> 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/measure-rests.md). # Measure rests ## Full measure rest A **whole rest**, centered within a measure (shown below), is used to indicate that an entire measure (or a voice within a measure) is silent, regardless of time signature.
Full measure rest
### To create one or more full measure rests Use the following method if all selected measures are "standard"—i.e. with no [custom durations](/3/basics/measure-operations.md#duration): 1 [Select](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md) a measure, or [range](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md#range-select) of measures.\ 2\. Press Del (Mac: Backspace). If one or more of the measures contains a [custom duration](/3/basics/measure-operations.md#duration), use the following method instead: 1. [Select](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md) a measure, or [range](/3/basics/selecting-elements.md#range-select) of measures. 2. Press Ctrl+Shift+Del (Mac: Cmd+Shift+Backspace). ### To create a full measure rest in a *particular* voice 1. In the appropriate voice, enter a rest that extends for the full measure. 2. Make sure the rest is selected, then press Ctrl+Shift+Del (Mac: Cmd+Shift+Backspace). If the voice contains only rests you can select the first rest and invoke the conversion keystroke. ## Multimeasure rest A **Multimeasure rest** indicates a period of silence for an instrument: the number of measures is shown by the number above the staff.
Multimeasure rest
Multimeasure rests are automatically interrupted at important points, such as double barlines, [rehearsal marks](/3/text/rehearsal-marks.md), key- or time signature changes, [section breaks](/3/formatting/breaks-and-spacers.md#section-break) etc. and also at measures that are set to [break multimeasure rests](/3/basics/measure-operations.md#break-multimeasure-rests). ### To display multimeasure rests To turn multimeasure rests on or off: * Press M on your keyboard. Alternatively: 1. From the menu, choose **Format -> Style…**. 2. Click on the "Score" tab, if it is not already selected; 3. Tick/untick "Create multimeasure rests". Here you can also set the minimum of empty measures to combine into a multimeasure rest (see also [Layout and formatting: Score](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md#score)). **Note**: It is recommended that you enter all notes in the score first *before* enabling multimeasure rests. ### Break multimeasure rest You may want to have a multimeasure rest divided into two multimeasure rests: 1. Ensure that the option to display multimeasure rests in the score is *off* (see [above](#to-display-multimeasure-rests)). 2. Right-click on the measure where you want the second multimeasure rest to start; 3. From the menu, choose **Measure Properties** and tick "Break multimeasure rest." 4. Enable multimeasure rests again See also: [Measure operations: Break multimeasure rest](/3/basics/measure-operations.md#other). --- # 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/measure-rests.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.