> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://handbook.musescore.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/advanced-topics/parts.md).

# Parts

*Not to be confused with* [*MuseScore Voices feature*](/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices.md)*, see also* [*Glossary: Part*](/3/appendix/glossary.md#part)*.*\
\&#xNAN;*To add, duplicate, edit or remove instruments, see* [*Change instrument setup*](/3/basics/create-a-new-score.md#change-instrument-and-staff-setup) *instead.*

## Overview

**Parts** is a MuseScore feature to aid extracting staffs to generate **different versions of the same score.**

A Part is an independent viewing profile that contains [**layout and formatting**](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md) **style configuration**, [Mixer](/3/sound-and-playback/mixer.md) settings and [chord playback settings](/3/sound-and-playback/playback-chord-symbols--nashville-numbers.md) only. Most of the musical score data (except for certain items like image attached to first staff) is shared among Parts. Modification such as changing a note when viewing one Part will reflect on the same places if the item exists on other Parts.

Tempo markings are always shown on all Parts. [Text](/3/text/text-types.md) and [Line](/3/notation/lines.md) object's visibility depends on its object type, for example a **System text** added on any one staff is visible on all Parts, even if it is not included in that Part.

To manage Parts, open the Parts window by selecting **File -> Parts…**, Parts are shown in **Select Part** pane.\\

<figure><img src="/files/C2abrH1jMk0ggNGajaVW" alt="Ms3parts window"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

New score file created contains no Parts by default. Full Score is shown, there are no sub-tabs under the score file tab:\\

<figure><img src="/files/dJ8JawuV5PgtNtT7wiGN" alt="Ms3parts full"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

\ \_score adapted from \_

When a score contains at least one Part, the Full Score and Part(s) are shown as tabs under the score file tab, click on any one tab to view it. Either the Full Score or any one of the Parts can be viewed at a given time:\\

<figure><img src="/files/IvKmh2CuX4uhtUmNQdoD" alt="Ms3parts 1pluspart"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Common reasons to create Parts

* You have a (orchestral) full-score and you need to:
  * remove one staff along the whole score from the on-screen view but keep its notes and notation data intact. Like from a 3 pages "soprano + piano" score, remove the piano accompaniment on computer screen temporarily so that you can read a 1 page soprano score.
  * extract staff(s) to print hard copies for individual players to read in real life, or [exporting](/3/basics/opensaveexportprint.md#export) digitally. Like from a "woodwind + brass + strings" score, batch create individual printable versions for different players for emsemble rehersal.
  * extract staff(s) based on type or family they belong to. Like from a "woodwind + brass + strings" score, [create MIDI file](/3/basics/opensaveexportprint.md#export) of "flute 2 + first violin" score.
* You have a [two-part score](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-part_harmony) and need to create a one-part score.
* You have a **single staff** that represents two instruments in real life, and need to extract it to create staff that represent one instrument in real life only. Like from a single staff "Flute 1 & 2", create "Flute 1".

Use [Include or exclude Voices in a Part](#include-or-exclude-voices) for the last two.

### Create a new Part

To add new instruments, see [Change instrument setup](/3/basics/create-a-new-score.md#change-instrument-and-staff-setup) instead.

A Part can be manually named, and include instrument(s) or their [Voice(s)](/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices.md).

1. Click **Single Part** (or prior to MuseScore 3.4: **New** ) to create a new **empty** Part (empty **Instruments in Part** pane). The Part is named automatically "Part", and with a trailing number if needed. The Part is shown in **Select Part** pane.
2. [Customize Parts](#customize-parts).
3. Click **OK** to finish and exit. Once this window is closed, [created Parts cannot be edited due to a bug](#customize-parts).

### Automatically create separate Parts for each instrument

To batch create separate Parts for each instrument:\\

<figure><img src="/files/2rb5fcFjPwfAu6MBrBYK" alt="Ms3parts violin"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/LenP4ceLeUfcW9hq2cBP" alt="Ms3parts piano"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

1. Click **All Parts** (or MuseScore 3.2-3.3.4: **Generate**; prior to MuseScore 3.2: **New All**) to batch create separate Parts for each instrument.
2. [Customize Parts](#customize-parts). Each Part is automatically named with the *instrument name*, and with a trailing number if needed. They are shown in **Select Part** pane. You may want to **rename Parts to prevent confusion** if you have [already changed the long or short name](/3/advanced-topics/staff--part-properties.md) to something other than *instrument name*.
3. Click **OK** to finish and exit. Once this window is closed, [created Parts cannot be edited due to a bug](#customize-parts).

### Customize Parts

**Parts are only editable during creation** - A bug in Musescore 3.6.2 prevents user from editing existing Parts. You may need to [delete it](#delete-a-part) and edit it during recreation.

#### Rename a Part

Change Part name in **Part title:**, it is displayed at the tab heading. It is also used as filename suffix when [exporting](/3/basics/opensaveexportprint.md#export). You may want to **rename Parts to prevent confusion** if you have [already changed the long or short name](/3/advanced-topics/staff--part-properties.md) to something other than *instrument name*.

#### Add instruments to a Part

To add an instrument to an existing Part:

1. Select the Part in the **Select Part** pane.
2. Select the instrument from the **Instruments in Score** pane.
3. Press **+** to add it to the **Instruments in Part** pane.

#### Remove instruments from a Part

To remove instruments from an existing Part:

1. Select the Part in the **Select Part** pane.
2. Select an instrument from the **Instruments in Part** pane.
3. Press **-** to remove.

#### Include or exclude individual staff(s)

This feature is not working in Musescore 3.6.2 due to a bug, use [Include or exclude Voices](#include-or-exclude-voices) instead.

1. Select the Part in the **Select Part** pane.
2. Click the small arrow to the left of an instrument in **Instruments in Part** to expand the listing to show all its staves and Voices.
3. Select staff(s) to be excluded from this Part.
4. Press **-**.

#### Include or exclude Voices

1. Select the Part in the **Select Part** pane.
2. Click the small arrow to the left of an instrument in **Instruments in Part** to expand the listing to show all its staves and Voices.
3. Uncheck to exclude Voice from this Part.

This feature only works if **all notes need to be strictly written in separate** [**Musescore Voice**](/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices.md) **respectively**. To extract, for example, "Flute 1 & 2 in the same staff" into two Parts, notes need to be strictly written in Musescore Voice 1 and Voice 2 respectively, even in passages where they share content, you might need to create duplicate Voice 1 unison and assign it to Voice 2. Flute 1 and Flute 2 notes should not be merged into one chord in one Voice at all.\\

<figure><img src="/files/FVZCzb0hJnPrMRJqamQd" alt="Ms3parts piano voicemerged"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

\ \_piano left hand separation like shown above does not work\_\\

<figure><img src="/files/HgS9VPpBwbPWWr6CAEKc" alt="Ms3parts piano voicesep"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

\ \_assign piano left hand notes to Voice 2 as shown above, working result is shown below\_\\

<figure><img src="/files/R1HdvlDa3e4Kj2nZhXkt" alt="Ms3parts piano voicelhconfig"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

\\

<figure><img src="/files/kU8tZpjge7VJTjWNWKIA" alt="Ms3parts piano voicelhview"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The same result can also be achieved without fiddling with note Voices assignment, because piano left hand is on the Bass staff.\\

<figure><img src="/files/QArJwxLZMLzA8guVPXwP" alt="Ms3parts piano bystaffclef"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Delete a Part

2. Select the Part in the **Select Part** pane.
3. Press **Delete**.

When you delete Parts, most of the musical score data are intact, because Part contains [layout and formatting style configuration and its playback options only](#overview)

### Playback options

Instruments not included in the currently opened Part does not create playback by default, to change this behavior toggle [Mixer](/3/sound-and-playback/mixer.md) **Play Part Only** option. This option is not modifiable when the "Full Score" is currently opened, as shown below. It is only modifiable when a "Part" is currently opened, for example, click either "Send to Chris" or "Print one for Jimmy" to open that Part.

<figure><img src="/files/IvKmh2CuX4uhtUmNQdoD" alt="Ms3parts 1pluspart"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Exporting and printing Parts

To export Part(s):

1. Select **File -> Export…**.
2. Select Full Score and Parts in **What to export** pane, or click **Select all** or **Clear selection**
3. Fill in other settings as required, click **OK**.

Score file name will be used as prefix for Parts, generating files with the names "\<Score file name>" + "-" + "\<Part name>.\<extension>". When exporting as PDF, an additional file named "\<Score file name>" + "-Score\_And\_Parts.pdf" is generated.

To print a Part:

1. Make sure the Part is currently opened, see [Overview](#overview).
2. Select **File -> Print**.

### Save Parts

Parts are embedded into a score file, and saved along with the score file. No other action is required.

To save a Part as an separate file:

1. Make sure the Part is currently opened, see [Overview](#overview).
2. Select **File -> Save As…**.


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