> 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/selecting-elements.md).
# Selecting elements
*Not to be confused with the note input cursor (caret) explained in* [*Note input*](/3/basics/note-input.md) *chapter.*
[Selected score items](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md) are highlighted with repect to their [Voice](/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices.md), otherwise black or grey (if [invisible](/3/basics/inspector.md#element)) by default. The current selection status is shown on the bottom left status bar. There are four in total,
* ["nothing is selected"](#de-selecting) status. The status bar is blank;
* ["single item selection"](#selecting-a-single-element) status. The status bar shows the [its type](/3/notation/notation-types.md);
* **List Selection** status when [multiple objects](#creating-a-list-selection) are selected;
* **Range Selection** status when a [time segment across a given set of staves](#creating-a-range-selection) is selected. A blue rectangle is visible. Requirement of common operations such as [Copy and Paste](/3/basics/copy-and-paste.md) and [repeat selection](/3/basics/copy-and-paste.md#repeating-a-selection).
Shown below are single Voice 1 note selection (top); and "Range Selection" and status bar (bottom).\\
\\
\\
## De-selecting
1. Press Esc to reset to [Normal mode](/3/basics/note-input.md).
2. Press Esc again, or click empty page margin to deselect.
## Clicking score item
* In [Normal mode](/3/basics/note-input.md), click to [select single](#click-single) score item except [chord](#clicking-chord-notes) and [measure](#clicking-a-measure). This repositions [playback cursor](/3/sound-and-playback/play-mode.md).
* In [Note edit mode](/3/basics/note-input.md), doing so repositions [note input cursor](/3/basics/note-input.md).
## Clicking chord notes
* Click notehead to [select a note](#click-single).
* Shift+click either one notehead to create a [Range selection](#creating-a-range-selection) that encompasses the chord as shown above. The phrase "select a chord" refers to this command.
* Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) + click chord notes one by one to create a [List Selection](#creating-a-list-selection) of multiple notes. Less commonly used.
## Clicking a measure
* Click any blank space within measure to create a [Range selection](#creating-a-range-selection) that encompasses it. The phrase "select measure(s)" refers to this command.
## Selecting a single element
* Mouse click [works as explained](#clicking-score-item).
* Click notehead to select a note.
* Stem, flag, dot, accidental are selectable separately.
* In [Normal mode](/3/basics/note-input.md), Left and Right navigate through notes (one note per chord) and rests.
* In [Normal mode](/3/basics/note-input.md), Alt+Left and Alt+Right navigate through notes (every note of chord), rests, articulation, dynamics etc. See also the [Viewing and navigation](/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation.md) chapter.
* The phrases "select a chord" and "select a measure" refer to [Range selection](#creating-a-range-selection).
## Selecting one in a group of overlapping items
* Ctrl+click to switch-select when items fully overlap each other eg notes in different Voices sharing the same pitch.
* In [Normal mode](/3/basics/note-input.md), Alt+Left, Right navigate through every note of chord.
## Selecting a note to copy its pitch only
* To [copy](/3/basics/copy-and-paste.md) every aspects of a note including duration, create a [Range Selection](#creating-a-range-selection) containing it.
* To copy note pitch information only, which can be pasted onto note or rest, select the notehead. Removed in Musescore 4.
## Creating a List Selection
To select multiple score items *other than notes or rests*, Shift+click any blank space *outside of staff lines* and drag to create a selection box enclosing them.
To add or remove from the current selection, Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) + click (requires Musescore 3.5 version or later). This converts the selection to a List Selection.
To select a certain [type of elements](/3/notation/notation-types.md) across the staff or the score,
1. Right-click a score item.
2. **Select → All Similar Elements or All Similar Elements in Same Staff**
To select by type within a virtual [Range selection](#creating-a-range-selection) enclosed by those two item (requires Musescore 3.5 version or later),
1. [Select](#selecting-a-single-element) the first and top item.
2. Shift+click the last and bottom element, or vice versa.
To select by type across a Range selection (works on all Musescore 3 versions),
1. Create a [Range selection](#creating-a-range-selection)
2. Right-click an item inside
3. Click **Select→All Similar Elements in Range Selection**
To create a more complex selection,
1. Either,
* Create a [Range selection](#creating-a-range-selection), and right-click an item inside, or
* Right-click a score item,
2. Click **Select→More**.
3. Check required options (option availability varies with the right-clicked item),
Options available when the right-clicked item is a note are,
* **Same notehead**: see the [Noteheads](/3/advanced-topics/notehead-schemes/noteheads.md) chapter.
* **Same pitch**: notes with the same pitch name, accidental, and octave.
* **Same string**: notes with the on the same string (tablature only).
* **Same type**: notes of the same type (normal, acciaccatura, appoggiatura).
* **Same note type**: notes of the same duration, not considering presence of dots or tuplets.
* **Same duration**: notes of the same actual duration.
* **Same note name**: notes with the same pitch name and accidental, not considering octave.
* **Same staff**: notes in the same staff.
* **Same voice**: see the [Voice](/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices.md) chapter.
* **Same beat**: based on time signature only, not beaming.
* **In selection**: from currently selected. Useful when the current is [List Selection](#creating-a-list-selection) or [Range selection](#creating-a-range-selection).
* **Same system**: notes in the same system (layout concept. See [Layout and formatting](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md#page)).
* **Same measure**: notes in the same measure.
Choose one out of four if required,
* **Replace selection**: deselect current selection.
* **Add to selection**: add to current selection. Converts to [List Selection](#creating-a-list-selection).
* **Search in selection**: filter currently selected items.
* **Subtract from selection**: removes from current selection.
## Creating a Range Selection
To select *notes and rests*, Shift+click any blank space *outside of staff lines* and drag to create a selection box enclosing them.
To create a Range Selection enclosing a starting and an end note or rest,
1. [Select a note or rest](#selecting-a-single-element).
2. Optionally [reposition the score](/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation.md).
3. Shift+click another note or rest.
To create and resize a Range Selection,
1. [Select a note or rest](#selecting-a-single-element).
2. Hold Shift and resize
* by one chord with Shift+Left and Shift+Right,
* by one measure with Shift+Ctrl+Left and Shift+Ctrl+Right (Mac: use Cmd instead of Ctrl),
* by one staff with Shift+Up and Shift+Down,
* to the closest system (layout concept. See [Layout and formatting](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md#page)) with Shift+Home and Shift+End, and
* to the beginning or the end of the score with Shift+Ctrl+Home and Shift+Ctrl+End (Mac: use Cmd instead of Ctrl)
3. Release Shift.
For example, to select a chord ([Range selection](#creating-a-range-selection)),
1. Esc to reset to [Normal mode](/3/basics/note-input.md).
2. Left, Right to navigate to any chord note.
3. Shift+Right
4. Shift+Left
## Special Range Selection commands
* **Edit→Select all** or Ctrl+A (Mac: Cmd+A) to select the entire score.
* **Edit→Select section** to select everything between two [section breaks](/3/formatting/breaks-and-spacers.md) enclosing the [current selection](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md).
## Excluding elements from a Range Selection
To remove items from (the current and any future) Range selection, uncheck options under **Selection Filter** window. For example, use this to leave out lyrics when duplicating notes and rests.
1. **View→Selection filter** or F6 (Mac: Fn+F6).
2. Uncheck options. eg. To copy content of measures 1 and 2 to 3 and 4 as shown in Example 1 above, uncheck **Articulations & Ornaments** and **Slurs** options.
3. Create a [Range selection](#creating-a-range-selection).
4. Execute command eg. Copy (Ctrl+C).
5. Re-check options to restore selectability. See example 2.
6. Select destination score item.
7. Execute command eg. Paste (Ctrl+V).
Example 2: To copy Voice 2 items onto Voice 1,
1. Uncheck **Voice 1** option.
2. Create a [Range selection](#creating-a-range-selection).
3. Copy (Ctrl+C).
4. Re-check **Voice 1** option.
5. Select destination **Voice 1** item.
6. Paste (Ctrl+V).
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