> 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/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md). # Layout and formatting ## Overview
Score layout overview
This chapter discusses the settings of score and items on score, how to edit and re-use them, and [options and commands under the **Format** menu](#options-under-the-format-menu). See also the [Instruments, staff setup and templates: Change instrument and staff setup](/3/basics/instruments.md#change-instrument-and-staff-setup) chapter. ### Spatium (plural: Spatia) / Space / Staff Space / sp.
One Spatium
\ The size of everything on a score, such as staff, note heads, note stems, accidentals, clefs etc., uses a basic unit of measurement called "staff space" or "sp." to maintains correct proportions.\ One sp is defined as the standard vertical distance between the midpoints of two lines of a music staff (or one quarter of vertical dimension of a full five-line staff, assuming a hypothetical staff line thickness of 0).\ When you create a new score, MuseScore tries to adjust the staff space automatically so that the staves all fit on the page initially.\ This usually leads to 1 sp = 1.75 mm, which results in a staff height of around 7 mm (more details explained in \["Final absolute staff height" section]\(layout-and-formatting.md#final-absolute-staff-height)), which is a good staff height for most solo music, choral music, small ensemble scores, and individual parts. Lead sheets and children's music may benefit from a larger staff size. Large ensemble scores may often require a smaller staff size in order to fit all instruments on the page.\ You may need to adjust this value further as you add music, if auto-place results in additional space being added between staves in order to avoid collisions.\ Modify the \_measurement of "staff space" itself\_ in the \*\*Format → Page Settings\*\* window. See \[Page settings]\(page-settings.md) chapter, the overriding options are also explained there. ### Final absolute staff height Staff line thickness is set in **Format→Style...→Measure** (see main chapter [Measure and horizontal spacing](/3/formatting/measure-and-horizontal-spacing.md)). Its default value is 0.11sp, and the default value of sp is 1.75mm, so the default staff line thickness 0.1925mm. The 'absolute' height of default 5-line stave, measuring from the top edge of the top line to the bottom edge of the bottom line, is 0.5x0.11sp + 4sp + 0.5x0.11sp = 0.5x0.1925mm + 4x1.75mm + 0.5x0.1925mm = 7.1925mm. source: ### Horizontal and vertical spacing and algorithm * Vertical spacing: Two options of algorithm, use vertical justification or not. UTo edit, change settings under **Format → Style → Score, Page** [as explained below](#style-window). * Horizontal spacing: All measures are stretched out so that all systems (*except the last if desired*) are filled to the right margin. You cannot change this behavior, but you can add [Frames](/3/formatting/frames.md). To edit, change settings under **Format → Style → Score, Page, Measure** [as explained below](#style-window). See also [Measure](/3/formatting/measure-and-horizontal-spacing.md) chapter.\\
Hspacing wordprocessor analogy
\ \&#xNAN;*Shown above is an analogy to horizontal spacing in Musescore 3.6.2: it is like being restricted to the "justified" option in a word processor software. UI of Libre Office Writer, not Musescore.* ### Style *Not to be confused with* [*Font*](/3/advanced-topics/fonts.md)*.* Styles in Musescore are *profiles* that contains settings, rather than being the settings themselves. Each [notation object type](/3/notation/notation-types.md) (eg Chord Symbol object, Accidental object) has a corresponding style. For example , * Style for Accidentals, * Style for Lyrics, * Style for Chord Symbols, * Style for Staff Text. Some notation objects are regarded as [Text object](/3/text/text-types.md) (eg Chord Symbol object, Lyrics object). Each of them has one *or more* corresponding style. For example, * Style for text inside Lyrics Even Lines, * Style for text inside Lyrics Odd Lines, * Style for text inside Chord Symbols, * Style for text inside Chord Symbols (Alternative), * Style for text inside Staff Text. "Text Style" is the wording displayed inside musescore 3. To avoid confusions such as "Staff Text Style" and "Staff Text Text Style", the handbook uses wording "Style for text inside \[item]" whenever necessary. User can only apply "Text Style" onto Text object on the score. For example, user can edit a lyrics object on a score to use "Style for text inside Chord symbols" rather than the default "Style for text inside Lyrics Odd Lines" and "Style for text inside Lyrics Even Lines". To contrast, it will always use "Style for Lyrics", user cannot apply "Style for Chord symbols" on it. This chapter explains both of these two. "Text style" is also covered in [Text styles and properties](/3/text/text-styles-and-properties.md) chapter. ## Item properties; and Global and page settings *Not to be confused with app appearance set in* [*Preferences*](/3/advanced-topics/preferences.md)*.* These two are re-used with different methods, * *Properties* of each individual object on the score have highest priorities of layout and formatting. Objects do not have any specific properties initially. When properties are [assigned in the Inspector](/3/basics/inspector.md), they will always be used. * *Global and page settings*, including * the layout and formatting *settings related to whole page*, * which corresponds to the items around the top of the left pane of the **Format → Style →Score, Page, Size, System, Measure** etc, [explained below](#style-window), and * settings under **Format → Page Settings** window. See [Page settings](/3/formatting/page-settings.md) chapter; * Additionally, it includes all the [styles (profiles)](#style). Settings values in styles have less priority than properties mentioned above, including * "**style for type** of object", under **Format → Style → \[item]**, and * **"Text Style"** or "**style for text** inside certain type of object", under **Format → Style → Text Styles → \[item]**. Every score file has a "Full Score" layout. It also contains one or more "Parts" when user use the [Musescore Part](/3/advanced-topics/parts.md) feature. Each "Part" and the "Full Score" has its own separate set of settings listed above. ### Reusing settings * To remove item properties, or set a property as global (move to style), see the [Inspector](/3/basics/inspector.md#reset-to-style-default-and-set-to-style-buttons) chapter. * To apply "Text style", see [Text styles and properties](/3/text/text-styles-and-properties.md) chapter. * When a new score is created using a template, the [*Global and page settings*](#item-properties-and-global-and-page-settings) of the template's "Full Score" is re-used. See [Instruments, staff setup and templates](/3/basics/instruments.md) chapter. * [*Global and page settings*](#item-properties-and-global-and-page-settings) of the *currently visible* "Part" (but not the "Full Score") can be [applied to all other "Parts"](#buttons). * [*Global and page settings*](#item-properties-and-global-and-page-settings) of the *currently visible* "Part" or "Full Score" can be [saved as a separate .mss file and re-used](#reusing-global-settings-and-page-settings-with-mss-file) on another score (its "Full Score" or any "Part"). Reusing on a "Full Score" does not affect Parts. * Default [*Global and page settings*](#item-properties-and-global-and-page-settings) for new score file and Musescore Part [see below](#setting-up-the-default-global-settings-and-page-settings-when-creating-a-new-score-file-or-a-musescore-part). ### Reusing Global settings and page settings with .mss file A style file (file extension .mss) contains [*Global settings and page settings*](#item-properties-and-global-and-page-settings). User can store them in any folder, Musescore does not automatically check any specific folder. The default folder for easier file management can be set-up in [Preferences](/3/advanced-topics/preferences.md). * To save **Format → Save Style**. * To load either, * Right click on any **empty space** on a score, select "Load Style", or * **Format → Load Style**. Visit for .mss files shared by other musicians. ### Setting up the default Global settings and page settings when creating a new score file or a Musescore Part Under [**Preferences**](/3/advanced-topics/preferences.md) **→ Score tab**, * **Style**: Browse and set the .mss file so that Musescore apply its [Global settings and page settings](#item-properties-and-global-and-page-settings) to [any new score](/3/basics/create-a-new-score.md). **NOTE** Information *present* in a template is applied on top of this. See also [Instruments, staff setup and templates](/3/basics/instruments.md#templates) chapter. * **Style for part**: Similar to the above but for new [Musescore Part](/3/advanced-topics/parts.md). ## Options under the Format menu This section explains the functions of these buttons are under the **Format** menu, * **Style**: opens the Style window to change layout and formatting of the *currently visible* "Full Score" or "Part", [see details below](#style-window) * **Page settings**: opens the Page settings window to adjust the overall dimensions of your score such as page size, page margins, and scaling. See the main chapter [Page Settings](/3/formatting/page-settings.md). * **Add / Remove System Breaks**: Set the number of measures per system, [see details below](#add--remove-system-breaks) * **Change Layout Stretch** commands: Increase, decrease or reset the horizontal spacing of notes within selected measures, [see details below](#change-layout-stretch). * **Breaks and spacers**: Apply system, page or section breaks, or add extra space between particular systems or staves. see [Breaks and spacers](/3/formatting/breaks-and-spacers.md) chapter. * **Reset Text style overrides**: reset *all* text styles to the "factory" default settings: * **Reset Beams**: reset beams to the mode defined in the local time signatures for the [selected section](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md). If no section is selected, beams on the whole score are reset. See also [Beams](/3/notation/beams.md). * **Reset Shapes and Positions**: reset the default positions, note stem directions and shapes (slurs, ties etc.) for selected score elements. To apply: 1. [Select](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md) the elements or the region of the score that you wish to reset. Or use Ctrl+A to select the whole score. 2. Press Ctrl+R; or, from the menu, select **Format -> Reset Shapes and positions**. * **Load Style / Save Style** : To re-use some layout and formatting information of the currently editing "Full Score" or "Part", see [overview above](#overview) and [details of these commands below](#reusing-global-settings-and-page-settings-with-mss-file). ### Add / Remove System breaks This tool adds or removes [system breaks](/3/formatting/breaks-and-spacers.md) over *all* or *part* of the score: 1. [Select](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md#range-select) a range of measures: if no selection is made, the command is applied to the whole score. 2. Choose **Format -> Add/Remove System Breaks…**. The following dialog appears.\\
Add/Remove Line Breaks
3. Choose one of the following options: * Break systems every X (select number) measures; * Add system break at end of each system; * Remove current system breaks; 4. Press **OK**. ### Change Layout Stretch Increase, decrease or reset the horizontal spacing of notes within selected measures. #### Increase / Decrease layout stretch 1. [Select](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md#select-measure-range) a range of measures. Or use Ctrl+A to select the whole score. 2. Choose one of two options: * To **increase stretch**: * Use the shortcut } (right curly bracket) (Mac: Ctrl+Alt+9). * Or from the menu bar, select **Format -> Stretch -> Increase Layout Stretch**. * To **decrease stretch**: * Use the shortcut { (left curly bracket) (Mac: Ctrl+Alt+8). * Or from the menu bar, select **Format -> Stretch -> Decrease Layout Stretch**. #### Reset stretch To reset stretch to the default spacing of 1: 1. [Select](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md#select-measure-range) a range of measures. Or use Ctrl+A to select the whole score. 2. From the menu, select **Format -> Stretch -> Reset Layout Stretch**. See also [Measure Properties: Layout stretch](/3/basics/measure-operations.md#layout-stretch). This allows you to set the stretch more precisely. ## Style window
Ms3 style
To open this window: * Select **Format → Style**, * Right-click on a space in the document window and select **Style…**, or * Use a keyboard shortcut (see [Shortcuts](/3/advanced-topics/preferences.md#shortcuts)). * To quickly edit a particular setting, right-click on an item on score and select **Style…**. In the left pane, there are two types of items: * Score and page details: * [Score](#score) * [Page](#page) * [Sizes](#sizes) * [Header, Footer](#header-footer) * [Measure Numbers](#measure-numbers) * [System](#system) * [Measure](#measure) * Various styles: * "**style for type** of object", under **Format → Style → \[item]**, and * **"Text Style"** or "**style for text** inside certain type of object", under **Format → Style → Text Styles → \[item]**. See [Text styles and properties](/3/text/text-styles-and-properties.md) Concepts are [explained in the overview](#overview). Changes made are live on the score for preview, click **Cancel** or Esc to revert and close. Press **OK** or Return to save and close. When editing a [Musescore Part](/3/advanced-topics/parts.md) (but not the "Full score"), press **Apply to all parts** button to apply the current [*Global settings and page settings*](#item-properties-and-global-and-page-settings) to all Musescore Parts. ### Score To open the **Score** dialog, select **Format -> Style… -> Score**. Use this dialog to set global settings, such as the music font, display of multimeasure rests, whether or not to hide empty staves, swing playback etc. * **Musical symbols font**: used by notes, rest symbols, accidentals etc, see also [Fonts](/3/advanced-topics/fonts.md) .Tick the box to "automatically load style settings based on font." * **Musical text font**: used by Segno, Coda, ottavas, dynamics **glyphs** such as ***mf*** etc. see also [Fonts](/3/advanced-topics/fonts.md) * **Display in concert pitch**: Tick this option to display the score at [concert pitch](/3/basics/concert-pitch.md). If unticked the score is displayed at written pitch. * **Create multimeasure rests**: Tick to display [multimeasure rests](/3/notation/measure-rests.md#multimeasure-rest). * **Minimum number of empty measures**: The default is 2. * **Minimum width of measure**: The default width is 4 sp. * **Enable indentation on first system**: This option enables indentation; also for setting the indentation distance (as of 3.6). * **Hide empty staves within systems**: This option saves space by hiding those staves in a system which consist of only empty measures. Used for *condensed scores*. * **Don't hide empty staves in first system**: Always display staves in first system even if they consist of empty measures. * **Always show brackets which span to single staff**: * **Display note values across measure boundaries**: A feature useful for notating early music. See [Unbarred notation](/3/advanced-topics/early-music-features.md#unbarred-or-unmetered-notation). * **Hide instrument name if there is only one instrument**: You don't usually need to display the instrument name in this case. * **Swing settings** allows you to control the degree of swing for the whole score. * **Swing**: Choice of OFF (default) / Eight Note / Sixteenth note. * **Select swing ratio**: The default is 60%.\ If you prefer to set swing on the score page, see [Swing](/3/sound-and-playback/swing.md). * **Autoplace** allows you to control the range and minimum distance used for the vertical alignment. * **System**: Elements (like lyrics) are vertical aligned based on the system. * **Measure/Bar**: Elements are vertical aligned based on the current measure/bar. * **Segment**: Elements are vertical aligned based on the current segment position. ### Page To open the **Page** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Page**. This dialog allows you to adjust the overall layout of your score by changing the spacing of margins, systems, staves, lyrics lines, and frames. You can also control the display of key signatures, time signatures, and clefs.
Score layout
* **Music top margin**: The distance between the top staff line of the first staff on the page and the [top page margin](/3/formatting/page-settings.md#oddeven-page-margins). * **Music bottom margin**: The distance between the bottom staff line of the last staff on the page and the [bottom page margin](/3/formatting/page-settings.md#oddeven-page-margins). * **Enable vertical justification of staves** (as of 3.6): * **Factor for distance between systems** * **Factor for distance above/below bracket** * **Factor for distance above/below brace** * **Min. system distance**: The minimum distance allowed between one system and the next. * **Max. system distance**: The maximum distance allowed between one system and the next. * **Min. staff distance**: The minimum distance allowed between one staff and the next. * **Max. staff distance**: The maximum distance allowed between one staff and the next. * **Max. grand staff distance**: The space between staves that share the *same* instrument—such as the piano, organ, or those of a guitar staff/tab pair.\ \&#xNAN;*Note*: As of MuseScore 3.6 staves connected by a curly brace are considered a grand staff (BE: great stave). * Max page fill distance * **Disable vertical justification of staves** (as of 3.6, the default prior to that): * **Staff distance**: The space between staves which are not part of a grand staff (see below). * **Grand staff distance**: The space between staves that share the *same* instrument—such as the piano, organ, or those of a guitar staff/tab pair.\ \&#xNAN;*Note*: As of MuseScore 3.6 staves connected by a curly brace are considered a grand staff (BE: great stave).\ \&#xNAN;*Note*: To alter the space above *one particular* staff see [Extra distance above staff (Staff properties)](/3/advanced-topics/staff--part-properties.md#staff--part-properties-common-to-all-four-staff-types). * **Min. system distance**: The minimum distance allowed between one system and the next. * **Max. system distance**: The maximum distance allowed between one system and the next. * **Vertical frame top margin**: The default margin height *above* a vertical frame. * **Vertical frame bottom margin**: The default margin height *below* a vertical frame. * **Last system fill threshold**: If the last system is longer than this percentage of the page width, it gets stretched to fill that width. * Create clef for all systems / Create key signature for all systems / Create courtesy clefs / Create courtesy time signatures / Create courtesy key signatures: control their display, including the courtesy kind. ### Sizes To open the **Sizes** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Sizes**. Sets the proportional size of "small" notes and grace notes, as well as small staves and small clefs. Changing this would be unusual. ### Header, Footer To open the **Header, Footer** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Header, Footer**. This allows you to add header and footer text using meta tags (see [Score properties](/3/advanced-topics/score-properties.md))—such as page numbers, page headers, copyright information etc. For example, you can create different Headers and Footers for even and odd pages, such as putting page numbers on the right for odd-numbered pages and on the left for even-numbered pages. If you hover with your mouse over the Header or Footer text region, a list of macros will appear, showing their meaning, as well as the existing meta tags and their content. To create a header or footer for an individual part, that part needs to be the active tab. To create a header or footer for a score with linked parts, make sure the main score is in the active tab. ### Measure Numbers To open the **Measure Numbers** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Measure Numbers**. This allows you to specify whether measure numbers will appear in the score, and, if so, at what intervals. * **Measure numbers**: Tick to turn on automatic measure numbers. * **Show first**: Tick if you want the first measure to display a number. * **All staves**: Tick to display numbers on all staves of a system. Untick if you want the number to appear on the top staff of the system only. * **Every system**: Select this option to place measure numbers at the start of each system. * **Interval**: To specify that measure numbers should appear at a measure interval shown by the number. For example, an interval of 1 numbers every measure; an interval of 5 numbers every fifth measure. ### System To open the **System** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> System**. This dialog allows you to adjust certain properties of all systems. Brackets: * **System bracket thickness**: Set the *width* of system brackets. * **Brace thickness**: Set the *width* of system braces. * **System bracket distance**: Set the *distance* between system brackets and the start barlines. * **Brace distance**: Set the *distance* between system braces and the start barlines. See also [Brackets](/3/notation/brackets.md). Dividers: * **Left** / **Right**: Specify whether to show system dividers, what types, and apply global positioning offset values. ### Clefs To open the **Clefs** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Clefs**. Choose the style of the default tablature clef: **Standard** or **Serif**. ### Accidentals To open the **Accidentals** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Accidentals**. Allows you to specify how the score displays key signature accidentals at key changes. See [Naturals on key signature changes](/3/notation/key-signatures.md#naturals-on-key-signature-changes). ### Measure \ \&#xNAN;*See the main chapter* [*Measure*](/3/formatting/measure-and-horizontal-spacing.md) To open the **Measure** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Measure**. Adjustment of **global settings** such as the horizontal distance between various items within measures. A major setting affecting layout is **Spacing**, which affects the number of measures per system. Global **Staff line thickness** can be changed here. ### Barlines To open the **Barlines** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Barlines**. * **Show repeat barline tips ("winged repeats")**: * **Barline at start of single staff**: Whether to show barlines at the beginning of a staff. * **Barline at start of multiple staff**: Whether to show barlines at the beginning of multiple staves. * **Scale barlines to staff size**: Affects "small" staves only. Other properties allow you to set the thickness of "thin," "thick" and double barlines, the distance between double barlines, and the repeat barline to dot distance. ### Notes To open the **Notes** dialog, select **Style -> General... -> Notes**. The dialog can also be opened direct from the score by right-clicking on any note and selecting "Style…" Here you can adjust the distance and thickness of note-related objects (stems, ledger lines, dots, accidentals). Changing these would be unusual. ### Beams To open the **Beams** dialog, select **Style -> General... -> Beams**. This allows you to set the overall properties of note beams in the score: * **Beam thickness** * **Beam distance**: The vertical distance between beams. * **Broken beam minimum length**: Affects secondary beams where they do not fully extend from note to note. Ticking the **Flatten all beams** option means that all note beams will be horizontal only—not sloped. ### Tuplets To open the **Tuplets** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Tuplets**. Vertical Distance from Notes: * **Maximum slope**: Limit the slope of tuplet brackets. * **Vertical distance from stem**: Refers to tuplet numbers and brackets. * **Vertical distance from notehead**: Refers to tuplet numbers and brackets. Horizontal distance from notes: * **Distance before stem of first note**: Sets default position of start of tuplet bracket when above/below note stems. * **Distance before head of first note**: Sets default position of start of tuplet bracket when above/below noteheads. * **Distance after stem of last note**: Sets default position of end of tuplet bracket when above/below note stems. * **Distance after head of last note**: Sets default position of end of tuplet bracket when above/below noteheads. Brackets: * **Bracket thickness**: * **Bracket hook height**; Sets the default length of the vertical hooks at the ends of tuplet brackets Properties: * **Direction** / **Number type** / **Bracket type** ### Arpeggios To open the **Arpeggios** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Arpeggios**. Here you can change the distance to note, line thickness, and hook length of the following arpeggio and strum symbols:
Arpeggio and strum symbols
### Slurs/Ties To open the **Slurs/Ties** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Slurs/Ties**. * **Line thickness at end** * **Line thickness middle** * **Dotted line thickness** * **Minimum tie length** * **Autoplace min. distance** ### Hairpins To open the **Hairpins** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Hairpins**. Here you can set the default properties of [hairpins](/3/notation/hairpins.md) (crescendo and decresendo lines): * **Placement**: Whether to place above or below the staff. * **Position above/below**: Set a numerical value in sp. units. * **Height**: The width of the mouth of the hairpin. * **Continue height** * **Autoplace distance to dynamics** * **Line thickness** ### Volta To open the **Volta** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Volta**. Here you can set the default properties of [voltas](/3/notation/voltas.md): * **Default position**: Set X- and Y-offsets. * **Hook height**: The length of descending lines at the ends of voltas. * **Line thickness** * **Line style**: A solid line is the default option, but there are dotted and dashed alternatives. ### Ottava To open the **Ottava** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Ottava**. Here you can set the default properties of [ottavas](/3/notation/octave-lines.md) (octave lines): * **Numbers only**: If unticked, the ottava also displays "va" or "vb" after the number. * **Position above/below**: Set the X- and Y-offsets for the ottava. * **Hook height above/below**: The length of the ascending/descending line at the end of the ottava. * **Line thickness** * **Line style**: A dotted line is the default option, but there are solid, dotted and dashed alternatives. ### Pedal To open the **Pedal** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Pedal**. Here you can set the default properties of pedal [lines](/3/notation/lines.md): * **Placement**: Below or above the staff. * **Position above/below**: Set the exact default position using offset values. * **Line thickness**: * **Line style**: solid is the default but there is a range of dashed and dotted options. ### Trill To open the **Trill** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Trill**. Here you can set the default placement of Trill [lines](/3/notation/lines.md): * **Placement**: Below or above the staff. * **Position above/below**: Set the exact default position using offset values. ### Vibrato To open the **Vibrato** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Vibrato**. Here you can set the default placement of Vibrato [lines](/3/notation/lines.md): * **Placement**: Below or above the staff. * **Position above/below**: Set the exact default position using offset values. ### Bend To open the **Bend** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Bend**. Here you can set the display properties of [Bends](/3/notation/articulations-and-ornaments/bends.md). This includes the line thickness, arrow width and font properties. ### Text Line To open the **Text Line** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Text Line**. Here you can set the default placement of [text lines](/3/notation/lines.md#text-lines): * **Placement**: Below or above the staff. * **Position above/below**: Set the exact default position using offset values. ### Articulations, Ornaments To open the **Articulations, Ornaments** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Articulations, Ornaments**. This dialog allows you set the default placement distances and size (as a percentage) of [articulations and ornaments](/3/notation/articulations-and-ornaments.md). ### Fermatas To open the **Fermatas** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Fermatas**. This dialog allows you set the default placement of **fermatas**. ### Staff Text To open the **Staff text** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Staff Text**. This dialog allows you set the default placement and autoplacement properties of [staff text](/3/text/staff-text-and-system-text.md). ### Tempo Text To open the **Tempo text** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Staff Text**. This dialog allows you set the default placement and autoplacement properties of [tempo text](/3/sound-and-playback/tempo.md). ### Lyrics To open the **Lyrics** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Lyrics**.
Lyrics Style dialog
*Lyrics Text* * **Placement**: Default position of lyric lines in relation to the staff; Above or Below. * **Position above** / **Position below**: The X and Y offsets for "Placement." * **Line height**: Default distance between lyric lines. * **Min. top margin**: Minimum distance between the lyric lines and the parent staff *skyline*. * **Min. bottom margin**: Minimum distance between the lyric lines and the *skyline* of the next staff. * **Min. distance**: Minimum distance between lyrics syllables. * **Align verse number**: *Lyrics Dash* * **Min. dash length**: Minimum length of inter-syllable dashes. * **Max. dash length**: Maximum length of inter-syllable dashes. * **Max. dash distance**: Maximum distance allowed between dashes. Reducing this value allows more dashes to form between syllables where possible—and vice versa. * **Dash thickness**: The (vertical) thickness of the dash. * **Dash pad**: The distance between the - and the syllable * **Dash y position ratio**: Affects the vertical placement of the dash. * **Always force dash**:Tick to ensure that a dash is always visible between syllables. *Lyrics melisma* * **Melisma thickness**: The (vertical) thickness of the melisma. * **Melisma pad**: The distance between the \_ and the syllable * **Align**: See also, [Melismas](/3/text/lyrics.md#melisma). ### Dynamics To open the **Dynamics** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Dynamics**. This dialog allows you set the default placement and autoplacement properties of [dynamics](/3/sound-and-playback/dynamics.md). ### Rehearsal Marks To open the **Rehearsal Marks** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Rehearsal Marks**. This dialog allows you set the default placement and autoplacement properties of [rehearsal marks](/3/text/rehearsal-marks.md). ### Figured Bass To open the **Figured Bass** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Figured Bass**. This allows you to set the default font, style, alignment and position of [figured bass](/3/advanced-topics/figured-bass.md). ### Chord Symbols To open the **Chord Symbols** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Chord Symbols**. There is another global setting for Chord Symbols at [**Text > Chord Symbol**](#text-styles) in which the [Font](/3/advanced-topics/fonts.md) is set; **Format -> Style... -> Text** . This section allows you to adjust the format and positioning of [chord symbols](/3/text/chord-notation-systems.md): * Appearance: Choose a default chord symbol style—Standard, Jazz or Custom. * Note spelling: Choose the spelling convention for chord symbols and whether to use capital or small letters. * Positioning: * **Distance to fretboard diagram**: The distance (in sp. units) from a chord symbol to a fretboard diagram when both are applied to the same location on a staff. This value overrides the above "Default vertical position" setting. The user can choose to place a chord symbol below a fretboard diagram by entering a negative value. * **Minimum chord spacing**: The minimum space to allow between chord symbols. * **Maximum barline distance**: Increases the distance between the final chord symbol in a measure and the following barline. You *may* wish to adjust this value if there is a recurring problem in the score with overlap between the final chord symbol in one measure and the following chord symbol. * Capo: **Capo fret position**: Enter the number of the capo position at which you want to display substitute chords, in brackets, for all chord symbols in the score. ### Fretboard Diagrams To open the **Fretboard Diagrams** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Fretboard Diagrams**. This section allows you to adjust the format and positioning of [Fretboard diagrams](/3/advanced-topics/fretboard-diagrams.md). * **Default vertical position**: the distance in sp. units from a newly applied fretboard diagram to a staff. A negative value may be used. * **Scale**: Increase or decrease the size of the fretboard diagram in the score. * **Fret offset number font size**: Increase or decrease the size of a fret number displayed next to a diagram. * **Position Left**/**Right**: Display fret number to the left or right of the fretboard diagram. * **Barre line thickness**: Make barre lines in fretboard diagrams thicker or thinner. ### Text Styles To open the **Text Styles** dialog, select **Format -> Style... -> Text Styles**. Select a text type on the **middle pane** and edit its styles, see [Text styles and properties](/3/text/text-styles-and-properties.md). ## See also * [To edit spacing between notes](/3/basics/edit-mode.md#notes) * [Upgrading from MuseScore 1.x, local relayout](/3/appendix/upgrade-from-musescore-1x-or-2x.md#relayout) ## External links * [Creating Modified Stave Notation in MuseScore](https://musescore.org/en/tutorials/modified-stave-notation) (MuseScore Tutorial) --- # 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. 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