> 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/basics/instruments.md).
# Instruments
This chapter discusses real-world instruments and vocals, MuseScore instruments, score instrument setup, and template files.
## Instruments
An instrument in MuseScore is an abstraction that contains,
* *Tablature(s) or staff(s)*. See also [Layout and formatting](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md#page);
* Settings related to *playback* audio created by the MuseScore synthesizer. When setting up sound, start by changing the instrument setup.
* Notation styles such as clefs, noteheads, and
* Other musical behaviors include transposition and playable range.
A MuseScore instrument contains staff(s) that can represent a single or multiple real-world instrument(s), for example, in *Beethoven's Symphony No.3, Op.55 First edition published by Cianchettini & Sperati, n.d.\[1809] London*, the third staff *Corni 1 & 2 in Eb* represents *two* French horn players:\\
\ To transcribe this, add \_one\_ MuseScore instrument "Horn in Eb". Optionally \[rename it]\(../advanced-topics/staff--part-properties.md). Playback is not affected by naming.\\
The detailed relationship between MuseScore Instrument and *real world* instrument (staff or tablature), instrument section, vocals, and choir:
* A Musescore Instrument using the same name, such as "Piano", "Acoustic Guitar", "Acoustic Guitar (Tablature)", "Violin", "Violins", "Strings", "Soprano", "Voice", "Women" and some percussions such as "Timpani", "Concert Bass Drum", "Cymbal" (concert). Similar items might have different playback.
* "Drumset" MuseScore instrument "Standard" (the option "Drumset"), a single item containing "Snare", "Bass Drum", "Ride Cymbal", etc. There are *no separate MuseScore instruments* for these.
* "Drumset" MuseScore instrument "Standard 1" and other variations, (same for "Room", "Power", "Jazz" and theirs), use them by changing [Mixer: Sound](/3/sound-and-playback/mixer.md) dropbox. They are different in playback only.
* "Drumset" MuseScore instrument "Brush" and vary them by changing [Mixer: Sound](/3/sound-and-playback/mixer.md) dropbox. The brush snare is the "Electric Snare" item in [Drum notation](/3/notation/entering-and-editing-percussion-notation.md#drum-input-palette), only creates *short* brush playback. There is *no separate MuseScore Instrument* for brush snare.
[Instruments supported by Musescore 3.6.2](https://web.archive.org/web/20221207131622/https://musescore.org/en/instruments) (archived page December 2022). To suggest adding a missing instrument, see
## Choose instruments
Two ways to open this window to manage the setup:
* File **New Score Wizard** window: **Choose Instruments** when user [create a new score](/3/basics/create-a-new-score.md), or
* In a score, use the keyboard shortcut I; or select from the menu **Edit -> Instruments...**.
This window contains the following items:
* The **search box** at the top left filters items to be shown underneath. *Clear it out to show all available instruments.*
* The **type filtering dropdown box** under the search box filters items to be shown in the space underneath. "Common" is selected by default, which filters out some uncommon instruments or voice parts. *Select "All instruments" to show all available instruments.*
* The **left column space** shows a list of instruments or voice parts that can be added. They are grouped by the instrument families they belong to. Click on a family name subheading to expand or collapse that group.
* The **Ordering dropdown box** at the top right shows the current automatic vertical arrangement (ordering) of staff. 'Orchestral' is the default preset. The user can always [rearrange staff manually](#change-order-of-instruments-or-staffs-on-a-score). The user cannot edit or create new presets inside MuseScore. To utilize templates for custom default ordering on new scores, see the [template](#templates) section.
* The **right column space** shows the current score setup, whose vertical order represents the real instrument vertical order on the score. An empty column means the score contains no staff.
The result of actions available in this window is explained in the following list; steps to do each are shown under; corresponding section headings later.
* [Add a new instrument to the score](#add-instrument): *The essential and most common action.* Adds a new instrument and staff(s)
* [Add a staff to an existing instrument](#add-staff): Inserts an extra editable staff *to an existing* instrument (on the right column space) and creates a *custom instrument*. For example, to create a piano that uses three staves rather than two staves. *Rarely used* because of its limitation on playback - staff under the same instrument cannot be configured to use different sounds, nor can they be muted individually. It is advisable to utilize [multiple instruments](#add-instrument).
* [Add a linked staff to an existing instrument](#add-linked-staff): Inserts an *non-editable, ready-only* staff *to an existing* instrument (on the right column space). A linked staff automatically mirrors content. Use case includes displaying two staves for a guitar (a standard staff + a linked tablature) where the user enters notes onto the standard staff and the same music is automatically reflected in the tablature.
* [Make an existing instrument soloist](#make--undo-soloist):
\*
1. Reorders an existing instrument on the score (all its staves) to the soloist position. The soloist position is defined in the instrument ordering setting chosen in the **Ordering dropdown box**. For example, in an 'Orchestral' ordering preset, soloists are above the strings.
* 2) Adds "solo" and a number to its name. Non-soloists do not affect the numbering.
* The soloist designation is a score layout feature only and has no impact on playback. A score can contain multiple "soloist" instruments.
### Add instrument
*To manage instruments of "Drumset" MuseScore instrument, see* [*Drum notation*](/3/notation/entering-and-editing-percussion-notation.md)*.*
To add a new MuseScore instrument to the score, use any of the following options:
* Select one or more instruments in the **left column**, and then click **Add to score** in the middle of the window, or
* Double-click an instrument in the **left column**.
The instrument names and their associated staff lines now appear in the list of instruments in the right column.
### Add Staff
To add an editable staff to an existing instrument in the score:
1. Select a **staff** of the instrument in the score list on the **right-hand side**
2. Click **Add Staff** at the top.
3. Adjust the **Staff type**, if applicable.
### Add Linked Staff
To add a non-editable, read-only staff to an existing instrument in the score:
1. Select a **staff** to be linked in the score list on the **right-hand side**.
2. Click **Add Linked Staff** at the top.
3. Adjust the **Staff type**, if applicable.
See also, [Combine pitched staff with tablature](/3/notation/tablature.md#combine-pitched-staff-with-tablature).
### Make / undo soloist
To make an existing instrument soloist, or to undo it:
1. Select an **instrument name subheading** in the score list on the **right-hand side**.
2. Click **Make soloist** or **Undo soloist** at the top.
### Change order of instruments or staffs on a score
* Click either an instrument name or a staff in the **right-hand column**, and click the arrow buttons.
### Delete an instrument or staff
* Select an instrument (all of its staffs) or a staff in the **right-hand column** and click **Remove from score** in the middle.
## Change instrument and staff setup
* To change instrument setup **of a score**: In a score, use the keyboard shortcut I; or select from the menu **Edit -> Instruments...** to open the [**Instruments** window](#choose-instruments).
* To change instrument setup **of a Musescore Part**: See [Parts](/3/advanced-topics/parts.md#customize-parts).
* To change instrument setup **of a the "drumset" Musescore Instrument**: See [Drum notation: edit drumset](/3/notation/entering-and-editing-percussion-notation.md#the-edit-drumset-window).
* To change the **MuseScore Instrument used by staff on score**: See [Staff / Part properties: Change instrument](/3/advanced-topics/staff--part-properties.md).
* To change staff size: It is **recommended** to use [Page settings](/3/formatting/page-settings.md) to change **all staffs everywhere on a score** , before changing each staff's [Staff / Part properties](/3/advanced-topics/staff--part-properties.md).
* To change staff layout:
* To change staff type and staff layout **everywhere on a score** (change number of lines, hide, etc): See [Staff / Part properties](/3/advanced-topics/staff--part-properties.md), and [Tablature](/3/notation/tablature.md)
* To hide a staff **under certain conditions** : See [Style window: Score settings](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md#score).
* To create ossia: See [Staff / Part properties: external links](/3/advanced-topics/staff--part-properties.md#external-links)
* See also other global style settings in [Layout and formatting](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md).
## Hiding and unhiding staff
Edit **Format→Style→Score** ([Style window: Score settings](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md#score)) and [Staff / Part properties](/3/advanced-topics/staff--part-properties.md). Handbook 4 [Showing staves only where needed](https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/showing-staves-only-where-needed) chapter summaries different methods with use cases, the workflow in MuseScore 3 is similar.
## Templates
Use a score template to quickly set up a new score with staff and tablatures. Musescore detects score files located in a specific directory and present them as avaiable template - save custom template score files in the [custom templates folder](#custom-templates-folder). When [creating a new score](/3/basics/create-a-new-score.md#choose-template-file), apply any
* **Pre-defined template** that are shipped with MuseScore, under **Choose template file** window : \[its respective category] or,
* **Custom template** under **Choose template file** window : **Custom Templates**.
As of MuseScore 3.6.2, a template contains the following information,
* instrument setup (staffs and tablatures),
* these items of [the 'Full score' only](/3/advanced-topics/parts.md),
* [Staff / Part properties](/3/advanced-topics/staff--part-properties.md) of all instruments;
* settings under **Format→Style** and **Format → Page Settings**. See [Layout and formatting](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md) chapter;
* the **View → Show visible, Show Invisible, Show Unprintable, Show Frames, Show Page Margins, Mark irregular measures**, and toolbar's **Concert pitch, Zoom level and Page View/Continuous View/Single Page options**. See also [Viewing and navigation](/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation.md) chapter; and
* *the setup (only) of* every [Musescore Part](/3/advanced-topics/parts.md).
Check out the [Score from Template](https://musescore.org/en/project/score-template) plugin by parking, which improves the template function.
## Save a score as a custom template
Click **File > Save as** and save the score file as .mscz format into [the template directory Musescore uses](#templates). The file name is used as the template name.
## Creating a score from a custom template
1. Make sure the [custom template file is in the correct folder](#template-and-dir).
2. Choose a custom template [when you create a new score](/3/basics/create-a-new-score.md#choose-template-file). In MuseScore 3, the preview shows what the template file looks like when opened as a score, it is **not** the preview of what a new score looks like when created from this template.
## System templates folder
*Not recommended to use this folder for custom templates*
This folder contains the pre-defined templates. It can be found in the following directory:
* **Windows**: Usually at `C:\Program Files\MuseScore 3\templates` or `C:\Program Files (x86)\MuseScore 3\templates` (Actually `%ProgramFiles%\MuseScore 3\templates` or `%ProgramFiles(x86)%\MuseScore 3\templates`, respectively).
* **Linux**: Under `/usr/share/mscore-xxx` if you installed from the package manager. If you compiled MuseScore on Linux yourself, then look under `/usr/local/share/mscore-xxx` (with `xxx` being the version you are using).
* **MacOS**: Under `/Applications/MuseScore 3.app/Contents/Resources/templates`.
## Custom templates folder
Custom template files must be stored here. The default directory of the custom templates folder is as follows (The folder name "Templates" varies with the language version of MuseScore installed):
* **Windows**: `%HOMEPATH%\Documents\MuseScore3\Templates`.
* **MacOS** and **Linux**: `~/Documents/MuseScore3/Templates`.
To configure the directory of custom templates folder: From the menu, select **Edit -> Preferences... ->** [**General**](/3/advanced-topics/preferences.md#general).
## External links
* [Instruments supported by Musescore 3.6.2](https://web.archive.org/web/20221207131622/https://musescore.org/en/instruments) (archived page December 2022)
* [Instruments supported by the latest MuseScore](https://musescore.org/en/instruments)
---
# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.
## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:
```
GET https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/instruments.md?ask=&goal=
```
`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.