> 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/working-with-multiple-voices.md).
# Working with multiple voices
*Not to be confused with human vocal* [*Musescore Instrument*](/3/basics/instruments.md)*, four-part* [*SATB open score creation*](/3/basics/instruments.md)*, or* [*MuseScore Parts*](/3/advanced-topics/parts.md) *feature.*
## Overview
Musescore Voices is the software feature that is also known as "layers" in other notation software. Each staff (a piano grand staff has two staffs) has exactly four Voices. *It has nothing to do with pitch range*. See also [Glossary: Part](/3/appendix/glossary.md#part) chapter. [Selected score items](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md) are highlighted with respect to their Voices: Voice 1 blue, Voice 2 green, Voice 3 orange and Voice 4 purple. Voice of [single selected item](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md) is also displayed on the bottom left status bar. This article indicates
* MuseScore Voice with captial letter V: Voices 1, Voice 2, Voice 3, Voice 4, and
* [four-part harmony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-part_harmony) with **S** (Soprano), **A** (Alto), **T** (Tenor), **B** (Bass).
\\
## Reasons to use Voices
* To create concurrent rhythms on one staff. eg a chord composed of notes of varying duration, as shown above.
* To create chord with stems pointing in opposite directions, ie having [Glossary: Shared note head](/3/appendix/glossary.md#sharednotehead).
* To create multiple mutable musical lines that [use different sound samples](#assigning-sound) for playback on one staff, as shown below. This feature is [not implemented in MuseScore 4](https://musescore.org/en/node/334701), but see its new [Sound flags](https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/sound-flags) feature.
* To use [automatic stem direction feature](#automatic-stem-direction-and-override) on polyphony. However, if the score is technically monophonic eg [single line cantus firmus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantus_firmus), it is preferable to only use Voice 1 and manually assign [Inspector: Chord: Stem direction](/3/basics/inspector.md#chord) property or global setting.
* To create a SATB open score [convertible to and from](#editing-notes-and-rests) short score.
* To create a full score that can be extracted into individual scores using [explode](#separate-chords-into-voices) or [MuseScore Parts: select voice](/3/advanced-topics/parts.md#Select_voices_for_an_instrument) function.
* To use [plugins](/3/advanced-topics/plugins.md) such as [Check for parallel fifths and octaves](https://musescore.org/en/project/check-parallel-fifths-and-octaves).
\ \_Shown above Staff 1 Voice 1 \[instructed to use channel]\(../sound-and-playback/mixer.md#mid-staff-sound-channel-change-pizz-con-sordino-etc) "Soprano", which is \[assigned Oboe sound]\(../sound-and-playback/mixer.md); and Staff 1 Voice 2 \[instructed to use channel]\(../sound-and-playback/mixer.md#mid-staff-sound-channel-change-pizz-con-sordino-etc) "Alto", which is muted. Score is \[O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Translated John Mason Neale, arranged Thomas Helmore, transcribed Jojo-Schmitz]\(\_
## Limitations of Voices
* [Dynamics symbols](/3/sound-and-playback/dynamics.md) cannot selectively affect Voice, but see [update in Musescore 4.4](https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/dynamics).
* Cannot adjust individual Voice volume. Voices can be [muted separately](/3/sound-and-playback/mixer.md#mute-voice) though.
## Keyboard shortcut navigation
To select a note in a *higher*-numbered Voice than the current one:
1. Use Alt + Down, to move the selection to the bottommost note in the current Voice;
2. Press Alt + Down, to move to the higher-numbered Voice;
3. Repeat any of the above steps, as necessary, until the desired note is selected.
To select a note in a *lower*-numbered Voice than the current one:
1. Use Alt + Up, to move the selection to the topmost note in the current Voice;
2. Press Alt + Up, to move to the lower-numbered Voice.
3. Repeat any of the above steps, as necessary, until the desired note is selected.
## Entering notes and rests
To notate a passage of music using Voice 1 and Voice 2,
1. **Enter Voice 1 notes first**: Make sure the app is in [note input mode](/3/basics/note-input.md#step-2-enter-note-input-mode) : the Voice 1 button becomes highlighted in blue in the toolbar.
Always enter lower numbered Voice first, in this example Voice 1. On inputting, some notes may have down-stems, but these will flip automatically when the Voice 2 is added.
The following excerpt shows a treble staff with just the Voice 1 notes entered:
2. **Move cursor back to start of section**: Upon finishing Voice 1 note entry, press the Left key repeatedly to move the cursor, note-by-note, back to the first note of the section; or alternatively use Ctrl+Left (Mac:Cmd+Left) to move the cursor back one measure at a time. Alternatively exit *note input mode* (press Esc) and click the first note.
3. **Enter Voice 2 notes**: Make sure the app is in [note input mode](/3/basics/note-input.md#step-2-enter-note-input-mode) and that the Voice 1 note at the beginning of the section is selected. Click on the "Voice 2" button
(on the right of the toolbar), or use the shortcut Ctrl+Alt+2 (Mac: Cmd+Alt+2). Enter all the lower Voice notes (down-stem).
The following image shows the above example after the addition of Voice 2 notes:\\
## Editing notes and rests
## Automatic stem direction and override
* Notes in Voice 1 and Voice 3 have *upward stem* ; Voice 2 and Voice 4 have *downward stem*. This feature makes it easier to engrave polyphony.
* This feature will not activate in any measure where only Voice 1 is occupied but Voice 2, 3, 4 are missing. eg **Beginner's error**: for a **Close/Closed score SATB**, beginners often use Voice 1 for **B** (bass), this will not activate the automatic stem direction function, jump to [tips](#tips-for-writing-satb-scores).
* Assign overriding stem direction with [Inspector: Chord: Stem direction](/3/basics/inspector.md#chord).
## Hiding or deleting rests
Rests are automatically added to unoccupied lower-number Voices. To avoid,
1. Use lowest Voice number possible in each staff. eg **Beginner's error**: for a **Close/Closed score SATB**, beginners often use Voice 3 for **T** (tenor) or Voice 4 for **B** (bass), this will create unwanted rest symbols. jump to [tips](#tips-for-writing-satb-scores).
2. Hide rest(s) on a score to make them [invisible in printing](/3/basics/inspector.md#element).
* To automatically hide redundant rests,
1. Right click an empty part of the measure, select **Measure Properties**.
2. Check **Share matching rests**.
* To hide rest(s) manually,
1. [Select](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md) rest(s).
2. Press V or uncheck [Inspector](/3/basics/inspector.md#element) : **Visible** checkbox.
See also the [Remove selected range](/3/advanced-topics/tools.md#remove-selected-range) command which removes time segment.
Advanced users can also *delete* rests in Voices 2, 3 or 4 (but not Voice 1) by selecting them and pressing Delete. Deleting them may entangle future editing workflow as note entry overwrites at least one starting note/rest. The easiest way to restore deleted rests is to [exchange that Voice with Voice 1 *twice*](#exchanging-voices), which is commonly performed on file imported from [XML](/3/advanced-topics/file-formats.md#musicxml-musicxml-xml) or [MIDI](/3/advanced-topics/file-formats.md#midi-mid-midi-kar).
## Exchanging Voices
To swap notes of two Voices,
1. [Select](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md) score items.
2. Select **Tools → Voices → \[voice pair]**.
Works on *measure* - all notes and rests of measures within *or touching* the selected range (the [blue rectangle](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md)).
## Moving notes to another Voice (change notes' Voice but not swap)
To move without swapping,
1. Ensure the app is in [note input mode](/3/basics/note-input.md#step-2-enter-note-input-mode).
2. [Select](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md) note(s).
3. Select a [toolbar Voice button](/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation.md#toolbars) or press Ctrl+Alt+1–4 (Mac: Cmd+Alt+1-4).
Notes merge into chords if their note value match and they are *not* [tied](/3/notation/ties.md), content overwritten otherwise. See also plugin [Merge Voices : 4 into 1](https://musescore.org/en/node/370798) by yonah\_ag which automates note value adjustment.
## Merge four Voices
Merging notes of four Voices, where rhythm matches, into one is covered in the [Tools: Implode](/3/advanced-topics/tools.md#implode-multiple-staves) chapter.
## Separate chords into Voices
1. Either:
* Manually select [a continuous range of notes](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md#range-select) or [a discontinuous list of notes](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md#list-select), or
* Select notes using the [Chord Level Selector](https://musescore.org/en/project/chord-level-selector) plugin.
2. Select a [toolbar Voice button](/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation.md#toolbars) or press Ctrl+Alt+1–4 (Mac: Cmd+Alt+1-4).
To further separate into staffs, see [Tools: Explode](/3/advanced-topics/tools.md#explode)
## Assigning sound
Sound in Musescore 3 is [instrument channel](/3/sound-and-playback/mixer.md#control-strips-area) based. Use [Mid-staff sound (channel) change](/3/sound-and-playback/mixer.md#mid-staff-sound-channel-change-pizz-con-sordino-etc) to assign a sound to a Voice.
## Tips for writing SATB scores
* In **Open score SATB** (where four staves are used for the four voices separately), use Voice 1 in each staff.
* In **Close/Closed score SATB** (where two staves are used for the four voices, e.g., as in hymnals),
* use Voice 1 and Voice 2 only, for both upper and lower staves: in the upper staff use Voice 1 for **S** (soprano) and Voice 2 for **A** (alto) ; in the lower staff use Voice 1 for **T** (tenor) Voice 2 for **B** (bass)
* **Beginner's error**: use Voice 3 for **T** (tenor) or Voice 4 for **B** (bass), this will create unwanted rest symbols, jump to [automatic rests](#hiding-or-deleting-rests).
* **Beginner's error**: use Voice 1 for **B** (bass), this will not activate the [automatic stem direction function](#automatic-stem-direction-and-override).
* There is usually [no need to use Voice 3 and Voice 4](#reasons-to-use-voices)
## See also
* [Keyboard shortcuts: Voices](https://musescore.org/en/handbook/2/keyboard-shortcuts#voices)
* [Tools](/3/advanced-topics/tools.md) (Implode, Explode)
* [Glossary: Shared note head](/3/appendix/glossary.md#sharednotehead)
* [Noteheads: Shared noteheads](/3/advanced-topics/notehead-schemes/noteheads.md#shared-noteheads)
## External links
* [How to merge/combine/implode two staves in one with two voices](https://musescore.org/en/node/12345) (MuseScore HowTo)
* [How to input multiple notes on a staff with different durations](https://musescore.org/en/node/8640) (MuseScore HowTo)
---
# 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/working-with-multiple-voices.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.