# Selecting elements

*Not to be confused with the note input cursor (caret) explained in* [*Note input*](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/note-input) *chapter.*

[Selected score items](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/selecting-elements) are highlighted with repect to their [Voice](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices), otherwise black or grey (if [invisible](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/inspector#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](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/notation/notation-types);
* **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](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/copy-and-paste) and [repeat selection](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/copy-and-paste#repeating-a-selection).

Shown below are single Voice 1 note selection (top); and "Range Selection" and status bar (bottom).\\

<figure><img src="https://1928698062-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5NUiVQIqbPkgQim8AxPy%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e2100cad9b2761d38a3a6b5ffecc9dff27ddf012%2Fselected-element.png?alt=media" alt="Single selection"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

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<figure><img src="https://1928698062-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5NUiVQIqbPkgQim8AxPy%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-3a2ac77d5aaa16fc39204d4e3097607b432843e2%2Fselected-range.png?alt=media" alt="Range selection"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

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<figure><img src="https://1928698062-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5NUiVQIqbPkgQim8AxPy%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-ff9be0eb1d7e52c037108ccedc94589a0dd4dbd0%2Fms36selectstatus.png?alt=media" alt="Ms36selectstatus"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## De-selecting

1. Press <kbd>Esc</kbd> to reset to [Normal mode](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/note-input).
2. Press <kbd>Esc</kbd> again, or click empty page margin to deselect.

## Clicking score item

* In [Normal mode](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/note-input), click to [select single](#click-single) score item except [chord](#clicking-chord-notes) and [measure](#clicking-a-measure). This repositions [playback cursor](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/sound-and-playback/play-mode).
* In [Note edit mode](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/note-input), doing so repositions [note input cursor](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/note-input).

## Clicking chord notes

<figure><img src="https://1928698062-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5NUiVQIqbPkgQim8AxPy%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-833b2a7171552933ff3937d1fa3a5e524259587a%2Fselected-chord.png?alt=media" alt="Range Selection of a chord"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Click notehead to [select a note](#click-single).
* <kbd>Shift</kbd>+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.
* <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> (Mac: <kbd>Cmd</kbd>) + 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](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/note-input), <kbd>Left</kbd> and <kbd>Right</kbd> navigate through notes (one note per chord) and rests.
* In [Normal mode](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/note-input), <kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>Left</kbd> and <kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>Right</kbd> navigate through notes (every note of chord), rests, articulation, dynamics etc. See also the [Viewing and navigation](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation) 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

* <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+click to switch-select when items fully overlap each other eg notes in different Voices sharing the same pitch.
* In [Normal mode](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/note-input), <kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>Left</kbd>, <kbd>Right</kbd> navigate through every note of chord.

## Selecting a note to copy its pitch only

* To [copy](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/copy-and-paste) 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

<figure><img src="https://1928698062-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5NUiVQIqbPkgQim8AxPy%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-55186c5c65ee6bc9ef9aad150b47965755fdc8dc%2Fselected-list.png?alt=media" alt="List selection"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

To select multiple score items *other than notes or rests*, <kbd>Shift</kbd>+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, <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> (Mac: <kbd>Cmd</kbd>) + click (requires Musescore 3.5 version or later). This converts the selection to a List Selection.

To select a certain [type of elements](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/notation/notation-types) 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. <kbd>Shift</kbd>+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),

<figure><img src="https://1928698062-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5NUiVQIqbPkgQim8AxPy%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c4a8e2a0d14e1013f682831e57c61a7837982783%2Fms3select-more.png?alt=media" alt="Select dialog"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Options available when the right-clicked item is a note are,

* **Same notehead**: see the [Noteheads](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/advanced-topics/notehead-schemes/noteheads) 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](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices) 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](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting#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*, <kbd>Shift</kbd>+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](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation).
3. <kbd>Shift</kbd>+click another note or rest.

To create and resize a Range Selection,

1. [Select a note or rest](#selecting-a-single-element).
2. Hold <kbd>Shift</kbd> and resize
   * by one chord with <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>Left</kbd> and <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>Right</kbd>,
   * by one measure with <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>Left</kbd> and <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>Right</kbd> (Mac: use <kbd>Cmd</kbd> instead of <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>),
   * by one staff with <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>Up</kbd> and <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>Down</kbd>,
   * to the closest system (layout concept. See [Layout and formatting](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting#page)) with <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>Home</kbd> and <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>End</kbd>, and
   * to the beginning or the end of the score with <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>Home</kbd> and <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>End</kbd> (Mac: use <kbd>Cmd</kbd> instead of <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>)
3. Release <kbd>Shift</kbd>.

For example, to select a chord ([Range selection](#creating-a-range-selection)),

1. <kbd>Esc</kbd> to reset to [Normal mode](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/note-input).
2. <kbd>Left</kbd>, <kbd>Right</kbd> to navigate to any chord note.
3. <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>Right</kbd>
4. <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>Left</kbd>

## Special Range Selection commands

* **Edit→Select all** or <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>A</kbd> (Mac: <kbd>Cmd</kbd>+<kbd>A</kbd>) to select the entire score.
* **Edit→Select section** to select everything between two [section breaks](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/formatting/breaks-and-spacers) enclosing the [current selection](https://handbook.musescore.org/3/basics/selecting-elements).

## Excluding elements from a Range Selection

<figure><img src="https://1928698062-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5NUiVQIqbPkgQim8AxPy%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-018098394d751c674d3dd15258942a63cb81fbcd%2Fms3select-filter.png?alt=media" alt="Selection filter"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://1928698062-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5NUiVQIqbPkgQim8AxPy%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8380d594c60cdf00a4468c50e21e830f2170d264%2Fselection_filter_example.png?alt=media" alt="Selection filter Example 1"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

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 <kbd>F6</kbd> (Mac: <kbd>Fn</kbd>+<kbd>F6</kbd>).
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 (<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>C</kbd>).
5. Re-check options to restore selectability. See example 2.
6. Select destination score item.
7. Execute command eg. Paste (<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>V</kbd>).

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 (<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>C</kbd>).
4. Re-check **Voice 1** option.
5. Select destination **Voice 1** item.
6. Paste (<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>V</kbd>).
