Clefs

Clefs are applied to the score from the "Clefs" palette.

Setting the initial clef for a staff

MuseScore automatically applies the most appropriate clef(s) for the instrument when creating a new score. You can easily change this from the score window if needed.

Adding or changing a clef

Add/Change a start clef

To change a clef at the start of a system, use one of the following:

• Select the first measure in the system and click a clef symbol in the palette.
• Drag a clef from the palette onto the first system measure.
• Select the clef and click a clef in the palette.
• Drag a new clef from the palette onto the clef.

Add/Change a mid-measure clef

To add/change a mid-measure clef before a note, use one of the following:

• Click on the note, then click a clef in the palette.
• Drag a clef from a palette onto the note

To add/change a mid-measure clef in front of a barline, use one of the following:

• Select the following measure and click a palette clef.
• Drag a clef from a palette onto the following measure.

Notes: (1) “Mid-staff” clefs are always smaller than the main system clef. (2) Notes after a clef change are automatically repositioned so that they continue to sound at the original pitch.

Delete

To delete a clef, just select it and press Del. Note that clefs at the beginning of systems cannot be deleted.

Controlling the visibility of clefs

Standard clefs

To hide/show clefs at the beginning of all systems except the first:

1. From the menu bar, select Format→Style→Page;
2. Uncheck/check Create clef for all systems.

Mid-measure clefs are unaffected.

To hide/show all clefs on a selected staff:

1. Right-click on a measure;
2. Choose "Staff/Part properties";
3. In the dialog, uncheck "Show clef".

This affects clefs at the start of a system and mid-measure.

Courtesy clefs

To hide/show courtesy clefs:

1. From the menu bar, select Format→Style→Page;
2. Uncheck/Check the Create courtesy clefs.

If courtesy clefs are enabled, you can still hide an individual courtesy clef as follows:

1. Select the relevant standard clef;
2. In the Properties panel, uncheck/check Show courtesy clef on previous system.

Clefs and transposition

Using octave clefs

[To be added]

Using different clefs for transposed and concert pitch

[To be added]

Clef properties

See Courtesy clefs (above).

Clefs applied to an entire measure or the first note in a measure are shown before the barline.

To move the clef after the barline:
1. Select the clef
2. Open the Properties panel
3. Under Position relative to barline, choose After

To replace the first clef in a score, see Add/Change a start clef.

Clef style

Tablature users can select the type of TAB clef displayed:

1. From the menu, select Format→Style→Clefs
2. Set the default TAB clef to "Standard" or "Serif" as required.

Other style properties are available in Format→Style→Page, namely:

Create clef for all systems
Create courtesy clefs

For details, see Controlling the visibility of clefs (above).