrl+→ (Mac: Cmd+→) to move the handle right one sp.
   • Ctrl+← (Mac: Cmd+→) to move the handle left one sp.

   Note: You can also drag the endpoint handles with a mouse.

Text lines

A text line is a line that has text embedded within it—such as a volta, ottava, guitar barre line etc.

When you apply a text line to the score from a palette, the line properties (see below) always remain unchanged, but the properties of embedded text may vary depending on circumstances. See Behavior of applied text and lines for details.

Custom lines and line properties

Lines may contain features such as embedded text or hooks at the ends (e.g. ottavas and voltas). They can be customized once they have been added to the score, and the results saved to a workspace for future use:

1. Right-click on a line and select Line Properties…;

2. Add any text you want to appear in the line;

   • Begin: Text added here appears at the beginning of the line.
   • Continue: Text added here appears at the beginning of a continuation line.
   • End: Text added here appears at the end of the line.

   Click on the ... buttons to adjust the Text properties at each position as required.

3. If a hook is required, tick the appropriate "Hook" box, and adjust the hook length and angle;

4. Select an option from "Place": "Above or "Below" positions the text so that it overlaps the line; "Left" places the text to the left of the line;

   Note: Additional placement options are available in the "Text properties" dialog (see step 2, above).

5. Click OK to exit Line Properties;

6. Make adjustments to Color, Thickness and Line type (solid, dashed etc.) in the "Line" section of the Inspector. Ticking "Diagonal" here allows you to create a diagonal line by dragging the end handles;

7. If you wish to save the resulting line for future use, see Custom palettes.

Copying lines

Once applied to the score, lines cannot be copied using the usual copy and paste procedures. However, you can duplicate lines within a score: press and hold Ctrl+Shift (Mac: Cmd+Shift), click on the line and drag it to the desired location.

Extended ornament lines

To add an accidental to an extended ornament, such as a trill line, select the line and double-click a symbol from the Accidentals palette.

External links

• Piano pedal marks at Wikipedia
• Guitar Barre at Wikipedia

Measure rests

Full measure rest

A whole rest, centred within a measure (shown below), is used to indicate that an entire measure (or a voice within a measure) is silent, regardless of time signature.

To create one or more full measure rests

Use the following method if all selected measures are "standard"—i.e. with no custom durations:

1 Select a measure, or range of measures.
2. Press Del.

If one or more of the measures contains a custom duration, use the following method instead:

1. Select a measure, or range of measures.
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+Del (Mac: Cmd+Shift+Del).

To create a full measure rest in a particular voice

1. In the appropriate voice, enter a rest that extends for the full measure.
2. Make sure the rest is selected, then press Ctrl+Shift+Del (Mac: Cmd+Shift+Del).

Multimeasure rest

A Multimeasure rest indicates a period of silence for an instrument: the number of measures is shown by the number above the staff.

Multimeasure rests are automatically interrupted at important points, such as double barlines, rehearsal marks, key- or time signature changes, section breaks etc.

To display multimeasure rests

To turn multimeasure rests on or off:

• Press M on your keyboard.

Alternatively:

1. From the menu, choose Style→General...
2. Click on the "Score" tab, if it is not already selected;
3. Tick/untick "Create multi-measure rests."

Note: It is recommended that you enter all notes in the score first before enabling multi-measure rests.

Break multimeasure rest

You may want to have a multi-measure rest divided into two multi-measure rests:

1. Ensure that the option to display multimeasure rests in the score is off (see above).
2. Right-click on the measure where you want the second multi-measure rest to start;
3. From the menu, chose Measure Properties and tick "Break multi-measure rest."

See also: Measure operations: Break multimeasure rest.

Octave lines

Octave (Ottava) lines are used to indicate that a section of music is to be played one or more octaves above or below written pitch: The line may be dotted or solid. Ottavas are available in the Lines palette of the Basic and Advanced workspaces.

8─────┐or 8va─────┐: Play one octave above written pitch
8─────┘or 8vb─────┘: Play one octave below written pitch

8va/8vb lines are particularly common in piano scores, though they are sometimes used in other instrumental music.¹ 15ma (2 octaves above) and 15mb (2 octaves below) are also occasionally used.

Apply an octave line

Use one of the following:

• Select a range of notes, then double click an octave line from a palette.
• Select one or more measures, then double click an octave line from a palette.
• Click on a note, then double-click an octave line from the palette (extends line from selected note to end of bar).
• Drag an octave line from a palette onto a note (extends line from selected note to end of bar).

See also, Lines: Adjust vertical position.

Change length

See Lines: Change length.

Custom lines

Octaves can be customized just like any other line. See Lines: Custom lines and line properties.

External links

• Octave at Wikipedia

Slurs

A slur is a curved line between two or more notes indicating that they are to be played legato—smoothly and without separation. Not to be confused with Ties, which join two notes of the same pitch.

There are a number of ways to add a slur to a score, and all may be useful depending on the context (adding a slur from the lines palette is also possible but not recommended).

Add slur in note-input mode

1. While in note input mode, type in the first note in the slurred section;
2. Press S to begin the slurred section;
3. Type in the remaining notes in the slurred section;
4. Press S again to end the slurred section.

Add slur outside note-input mode

Method 1

1. Make sure you are not in note input mode and select the first note that you want the slur to cover:

   

2. Press S to add a slur extending to the next note:

   

3. (Optional) Hold Shift and press → (right arrow key) to extend the slur to the next note. Repeat as required:

   

4. (Optional) Press X to flip the slur direction:

   

5. Press Esc to exit edit mode:

   

Method 2

1. Make sure you are not in note input mode;
2. Select the note where you want the slur to start;
3. Chose one of the following options:
   • To add a slur to one voice only: Hold down Ctrl (⌘ on a Mac) and select the last note that you want the slur to cover.
   • To add slurs to all voices: Hold down Shift (⌘ on a Mac) and select the last note that you want the slurs to cover.
4. Press S.

Adjust slur

If you only want to adjust the position of a slur:

1. Select the slur;
2. Use any of the following methods:
   • Drag the slur.
   • Adjust the horizontal and vertical offset values in the Inspector.

To adjust all the properties of a slur (length, shape and position):

1. Make sure you are not in note input mode;
2. Double-click the slur to enter edit mode (or select it and press Ctrl+E; or right-click it and select "Edit Element");
3. Click on a handle to select it, or use Tab to cycle through the handles;
4. To move the left and right handles from note to note, use the following shortcuts:
   • Shift+→: Move to next note.
   • Shift+←: Move to previous note.
   • Shift+↑: Move to lower voice (voice 2 to voice 1 etc.).
   • Shift+↓: Move to higher voice (voice 1 to voice 2 etc.).
5. To adjust the position of any handle, use any of the following methods:
   • Drag the handle.
   • Use the arrow keys for fine adjustment (0.1 sp. at a time). For larger adjustments (1 sp. at a time) use Ctrl+Arrow.
6. Press Esc to exit edit mode.

Note: The two outer handles adjust the start and end of the slur, whilst the three handles on the curve adjust the contour. The middle handle on the straight line is used to move the whole slur up/down/left/right.

Extended slurs

A slur can span several systems and pages. The start and end of a slur is anchored to a note/chord or rest. If the notes are repositioned due to changes in the layout, stretch or style, the slur also moves and adjusts in size.

This example shows a slur spanning from the bass to the treble clef. Using the mouse, select the first note of the slur, hold down Ctrl (Mac: ⌘) and select the last note for the slur, and press S to add the slur.

X flips the direction of a selected slur.

Dotted slurs

Dotted slurs are sometimes used in songs where the presence of a slur varies between stanzas. Dotted slurs are also used to indicate an editor's suggestion (as opposed to the composer's original markings). To change an existing slur into a dotted or dashed slur, select it and then in Inspector (F8) change Line type from Continuous to Dotted or Dashed.

See also

• Tie
• Edit mode
• Note input

Ties

A tie is a curved line between two notes of the same pitch, indicating that they are to be played as one note with a combined duration (see external links below). Ties are normally created between adjacent notes in the same voice, but MuseScore also supports ties between non-adjacent notes and between notes in different voices.

In note-input mode, if you specify a tie immediately after entering a note or chord, the program automatically generates the correct destination notes to go with the ties. Or, you can simply create ties "after the fact," between existing notes.

Note: Ties, which join notes of the same pitch, should not be confused with slurs, which join notes of different pitches and indicate legato articulation.

Tie notes together

1. Press Esc to make sure you are not in note input mode.

2. Click on a note, or use Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) + click to select more than one note.

   

3. Press + or the tie button, .

   .

Ties will be created between the selected note(s) and the following note(s) of the same pitch.

Tie chords together

To tie all the notes in a chord at once, either:

• Click on the stem of the chord, or
• Hold down Shift and click on any note in the chord.

Then press + or the tie button . Ties will be created between all the notes in the selected chord and the following notes of the same pitches.

Add tied notes in note input mode

To create a single note tie during note input:

1. Select a single note (one that is not part of a chord).
2. Select a new note duration for the following note, if required (but see "Note" below).
3. Press + or the tie button, .

Note: This shortcut works, as described above, only if there is no chord following the selected note. If there is, then the duration is ignored and the tied note is added instead to the following chord.

Add a tied chord in note input mode

1. Make sure one note is selected in a chord.
2. Select a new note duration for the following chord, if required (but see "Note" below).
3. Press + or the tie button, .

Note: This shortcut works, as described above, only if there is no chord following the selected note. If there is, then the duration is ignored and the tied notes are added instead to the following chord.

Tied unison notes

If the chords to be tied contain unison notes the best way to ensure correct notation is:

1. Assign each note of a unison pair to a separate voice.
2. Ensure that one of the unison pairs is set to "stemless" (to remove the duplicate stem and tail).
3. Apply the ties voice by voice. Make adjustments for position, length as required.

Flip a tie

X flips the direction of a selected tie, from above the note to below the note, or vice-versa.

See also

Slur

External links

• How to create ties leading into a 2nd ending
• Ties (music) at Wikipedia

Tremolo

Tremolo is the rapid repetition of one note, or a rapid alternation between two notes or chords. It is indicated by strokes through the stems of the notes or chords. If the tremolo is between two, the bars are drawn between them. Tremolo symbols are also used to notate drum rolls.

The tremolo palette in the advanced workspace contains separate symbols for one note tremolos (shown with stems below) and for two note tremolos (shown with no stem below).

To add tremolo to a single note, select the note head and double-click the desired symbol in the tremolo palette.

In a two note tremolo, every note has the value of the whole tremolo duration. To enter a tremolo with the duration of a half note (minim), enter two normal quarter notes (crotchets), and after applying a tremolo symbol to the first note, the note values automatically double to half notes.

Tuplets

Tuplets are used to write rhythms beyond the beat divisions usually permitted by the time signature. For example, a sixteenth note triplet divides an eighth note beat into three sixteenth notes instead of two:

In 6/8 time, an eighth note duplet divides a dotted quarter note into two eighth notes instead of three:

Create a tuplet

The exact method of tuplet entry depends on whether you are starting off in Note input mode or Normal mode. We'll start off with a simple example: the creation of an eighth note triplet.

Create a triplet in normal mode

1. Select a note or rest that specifies the full duration of the desired triplet group. In the case of an eighth note triplet, you will need to select a quarter note or rest—as in the example below:

   

2. From the main menu, choose Notes→Tuplets→Triplet, or press Ctrl+3 (Mac: ⌘+3). This will give the following result:

   

3. The program automatically changes to note-input mode and selects the most appropriate duration—in this example an eighth note. Now enter the desired series of notes/rests. For example:

   

Create a triplet in note input mode

1. Ensure you are in note input mode (press N).
2. Navigate to the note/rest (or blank measure) where you want the triplet to start (use the left/right arrow keys as required).
3. Select a final duration for the whole triplet group. In the case of an eighth note triplet, click on the quarter note in the note input toolbar (or press 5 on the keyboard).
4. From the main menu, choose Notes→Tuplets→Triplet, or press Ctrl+3 (Mac: ⌘+3). This creates a triplet number/bracket and appropriately divides the original note/rest (see image above).
5. The program automatically selects the most appropriate duration—in this example an eighth note—allowing you to immediately start entering the desired series of notes/rests.

Create other tuplets

To create other tuplets (Duplet (2) to Nonuplet (9)), substitute one of the following commands at the relevant step above:

• Press Ctrl+2–9 (Mac: Cmd+2–9).
• From the menu, select Notes→Tuplets, then click on the desired option.

For more complex cases, see below.

Custom tuplets

To create other tuplets than the default options (e.g. 13 sixteenth notes in the space of one quarter note):

1. In Note input mode, select a note duration equaling the total duration of the tuplet; or, if in Normal mode, select a note or rest of the desired overall duration;
2. Open the Create Tuplet dialog from the menu: Notes→Tuplets→Other...;

3. Select the desired number ratio (e.g. 13/4 for thirteen sixteenth notes in the space of a quarter note) under "Relation" in the "Type" section. Specify "Number" and "Bracket" using the radio buttons in the "Format" section;

   

4. Click OK to close the dialog:

   

5. Enter the desired series of notes/rests.

Delete a tuplet

To delete any tuplet, select the number/bracket and press Del.

Change display of tuplets

• To change the way that tuplets are displayed in the score, adjust the properties in the "Tuplet" section of the Inspector.
• Some general settings for tuplets can also be found in Style→General...→Tuplets.

Using the Inspector

To change the display properties of tuplets in the score, select the tuplet numbers/brackets, and adjust the desired properties in the "Tuplet" section of the Inspector:

If neither the number nor the bracket of the tuplet is shown in the score, select a note from the tuplet, then use the Tuplet button in the Inspector to display the "Tuplet" section:

Direction

• "Auto" places the bracket/number in the default position.
• "Up" places the bracket above the note heads, regardless of the stem, or beam position.
• "Down" places the bracket below the note heads, regardless of the stem, or beam position.

Number type

• "Number" shows an integer.
• "Relation` shows a ratio of two integers.

• "Nothing" turns off number display.

  

Bracket type

• "Automatic" hides the bracket for beamed notes and shows the bracket if the tuplet includes unbeamed notes or rests.
• "Bracket" displays the bracket.
• "Nothing" hides the bracket.

Using the Style menu

To make fine adjustments to the way that all tuplets in the score are displayed, from the menu, select Style → General... and select Tuplets.

Two adjustments are possible: Vertical and Horizontal

• Vertical adjustment has three options with values in space units and one (un)ticked option
  • Maximum slope: default value is 0.50; range is from 0.10 to 1.00
  • Vertical distance from stem (see (2) below): default value is 0.25; range is from -5.00 to 5.00
  • Vertical distance from note head (see (3) below): default value is 0.50; range is from -5.00 to 5.00
  • Avoid the staves: by default ticked
• Horizontal has four options with values in space units
  • Distance before the stem of the first note (see (5) below): default value is 0.50; range is from -5.00 to 5.00
  • Distance before the head of the first note: default value is 0.00; range is from -5.00 to 5.00
  • Distance after the stem of the last note (see (6) below): default value is 0.50; range is from -5.00 to 5.00
  • Distance after the head of the last note: default value is 0.00; range is from -5.00 to 5.00

External links

• How to create triplets and other tuplets
• How to create nonstandard tuplets
• Tuplet at Wikipedia
• The User Guide to Tuplets in MuseScore [video]

Repeats and jumps

Simple repeats

You can create a simple repeat by placing a start and an end repeat barline at the beginning and end of a passage. These barlines are applied from the Barlines palette, and, as of version 2.1, also from the Repeats & Jumps palette.

Note: If the start of a repeat coincides with the beginning of a piece or section, the start repeat barline can be omitted if desired. Similarly, an end repeat barline can be omitted at the end of a score or section.

1st and 2nd endings

First create a simple repeat (as shown above), then apply the first and second time endings—see Voltas.

Playback

To hear repeats during playback, make sure the "Play Repeats" button on the toolbar is selected. Likewise, you can turn off repeats during playback by deselecting the button.

To set the number of times that a repeat section plays back:

1. Make sure the start and end repeat barlines are in place (e.g. Simple repeats above).
2. Right-click on the last measure before the end repeat barline and select Measure properties.
3. Adjust "Play count" ("Repeat count" prior to version 2.1) as required.

Repeat symbols and text

Text and symbols related to repeats are located in the "Repeats & Jumps" palette (in the Basic and Advanced workspaces). This palette contains:

• Symbols for measure repeat, Segno, Coda, and, as of version 2.1, repeat barlines
• D.S., D.C., To Coda, and Fine text

To add a repeat symbol to the score use either of the following:

• Drag and drop a repeat symbol from the palette onto (not above!) the desired measure (so the measure changes color).
• Select a measure, then double-click the desired repeat symbol in the palette.

Jumps

Jumps are symbols in the score which tell the musician, and playback, to skip to a named marker (see below). Jumps include the various kinds of D.C. (Da Capo) and D.S. (Dal Segno) text.

If you click on a jump, some text boxes and a checkbox are displayed in the Jump section of the Inspector. These have the following effects on playback:

• Jump to: Playback jumps to the marker whose "Label" is the same as the "Jump to" tag.
• Play until: Playback continues until it reaches a marker whose "Label" is the same as the "Play until" tag.
• Continue: Playback jumps to the next marker whose "Label" is the same as the "Continue" tag.
• Play repeats: (As of version 2.2) Ticking this box tells MuseScore to play repeats after D.C. (Da Capo) or D.S. (Dal Segno) jumps. If this option is not ticked then simple Repeats are not taken after jumps and playback works as if it were the last repeat. Note: Ticking this option makes no difference to playback in versions prior to 2.2.

Note: The tags start and end, referring to the beginning and end of a score or section, are implicit and don't need to be added by the user.

Markers

Markers are the places referred to by the jumps. A list of markers (in addition to the implicit "start" and "end") follows:

• : Segno (tag: segno)
• : Segno Variation (tag: varsegno)
• : Coda (tag: codab)
• : Coda Variation (tag: varcoda)
• Fine: (tag: fine)
• To Coda: (tag: coda)

If you click on a marker, the following properties appears in the Marker section of the Inspector:

• Marker type: This can be changed from the dropdown list, if required.
• Label: This is the (identifier) tag associated with the marker. See also, Jumps (above).

Examples of jumps

• Da Capo (D.C.): At the "D.C." sign, playback jumps to the start (i.e. to the implicit start tag) and plays the entire score or section again (i.e. up to the implicit end tag).
• Da Capo (D.C.) al Fine: At the "D.C. al Fine" sign, playback jumps to the start (i.e. to the implicit start tag) and plays the score up to the Fine (i.e. the fine tag).
• Dal Segno (D.S.) al Fine: At the "D.S. al Fine" sign, playback jumps to the Segno symbol (i.e. the segno tag) and then plays up to the Fine (i.e. the fine tag)
• Dal Segno (D.S.) al Coda: At the "D.S. al Coda" sign, playback jumps to the Segno symbol (i.e. the segno tag) and then plays up to the To Coda (i.e. the coda tag). Playback then continues at the Coda symbol (i.e. the codab tag).

Note: The properties (i.e. the tag names) of jumps and markers can be set via the Inspector. You need to modify them if using multiple jumps and markers.

See also

• Barlines
• Volta

External links

• MuseScore in Minutes: Repeats and Endings, part 2 (video tutorial)
• How to separate a coda from the rest of the score (MuseScore HowTo)

Voltas

Volta brackets, or first and second ending brackets, are used to mark different endings for a repeat.

To add a volta to the score

Use one of the following methods:

• Select a measure, or range of measures and double-click a Volta icon in the Lines palette.
• Drag-and-drop a volta from the Lines palette, then adjust the length as required (see below).

To change the number of measures that a volta covers

1. Double-click the volta to enter edit mode. The end handle is automatically selected.
2. Press Shift+→ to move the end handle forward one measure. Press Shift+← to move the handle backward one measure. Repeat as required.

Note: Only the Shift commands will alter the playback start and end points of the volta. To make fine adjustments to the visual start or end points you can use other keyboard arrow commands, or drag the handles with a mouse, but these do not affect the playback properties.

When you select a start or end handle, a dashed line appears connecting it to an anchor point on the staff. This anchor shows the position of the playback start or end point of the Volta.

Text

You can change the text and many other properties of a volta bracket using the line properties dialog. Right-click on a volta bracket and choose Line Properties.... The figure below shows the volta text as "1.-5."

You can also right-click on the volta and bring up the volta properties dialog. From here, you can change both the displayed Volta text (the same from the line properties above) and the repeat list. If you want one volta to be played only on certain repeats and another volta on other repeats, enter the repeat times in a comma separated list. In the example below, this volta will be played during repeat 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7. Another volta will have the other ending, like 3, 6 and possibly other higher numbers like 8, 9, etc.

Playback

Sometimes a repeat plays more than two times. In the figure above, the volta text indicates that it should play five times before it continues. If you want to change the number of times MuseScore plays a repeat, go to the measure containing the end repeat barline and change its Play count (Repeat Count prior to version 2.1). See Measure operations: Other properties for details.

External links

• MuseScore in Minutes, Lesson 8: Repeats and Endings, Part 1
• How to create ties leading into a 2nd ending

Transposition

Transposition is the act of raising or lowering the pitch of a selection of notes by the same interval. You can chose to transpose notes either manually or by using the Transpose dialog.

Manual transposition

1. Select the notes that you wish to transpose;
2. Use any of the following options:
   • To transpose chromatically: Press ↑ or ↓. Repeat as required;
   • To transpose diatonically; Press Alt + Shift + ↑ or ↓. Repeat as required;
   • To transpose by an octave: Press Ctrl + ↑ or ↓ (Mac: Cmd + ↑ or ↓).

Note: In versions prior to 2.1, F2 (Mac: fn+F2) transposes the whole score and key signature UP one semitone. Shift+F2 (Mac: Shift+fn +F2) transposes the score and key signature DOWN one semitone.

Automatic transposition

MuseScore's Transpose dialog gives you more options for transposing notes.

Note: By default this dialog opens from the Notes menu, but you can also chose to open it using a keyboard shortcut (see Preferences).

Transpose Chromatically

By Key

To transpose notes up or down to the nearest key:

1. Select the notes you want to transpose; no selection equals "select all.";
2. From the menu bar, choose Notes → Transpose...;
3. Tick "Transpose Chromatically" and "By key;"
4. Tick/untick "Transpose key signature" and "Transpose chord symbols" if required;
5. Tick one of "Closest," "Up" or "Down;" and select a destination key signature from the drop-down menu;
6. Click OK.

By Interval

To transpose selected notes up or down in semitone increments:

1. Select the notes you want to transpose; no selection equals "select all.";
2. From the menu bar, choose Notes → Transpose...;
3. Tick "Transpose Chromatically" and "By Interval;"
4. Tick/untick "Transpose key signature" and "Transpose chord symbols" if required;
5. Tick "Up" or "Down;" and select a transposition interval from the drop-down menu;
6. Click OK.

Transpose Diatonically

To transpose selected notes up or down by a diatonic interval:

1. Select the notes you want to transpose; no selection equals "select all.";
2. From the menu bar, choose Notes → Transpose...;
3. Tick "Transpose Diatonically;"
4. Tick/untick "Transpose key signature" and "Transpose chord symbols" if required;
5. Tick "Up" or "Down;" and select a transposition interval from the drop-down menu;
6. Click OK.

Transposing instruments

Transposing instruments, such as the B-flat trumpet or E-flat alto sax, sound lower, or higher than their written pitch. MuseScore has a number of features to facilitate the scoring of these instruments.

Concert pitch

MuseScore's default viewing mode shows the musical notation in written pitch, but you can chose to display the score in concert pitch instead. In the latter mode, the musical notation of all instruments matches the actual pitches that you hear on playback.

To switch to concert pitch, use one of the following options:

• Press the Concert Pitch button to highlight it.
• From the menu bar, select Notes and tick the Concert Pitch option.

You should ensure that the Concert pitch button is OFF before printing the main score or any parts.

Change staff transposition

Instrument transpositions are already set up in MuseScore. However, if you want a rare instrument or transposition that is not available in MuseScore, you may need to edit the instrument transposition manually.

1. Right-click an empty part of the instrument staff and select Staff Properties....
2. At the bottom of the window, select the interval of transposition, any octave shifts, and whether the interval is "Up" (sounds higher than written) or "Down" (sounds lower than written).

You can also use the Change Instrument… button in the Staff Properties window to automatically change the transposition to that of a different standard instrument.

External links

• How to transpose (MuseScore How-To)
• Concert pitch or not?? (forum discussion)

Drum notation

Entering percussion notation is somewhat different to entering notation for pitched instruments (such as the piano or violin). However, it is recommended that you first read the chapter on Note input for pitched instruments before proceeding.

Percussion staff types

When you create a percussion staff using the New Score Wizard or the Instruments dialog, MuseScore automatically choses the most appropriate staff type (1-, 3-, or 5-line) for the instrument: this can be changed, if required, using the "Staff type" column on the Chose instruments / Instruments page. Any additional changes (e.g. to a 2-line staff) can be made from the score itself (see Advanced Style Properties).

On a 5-line percussion staff, each instrument is assigned a vertical staff position (line or space) and a notehead shape. For a drumset, one or two voices can be used. If the latter, voice 1 (the upper voice) usually contains (up-stem) notes played by the hands while voice 2 (the lower voice) usually contains (down-stem) notes played by the feet (see image below).

Note input methods

You can add notes to a percussion staff from any of the following:

• External MIDI keyboard;
• Piano keyboard (virtual);
• Computer keyboard;
• Mouse.

These methods can be used in any desired combination:

MIDI keyboard

To add notes to a percussion staff from a MIDI keyboard:

1. Ensure that the MIDI keyboard is connected and functioning correctly.

   Note: If you click on the percussion staff without entering note input mode, you can demo the percussion instruments from the MIDI keyboard.

2. Click on the note or rest where you want to start.

3. Enter note input mode.
4. Select the correct voice. For example, snares, sidesticks and all cymbals are normally added to voice 1; bass drum to voice 2.
5. Set note duration.
6. Press an instrument key to add a note to the score. To add another note at the same position, keep the first key held down while pressing the second key.

Note: Refer to a GM2 drum map for details about which MIDI keyboard key corresponds to which percussion instrument. Some keyboards (e.g., Casio) display percussion symbols next to the keys as an aid to the user.

Piano keyboard

To add notes to a percussion staff from the virtual Piano Keyboard:

1. Ensure that the Piano keyboard is displayed. Press P (or select it from the menu, View → Piano Keyboard).

   Note: If you click on the percussion staff without entering note input mode, you can demo the percussion instruments from the Piano keyboard.

2. Click on the note or rest where you want to start.

3. Enter note input mode.
4. Select the correct voice. For example, snares, sidesticks and all cymbals are normally added to voice 1; bass drum to voice 2.
5. Set note duration.
6. Click on a (virtual piano) key to add a note to the score.
7. To add another note to an existing one, press Shift and hold it while pressing the new note (in versions before 2.1, use Ctrl (Mac: Cmd)).

Note: Refer to a GM2 drum map for details about which piano key corresponds to which percussion instrument.

By default, the piano keyboard is docked at the bottom of the screen—to the left of the Drum input palette. However you can undock it by dragging, then dock the panel in several ways:

• Drag the panel downwards to the center and it will overlay the Drum input palette, full length. Both panels can then be accessed by Tabs.
• Drag the panel downwards to the right/left and it will dock to the right/left of the Drum input palette.

Computer keyboard

To enter notes on a percussion staff using your computer keyboard:

1. Click on the note or rest where you want to start.
2. Enter note input mode. The Drum input palette now appears at the bottom of the screen (see below).
3. Select the desired note duration.
4. Press the shortcut key (A–G) for the instrument that you wish to enter—refer to the Drum input palette window.
5. If you wish to add another note to an existing one in that voice, press Shift + [A–G].

Note: Voice allocation is determined by the color of the note in the drum input palette: blue for voice 1, green for voice 2.

Mouse

To add a note to a percussion staff

Use the following method to add a new note or to replace an existing chord.

1. Select the note or rest where you want to start. You can also select a measure.
2. Press N to to enter note input mode. The Drum input palette now appears at the bottom of the screen (see below).
3. Set note duration.
4. Chose one of the following options:
   • Double-click a note in the Drum input palette.
   • Select a note (e.g. Bass drum, or Snare) in the Drum input palette, then click a note or rest in the score.

To add a note to an existing chord in the percussion staff

1. Ensure you are in note input mode.
2. Select a note duration equal to the note you are adding to.
3. Click on the new note in the Drum input palette.
4. Click above or below the existing note in the percussion staff.

Note: Voice allocation is determined by the color of the note in the drum input palette: blue for voice 1, green for voice 2.

Drum input palette

When a percussion staff is selected and note input mode is ON, a window opens at the bottom of the screen called the Drum input palette. This window is essential for mouse input, and displays shortcuts for computer keyboard input, but can be ignored if using a MIDI keyboard or the virtual Piano Keyboard.

Each note in the palette represents a percussion instrument: hovering the mouse pointer over the note displays the instrument name.

The letters A–G (shown above certain notes in the palette) are designated as shortcuts for entering particular instruments (bass drum, snare, closed hi-hat etc.), rather than referring to note pitches. They can be changed or reallocated as desired in the Edit Drumset window.

When the Drum input palette is open, double-clicking a note in the palette or entering a shortcut letter will add that instrument note to the percussion staff. The color of the note in the palette shows the voice allocated for that note—blue for voice 1, green for voice 2. This can be changed in the Edit Drumset dialog if required.

This voice allocation applies only to keyboard and mouse entry of notes: entry via a MIDI keyboard or the virtual Piano keyboard allows any voice to be used.

Edit Drumset

To open the Edit Drumset window, use one of the following options:

• Click on the Edit Drumset button at the left of the Drum input palette.
• Right-click on a percussion staff and select "Edit Drumset...".

The Edit Drumset dialog displays the percussion instruments available and the MIDI notes/numbers to which they are allocated. It also determines how each instrument is displayed on the staff— its name, position, notehead type and note-stem direction. Any changes made here are automatically saved in the parent MuseScore file.

Clicking on a row in the left-hand column allows you to edit the display properties for that note as follows:

Name: The name you want displayed in the Drum input palette when you mouse over the note.
Notehead: Chose a notehead for that instrument from a drop-down list of options (if set to "Invalid," the instrument will not display in the Drum input palette).
Staff line: This number indicates the staff line/space on which the note is displayed. "0" means that the note is displayed on the top line of the 5-line staff. Negative numbers move the note upwards step by step, while positive numbers move it downwards in the same way.
Stem Direction: Auto, Up or down.
Default voice: Assign to one of four voices. This does not affect input from a MIDI keyboard or the virtual Piano keyboard.
Shortcut: Assign a keyboard shortcut to enter that note.

The customized drumset can be saved as a .drm file by pressing Save. You can also import a customized drumset using the Load button.

Note: In MuseScore 2.1, some of the pitches in the Tenor Drums instrument do not play back; there is a DRM file designed to fix this, which you can download here, via right-click→ Save target as.

Roll

To create a drum roll, use Tremolo.

External links

• How to create jazz drum notation [MuseScore How-To]
• Video tutorial: MuseScore in Minutes: Lesson 7 - Tablature and Drum Notation
• Drum Parts [video]
• Editing the Drum Palette in MuseScore 1.1 [video]
• Saving Drumset Changes in MuseScore 1.1 [video]
• Guide to Drum and Percussion Notation

Tablature

Music for fretted, stringed instruments is commonly notated using tablature, also known as tab, which provides a visual representation of the strings and fret numbers:

Tablature can also be combined with traditional staff notation:

Create a new tablature staff

If you wish to create tablature as part of a new score, use the New Score Wizard. If you want to add tablature to an existing score, use the Instruments dialog. Or, alternatively, you can convert an existing standard staff. See below for details.

With the New Score wizard

To create tablature in a new score (for combined staff/tablature systems see → below):

1. Open the New Score wizard.
2. Enter the score details (optional). Click Next.
3. On the Chose template file page, click on Choose Instruments.

4. On the Instruments page, select one (or more) tablature options under "Plucked strings" in the left-hand column (see image below). Then click Add.

   

   Note: You can use the dropdown list above the Instrument list to change the category displayed. Alternately you can search for the instrument using the "Search" field below the Instrument list.

5. Complete the rest of the New Score Wizard.

If the desired tablature is not available in the Choose Instrument list:

1. At step "4" (above), select an existing "Plucked strings" tablature staff.
2. Press Add to move it to the right-hand column.
3. Check the drop-down menu to the right of the newly-added instrument for the most suitable Tab option, if any.
4. Complete the rest of the New Score wizard and exit.
5. Modify the number of strings and tuning of the tablature, if needed, in the Staff properties window (see → below).
6. Change the Instrument name in Staff Properties, if required.

This allows you to create tablature for any chromatically-fretted instrument.

With the Instruments dialog

To add a single tablature staff to an existing score (for combined staff/tab system see → below):

1. Open the instruments dialog (press I; or from the menu bar, select Edit → Instruments…).
2. Add the tab staff as described in Add instruments ("Create a new score").

By changing staff type

To convert an existing standard staff to tablature, or tablature to a standard staff:

1. Right click on the staff and select Staff Properties…. If "Instrument" is already set to a plucked-strings type, then exit staff properties and go to step 4.
2. If "Instrument" is not a plucked-strings type, click on Change instrument and select an appropriate instrument from "Plucked strings."
3. Click on OK twice to exit staff properties.
4. Open the instruments dialog (press I, or from the menu bar select Edit → Instruments…).
5. Click on the staff in the right-hand column and change the "Staff type" to the desired option.
6. Click OK to exit the Instrument editor and return to the score page.

Note: If you subsequently need to make further adjustments to the staff (e.g. tuning, number of lines/strings etc.), right click on the staff and select Staff Properties….

Alternative method (using just the "Staff Properties" dialog):

1. Right click on the staff and select Staff Properties….
2. If the Instrument displayed is in the "Plucked strings" category, go to step 4.
3. If the Instrument displayed is not in the "Plucked strings" category, click Change instrument and select an appropriate instrument from "Plucked strings". Click on OK.
4. Click Advanced Style Properties..., change "Template" to the desired option and press < Reset to Template.
5. Click OK twice to close the Staff Properties dialog box..

Note: Other adjustments to the staff (e.g. tuning, number of lines/strings etc.), can also be made in the Staff Properties… dialog.

Edit string data

Change tuning

Note: If you only want to view (rather than change) the instrument tuning, follow steps 1 and 2 only.

1. Right-click on the staff and select Staff Properties….

   

2. Press the Edit String Data… button at the bottom of the dialog box. The String Data dialog opens:

   

3. Click on a string pitch and select Edit String…. Or, alternatively, just double-click the string pitch.

4. Select a new pitch in the Note Selection box and click OK. Or, alternatively, just double-click the new pitch.
5. Click OK to close the "String Data" dialog box. Then click OK to close the "Staff/Part Edit Properties" dialog box.

Notes: (1) If tuning is changed when the tablature for that instrument already contains some notes, fret marks will be adjusted automatically (if possible); (2) Any change of tuning to a particular instrument applies only to the score at hand, and does not change any program default settings.

Add a string

1. Right-click on the staff, select Staff Properties…, then press Edit String Data.
2. Click on a string pitch and select New String....
3. Select the new pitch and press OK—or, alternatively, just double-click the new pitch. The new string is inserted below the selected string.

Note: After adding a tablature string you will need to adjust the number of lines in the Staff properties dialog.

Delete a string

1. Right-click on the staff, select Staff Properties…, then press Edit String Data.
2. Click on a string pitch and select Delete String.

Note: After deleting a tablature string you will need to adjust the number of lines in the Staff properties dialog.

Mark unfretted string "open"

This feature is used to mark a (bass) course as unstopped (i.e. outside of the fingerboard and always sounding open): as on a Baroque lute or Theorbo etc. This means that only "0" (zero) or "a" is accepted as a fret mark: any other fret mark will be converted to 0/a.

1. Right-click on the staff, select Staff Properties…, then press Edit String Data.
2. Check one or more boxes in the "Open" column.

Change number of instrument frets

This property defines the maximum fret number which can be entered on a tablature staff.

1. Right-click on the staff, select Staff Properties…, then press Edit String Data.
2. Select or enter a new number in the "Number of frets" spin box.

Change tablature display

You can customize both the appearance of a tablature staff and the way that it displays the fret marks. To access these options:

1. Right click on the staff and select Staff Properties….
2. Click on the Advanced Style Properties… button.

Combine pitched staff with tablature

Plucked-string instruments—such as the guitar—are commonly notated using both a music staff and tablature (TAB) together. MuseScore gives you the option of having the two staves either unlinked or linked:

1. Unlinked Staves: You can enter, delete or edit notation in one staff without affecting the other. To transfer music notation from one staff to the other, select the desired range and copy and paste it into the other staff.

2. Linked Staves: Any changes you make in one staff are automatically applied to the other staff as well ("mutual translation").

A note on fret mark conflicts: When the same note is entered in two different voices, MuseScore tries to ensure that the fret marks do not overlap on the same string. Any overlaps which do occur are marked with red squares: these appear only in the document window and not on any printed copy. In almost all cases (e.g. frets 0 to 4 on the 6th string), overlapping is the desired result and no further adjustment is required. As of version 2.2, you can hide the red marks by selecting "View" and unticking "Show Unprintable."

Create a staff/tablature pair with the New Score wizard

1. Open the New Score wizard.
2. Enter the score details (optional). Click Next.
3. On the Chose template file page, click on Choose Instruments.
4. Select a pitched staff in the "Plucked strings" section of the left-hand column. Then click Add.
5. Select the newly-created staff line (i.e. marked "Staff …") in the right-hand column and chose one of two options:
   • Click Add Staff to create an unlinked staff/tab pair.
   • Click Add Linked Staff to create a linked staff/tab pair.
6. In the Staff type column, click on the dropdown list for the newly-created staff and select a tablature option (this can be modified later, if required, on the score page—see Staff Properties).
7. Complete the rest of the New Score Wizard, or click Finish.

Note: To create unlinked staves with separate mixer channels, instead of step "5" (above), select a Tablature staff in the left-hand column and click Add. Then continue with steps 6 and 7.

Create a staff/tablature pair in an existing score

1. Open the Instruments editor (press I, or from the menu bar, select Edit → Instruments…).
2. Select a pitched staff in the "Plucked strings" section of the left-hand column. Then click Add.
3. Select the newly-created staff line (i.e. marked "Staff …") in the right-hand column and chose one of two options:
   • Click Add Staff to create an unlinked staff/tab pair.
   • Click Add Linked Staff to create a linked staff/tab pair.
4. In the Staff type column, click on the dropdown list for the newly-created staff and select a tablature option (this can be modified later, if required, on the score page—see Staff Properties).
5. Change the staff order using the ↑ button if needed.
6. Click OK to return to the score.

Note: To create unlinked staves with separate mixer channels, instead of step "3" (above), select a Tablature staff in the left-hand column and click Add. Then continue with steps 4–6.

Create a staff/tablature pair from an existing staff

To add tablature to a plucked-string staff in the score (or vice versa):

1. Open the Instruments editor (press I, or from the menu bar, select Edit → Instruments…).
2. Select the staff line (marked "Staff 1") in the right-hand column that you want to add to.
3. Chose one of two options:
   • Click Add Staff to create an unlinked staff/tab pair
   • Click Add Linked Staff to create a linked staff/tab pair
4. In the Staff type column, click on the dropdown list for the newly-created staff and select an option (this can be modified later, if required, on the score page—see Staff Properties).
5. Change the staff order using the ↑ button if needed.
6. Click OK.

Notes: To create unlinked staves with separate mixer channels, instead of step "3" (above), select an appropriate staff in the left-hand column and click Add. Then continue with steps 4–6.

Enter notes in tablature

Using a computer keyboard

• First, ensure that you are not in note-input mode. Select the measure or existing note from which you want to begin note entry.
• Switch to note input mode (N): a short 'blue rectangle' appears around one tablature string: this is the current string.
• Select the duration of the note or rest that you wish to enter (see below).
• Press the up/down arrow keys to move the cursor to the desired string. Use the left/right arrow keys to navigate through the score.

• Press 0 to 9 to enter a fret mark from 0 to 9 on the current string; to enter numbers with several digits press each digit in sequence. Keys A to K (skipping I) can also be used: convenient when working in French tablature. For L , M, N, use the alphanumeric keyboard and type respectively 10, 11, 12...

  Note: You cannot enter a number higher than the "Number of frets" value set in the Edit String Data dialog.

• Press ; (semicolon) to enter a rest of the selected duration.

• You can enter notes in different voices if required—just as you would in a standard staff.

See also, Edit notes (below).

Historical tablature

As of version 2.1, period notation for bass strings (lutes and sim.) is supported:

• French tablature: letters with prefixed slash-like strokes right under the tab body: i.e. 7th string: "a", 8th string: "/a", 9th string: "//a" and so on, all in the first position below the tab body.

• Italian tablature: numbers with 'ledger line'- like segment of string above the tab body: i.e. 7th string: "0" one position above the tab body with one 'ledger line'; 8th string: "0" two positions above the tab body with two 'ledger lines' and so on.

Input of is via computer keyboard only: by moving the note entry cursor below (French) or above (Italian) the tab body, 'shadow' slashes or ledger lines will indicate the target string to which the fret mark will be applied; pressing one of the fret keys, will enter (and lay out) the note on that string.

Using a mouse

To enter notes into tablature with a mouse:

• Enter note input mode and select the note or rest duration (see below).
• Click on a string to create a note there. Notes are initially created on fret 0 (or a for French tablatures): to correct, type in the right number from the keyboard.
• You can also increase/decrease the fret mark using Alt+Shift+↑ or Alt+Shift+↓.
• You can enter notes in different voices if required—just as you would in a standard staff.

See also, Edit notes (below).

Select note duration

In note input mode, you can use any of the following methods to set note duration in tablature:

• Press Shift+1 to Shift+9: Sets duration from a 128th note to a longa (availability of these shortcuts may depend on the platform and/or keyboard layout);
• Press NumPad 1 to Numpad 9: Sets duration from a 128th note to a longa (if a numeric keypad exists and NumLock is on);
• Click on a note duration icon in the Note Input toolbar above the document window;
• Press Q to decrease the selected duration and W to increase it.

Edit notes

Note input mode

To edit an existing fret mark in note-input mode:

• Position the cursor above the fret mark and simply retype the number.
• Increment or decrement the fret mark using Alt+Shift+↑ or Alt+Shift+↓.

Non note input mode

To edit an existing fret mark outside note-input mode:

1. Select one or more fret marks.
2. Use any of the following commands:
   • To increment or decrement, without changing the string: Press ↑ / ↓.
   • To increment or decrement, changing strings, when possible, to minimize the fret number: Press Alt+Shift+↑ / ↓
   • To move to an adjacent string (if the string is free and can produce that note): Press Ctrl+↑ / ↓ (Mac: Cmd+↑ / ↓) .

Note: The fret mark cannot be higher than the "Number of frets" value set in the Edit String Data dialog.

Crosshead notes

To change a fret mark to a crosshead note:

1. Select one or more fret marks (in non-note-input mode).
2. Press Shift+X to toggles ghost noteheads on/off.

Summary of keyboard commands

Note input mode

Type:	to get:
↑	Select above string as current.
↓	Select below string as current.
Shift+1 to Shift+9	Select a duration (128th note to a longa)
NumPad 1 to NumPad 9	Select a duration (128th note to a longa)
Q	Decrease current input duration.
W	Increase current input duration.
0 to 9	Enter a fret digit / letter.
A to K	Enter a fret digit / letter (I excluded).
Alt+Shift+↑	Increase current fret mark.
Alt+Shift+↓	Decrease current fret mark.
; (semicolon)	Enter a rest

Normal mode

Type:	to get:
0 to 9	Change duration of selected note or rest (128th note to longa)
Alt+Shift+↑	Increase the pitch of the selected note (MuseScore chooses the string).
↑	Increase the pitch without changing string.
Alt+Shift+↓	Decrease the pitch of the selected note (MuseScore chooses the string).
↓	Decrease the pitch without changing string.
Ctrl+↑ (Mac: Cmd+↑)	Move note to above string, keeping the pitch.
Ctrl+↓ (Mac: Cmd+↓)	Move note to below string, keeping the pitch.
Shift+X	Toggle the ghost notehead on/off.

External links

• Video tutorial: MuseScore in Minutes: Lesson 7 - Tablature and Drum Notation