> 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/notation/arpeggios-and-glissandi.md).
# Arpeggios and glissandi
[Arpeggio, strum arrow](#arpeggios-and-strum-arrows), [glissando (slide)](#glissandi-or-portamento-between-two-notes), [portamento (glide)](#portamento), [brass or wind instrument articulation (Fall, Doit, Plop and Scoop)](#brass-or-wind-instrument-articulations) and [guitar slide in or slide out](#slide-inout) symbols are usually added from the "Arpeggios & Glissandi" [palette](/3/basics/palettes.md).
## Add symbol
To add to the score, use one of the following methods:
* Select one or more notes, then click a symbol in a palette (double-click in versions prior to 3.4).
* Drag a symbol from a palette onto a note.
## Adjust dimensions
To adjust the length and height of a symbol:
* Enter [Edit mode](/3/basics/edit-mode.md#enter-edit-mode) for the symbol, and adjust the handles using [keyboard shortcuts](/3/basics/edit-mode.md#keyboard-shortcuts).
## Change appearance and playback
After selecting a symbol, various useful properties can be adjusted in the "Glissando" or "Arpeggio" section of the [Inspector](/3/basics/inspector.md).
*Inspector:Glissando section*
* **Type**: Choose between a straight or wavy line;
* **Show text**: Tick this box if you want the symbol to display text. Then set the wording, font-face, font-size and font-style underneath. *Note*: If there isn't enough room between notes, the text is not displayed;
* **Play**: Check/uncheck the box to turn playback on or off.
* **Play style**: Choose how the glissando plays back. There are five options: Chromatic, White keys, Black keys, Diatonic, Portamento (this option creates a portamento between two notes, see [portamento](#portamento));
*Inspector:Arpeggio section*
* **Stretch**: Increase this to lengthen the duration of the arpeggio.
* **Play**: Untick if you don't want the symbol to affect playback.
If needed for future use, you can save the result in a [custom palette](/3/basics/palettes.md#customize-palette-contents).
## Arpeggios and strum arrows
When an arpeggio or strum arrow is added to the score, it initially spans only one [voice](/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices.md). To change the height, see [Adjust dimensions](#adjust-dimensions) (above). *Playback* of the symbol can be turned on or off in the [Inspector](/3/basics/inspector.md).
### Adjust vertical range of an arpeggio
Add the arpeggio to the top staff, select it and use Shift+Down to extend it downwards to the next stave without it affecting distance between those staves.
**Note**: For this to work the notes in the 2 staves need to be in the same voice. And it won't affect playback.
## Portamento
To add a slide or "portamento" between two notes, add a [glissando symbol](#glissandi-or-portamento-between-two-notes) and [change its appearance and playback](#change-appearance-and-playback).
To add a slide or portamento before or after a note before a note (a string instrument or guitar technique), add either one of the [four wind instrument articulation symbols (Fall, Doit, Plop and Scoop)](#brass-or-wind-instrument-articulations) or a [slide in/slide out](#slide-inout). Alternative wavy symbols are found in the **Symbols** category in [Master palette](/3/advanced-topics/master-palette.md) window. All of these do not affect playback, but you can mimic to an extent with a hidden [Bends](/3/notation/articulations-and-ornaments/bends.md) (found in **Articulations** [Palette](/3/basics/palettes.md)).
To control piano and vocal portamento playback, try [Articulations and ornaments](/3/notation/articulations-and-ornaments.md) and [Piano Roll Editor](/3/sound-and-playback/piano-roll-editor.md).
## Glissandi or "portamento" between two notes
A **Glissando** or slide may be wavy or straight, and be with or without text. E.g.:
### Adjust start and end points
To move an end handle vertically or horizontally, from one note to the next:
1. Enter [edit](/3/basics/edit-mode.md#enter-edit-mode) mode on the symbol;
2. Click on the start or end handle:
* Use Shift+UpDown to move the handle up or down, from note to note.
* Use Shift+LeftRight moves the handle horizontally, from note to note.
This method [change length and anchors together](/3/notation/lines.md#change-length-and-anchors-together).
## Simultaneous glissandi between chords and Cross-staff glissando
Use [adjustment method](#adjust-start-and-end-points) (repeatedly) to create one.
## Brass or wind instrument articulations
**Fall**, **Doit**, **Plop** and **Scoop** symbols are provided. To change the length and curvature, select the symbol, enter [edit](/3/basics/edit-mode.md) mode and adjust the handles as described in [Slurs: method 1](/3/notation/slurs.md#method-1). Do not affect playback.
## Slide in/out
**Slide in** and **Slide out** lines for guitar. To edit the length and angle of a line, double-click on it and drag the handle (or use the Inspector or keyboard arrows for finer adjustment). Do not affect playback.
## External links
* [Arpeggio at Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arpeggio)
* [Glissando at Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glissando)
* [Portamento at Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portamento)
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