> 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/entering-and-editing-percussion-notation.md).
# Entering and editing percussion notation
*Check out* [*percussion input overhaul in Musescore 4.5*](https://handbook.musescore.org/idiomatic-notation/percussion/entering-and-editing-percussion-notation)
## Overview
This chapter is applicable to [percussion notation staff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percussion_notation) only.
Adding new staff is covered in [Instruments, staff setup and templates](/3/basics/instruments.md). Instrument that use this notation are under **"Percussion - Unpitched"**, **"Percussion - Marching"**, and **"Percussion - Body"** groups. Note that some under **"Percussion - Pitched"** contain "Drums" in their name use [standard notation](/3/basics/note-input.md): "Steel Drums", "Soprano Steel Drums", "Alto Steel Drums", "Guitar Steel Drums", "Tenor Steel Drums", "Cello Steel Drums", "Bass Steel Drums".
Changing staff template (percussion staff types, eg. 5-line, 3-line, or 1-line staff) is covered in [Staff / Part properties](/3/advanced-topics/staff--part-properties.md).
Knowing why and how to use [Musescore Voices](#voice) before [entering notes](#note-input) saves time. Notating concurrent rhythms and opposing [stem directions](#stem-direction) on one staff are *dependent* on it. [Note input method used](#note-input) affects new note's Voice. See also [External links: Stem direction, staff space, note shape](#external-links).
The free [MuseScore Drumline (MDL)](https://musescore.org/en/mdl) extension offers even more options to write percussion notation. To download and install it, see the [Language, translations, and extensions](/3/getting-started/language-translations-and-extensions.md) chapter.
## Real world instruments (sound samples) in a Musescore Instrument
A percussion [Musescore Instrument](/3/basics/instruments.md) contains real world instrument(s) (sound samples),
* "Drumset" under "Percussion - Unpitched". This is a single item that contains "Snare", "Bass Drum", "Ride Cymbal" etc sounds. *There is no seperate MuseScore Instrument for each of these.* Its default notation is covered under the ["Note staff space" section](#staff-space).
* "Concert Bass Drum" under "Percussion - Unpitched" contains several sounds, it is not the "Drumset" 's "Bass Drum", and
* "Bass Drum" under "Percussion - Marching" contains several sounds, it is not the "Drumset"'s "Bass Drum".
Some are accessible with [Mixer](/3/sound-and-playback/mixer.md),
* "Drumset" "Standard 1" and variations, (same for "Room", "Power", "Jazz" and theirs), use them by changing [Mixer: Sound](/3/sound-and-playback/mixer.md).
* "Drumset" "Brush" and variations, use them by changing [Mixer: Sound](/3/sound-and-playback/mixer.md). Short brush is incorrectly titled "Electric Snare" in [drum input palette](#drum-input-palette).
* etc
Consider sound sample playback desired *before* note entry. Musescore does not have intuitive sound sample switching for existing notes, eg play "Ride Cymbal" sound sample with "Hi-hat" notes already entered, because internal references are added onto notes (MIDI pitch data). [Switching the whole Musescore Instrument](/3/advanced-topics/staff--part-properties.md) *might* damage note playback because the referencing method is Instrument specific. "Drumset" Musescore Instrument sound sample data [cannot be added, removed, or edited inside Musescore](https://musescore.org/en/handbook/developers-handbook/references/instrumentsxml-documentation).
## Note input
User essentially enter notes and rests onto either,
* **input cursor** (see [Note input mode](/3/basics/note-input.md) chapter), or
* **available time position**, which is
* any existing note or rest (to create more, break down existing rest by adding new, shorter rest (right click or 0 (zero) as explained below), or
* the first beat of a measure.
## Mouse entry using the Drum input palette
To add a note at **input cursor**,
1. Select a measure, note or rest.
2. Enter [note input mode](/3/basics/note-input.md#step-2-enter-note-input-mode) (shortcut N). The **Drum input palette** now appears at the bottom of the screen (see ["Drum input palette" section](#drum-input-palette)). The [Voice](#voice) of the note to be added is indicated by note color in **Drum input palette** : blue for Voice 1, green for Voice 2. Top [Toolbar](/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation.md#toolbars) Voice selection is ignored.
3. Select note value at the top [Toolbar](/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation.md#toolbars).
4. Double-click an item in the **Drum input palette**. Existing notes and rests are overwritten.
5. The note input cursor position proceeds forward.
To add a note or rest at any **available time position**,
1. Select the staff.
2. Enter [note input mode](/3/basics/note-input.md) (shortcut N). The **Drum input palette** now appears at the bottom of the screen (see ["Drum input palette" section](#drum-input-palette)). The [Voice](#voice) of the note to be added is indicated by note color in **Drum input palette** : blue for Voice 1, green for Voice 2. Top [Toolbar](/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation.md#toolbars) Voice selection is ignored.
3. Depending on the result desired, select an appropiate note value at the top [Toolbar](/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation.md#toolbars) and item in the **Drum input palette**:
* Rests are always overwritten by notes.
* Any existing notes are retained if note value matches. A notation similar to a chord is created.
* Otherwise the new note overwrites (or truncates) the existing note.
* Notes and rests of different Voice do not affect each other.
4. Left click on a desired time position on the score to add a note. Right click to add a rest.
## Using keyboard shortcuts
To add a note or rest at **input cursor**,
1. Select a measure, note or rest.
2. Enter [note input](/3/basics/note-input.md) mode (shortcut N). The **Drum Input palette** now appears at the bottom of the screen.
3. Select note value at the top [Toolbar](/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation.md#toolbars).
4. Enter note with A–G displayed in the **Drum Input palette** (\
shortcut assignment see ["Drum input palette" section](#drum-input-palette)). Enter rest with 0 (zero). The new note uses the [Voice](#voice) indicated by note color in **Drum input palette** : blue for Voice 1, green for Voice 2 (Top [Toolbar](/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation.md#toolbars) Voice selection is ignored). If there is no note on the Voice, input cursor repositions itself to beat 1 of measure. Existing notes and rests are overwritten.
5. (Optional) Add another note to an existing one with Shift+\[A–G]. This note uses the Voice the last note is using, but not the setting indicated on **Drum input palette**.
6. The note input cursor position proceeds forward.
## MIDI controller
To add a note at **input cursor**,
1. Configure the MIDI controller. See [Preferences](/3/advanced-topics/preferences.md).
2. Select a measure, note or rest.
3. Enter [note input](/3/basics/note-input.md) mode (shortcut N).
4. Select a Voice and note value at the top [Toolbar](/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation.md#toolbars). Drum input palette Voice and Stem direction settings are ignored.
5. Press a MIDI controller key.
6. (Optional) To add another note to an existing one, keep the first key held down while pressing the second key.
## Virtual piano keyboard
To add a note at **input cursor**,
1. **View → Piano keyboard** (P) to show the virtual piano keyboard.
2. Select a measure, note or rest.
3. Enter [note input](/3/basics/note-input.md) mode (shortcut N).
4. Select a Voice and note value at the top [Toolbar](/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation.md#toolbars). Drum input palette Voice and Stem direction settings are ignored.
5. Click a key on the virtual piano.
6. (Optional) Add another note to an existing one with Shift + click another key.
To adjust virtual piano keyboard panel's position, drag and drop its title bar
* on to the center of Drum input palette panel. Both panels can then be accessed by Tabs; or
* to either side of Drum input palette panel.
## Drum input palette
**Drum input palette** is displayed at the bottom of the screen when,
* a percussion staff is selected, and
* it is currently in [note input](/3/basics/note-input.md) mode (shortcut N).
Palette items (button with note symbol) are used to [enter new notes with mouse or keyboard shortcuts](#note-input). Each represents a sound sample. Position the mouse pointer over any to view its name. Text (A to G) shown are keyboard shortcuts. They do not refer to note pitches.
### The Edit Drumset window
\ \_Do not be confused by the wording "Edit Drumset". User cannot edit Musescore Instrument data inside Musescore. See \["sound samples" section]\(entering-and-editing-percussion-notation.md#real-world-instruments-sound-samples-in-a-musescore-instrument).\_
Use "Edit Drumset" window to edit
* existing notes of the selected staff (**Notehead group** and its related settings, and **Staff line**), and
* "Drum input palette" items, which are used to [enter *new* notes with mouse or keyboard shortcuts](#note-input) (all settings).
To open,
* Click **Edit Drumset** button on the left of the **Drum input palette**; or
* Right-click a staff and select **Edit Drumset...**.
Use the left pane to select a sound sample,
* **No.**: the MIDI pitch data utilized internally, reference of sound sample used to create audio.
* **Note**: the MIDI pitch data utilized internally, reference of sound sample used to create audio.
* **Shortcut**: see below.
* **Name**: see below.
Use the right pane to edit how notes using selected sound sample is displayed on the score.
* **Name**: For display on Drum input palette only. Leave empty to remove from Drum input palette.
* **Notehead group**, **Edit Noteheads** and sub-settings: See the ["Notehead shape" section](#notehead-shape). *Affects existing notes of selected staff*.
* **Default voice**: Voice assigned to *new* note entered with mouse or keyboard shortcut only. See ["Voice" section](#voice).
* **Staff line**: The staff line / space on which the note is displayed. Value 0 means that the note is displayed on the top line of the 5-line staff. Enter negative values to move upwards. *Affects existing notes of selected staff*. See also ["Staff space" section](#staff-space).
* **Shortcut**: [Keyboard shortcut](#using-keyboard-shortcuts).
* **Stem Direction**: [Stem direction note property](/3/basics/inspector.md#chord) assigned to chord of *new* note entered with mouse or keyboard shortcut only. See also ["Stem direction" section](#stem-direction).
Use **Save As...** and **Load...** to save and load "Edit Drumset" window settings to external .drm file. See also files under [External links](#external-links).
## Drum map and Test out sound samples
Refer to a **General MIDI Level 2 (GM2) percussion key map (drum map)** for each sound sample's corresponding key (pitch). TO demo sound sample on MIDI controller or vitual piano keyboard, use [normal mode](/3/basics/note-input.md) (ESC).
## Voice
*See also the main chapter* [*Voices*](/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices.md)*.*
Notating concurrent rhythms and opposing stem directions on one staff are *dependent* on using Voices. [Automatic](/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices.md) stem direction assignment of any chord [can be overridden](#stem-direction).
The Voice assigned to new note depends on [input method used](#note-input), which is either\
\- the ["Drum input palette" item **Default voice** property](#the-edit-drumset-window) in case of mouse or keyboard shortcut note entry; or\
\- the [Toolbar button selected](/3/basics/viewing-and-navigation.md#toolbars) otherwise.
## Stem direction
Stem direction is automatically assigned according to [Voice](/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices.md), and can be manually overridden with [**Stem direction**](/3/basics/inspector.md#chord) note property.
[Edit Drumset window : **Stem direction**](#the-edit-drumset-window) property is assigned to [*new* note entered with mouse or keyboard shortcut](#note-input). It is completely ignored in note entry using MIDI controller and virtual piano keyboard.
## Staff space
\ \[drumsetdefaultdef3.mscz]\( "Download: drumsetdefaultdef3.mscz (12.89 KB)")\ \_Shown above "\[Drumset]\(entering-and-editing-percussion-notation.md#real-world-instruments-sound-samples-in-a-musescore-instrument)" default definition.\_
Change staff line / space / vertical position of all notes on the currently selected staff with **Staff line** explained in ["Edit Drumset" section](#the-edit-drumset-window). Advanced users can override with [**Fix to line**](/3/basics/inspector.md#chord) note property (an absolute position).
## Notehead shape
Use "cross", "ghost note" or "dead note", by editing **Notehead group** and **Edit Noteheads** as explained in ["Edit Drumset" section](#the-edit-drumset-window). No individual note overriding option available.
Brackets (parentheses, dead note or ghost note) and "open circle" (additional symbol) can be added to individual notes from [palettes](/3/basics/palettes.md). They do not affect playback. Add brackets from **Noteheads** and "open circle" from **Articulation**.
## Other notations
## Sticking
To enter sticking symbols (R, L):
1. Select a start note;
2. From the menu, select **Add -> Text -> Sticking**. Alternatively, set up a keyboard shortcut to do the same thing in [Preferences](/3/advanced-topics/preferences.md#shortcuts);
3. Input the symbol just as you would normal text. To move forward or backwards to the next note, use the same keyboard shortcuts as for [chord symbols](/3/text/chord-notation-systems.md#navigation-keyboard-shortcuts).
4. To exit, press Esc, or click on a blank section of the score.
## Add drum roll
To create a drum roll, use a [Tremolo](/3/notation/tremolo.md).
## External links
* [How to create jazz drum notation](https://musescore.org/en/node/70431) \[MuseScore How-To]
* [Video tutorial: MuseScore in Minutes: Lesson 7 - Tablature and Drum Notation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnXLaZW9uA8)
* [Drum Parts](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFj7v5S4Akw) \[video]
* [Editing the Drum Palette in MuseScore 1.1](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvVBHW-O5Ww) \[video]
* [Saving Drumset Changes in MuseScore 1.1](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgsxPLJxZRM) \[video]
* Notation standards
* Drum magazine reference chart (June 2007) [http://musescore.org/sites/musescore.org/files/Drum\_Notation\_Chart.jpg](https://musescore.org/sites/musescore.org/files/Drum_Notation_Chart.jpg)
* Sibelius [http://musescore.org/sites/musescore.org/files/notation\_drumset\_en.png](https://musescore.org/sites/musescore.org/files/notation_drumset_en.png) , based on the recommendations of the Percussive Arts Society found in Norman Weinberg’s Guide To Standardized Drumset Notation (2002, ISBN 0-9664928-1-1)
* A french drumset, Nicolas , based on discussion [http://musescore.org/fr/node/14340#comment-49750](https://musescore.org/fr/node/14340#comment-49750) and loosy based on the Dante-Agostini method
* [Guide to Drum and Percussion Notation](http://web.mit.edu/merolish/Public/drums.pdf)
* Stem direction, staff space, note shape
* stem direction
* "hands up, feet down" and others in [Better drumset notation (with focus on stem direction)](https://musescore.org/en/node/320941) forum discussion,
* "pulse and rhythm" rule [https://www.onlinedrummer.com/blogs/drum-lessons/introduction-to-voicin…](https://www.onlinedrummer.com/blogs/drum-lessons/introduction-to-voicing-in-drum-notation).
* staff line / space / vertical position denotes the instrument (sound sample). Programatically, "MIDI pitch" stores sound sample reference in Musescore 3.6.2 - open and closed hi-hat on different space.
* note shape usually denotes pitch (or pitchless) in music sense.
* Drm files
*
*
* Weinberg's Standardized Drumset Notation in Musescore, @RunasSudo, Apache Licence 2.0.
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