Published on MuseScore.org

Layout and formatting

    Overview

    To jump to the useful image that illustrates page layout terms, click on this link.

    This chapter discusses the settings of score and items on score, how to edit and re-use them, and options and commands under the Format menu.

    See also the Instruments, staff setup and templates: Change instrument and staff setup chapter.

    Spatium (plural: Spatia) / Space / Staff Space / sp.

    One Spatium
    The size of everything on a score, such as staff, note heads, note stems, accidentals, clefs etc., uses a basic unit of measurement called "staff space" or "sp." to maintains correct proportions.
    One sp is defined as the standard vertical distance between the midpoints of two lines of a music staff (or one quarter of vertical dimension of a full five-line staff, assuming a hypothetical staff line thickness of 0).
    When you create a new score, MuseScore tries to adjust the staff space automatically so that the staves all fit on the page initially.
    This usually leads to 1 sp = 1.75 mm, which results in a staff height of around 7 mm (more details explained in "Final absolute staff height" section), which is a good staff height for most solo music, choral music, small ensemble scores, and individual parts. Lead sheets and children's music may benefit from a larger staff size. Large ensemble scores may often require a smaller staff size in order to fit all instruments on the page.
    You may need to adjust this value further as you add music, if auto-place results in additional space being added between staves in order to avoid collisions.
    Modify the definition of "staff space" itself in the "Page settings" window. See Page settings chapter, the overriding options are also explained there.

    Final absolute staff height

    Staff line thickness is set in Format→Style...→Measure (see main chapter Measure and horizontal spacing). Its default value is 0.11sp, and the default value of sp is 1.75mm, so the default staff line thickness 0.1925mm. The 'absolute' height of default 5-line stave, measuring from the top edge of the top line to the bottom edge of the bottom line, is 0.5x0.11sp + 4sp + 0.5x0.11sp = 0.5x0.1925mm + 4x1.75mm + 0.5x0.1925mm = 7.1925mm. source: https://musescore.org/en/node/362733

    Horizontal and vertical spacing and algorithm

    Horizontal spacing: All measures are stretched out so that all systems (except the last if desired) are filled to the right margin. You cannot change this behavior, but you can add Frames. See Layout and formatting in Musescore section below. Use Format→Style...→Score, Page, Measure, found them below. See also Measure chapter.
    hspacing_wordprocessor_analogy.PNG
    Shown above is an analogy to horizontal spacing in Musescore 3.6.2: it is like being restricted to the "justified" option in a word processor software. UI of Libre Office Writer, not Musescore.

    Vertical spacing: Two options of algorithm, use vertical justification or not. Use Format→Style...→Score, Page, found them below.

    Style

    Styles in Musescore are profiles that contains settings, rather than being the settings themselves. The visual setting for text and musical symbol in musescore some users mistaken for style is called Font.

    All styles are built-in, they contain visual and functional settings default values. Each object type, eg Chord Symbol object, Accidental object, has a corresponding style of the same name built-in: "Style for Chord Symbols", "Style for Accidentals". Each Text object, eg Chord Symbol object, Lyrics object, also has one or more corresponding style(s) built-in: "Style for text inside Chord Symbols", "Style for text inside Chord Symbols (Alternative)", "Style for text inside Lyrics Even Lines", "Style for text inside Lyrics Odd Lines". Style is not the object type.

    You cannot create a new style, but you can edit the settings values in each style.

    After you created an object, you cannot change its object type. The same is almost true for style: an accidental object on a score must use values in "Style for Accidentals", it cannot use values in "Style for Chord Symbols", you cannot change which style (the named profile) an object on a score uses unless the object is a Text object or it contains a Text object within. A Lyrics object on a score, if desired, can use the compatible values in "Style for text inside Chord symbols" rather than the values in "Style for text inside Lyrics Odd Lines" or "Style for text inside Lyrics Even Lines", for more see Text styles and properties chapter.

    Read on to see the final visual and function of objects are determined.

    Layout and formatting in Musescore

    Not to be confused with app appearance set in Preferences.

    Layout and formatting in Musescore consists of two main levels, Text objects and objects containing them have more levels, see Text styles and properties. The final visual and function of most object in a score file is determined by:

    Every score file has a "Full Score" layout. It also contains "Parts" when you use Musescore Part feature to generate different versions of the same score. Each "Part" and the "Full Score" has their own separate complete set of layout and formatting information.

    Reusing Layout and formatting information

    Visit https://musescore.org/en/node/355981 for .mss files shared by other musicians.

    Reusing "level 2 information" with .mss file

    The concepts and layout logic are explained in the overview. .mss file contains "level 2 information" and can be stored in any folder, Musescore does not automatically use any specific folder. The default folder for easier file management can be set-up in Preferences.

    To save: Format→Save Style....
    To load: Do either one:
    - Right click on any empty space on a score, select "Load Style", or
    - Go to Format→Load Style....

    Default "level 2 information" for new score file and Musescore Part

    Open Preferences menu > Score tab

    Style: Browse and set the .mss file Musescore uses as "level 2 information" when creating a new score file. When creating a new score file from a template, the information present in the template is used instead.
    Style for part: Similar to the above but for new Musescore Part.

    Options under the Format menu:

    Add / Remove System breaks

    This tool adds or removes system breaks over all or part of the score:

    1. Select a range of measures: if no selection is made, the command is applied to the whole score.
    2. Choose Format→Add/Remove System Breaks…. The following dialog appears.
      Add/Remove Line Breaks
    3. Choose one of the following options:
      • Break systems every X (select number) measures;
      • Add system break at end of each system;
      • Remove current system breaks;
    4. Press OK.

    Change Layout Stretch

    Increase, decrease or reset the horizontal spacing of notes within selected measures.

    Increase / Decrease layout stretch
    1. Select a range of measures. Or use Ctrl+A to select the whole score.
    2. Choose one of two options:
      • To increase stretch:
        • Use the shortcut } (right curly bracket) (Mac: Ctrl+Alt+9).
        • Or from the menu bar, select Format→Stretch→Increase Layout Stretch.
      • To decrease stretch:
        • Use the shortcut { (left curly bracket) (Mac: Ctrl+Alt+8).
        • Or from the menu bar, select Format→Stretch→Decrease Layout Stretch.
    Reset stretch

    To reset stretch to the default spacing of 1:

    1. Select a range of measures. Or use Ctrl+A to select the whole score.
    2. From the menu, select Format→Stretch→Reset Layout Stretch.

    See also Measure Properties: Layout stretch. This allows you to set the stretch more precisely.

    Style window

    ms3_style.PNG
    Musescore style and layout concepts are explained in the overview.

    To open this window:

    In the left pane, there are two types of items:

    Changes made are live on the score for preview, click Cancel or Esc to revert and close. Press OK or Return to save and close.

    When editing a Musescore Part (but not the "Full score"), press Apply to all parts button to apply the current "level 2 information" (including settings in Page settings) to other Musescore Parts.

    Score

    To open the Score dialog, select Format→Style…→Score.

    This dialog allows you to set global settings, such as the music font, display of multimeasure rests, whether or not to hide empty staves, swing playback etc.

    Page

    To open the Page dialog, select Format→Style...→Page.

    This dialog allows you to adjust the overall layout of your score by changing the spacing of margins, systems, staves, lyrics lines, and frames. You can also control the display of key signatures, time signatures, and clefs.

    Score layout

    Sizes

    To open the Sizes dialog, select Format→Style...→Sizes.

    Sets the proportional size of "small" notes and grace notes, as well as small staves and small clefs. Changing this would be unusual.

    To open the Header, Footer dialog, select Format→Style...→Header, Footer.

    This allows you to add header and footer text using meta tags (see Score properties)—such as page numbers, page headers, copyright information etc. For example, you can create different Headers and Footers for even and odd pages, such as putting page numbers on the right for odd-numbered pages and on the left for even-numbered pages.

    If you hover with your mouse over the Header or Footer text region, a list of macros will appear, showing their meaning, as well as the existing meta tags and their content.

    To create a header or footer for an individual part, that part needs to be the active tab. To create a header or footer for a score with linked parts, make sure the main score is in the active tab.

    Measure Numbers

    To open the Measure Numbers dialog, select Format→Style...→Measure Numbers.

    This allows you to specify whether measure numbers will appear in the score, and, if so, at what intervals.

    System

    To open the System dialog, select Format→Style...→System.

    This dialog allows you to adjust certain properties of all systems.

    Brackets:

    See also Brackets.

    Dividers:

    Clefs

    To open the Clefs dialog, select Format→Style...→Clefs.

    Choose the style of the default tablature clef: Standard or Serif.

    Accidentals

    To open the Accidentals dialog, select Format→Style...→Accidentals.

    Allows you to specify how the score displays key signature accidentals at key changes. See Naturals on key signature changes.

    Measure


    See the main chapter Measure

    To open the Measure dialog, select Format→Style...→Measure.

    Adjustment of global settings such as the horizontal distance between various items within measures. A major setting affecting layout is Spacing, which affects the number of measures per system. Global Staff line thickness can be changed here.

    Barlines

    To open the Barlines dialog, select Format→Style...→Barlines.

    Other properties allow you to set the thickness of "thin," "thick" and double barlines, the distance between double barlines, and the repeat barline to dot distance.

    Notes

    To open the Notes dialog, select Style→General...→Notes. The dialog can also be opened direct from the score by right-clicking on any note and selecting "Style…"

    Here you can adjust the distance and thickness of note-related objects (stems, ledger lines, dots, accidentals). Changing these would be unusual.

    Beams

    To open the Beams dialog, select Style→General...→Beams.

    This allows you to set the overall properties of note beams in the score:

    Ticking the Flatten all beams option means that all note beams will be horizontal only—not sloped.

    Tuplets

    To open the Tuplets dialog, select Format→Style...→Tuplets.

    Vertical Distance from Notes:

    Horizontal distance from notes:

    Brackets:

    Properties:

    Arpeggios

    To open the Arpeggios dialog, select Format→Style...→Arpeggios.

    Here you can change the distance to note, line thickness, and hook length of the following arpeggio and strum symbols:

    Arpeggio and strum symbols

    Slurs/Ties

    To open the Slurs/Ties dialog, select Format→Style...→Slurs/Ties.

    Hairpins

    To open the Hairpins dialog, select Format→Style...→Hairpins.

    Here you can set the default properties of hairpins (crescendo and decresendo lines):

    Volta

    To open the Volta dialog, select Format→Style...→Volta.

    Here you can set the default properties of voltas:

    Ottava

    To open the Ottava dialog, select Format→Style...→Ottava.

    Here you can set the default properties of ottavas (octave lines):

    Pedal

    To open the Pedal dialog, select Format→Style...→Pedal.

    Here you can set the default properties of pedal lines:

    Trill

    To open the Trill dialog, select Format→Style...→Trill.

    Here you can set the default placement of Trill lines:

    Vibrato

    To open the Vibrato dialog, select Format→Style...→Vibrato.

    Here you can set the default placement of Vibrato lines:

    Bend

    To open the Bend dialog, select Format→Style...→Bend.

    Here you can set the display properties of Bends. This includes the line thickness, arrow width and font properties.

    Text Line

    To open the Text Line dialog, select Format→Style...→Text Line.

    Here you can set the default placement of text lines:

    Articulations, Ornaments

    To open the Articulations, Ornaments dialog, select Format→Style...→Articulations, Ornaments.

    This dialog allows you set the default placement distances and size (as a percentage) of articulations and ornaments.

    Fermatas

    To open the Fermatas dialog, select Format→Style...→Fermatas.

    This dialog allows you set the default placement of fermatas.

    Staff Text

    To open the Staff text dialog, select Format→Style...→Staff Text.

    This dialog allows you set the default placement and autoplacement properties of staff text.

    Tempo Text

    To open the Tempo text dialog, select Format→Style...→Staff Text.

    This dialog allows you set the default placement and autoplacement properties of tempo text.

    Lyrics

    To open the Lyrics dialog, select Format→Style...→Lyrics.

    Lyrics Style dialog

    Lyrics Text

    Lyrics Dash

    Lyrics melisma

    See also, Melismas.

    Dynamics

    To open the Dynamics dialog, select Format→Style...→Dynamics.

    This dialog allows you set the default placement and autoplacement properties of dynamics.

    Rehearsal Marks

    To open the Rehearsal Marks dialog, select Format→Style...→Rehearsal Marks.

    This dialog allows you set the default placement and autoplacement properties of rehearsal marks.

    Figured Bass

    To open the Figured Bass dialog, select Format→Style...→Figured Bass.

    This allows you to set the default font, style, alignment and position of figured bass.

    Chord Symbols

    To open the Chord Symbols dialog, select Format→Style...→Chord Symbols.

    There is another global setting for Chord Symbols at Text > Chord Symbol in which the Font is set; Format→Style...→Text .

    This section allows you to adjust the format and positioning of chord symbols:

    Fretboard Diagrams

    To open the Fretboard Diagrams dialog, select Format→Style...→Fretboard Diagrams.

    This section allows you to adjust the format and positioning of Fretboard diagrams.

    Text Styles

    To open the Text Styles dialog, select Format→Style...→Text Styles.

    Select a text type on the middle pane and edit its styles, see Text styles and properties.

    See also