Overview

Time signatures are applied to the score from the "Time Signatures" palette.

Setting the initial time signature for your score

This is done from page 2 of the New Score dialog.

Adding a time signature change to your score

Use any of the following methods:

• Select an existing time signature, measure, note or rest in the score, and click a time signature in a palette.
• Drag and drop a time signature from a palette onto a space in a measure, or onto an existing time signature.

Deleting a time signature

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

Controlling the visibility of time signatures

To hide/show time signatures on a particular staff:

1. Right-click on the staff and choose "Staff/Part properties";
2. Uncheck/Check "Show time signature".

To disable/enable all courtesy time signatures (at the end of systems):

1. From the menu bar, select Format→Style→Page.
2. Uncheck/Check "Create courtesy time signatures".

To hide or show an individual courtesy time signature:

1. Select the parent time signature;
2. In the Time signature section of the Properties panel, uncheck/check "Show courtesy time signature".

Creating a custom time signature

1. In the Time Signatures palette, click on More, then, in the supplementary palette, click on the “Create Time Signature” button;
2. In Value enter the Numerator, Denominator, and Text (the latter is optional, when you need the display to be different from the actual time signature);
3. Adjust the default note beaming in the Beam Groups section (see Beam groups (below). To restore the default beaming pattern, press Reset;
4. Press Add to transfer the newly-created time signature to the Time Signatures palette.

You can also do the same thing from the Master Palette (Shift+F9).

Adding a local time signature for a single staff

In certain cases a score may show staves with different time signatures running at the same time. For example, in the following (J. S. Bach’s Goldberg Variation no. 26):

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.

Resizing a time signature

1. Select a time signature
2. In the Time signature section of the Properties panel, adjust the horizontal and vertical Scale values.

Time signature properties

To open the Time signature properties dialog use one of the following:

• Right-click on a time signature and from the context menu select "Time signature properties".
• Select a time signature, then click on Time signature properties in the "Time signature" section of the Properties panel.

Appearance

This part of the dialog allows you to adjust the nominal appearance of the signature without affecting its underlying rhythmic value.

• Text: Insert the nominal numerator and denominator that you wish to appear on the score.

Alternatively, you can make a selection from a range of time signature symbols below.

Beam Groups

This section allows you to adjust the default beaming patterns of notes occurring in the section controlled by the time signature.

• Click on a note to break the beam in front of it. Click again to reform the beam.
• Alternatively you can drag and drop a "beam selector" icon to the note after the beam you want to make or break.
• Click Reset to restore the default beaming pattern.

Check the "Also change shorter notes" box if you want changes to apply to beam groups below as well.

Time signature style

There are a few global style properties for time signatures (see Format→Style).

• Create courtesy time signatures: Found in the Page section. Check or uncheck to turn on or off.
• Clef to time signature / Key signature to time signature / Barline to time signature / Time signature to barline / Time signature to first note: Found in the Measure section. Allows you to set spacing for various aspects of time signature layout.

Stem direction

Default stem direction

MuseScore aligns the stems of voice 1 notes according to the conventions of music theory. By contrast, voice 2 and voice 4 stems point downwards by default, while voice 3 stems point upwards. Voice 1 stems automatically flip upwards in the presence of voice 2 or 4 notes.

Flipping stem direction

1. Select either the notehead, stem or attached beam (if any)
2. Use any of the following methods:
   • Press X
   • Click on the "Flip direction" icon in the Note input toolbar
   • Select a stem direction from the Stem tab in the Properties panel

This action will flip any attached beam as well.

Changing stem length

1. Select the stem
2. Use one of the following methods:
   • Press ↑/↓ to extend or shorten the stem
   • Change Length in the Properties panel

Creating stemless notes

To hide the stems of individual notes:

1. Select one or more notehead/s
2. Go to the Properties panel
3. Select the Stem tab
4. Select the checkbox next to Stemless

To hide all stems in an instrument part:

1. Right-click on the staff and select Staff/Part properties
2. Click on Advanced style properties
3. Select the checkbox next to Stemless

Stem and flag properties

Properties specific to stems and flags can be edited from the Stem tab in the Note section of the Properties panel:

• Stemless removes the stem (and associated beams) from the selected note(s)
• Stem direction:
  • Auto determines the direction of the stem according to the voice of the selected note(s)
  • Up and Down override the default stem direction
• Flag style sets the appearance of flags for the entire score to either traditional (default) or straight
• Thickness determines the stem's width
• Length determines the stem's length
• Stem offset can be used to move the stem in a horizontal and/or vertical direction

Stem and flag style

Global settings for Stem thickness and Flag style may also be set in Format→Style→Notes.

See also

Beams

Controlling which notes are beamed

Setting the default beaming for a time signature

By default, MuseScore beams notes according to settings in the Time signature properties dialog. To change this automatic pattern of note-beaming, see Beam groups.

Changing the beaming for selected notes

You can override the default beaming of any individual note, using beam symbols in the Beam Properties palette, or in the Beam tab of the Properties toolbar. Hover over the icons for more info on what each one does.

To change one or more note beams use one of the following methods:

• Select one or more notes and/or rests in the score and click the desired symbol in the Beam Properties palette.
• Select one or more notes and/or rests in the score and click on a symbol under "Beam types" (Beam tab of the Properties panel).
• Drag and drop a beam symbol from the Beam Properties palette onto a note or rest in the score.

The following table describes the effect of each beam symbol:

Icon	Name	Description
	Auto Beam	Apply default beaming as determined by the current time signature (see above).
	No beam	Break beams before and after the selected note.
	Break beam left	If the note is beamed to a previous note, break the beam.
	Break inner beams (eighth)	Start a second level beam at this note.
	Break inner beams (sixteenth)	Start a third level beam at this note.
	Join beams	Join beams on both sides of the note.
	Add feathered beam: decelerate	Start feathered beam to indicate gradually slower tempo.
	Add feathered beam: accelerate	Start feathered beam to indicate gradually faster tempo.

Note: The beam between two notes/rests is determined by both of the note/rests. For example: Two consecutive notes with a status of start beam here will not have a beam between them. If the two consecutive notes are set up to connect to each other they will beam, if one of them is not set up for this, the two notes will not beam.

Controlling the appearance of beams

Changing the angle of a selected beam

1. Click on the note whose beam you wish to adjust;
2. Click on the left/right adjustment handle and adjust the height using one of the following methods:
   • Drag the handle.
   • Move the handle using ↑/↓.
   • In the Beam section of the Properties panel, adjust the "Beam height" properties.
3. Use the center adjustment handle to set the overall height of the beam.

Creating a feathered beam

To create feathered beams use one of the following methods:

• Select one or more notes and/or rests in the score and click the desired symbol in the Beam Properties palette.
• Select one or more notes and/or rests in the score and click on a symbol under "Beam types" (Beam tab of the Properties panel).
• Drag and drop a beam symbol from the Beam Properties palette onto a note or rest in the score.

See the table above, for a description of the beam symbol effects.

Beam properties

Properties specific to beams can be edited from the Beam tab of the Note section in the Properties panel:

Beam types: Alter the beaming pattern at selected notes.
Feather beams: Ditto.
Force horizontal: Make beams of selected notes horizontal.
Beam height: Adjust height and angle of beams.

Editing of these properties is covered in the sections above.

Beam style

A few global properties of beams can be set from Format→Style→Beams:

Beam distance: The vertical distance from one beam to the next.
Beam thickness:
Broken beam minimum length:
Flatten all beams: Check to make all note beams horizontal.

Overview

Standard music notation normally follows a set of conventions designed to facilitate the reading of rhythm. The basic idea is to group notes in ways that clarify which notes belong to which beat. Rules include:

• sixteenth notes should be beamed in a way that clarifies each beat
• eighth notes should be beamed in a way that clarifies each group of two beats
• longer notes that start off the beat should be broken up with ties to clarify each beat or group of two beats

A full discussion of this topic is beyond the scope of this Handbook, but for more information, see this handout.

Here is an example of a rhythm written incorrectly and then correctly:

MuseScore can correct many of these cases automatically.

Regrouping rhythms

To regroup rhythms according to the common conventions of standard music notation:

1. Select the passage you wish to regroup.
2. From the main menu, select Tools→Regroup rhythms.

The rhythm itself is not changed—only the notation of it.

See also

• Notation Rules: Rhythm

Creating tuplets

A tuplet is any group of notes that divide the beat in a way other than what is normally permitted by the time signature. Triplets consisting of three eighth notes in one beat are the most familiar type of tuplet.

Simple tuplets

A simple tuplet such as the triplet shown above can be entered in note input mode or in normal mode.

In note input mode

1. Navigate to the note/rest (or blank measure) where you want the tuplet to start.
2. Select a final duration for the whole tuplet group (e.g. for an eighth note triplet, this will be a quarter note—keyboard shortcut 5).
3. Use one of the following commands:
   • Press the keyboard shortcut for the required tuplet: i.e. Ctrl+3 for a triplet; Ctrl+4 for quadruplet … and so on, up to Ctrl+9 for a nonuplet. (Mac: Cmd+3 … Cmd+9);
   • From the menu, choose Add→Tuplets…, then select the required tuplet.
   • From the note input toolbar, click on the Tuplet icon and select from the dropdown.

The note or rest is automatically divided for you and an appropriate annotation is applied.

4. Enter the desired series of notes/rests.

In normal mode

1. Select a note or rest that specifies the full duration of the desired tuplet group. You may need to create this in the score beforehand. Thus, if you want an eighth note triplet you need to select a quarter note/rest.
2. Use one of the following commands:
   • Press the keyboard shortcut for the required tuplet: i.e. Ctrl+3 for a triplet; Ctrl+4for quadruplet … and so on, up to Ctrl+9 for a nonuplet. (Mac: Cmd+3 … Cmd+9).
   • From the menu, choose Add→Tuplets…, then select the required tuplet.
   • From the note input toolbar, click on the Tuplet icon, and select from the dropdown.

The note or rest is automatically divided for you and an appropriate annotation is applied.

3. Enter the desired series of notes/rests.

Consecutive tuplets

If you need to input a series of tuplets, and don't want to continually repeat the tuplet command, you can select the notes of the first tuplet and press R (Repeat) as many times as needed; then move subsequent notes into position using keyboard arrows, retyping or re-pitch mode.

Custom tuplets

More complex tuplets can be created as follows:

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 either the menu (Add→Tuplets…), or by clicking on the tuplet icon (note input toolbar).
   
3. In the Ratio field, specify the desired number ratio of the tuplet.
4. Set Number and Bracket to get the required tuplet display.
5. Press OK to close the dialog.
6. Enter the desired series of notes and rests.

Nested tuplets

Tuplets can be nested within other tuplets.

To create a nested tuplet:

1. Create the outer tuplet as described above.
2. While entering the individual notes, create inner tuplets in the way (select the total notated duration for the inner tuplet, then use one of the tuplet commands to divide it appropriately).

Changing the display of tuplets

You can choose to display or hide a tuplet number or bracket, change its orientation, or adjust line thickness. See Tuplet properties (below) for details.

Tuplet properties

The display of selected tuplets can be changed in the Tuplet section of the Properties panel.

Direction: Whether the tuplet indication appears above or below the staff. Available settings are "Auto", "above" (↑) or "below" (↓).
Number type: Affects the numerical display. Choice of "Number", "Ratio" or "None".
Bracket type: Sets bracket display. Settings are "Auto", "bracket", or "no bracket".
Line thickness: The thickness of the tuplet bracket, if displayed.

Tuplet style

You can set the global properties of tuplets in the score from Format→Style→Tuplets. These settings provide fine control over the default display of tuplets.

The settings include:

• Properties
  • Direction
  • Number type
  • Bracket type
• Brackets
  • Bracket thickness
  • Bracket hook height
• Vertical distance from notes
  • Maximum slope
  • Vertical distance from stem
  • Vertical distance from notehead
  • Avoid staves
• Horizontal distance from notes
  • Distance before stem of first note
  • Distance before head of first note
  • Distance after stem of last note
  • Distance after head of last note

A full range of common barlines is contained in the Barlines palette.

Adding double and other special barlines

Changing barline type for all staves

1. Select one or more barlines in a staff ;
2. Click on the desired barline in the palette.

Alternatively, you can drag a barline from the palette onto a barline in the score.

Changes are applied automatically to all barlines at the same point in the score.

Changing barline type for a single staff

1. Select one or more barlines in the score;
2. Hold Ctrl then click on the desired barline in the palette.

Alternatively, you can hold Ctrl and drag a barline from the palette onto a barline in the score.

Only barlines in the one staff are affected.

Adding mid-measure barlines

1. Select one or more notes.
2. Click on a barline in the palette.

This will add a "barline" in front of each selected note. The barline is for visual purposes and does not factor into any measure operations.

If you wish to divide a measure, inserting a real barline in the process, see Splitting a measure.

Changing barline length

Here we are concerned with the vertical extension of barlines in order to link staves together, or their reduction to create partial barlines.

Extending all barlines in a staff

1. Select a barline on the "start" staff;
2. Use either of the following:
   • Drag the end handle downwards until it meets the destination staff. This method is the best for extending barlines through multiple staves.
   • Select the edit handle and press ↓.
   • Check the "Span to next staff" in the Barlines section of the Properties panel; then click Set as staff default
3. Repeat if required for subsequent staves.

The barline snaps into place, and all other barlines in that staff follow.

Extending selected barlines in a staff

1. Select one or more barlines (and their counterparts in the staves below if there are more than two staffs to join).
2. Check the "Span to next staff" in the Barlines section of the Properties panel.

Creating partial barlines

Partial barlines can be easily created by adjusting "Span from" and "Span to" in the Barlines section of the Properties panel.

Creating barlines between staves only (Mensurstrich)

See Working with Mensurstrich.

Barline properties

You can edit properties specific to barlines in the Barlines section of the Properties panel:

Style: Used to change selected barlines to one in the dropdown list.
Span to next staff: Check this to make selected barlines extend to the staff beneath.
Span from/to: used to set the vertical start and end points of one or more selected barlines.
Set as staff default: Applies the changes made in Span to next staff and Span from/to to all barlines in the staff.
Span presets: Applies the selected preset to one or more selected barlines in the score.

Barline style

Selected properties for all barlines in the score can be changed in Format→Style→Barlines:

See also

• Fixed Measure Widths for a workaround to ensure barlines are aligned vertically between systems.
• Repeat signs

Showing and hiding measure numbers

Showing measure numbers automatically

By default, MuseScore shows measure numbers at the start of each system except the first one in a section. Numbering starts at the first complete measure in a section.

if you wish to change measure numbering:

1. From the menu bar, select Format→Style→Measure numbers.
2. Edit the following properties as required:
   • Measure numbers: This is ON by default. Uncheck to turn off measure numbering.
   • Show first: Check to show measure number on the first system of a section.
   • All staves: Check to show measure numbers on every staff.
   • Every system / Interval: If "Every system" is selected, measure numbers are shown at the start of each system. If "Interval" is selected, you can choose a measure interval at which to display measures.
3. Make changes to positioning using the controls on the right.
4. Edit the display of multimeasure numbers in the section below:
   • Show measure number range at multimeasure rests. If checked, you can also customize the appearance and position of the numbering. Unchecked (the default setting), only the count of multimeasure rests is displayed.

Showing measure numbers manually

To always show the number of a particular measure, regardless of style settings, open Measure properties and select "Always show" from the Measure number mode dropdown.

Hiding measure numbers

To hide all measure numbers, uncheck "Measure numbers" in Format→Style→Measure numbers.

To hide the number of a particular measure, regardless of style settings, open Measure properties and select "Always hide" from the Measure number mode dropdown.

Changing the measure number sequence

Excluding a measure from the count

In Measure properties, check "Exclude from measure count" (in the Other pane).

Altering the numbering of a measure

In Measure properties, edit "Add to measure number". Both positive and negative numbers are accepted.

Resetting measure numbering for a new section

By default, numbering of measures always restarts at the beginning of a new section. To prevent this, and make numbering continuous, select the break and in the Properties panel uncheck "Reset measure numbers for new section".

Changing the position of measure numbers

To adjust the position of all measure numbers, edit the X and Y offsets of "Position above" and "Position below" in Format→Style→Measure numbers.

Measure number properties

Note that any changes made to a measure number in the Properties panel may be lost if the layout changes.

Measure number style

Various properties for all measure numbers in the score can be adjusted in Format→Style→Measure numbers. Most are dealt with in the sections above.

See also

Other measure-related pages:

• Measure rests and multimeasure rests
• Pickup and non-metered measures
• Measure properties
• Adding and removing measures
• Mensural notation and Mensurstrich

Measure rest

A measure rest looks like a whole rest, but is centered within a measure and indicates that the entire measure (or a voice within it) is silent:

It is commonly used in all meters (except 4/2 and 8/4).

Multimeasure rest

A multimeasure rest is used to indicate a run of empty measures, the number of measures being shown by a figure above/below the staff.

Enabling and disabling multimeasure rests

Multimeasure rests can be turned on/off with the shortcut M, or by checking "Multimeasure Rests" in Format→Style…→Rests.

By default, if multimeasure rests are enabled, any sequence of two or more empty measures is automatically converted to multimeasure rests.

To change the minimum number of empty measures needed to trigger multimeasure rests:

1. From the menu, choose Format→Style…→Rests.
2. Check "Multimeasure rests" (if the option is not already enabled).
3. Edit "Minimum number of empty measures".

Multimeasure rests can be turned on/off independently in the score and instrument parts.

Breaking multimeasure rests

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

However, you can opt to break a multimeasure rest elsewhere as follows.

1. Disable multimeasure rests;
2. Right-click on the measure at which you want the multimeasure rest to break, and select Measure properties.
3. In the dialog, check "Break multimeasure rest".
4. Click OK.
5. Re-enable multimeasure rests.

Multimeasure rest properties

You can edit properties specific to multimeasure rests in the Multimeasure rest section of the Properties panel:

Show number: This box is checked by default. Uncheck it to hide the multimeasure number.
Number position: Adjust the vertical position of the multimeasure number, above or below the rest.

Multimeasure rest style

Some global properties of multimeasure rests can be set from Format→Style…→Measure numbers:

Others from Format→Style…→Rests:

See also

Other measure-related pages:

• Measure numbering
• Pickup and non-metered measures
• Measure properties
• Adding and removing measures
• Mensural notation and Mensurstrich

Creating a pickup measure

A pickup measure, also known as an upbeat or anacrusis, is a partial, or incomplete, measure at the beginning of a score or section.

Note: By convention, measure numbering starts at the first complete measure.

Specifying the pickup duration during score creation

1. Click on Measures in the "Additional score information" page (page 2) of the New Score dialog;
2. Check "Create pickup measure";
3. Choose an underlying time signature using the spin controls below.

Converting a measure into a pickup

1. Right-click on the measure and choose Measure properties;
2. In the Measure duration section, next to "Actual", choose an underlying "time signature";
3. Click OK; or click Apply and then ← or → if you want to configure an adjacent partial measure.

It is accepted musical practice to omit the same duration as the pickup from the final measure of the piece or of the same repeat section. The same method of shortening the measure applies here.

Creating non-metered measures

A non-metered measure is one which is less or greater in duration than the indicated time signature.

A measures of less duration than the indicated signature may be created in exactly the same way as a pickup measure (see above).

Other ways of creating non-metered measures are described below:

Inserting notes and rests

Extra notes/rests can be inserted in a measure with the help of either a keyboard shortcut, or by using a special mode of entry called Insert mode:

Using a keyboard shortcut

1. Select the note or rest in the score before which you want to insert notes/rests;
2. Enter note-input mode;
3. Select a duration;
4. Press Ctrl+Shift (Mac: Cmd+Shift) while adding the note/rest from the keyboard or mouse.

Using Insert mode

1. Make sure you have the element selected where you want to start inserting notes/rests;
2. Click and hold the Note input icon, and select Insert (or if Insert is the current default, just press N);
3. Enter a note or rest as you would in step-time mode. Each note is inserted before the current cursor position;
4. Move the cursor forward and backward if required (using the arrow keys), to change the insertion point.

If, at any time, the total duration of the notes and rests within the measure does not match the time signature, a small + or - sign will be shown above the measure.

Joining measures

This command joins selected measures into one measure.

Method A. To join two measures only:

1. Select the barline between the two measures;
2. Press Ctrl+Del; or select Tools→Remove selected range.

Method B. To join any number of measures:

1. Select the measures you want to join;
2. From the menu bar, select Tools→Measures→Join selected measures.

Notes: (1) If you select measures on only one staff in a score with multiple staves, the same measures will be joined in each staff of the system. (2) Beaming may be automatically modified.

Splitting a measure

This command inserts a barline before a selected note, splitting the measure into two.

Use one of the following methods:

• Select a note; then hold Ctrl and click a barline in a palette.
• Hold Ctrl and drag a barline (from a palette) to a note.
• Select a note; then, from the menu bar, select Tools→Measures→Split Measure Before Selected Note/Rest.

See also

• Working with non-metered music.

Other measure-related pages:

• Measure numbering
• Measure and multimeasure rests
• Measure properties
• Adding and removing measures
• Mensural notation and Mensurstrich

Opening and using the dialog

The Measure properties dialog allows you to adjust various properties of an individual measure—such as visibility, duration, numbering and width ("Stretch").

• To open Measure properties, right-click on a measure and select "Measure properties".

  

If you only want to adjust one measure, click OK to make the changes permanent. However, if you also want to adjust adjacent measures there is no need to close the dialog; simply click Apply, then use the arrows on the bottom left of the window to move the dialog to the new measure. The new measure number appears both at the top of the dialog and in the status bar.

Staves

Visible : Uncheck/check the boxes to hide/show the selected measure.
Stemless: Check/uncheck the box to hide/show stems.

Measure duration

Nominal: This is the time signature set in the score.
Actual: Adjust these figures to increase or decrease the duration of a measure.

Other

Exclude from measure count: Check to make the count skip the selected measure.
Break multimeasure rest: See Measure rests and multimeasure rests.
Measure number mode: Allows you to display/hide measure number for the selected measure irrespective of style settings.
Add to measure number: Changes numbering from this measure onwards in the score.
Layout stretch: This property is normally adjusted first with a shortcut (see Stretch); use "Measure properties" for fine adjustment.
Play count: This only appears if the measure is before an end repeat barline. It indicates the number of times the repeat section is played.

See also

• Fixed Measure Widths for a workaround to ensure barlines are aligned vertically between systems.

Other measure-related pages:

• Measure numbering
• Measure and multimeasure rests
• Pickup and non-metered measures
• Adding and removing measures
• Mensural notation and Mensurstrich