Automatic placement

MuseScore's automatic placement (AP) feature ensures that, in most cases, elements are correctly spaced and do not collide or overlap with each other.

Note: When you create an element, AP is automatically enabled, but can be turned off if required (see Disable automatic placement).

Default position

A newly-created element, such as staff text or fingering, assumes a default position on the staff specified by "positional" properties contained in the Style menu. These "positional" properties may include things such as:

• Placement: Whether the element appears above or below the staff.

• Offset: For elements with no "Placement above/below" properties, this specifies the default position. See Offset X/Y.

• Autoplace min distance: Minimum distance from other elements when autoplace is enabled.

For details of the settings available for each element type, see Layout and formatting: Style.

Change the default placement of an element

Use one of the following methods:

• From the menu, select Format -> Style; choose an element type and then adjust the placement/position settings.

• Select a relevant element in the score and change the placement/position settings in the Inspector; then press the Set as style" button (S) to update the Style settings.

Manual adjustments

Adjust position of element

Use one of the following methods:

• Select the element and adjust the X and Y offsets in the Inspector (see X and Y offsets).

• Move the element using the arrow buttons. Change to edit mode first, if necessary.

• Drag and drop the element using the mouse. Use this method in preference to the above, if you want to move an element across another one (e.g. fingering across a slur). Once located on the other side you can use the X/Y offsets in the Inspector, or the keyboard arrow keys to fine tune the position.

Place element above/below staff

Elements with a "Placement" property available in the Inspector can be easily moved from above the staff to below it, and vice versa:

1. Select one or more elements.

2. Use one of the following methods:

   • Change the "Placement" setting in the Inspector.

   • Press X to toggle between above/below.

Note: When automatic placement is enabled for an element, you cannot position it in a way that causes a collision with other elements.

Disable automatic placement

• Select the element and uncheck the "Automatic placement" box in the Inspector.

The element reverts to its default position. It can be repositioned as desired and is no longer avoided when placing other elements.

Stacking order

To change the value for Stacking order:

• Select the element and change the "Stacking order" value in the Inspector.

In cases where elements are allowed to overlap, Stacking order controls the order in which they are placed on top of each other. The element with the lower value will be placed behind.

Default stacking order values (source)

Item	Default stacking order value
Accidental	1600
Ambitus	2200
Arpeggio	1500
Articulation	2800
Barline	1100
Beam	3200
Bend	4800
Breathmarks	2500
Caesura	2500
Change instrument	4400
Clef	2000
crescendo - diminuendo	5100
D.C.	3700
D.S.	3700
Dynamic	3100
Fall etc.	3000
Fermata	2900
Fingering	3800
Flag	3300
Fretboard diagram	4700
Glissando	6100
Hairpin	5100
Hook/Flag	3300
Instrument names	800
Key signature	2100
Ledgerlines	1700
Line	5700
Minus sign measure	1099
mf + hairpin	5100
Note anchored line	5700
Note dot	6600
Noteheads	1900
Ornament	2800
Ottava's	5200
Palm mute	5600
Parenthesis	500
Pedal lines	5900
Rehearsal mark	4300
Repeat measure sign	2600
Rest	2400
RH fingering	2800
Sawtooth	5500
Segno	3600
Slide etc.	3000
Slur	900
Stafflines	1200
Staff text	4100
Stem	1800
System text	4200
Tempo	4000
Text line	5700
Thumb pos	2800
Tie	1000
Time signature	2300
Title text	600
Tremolo	6700
Tremolobar	4900
Trill lines	5300
Volta	5800