> 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/appendix/glossary.md).
# Glossary
Listed below are technicial terms and musical terms, which are frequently used in MuseScore or in the Handbook. Links to relevant handbook chapter are provided. To help musicians who are capable of reading a notation but do not know its proper name, image is provided. This chapter does not aim to be a dictionary of all musical notations, see [External links](#external-links).
The differences between American English and British English are marked with "(AE)" and "(BE)", respectively. Editors and translators of this chapter should add the individual entry for each term.
## A
* Acciaccatura
A short →[grace note](#grace-note) which appears as a small note with a stroke through the stem. Musescore creates a quick playback, the playback duration is not affected by duration of the parent note. See [Grace notes](/3/notation/grace-notes.md) chapter.
* Accidental
An accidental is a sign appearing in front of a note that raises or lowers its pitch. See [Accidental](/3/notation/accidentals.md) chapter. Musescore creates playback for common accidentals only, they includes →[sharps](#sharp), →[flats](#flat), →[naturals](#natural), →[double sharps](#doublesharp), →[double flats](#doubleflat), and triple flats. To create microtonal accidentals such as quarter tone, see [Tuning systems, microtonal notation system, and playback](/3/advanced-topics/tuning-systems-microtonal-notation-system-and-playback.md) Chapter.
* Ambitus
Note (or vocal) range used in a →[staff](#staff). Used particularly in [Early Music](/3/advanced-topics/early-music-features.md). See [Ambitus](/3/advanced-topics/early-music-features.md#ambitus) chapter.
* Anacrusis (mostly BE)
See →[Pickup measure](#pickup-measure).
* Anchor
The point of attachment to the score of objects such as Text and Lines: When the object is dragged, the anchor appears as small brown circle connected to the object by a dotted line. Depending on the object selected, its anchor may be attached to either (a) a note (e.g. fingering), (b) a staff line (e.g. staff text), or (c) a barline (e.g. repeats).
* Appoggiatura
A long →[grace note](#grace-note) which takes value from its associated note. Musescore creates playback as such. It is acceptable to execute written appoggiatura as acciaccatura nowadays but Musescore does not create such playback. Appoggiatura's functions include: passing tone, anticipation, struck suspension, and escape tone.\\
* Arpeggio
An **arpeggio** tells the performer to break up the chord into the constituent notes, playing them separately and one after the other. The arrow arpeggio symbol indicates the direction in which the player should play the notes of the chord. See [Arpeggios and glissandi](/3/notation/arpeggios-and-glissandi.md) chapter.\\
* Articulation
A marking or symbol indicating how a note should be played, usually by altering the length of a note or shaping its attack and decay. See [Articulations and ornaments](/3/notation/articulations-and-ornaments.md) chapter.
## B
* Bar (BE)
See →[measure](#measure).
* Barline
Vertical line through a →[staff](#staff), staves, or a full →[system](#system) that separates →[measures](#measure). See [Barline](/3/notation/barlines.md) chapter.
* Beam
Notes with a duration of an →[eighth](https://musescore.org/en/handbook/3/eighth-note) or shorter either carry a →[flag](#flag) or a beam. Beams are used for grouping notes. See also [French Beam](#french-beam). See [Beam](/3/notation/beams.md) chapter.
* BPM
A tempo displaying unit only used inside Musescore's Play panel. BPM is the amount of **quarter notes** would have been within one minute. It is **not** the number used in [metronome tempo markings](#metronome-mark) on a score. See [Play mode: Play panel](/3/sound-and-playback/play-mode.md#play-panel) chapter.
* Breve, Brevis
A **double whole note** or **breve** is a note that has the duration of two whole notes.
## C
* Caesura
* A **caesura** (//) is a brief, silent pause. Time is not counted for this period, and music resumes when the director signals. See [Breaths and pauses](/3/notation/breaths-and-pauses.md) chapter.
*
```
```
* Capo (text)
A text to indicate the setting of the transposing device used on an instrument. See [Staff Text and System Text](/3/text/staff-text-and-system-text.md) chapter. Not to be confused with [Da capo (D.C.)](#da-capo).
* Cent
An interval equal to one hundredth of a semitone, used by Tuning property of a note, see [Inspector : note](/3/basics/inspector.md#note) and [Tuning systems, microtonal notation system, and playback](/3/advanced-topics/tuning-systems-microtonal-notation-system-and-playback.md) chapter.
* Channel
* 1\. Instrument and channel in Musescore are software abstractions, see [Mixer](/3/sound-and-playback/mixer.md) chapter.
* 2\. A MIDI output data, see [MIDI controls in Mixer](/3/sound-and-playback/mixer.md#midi-controls) chapter.
* Chord
* 1\. A group of two or more notes sounding together.
* 2\. In Musescore, only notes sounding together that have same duration inside one [Musescore Voice](#voice) constitute a chord. To select a chord in MuseScore, press Shift and click on a note. See [Voice](/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices.md) chapter.
* 3\. In Musescore, a chord symbol. See [Chord notation systems](/3/text/chord-notation-systems.md) chapter.
* Clef
A musical symbol used to indicate which notes are represented by the lines and spaces on a →[staff](#staff). See [Clefs](/3/notation/clefs.md) chapter. See also [courtesy clef](#courtesy-clef).
* Coda
* 1\. A passage that brings a piece (or a movement) to an end.
* 2\. The navigation marker which resembles a set of crosshairs. It is used where the exit from a repeated section is within that section rather than at the end. See also [dal segno](#segno) sign. See [Repeats and jumps](/3/notation/repeats-and-jumps.md) chapter.
*
```
```
* Concert pitch
* 1\. The sounding, or real pitch of a note, contrast with [written pitch](#written-pitch).
* 2\. A score viewing mode in Musescore, see [Concert pitch](/3/basics/concert-pitch.md) and [Transposition](/3/notation/transposition.md) chapters.
* 3\. The frequency of A4, see [Synthesizer](/3/sound-and-playback/synthesizer.md) chapter.
* Courtesy clef
A reduced-size [clef](#clef) applied to the end of a system indicating a clef change at the start of the next system. See [Clefs](/3/notation/clefs.md) chapter.
* Cross-staff notation
* A musical phrase extending across two neighboring staffs eg bass staff and treble staff.
*
```
```
* To create notation where the two stems are at opposite sides of the beam, as shown above, see [Cross-staff notation](/3/advanced-topics/cross-staff-notation.md) chapter.
*
```
```
* To create notation where the stems are on the same side of the beam, as shown above, see [How to span a chord or stem over two staves](https://musescore.org/en/node/8717) chapter.
* Crotchet (BE)
See →[Quarter note](#quarter-note).
## D
* Da capo (D.C.)
A directive to repeat the previous part of music. See [Repeats and jumps](/3/notation/repeats-and-jumps.md) chapter.\
Not to be confused with [capo (text)](#capo-text).
* Dead note
See [ghost note](#ghost-note).
* Demisemiquaver (BE)
A thirty-second note.
* Double Flat
A **double flat** (♭♭ or 𝄫) is a sign that indicates that the pitch of a note has to be lowered two semitones.
* Double Sharp
A **double sharp** (♯♯ or 𝄪) is a sign that indicates that the pitch of a note has to be raised two semitones.
* Duplet
See →[tuplet](#tuplet).
* Dynamic, dynamics, dynamic symbol, dynamics symbol
A symbol indicating the relative loudness of a note or phrase of music—such as ***mf*** (mezzoforte), ***p*** (piano), ***f*** (forte) etc., starting at that note. See [Dynamic](/3/sound-and-playback/dynamics.md) chapter.
* Dynamic, Single note
* **NOTE:** Single note dynamics (SND) has several meanings, see [Single note dynamics (SND)](#snd)
* A dynamics symbol with non-zero "Velocity change" property. When setup properly, it creates an Attack envelope simulation effect ([wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Envelope_\(music\))) on note playback, eg **sfz** symbol on violins, for more info see [Dynamics](/3/sound-and-playback/dynamics.md)
* \* Two popular build-in SNDs : **sfz** (sforzando), **fp** (fortepiano)
* \* It is designed to work on certain instruments only eg **sfz** symbol's effect on violin does not exist on piano.
## E
* Edit mode
The program mode in which editing of score element by user is allowed, contrast with [normal mode](#normal-mode) and [note input mode](#note-input-mode). See [Edit mode](/3/basics/edit-mode.md) chapter.
* Eighth note
A note whose duration is an eighth of a whole note (semibreve). Same as a **quaver** (BE).
* Endecalineo
\*
```
```
* Endecalineo or endecagram, the stave for Solfège, to create see [Solmisation](https://musescore.org/en/node/318182) chapter.
* Endings
See →[volta](#volta).
* Enharmonic notes
Notes that sound the same pitch but are written differently. Example: G♯ and A♭ are enharmonic notes. See [Accidentals: Change enharmonic spelling](/3/notation/accidentals.md#change-enharmonic-spelling) chapter.
* Explode
\*
```
```
* A Musescore feature that split (explode) the chords in a passage of music in a single staff into their constituent notes or voices, see [Tools](/3/advanced-topics/tools.md)
* Also see [Implode](#implode)
## F
* Flag
See →[beam](#beam).
* Flat
Sign (♭) that indicates that the pitch of a note has to be lowered one semitone, see →[accidentals](#accidental) and →[key signature](#key-signature).
* Font
See [Fonts](/3/advanced-topics/fonts.md) chapter.
* French Beam
\*
```
```
* Beams where the stems only extend to the first beam, but don't intersect all the way through. To create use the [French Beams](https://musescore.org/en/project/french-beams) plugin.
## G
* Ghost note
In music, notably in jazz, a ghost note (or a dead, muted, silenced or false note) is a musical note with a rhythmic value, but no discernible pitch when played. Musescore supports crosshead (cross notehead, looks like letter x), diamond notehead, and adding brackets (parentheses) to a note, see [Noteheads](/3/advanced-topics/notehead-schemes/noteheads.md) chapter.\\
\\
* Grace note
Grace notes appear as small notes in front of a normal-sized main note, see also →[acciaccatura](#acciaccatura) and →[appoggiatura](#appoggiatura). See [Grace note](/3/notation/grace-notes.md) chapter.
*
```
* Grand Staff(AE)
```
```
* Great Stave (BE)
An instrument or →[part](#part) of two or more staves, featuring treble and bass clefs, used to notate music for keyboard instruments and the harp. As of MuseScore 3.6: Any number of staves connected by a curly brace.
```
## H
* Half Note
A note whose duration is half of a whole note (semibreve). Same as a **minim** (BE).
* Hemidemisemiquaver (BE)
A sixty-fourth note.
## I
* Implode
\*
```
```
* A Musescore feature similar to, but not exactly, score reduction ([wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reduction_\(music\))), see [Tools](/3/advanced-topics/tools.md), also see [Explode](#explode). See [Tools](/3/advanced-topics/tools.md) chapter.
* Interval
The difference in pitch between two notes, expressed in terms of the scale degree (e.g. major second, minor third, perfect fifth etc.). See [Degree (Music)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degree_\(music\)) (Wikipedia).
* Interleaved
\*
```
```
* Two interlocking, oppositely beamed sets of notes. To recreate, use the voice function and the beam palette, see [Interleaved beam directions](https://musescore.org/en/node/314469#comment-1047136)
* Instrument
* 1\. Musescore Instrument, see [Instruments, staff setup and templates](/3/basics/instruments.md). Instrument contains [channel(s)](#channel).
* 2\. Real world instrument
* Irregular measure marker
\*
```
```
* A plus sign or minus sign at the top right of a measure indicates that its duration differs from that set by the time signature. See [Viewing and navigation: Mark irregular measures](/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation.md#mark-irregular-measures) and [Measure operations](/3/basics/measure-operations.md) chapters.
## J
* Jump
In MuseScore, "jumps" are notations such as "D.S. al Coda". See [Repeats and jumps](/3/notation/repeats-and-jumps.md) chapter.
## K
* Key Signature
Set of [sharps](#sharp) and [flats](#flat) at the beginning of the →[staves](#staff). It gives an idea about the tonality and avoids repeating those signs all along the staff. A key signature with B flat means F major or D minor tonality. See [Key Signature](/3/notation/key-signatures.md) chapter.
## L
* Legato
Legato is a play style which involves playing the notes in a slurred manner. Legato may be written as text or shown through the use of [slurs](#slur).
* Local time signature
\*
```
```
* Staffs with different time signatures running at the same time, to create see [Time signatures](/3/notation/time-signatures.md#local-time-signatures) chapter.
* Longa
A **longa** is a **quadruple whole note**.
*
```
* Ledger Line(AE)
```
```
* Leger Line (BE)
Line(s) that are added with and for notes above or below the staff.
```
* Line
Musescore Lines, a type of objects capable of attaching (anchoring) to a horizontal continuous range of more than two notes or rests, or vertical collection of notes (chord). See [Lines](/3/notation/lines.md) chapter.
## M
* Measure (AE)
A segment of time defined by a given number of beats. Dividing music into measures provides regular reference points to pinpoint locations within a piece of music. Same as → [bar](#bar) (BE).
* Measure repeat sign
See [Repeats and jumps](/3/notation/repeats-and-jumps.md) chapter.\\
* Metronome mark
A kind of tempo marking. See [Tempo](/3/sound-and-playback/tempo.md) chapter.
* Minim (BE)
See →[Half note](#half-note).
* Multimeasure rest
See [Measure rests](/3/notation/measure-rests.md) chapter.\\
## N
* Natural
A natural (♮) is a sign that cancels a previous alteration on notes of the same pitch, see →[accidentals](#accidental) and →[key signature](#key-signature).
* Normal mode
The operating mode of MuseScore *outside* [note input mode](#note-input-mode) or [edit mode](#edit-mode). Press Esc to use normal mode. Allows user to [select](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md) and move elements, adjust Inspector properties, and alter the pitches of existing notes.
* Note input mode
The program mode used for entering music notation, contrast with [normal mode](#normal-mode) and [edit mode](#edit-mode). See [Note input modes](/3/advanced-topics/note-input-modes.md) chapter.
## O
* Operating System (OS)
* Underlying set of programs which set up a computer, enabling additional programs (such as MuseScore). Popular OSes are Microsoft Windows, macOS, and GNU/Linux.
* Not to be confused with a sheet music →[system](#system).
* Ossia
\*
```
```
* An alternative passage which may be played instead of the original passage, from the Italian for "alternatively", meaning "or be it". To create see [How to create an ossia with another staff](https://musescore.org/en/node/46236)
## P
* Part
* 1\. MuseScore 3's automatic score separation and printing function, see [Parts](/3/advanced-topics/parts.md) chapter.
* 2\. Music to be played or sung by one or a group of musicians using the same instrument. In a string quartet, 1st part = Violin 1, 2nd part = Violin 2, 3rd part = Viola, 4th part = Cello, in a choir there might be parts for soprano, alto, tenor and bass. A part has one or more →[staves](#staff) (e.g. Piano has 2 staves, Organ can have 2 or 3 staves). MuseScore 3 [Dynamics](/3/sound-and-playback/dynamics.md#properties-and-global-settings)'s **Dynamic range** property use this definition.
* 3\. A single melody line in a polyphonic musical composition. MuseScore 3 **never** use this definition, but there is a similar feature [Voices](/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices.md).
* Pickup Measure (mostly AE, also known as an Anacrusis (mostly BE) or Upbeat)
Incomplete first measure of a piece or a →[section](#section) of a piece of music. See [Measure duration](/3/basics/measure-operations.md#duration), [Create new score: Pickup measure](/3/basics/create-a-new-score.md#choose-time-signature-tempo-pickup-measure-and-number-of-measures), and [Measure operations: Exclude from measure count](/3/basics/measure-operations.md#irregular) chapters. May or may not be compensated for at the end of the score or section.
* Properties
Settings of an individual object on a score in Musescore, see [Inspector](/3/basics/inspector.md) chapter. Contrast with [style (profile)](#style).
## Q
* Quadruplet
See →[tuplet](#tuplet).
* Quarter note
A note whose duration is a quarter of a whole note (semibreve). Same as a **crotchet** (BE).
* Quaver (BE)
See →[eighth note](#eighth-note).
* Quintuplet
See →[tuplet](#tuplet).
## R
* Respell Pitches
Change accidental used on a note but keep note's pitch. See [Accidentals: Change enharmonic spelling](/3/notation/accidentals.md#change-enharmonic-spelling) chapter.
* Rest
A musical symbol that indicates silence. See [Note input](/3/basics/note-input.md) chapter.
* Re-pitch mode
One of the note input modes. See [Note input modes](/3/advanced-topics/note-input-modes.md) chapter.
## S
* Score
* 1\. In MuseScore support forums and most chapters of the MuseScore Handbook, **score** generally refers to a computer file with the suffix .mscz - and to its visual representation on a computer screen as well as its audio playback.
* 2\. In some chapters of the MuseScore Handbook, **score** means the layout and formatting of "Full score" or one particular Musescore part. See [Layout and formatting](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md) and [Musescore Part](/3/advanced-topics/parts.md) chapters.
* 3\. In other contexts (for example the IMSLP score-sharing website at [https://imslp.org](https://imslp.org/)), a score generally refers either to a PDF file of the sheet music for a specific work or to an actual paper copy of the sheet music.
* Section
In MuseScore, a region of the score between [section breaks](/3/formatting/breaks-and-spacers.md#breaks); also from the start of a score to the first section break, and from the last section break to the end of the score.
* Segno, or Dal Segno
A navigation marker. See [Repeats and jumps](/3/notation/repeats-and-jumps.md) chapter.
* Semibreve (BE)
A **whole note** (AE). It lasts a whole measure in 4/4 time.
* Semiquaver (BE)
A sixteenth note.
* Semihemidemisemiquaver (Quasihemidemisemiquaver) (BE)
An hundred and twenty eighth note.
* Sextuplet
See →[tuplet](#tuplet).
* SF2
A virtual instrument format developed by E-mu Systems and Creative Labs, see [SoundFonts](#soundfont).
* SF3
An invention of Werner Schweer, the Musescore developer ([source](https://musescore.org/en/node/151611#comment-618066)). This format supports sound sample compression, see [SoundFonts](#soundfont).
* SFZ
* 1\. Dynamics symbol **sfz** (small letters) , see [Dynamic](#single-note-dynamic)
* 2\. A virtual instrument format supported by MuseScore (along with →[SoundFonts](#soundfont)). An SFZ library consists of one or more SFZ text files, each defining a particular instrument setup, and many audio sound samples.
* Shared note head
A note notated with two beams. To recreate in Musescore, use the voice function and the notehead function and see [Noteheads](/3/advanced-topics/notehead-schemes/noteheads.md#shared-noteheads)
* Sharp
Sign (♯) that indicates that the pitch of a note has to be raised one semitone, see →[accidentals](#accidental) and →[key signature](#key-signature).
* Single note dynamics (SND)
* Due to continuous software development, Single note dynamics (SND) has come to bear several different meanings:
* 1\. A dynamics symbol with non-zero "Velocity change" property. When setup properly, it creates an Attack envelope simulation effect ([wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Envelope_\(music\))) on note playback, eg **sfz** symbol on violins, for more info see [Dynamics](/3/sound-and-playback/dynamics.md)
* \* Two popular build-in SNDs : **sfz** (sforzando), **fp** (fortepiano)
* \* It is designed to work on certain instruments only eg **sfz** symbol's effect on violin does not exist on piano.
* 2\. The audio creation mechanism on which the definition 1 is based. This mechanism is utilized to simulate 'variation of loudness' effect by hairpins on certain instruments. eg crescendo on one violin long note, for more info see [Hairpins](/3/notation/hairpins.md)
* \* It is designed to work on certain instruments only eg you cannot create crescendo while pressing a piano note
* 3\. The notation interpretation setting of an instrument: ['Use single note dynamics' in Staff / Part properties](/3/advanced-topics/staff--part-properties.md#snd). See definition 1 and 2 for more info on notations. The setting in [default definition file instruments.xml](https://musescore.org/en/handbook/developers-handbook/references/instrumentsxml-documentation#xmlsnd) is named ``. Instruments' settings can be ignored by the master control in [Synthesizer](/3/sound-and-playback/synthesizer.md).
* 4\. A soundfont's attenuation response to MIDI CC messages. Musescore can only create correct audio for all dynamics and haripins with a compatable soundfont. Because musescore synthesizer setting is global, and the default soundfont responses to MIDI CC 2 only. For most users, SND compatable soundfont means soundfont that reponses to CC 2. More on [Synthesizer](/3/sound-and-playback/synthesizer.md) chapter, also developers' handbook [Edit a soundfont to use MIDI CC](https://musescore.org/en/handbook/developers-handbook/references/instrumentsxml-documentation#sndsetting).
* Slash (slash chord, slash notehead)
Indicates strum. See [Slash notation](https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/slash-notation) and [Noteheads](https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/noteheads) chapter. See also .
* Slash notation
A form of music notation using slash marks placed on or above/below the staff to indicate the rhythm of an accompaniment: often found in association with chord symbols. There are two types: (1) *Slash notation* consists of a rhythm slash on each beat: the exact interpretation is left to the player (see [Fill with slashes](/3/advanced-topics/tools.md#fill-with-slashes)); (2) *Rhythmic slash notation* indicates the precise rhythm for the accompaniment (see [Toggle rhythmic slash notation](/3/advanced-topics/tools.md#toggle-rhythmic-slash-notation)).
* Slur
A curved line over or under two or more notes, meaning that the notes will be played smooth and connected (*legato*). See [Slur](/3/notation/slurs.md) chapter. A slur is not a →[tie](#tie).
* Solmisation
see [Endecalineo](#endecalineo)
* SoundFont
A virtual instrument format supported by MuseScore (along with →[SFZ](#sfz)). A **SoundFont** is a special type of file (extension .sf2, or .sf3 if compressed) containing sound samples of one or more musical instruments. In effect, a virtual synthesizer which acts as a sound source for MIDI files. MuseScore 2.2 comes with the SoundFont "MuseScore\_General.sf3" pre-installed. See [SoundFont](/3/sound-and-playback/soundfonts-and-sfz-files.md) chapter.
* Spatium (plural: Spatia) / Space / Staff Space / sp. (abbr./unit)
A unit of measurement, see [Layout and formatting](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md) chapter.
* Staff / Staffs
A set of lines and spaces, each representing a pitch, on which music is written. In ancient music notation (before 11th century) the staff may have any number of lines.
* Staff Space
See [Spatium](#spatium) (above).
* Stave / Staves (BE)
See [Staff](#staff) (above).
* Step-time input
MuseScore's default [note input mode](#note-input-mode). See [Note input modes](/3/advanced-topics/note-input-modes.md) chapter.
* Style
* 1\. A profile that contains settings in MuseScore, contrast with [Properties](#properties). See [Layout and formatting](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md) chapter. Not to be confused with [Font](#font).
* 2\. A file with extension "mss". See [Layout and formatting: save and load style](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md#reusing-global-settings-and-page-settings-with-mss-file) chapter.
* System
* 1\. Set of staves to be read simultaneously in a score, ie one row of current staffs, see [Layout and formatting](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md) chapter.
* 2\. All instruments, MuseScore 3 [Dynamics](/3/sound-and-playback/dynamics.md#properties-and-global-settings)'s **Dynamic range** property use this definition.
* See also →[Operating System (OS)](#operating-system).
* System divider
Separates systems on the same page. Can be switched on for the score in **Format→Style→System**, see [Layout and formatting: Style window](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md#system). Also available in master palette, see [Master palette](/3/advanced-topics/master-palette.md) chapter.\\
## T
* Template
* 1\. A profile utilised to quickly create a new score. See [Instruments, staff setup and templates](/3/basics/instruments.md#templates) chapter.
* 2\. A preset that can be applied onto one staff. See [Staff / Part properties](/3/advanced-topics/staff--part-properties.md#staff-types) chapter.
* Text
A Musescore Text object is an object that contains individual characters that can be entered and removed by using (typing on) a computer keyboard. See [Text types](/3/text/text-types.md) chapter. Not to be confused with [Font](#font)
* Text style
One of the two main categories of [Style (profile)](#style). See [Text styles and properties](/3/text/text-styles-and-properties.md) chapter.
* Tie
A curved line between two adjavent notes of the same pitch to indicate a single note of combined duration. See [Tie](/3/notation/ties.md) chapter. A tie is not a [slur](#slur).
* Quarter note + Tie + Quarter note = Half note
* Quarter note + Tie + Eighth note = Dotted Quarter note
* Quarter note + Tie + Eighth note + Tie + 16th note = Double Dotted Quarter note
* Transposition
The act of moving the pitches of one or more notes up or down by a constant [interval](#interval). See [Transposition](/3/notation/transposition.md) chapter. There may be several reasons for transposing a piece, for example:
1. The tune is too low or too high for a singer. In this case the whole orchestra will have to be transposed as well—easily done using MuseScore.
2. The part is written for a particular instrument but needs to be played by a different one.
3. The score is written for an orchestra and you want to hear what the individual instruments sound like. This requires changing the transposing instrument parts to concert pitch.
4. A darker or a more brilliant sound is desired.
* Triplet
See →[tuplet](#tuplet).
* Tuplet
A tuplet divides its next higher note value by a number of notes other than given by the time signature. See [Tuplet](/3/notation/tuplets.md) chapter. For example a →[triplet](#triplet) divides the next higher note value into three parts, rather than two. Tuplets may be: →[triplets](#triplet), →[duplets](#duplet), →[quintuplets](#quintuplet), and other.
## U
* Upbeat
See →[pickup measure](#pickup-measure).
## V
* Velocity
A property of objects inside Musescore that controls how loudly note(s) are played, see [Loudness of a note](/3/sound-and-playback/dynamics.md#loudness-of-a-note). The two important types of object that have it are note (see [Inspector](/3/basics/inspector.md) chapter), and dynamics symbol (see [Dynamics](/3/sound-and-playback/dynamics.md) chapter).
* Voice
* 1\. In Musescore, Voice is a software feature, you can use up to 4 Voices per [staff](#staff), see [Voice: When to use Voices](/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices.md#reasons-to-use-voices) chapter.
* 2\. Daily usage of the term voice refers to a musical line or part which can have its own rhythm. MuseScore does not have a feature to implement the exact same idea, if the voice feature does not suit your need, try adding separate instruments instead.
* Volta
In a repeated section of music, it is common for the last few measures of the section to differ. Markings called voltas are used to indicate how the section is to be ended each time. These markings are often referred to simply as →[endings](#endings). See [Volta](/3/notation/voltas.md) chapter.
## W
* Written pitch
Transposing instruments (such as the clarinet, French horn, trumpet etc.) are notated at a different pitch (and key signature) to how they sound. The notated pitch is called the written pitch. Contrast with [concert pitch](#concert-pitch). See [Staff / Part properties](/3/advanced-topics/staff--part-properties.md) chapter.
## External links
*
* [Wikipedia: Glossary of music terminology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_music_terminology)
* [Wikipedia: List of musical symbols](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_musical_symbols)
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