> 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/grace-notes.md).

# Grace notes

A **grace note** is a type of musical ornament, usually printed smaller than regular notes. The **Short grace note**, or [Acciaccatura](/3/appendix/glossary.md#acciaccatura), appears as a small note with a stroke through the stem. The **Long grace note**, or [Appoggiatura](/3/appendix/glossary.md#appoggiatura), has no stroke.

## Create grace notes

Grace notes can be found in the "Grace notes" [palette](/3/basics/palettes.md) in the Basic or Advanced workspace.

<figure><img src="/files/H9vYX6fy3EatbLOUFna3" alt="Grace Notes palette (Advanced workspace)"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### **Add a grace note**

Use one of the following methods:

* Select a regular note and click a grace note in a [palette](/3/basics/palettes.md) (double-click in versions prior to 3.4).
* Drag a grace note symbol from a palette onto a regular note.
* Select a note and press <kbd>/</kbd> to create an acciaccatura only.

This will add a grace note of the same pitch as the regular note. To add a *sequence* of grace notes to a regular note, simply repeat the above actions as many times as required. See also, [Change pitch](#change-pitch) (below).

*Note*: When a grace note is added to the score, a slur is *not* automatically created with it, so the latter needs to be added separately. See [Slurs](/3/notation/slurs.md).

### **Add a chord of grace notes**

Grace note chords are built up just like regular chords:

1. Enter the first note of the chord as shown above
2. Select this first grace note and enter subsequent notes as you would for any other regular chord (i.e. <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>A</kbd>...<kbd>G</kbd>).

You can also create a grace note chord by using the **add interval** shortcut in step 2: <kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>1</kbd>...<kbd>9</kbd> for intervals from a unison to a ninth above.

## Change pitch

The pitch of a grace note can be adjusted just like a regular one:

1. Select one or more grace notes
2. Adjust pitch using the keyboard arrow commands, namely:
   * <kbd>Up</kbd> or <kbd>Down</kbd> to increase or decrease the pitch by a semitone;
   * <kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>Up</kbd> or <kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>Down</kbd> to increase or decrease the pitch one step at a time, according to the key signature.

## Change duration

* Select the grace note and either click a duration icon on the toolbar, or apply the duration with the appropriate keyboard shortcut: i.e. <kbd>1</kbd>...<kbd>9</kbd> (see [Note input](/3/basics/note-input.md#select-a-noterest-duration)).

## Manual adjustment

### Horizontal position

To adjust the horizontal space between a grace note and its regular parent note, use one of the following:

* Go into [edit mode](/3/basics/edit-mode.md#notes) on the grace note, then use the left/right arrow keys to reposition as desired.
* Select the grace note and change the X-offset value in the [**Chord**](/3/basics/inspector.md#chord) section of the Inspector.

### Other adjustments

Various other properties of the grace note can be adjusted in the [Inspector](/3/basics/inspector.md) (see "[Element](/3/basics/inspector.md#element)," "[Chord](/3/basics/inspector.md#chord)", and "[Note](/3/basics/inspector.md#note)" sections)—such as vertical position, size, stem properties etc. The exception is "Leading space" which only applies to standard notes.

## External links

* [Grace note](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_note) at Wikipedia
* [Appoggiatura](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appoggiatura) at Wikipedia
* [Acciaccatura](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acciaccatura) at Wikipedia


---

# 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/notation/grace-notes.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`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.
