> 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/text/chord-notation-systems.md).
# Chord notation systems
*To enter notes, see* [*Voices*](/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices.md) *chapter.*
A **chord notation** [Text](/3/text/text-types.md) describes harmony. MuseScore supports
* Chord symbol: alphabetical chord name plus chord quality eg `Am` ([wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chord_notation)),
* [Nashville Number System](#nashville-number-system) (NNS) (MuseScore 3.3 and above): arabic numeral plus chord quality eg `6m` ([wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashville_Number_System)), and
* [Roman Numeral Analysis](#roman-numeral-analysis) (RNA) (MuseScore 3.3 and above): roman numeral plus chord quality eg `vi` ([wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_numeral_analysis)).
*Side note*: To fill measures with slashes as shown above, see [Fill with slashes](/3/advanced-topics/tools.md#fill-with-slashes) or [Toggle rhythmic slash notation](/3/advanced-topics/tools.md#toggle-rhythmic-slash-notation).
## Chord symbol
## Adding a chord symbol
\
1\. Select a note or a rhythmic slash symbol;\
2\. Press Ctrl+K (Mac: Cmd+K) to create an empty symbol. It is now in [Text editing mode](/3/text/text-editing.md);\
3\. Enter as explained below without any space;\
4\. Optionally use keyboard shortcuts to proceed to edit a neighbouring chord symbol;\
5\. Press Esc to exit [Text editing mode](/3/text/text-editing.md). Once exited, the text [assumes correct format](#rendering-style).
To enter root (shown below **Standard** spelling, eg Am7. See ["Note spelling"](#note-spelling) section for alternatives.)
* **Letter name**: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and their lowercase. See ["Automatic Capitalization"](#automatic-capitalization) section.
* **Sharp**: # (hash symbol, Alt+3 on a UK keyboard).
* **Flat**: b (small letter "b").
* **Double sharp**: x (small letter "x") or ## (hash character twice).
* **Double flat**: bb (small letter "b" twice).
To enter extension and modifiers
* **Major**: (no extension), M, Ma, Maj, ma, maj, Δ (entered with lowercase t or ˆ, the latter doesn't seem to work on Windows though, or not with a German keyboard, where ˆ is a dead key).
* **Minor**: m, mi, min, -.
* **Augmented**: aug, +.
* **Diminished triad**: dim, ° (entered with o, lowercase "o". Shows as superscript if using the [Jazz style](#appearance-settings), as o, the Greek omicron, otherwise).
* **Dominant seventh**: 7 (shows as superscript if using the [Jazz style](#appearance-settings)).
* **Diminished seventh**: dim7, °7 (entered with o7, lowercase "o" and number seven).
* **Half-diminished seventh**: m7b5, mi7b5, -7b5, ø7 (entered with 07, number zero and seven. Shows as superscript if using the [Jazz style](#appearance-settings)).
* **Major seventh**: M7, Ma7, Maj7, ma7, maj7, Δ7 (Δ alone is interpreted as major triad).
* **Minor-major seventh**: mM7 ...
* **69**: 69, 6/9.
* **Suspended and others**: sus, sus4, sus2, 4 *(4 = add11)*, 6, add6, 6-9 *(6-9 = 6b9)*, 6+9 *(6+9 = 6#9)*, 9, 7(add9), b9, 11, 7#5, no3 *(no3 = omit the third)*, alt ...
* **Commas**; and **Parentheses** enclosing part or the whole symbol.
* **Unsupported:** drop2
To enter slash chord and inversion eg C7/E, use /. Fine vertical adjustment unsupported.
Advanced users can add the following characters, which are incompatible with playback, transposition and MusicXML export.
* To enter natural(♮): Ctrl+Shift+H. (Mac: Cmd+Shift+H)
* To enter blank space: Ctrl+Space (Mac: Alt+Space).
### Navigation keyboard shortcuts
Use these to navigate *while in text-editing mode*. New item is automatically created where necessary. Beat information is obtained from [Time signatures](/3/notation/time-signatures.md) only.
* **One note, rest, or beat forward:** Space.
* **One note, rest, or beat backward:** Shift+Space.
* **One beat forward:** ;.
* **One beat backward:** :.
* **One measure forward:** Tab.
* **One measure backward:** Shift+Tab.
* [**A duration**](/3/basics/note-input.md) **forward:** Ctrl+1-9(Mac: Cmd+1-9).
## Editing a chord symbol
1. Double click a chord symbol.
2. Follow step 3 onwards in ["Adding a chord symbol"](#adding-a-chord-symbol) section.
## Appearance settings
Covered in the [Layout and formatting](/3/formatting/layout-and-formatting.md) chapter. With regard to chord symbols, there are
* *Properties* of individual score item editable in [Inspector](/3/basics/inspector.md); and
* *Global profiles* (the "Full Score" and each [Musescore Part](/3/advanced-topics/parts.md) has its own independent set)
* **Format → Style → Chord Symbols**, which contains [*rendering style*](#rendering-style); and
* **Format → Style → Text Styles → Chord Symbol**, or any other [TextStyle applied manually](/3/text/text-styles-and-properties.md), such as **Format → Style → Text Styles → Chord Symbol (Alternative)**, an unused, separate profile desinated for reharmonization scores.
### Rendering style
Rendering style (term used in handbook only) is chord symbol's specialized automatic formatting feature. It is
* *not* a [*property*](#appearance-settings) of individual score item, but
* a [*global*](#appearance-settings) setting in **Format → Style → Chord Symbols: Style**.
* **Standard**: No extra automatic formatting. This is the default if a non-Jazz template is used to create the score.
* **Jazz**: Automatic formatting such as superscripting extensions and modifiers (eg the 7 in G7); Applies *MuseJazzText* fontface. [Other fontface settings](#font-face) are ignored. This is the default if a Jazz template (eg "Jazz Lead Sheet") is used to create the score.
* **Custom**: Use a custom chord symbols style file (\*.xml) under the "styles" directory (in Windows 10 `C:\Program Files\MuseScore 3\styles\`). For advanced user and file compatibility only. See documentation under the same folder, and ["External links"](#external-links) section.
### Font face
Font (font face, typeface, or font family) is available as
* a [*property*](#appearance-settings) of individual score item (higher priority); and
* a [*global*](#appearance-settings) setting in **Format → Style → Text Styles → Chord Symbol**, or the profile applied to the score item.
Not as useful as [rendering style](#rendering-style), because assigning a fontface (eg *MuseJazzText*) does not automatically apply appropiate superscript or subscript to extension and modifiers, but see ["Adjusting position"](#adjusting-position-and-size) section. Fontface assignments are ignored when using "Jazz" rendering style, as shown below.
\\
\\
### Note spelling
Chord root note spelling convention is a [*global*](#appearance-settings) setting in **Format → Style → Chord Symbols**. Options are,
* **Standard**: A, B♭, B, C, C♯,... The default setting.
* **German**: A, B♭, H, C, C♯,...
* **Full German**: A, B, H, C, Cis,...
* **Solfeggio**: Do, Do♯, Re♭, Re,...
* **French**: Do, Do♯, Ré♭, Ré,...
### Automatic capitalization
Automatic capitalization is a [*global*](#appearance-settings) setting in **Format → Style → Chord Symbols**. Options are,
* **Check box**: Enabled by default.
* **Lower case minor chords**: Disable conversion if the chord is a minor, diminished, half-diminished 7th, or diminished 7th chord. When disabled, "c, cm, cm7" converts to "C, Cm, Cm7". When enabled, "c, cm, cm7" converts to "C, cm, cm7".
* **Lower case bass notes**: Disable conversion of note after slash. When disabled, "c/e" converts to "C/E". When enabled, "c/e" converts to "C/e".
* **All caps note names**: For ["Solfeggio" and "French" spelling](#note-spelling) only. eg "do, re, mi" to "DO, RE, MI"
### Adjusting position and size
Position and size adjustments of *the extension and modifier portion* are [*global*](#appearance-settings) settings in **Format → Style → Chord Symbols → Extension scaling, Modifier scaling, Extension vertical offset, Modifier vertical offset**.
Position adjustments affecting *the whole symbol* are *culminative*. They are available as
* [*Properties*](#appearance-settings) of individual score item
* **Offset X and Y**, and
* [*Global*](#appearance-settings) settings
* Under **Format → Style → Chord Symbols: Positioning**.
* **Distance to fretboard diagram**: Above the diagram.
* **Minimum chord spacing**: Between neighbouring chord symbols.
* **Maximum barline distance**: Between a measure's last chord symbol and the following barline. Increase this value to remove overlapping between symbols across a barline. Rarely needed.
* **Maximum shift above/below**: Adjust to align symbols vertically.
* Under **Format → Style → Text Styles → Chord Symbol**, or the profile applied to the score item.
* **Offset X and Y**
## Automatically create extra chord symbols with capo
For capo device users. Enable this feature to create extra bracketed chord symbol next to each existing chord symbol on the score. The bracketed symbol, when played using capo, sounds identical to the unbracketed one.
* In **Format → Style → Chord Symbols: Capo fret position**.
* Assign the capo position for the appended extra chord symbol. Default value 0 does not create extra chord symbols.
## Converting chord symbols into notes
To lay down chord notes onto a score,
1. Select one or more measures
2. From the menu, select **Tools → Realize Chord Symbols**.
Configuration of which notes to lay down is covered in the [Playback: Chord symbols / Nashville numbers](/3/sound-and-playback/playback-chord-symbols--nashville-numbers.md) chapter.
Editing notes afterwards is covered in the [Voices](/3/basics/working-with-multiple-voices.md) chapter. There are also plugins such as,
* [Chord Level Selector](https://musescore.org/en/project/chord-level-selector)
* [PruneStack](https://musescore.org/en/project/prunestack)
* [Next inversion: replaces all chord(s) in (keyboard) selection with their next inversion](https://musescore.org/en/project/next-inversion-replaces-all-chords-keyboard-selection-their-next-inversion)
## Transpose chord symbols
Chord symbols within the selection are transposed with [Transpose](/3/notation/transposition.md) command unless "Transpose chord symbols" option is unchecked.
## Playback of Chord symbols
(MuseScore 3.3 and above)
See [Playback: Chord symbols / Nashville numbers](/3/sound-and-playback/playback-chord-symbols--nashville-numbers.md).\
**Note:** The triangle symbol Δ in Musescore creates a Major **triad** only.
## Nashville Number System
(MuseScore 3.3 and above)
The Nashville Number System is a shorthand way of representing chords based on scale degrees rather than chord letters. This allows an accompaniment to be played in any key from the same chord chart.
To start entering Nashville notation:
1. Select a start note;
2. **Add → Text → Nashville Number**.
[Input syntax](#adding-a-chord-symbol) and [navigation keyboard shortcuts](#navigation-keyboard-shortcuts) are similar to that of chord symbols.
## Convert Nashville into notes
Same as chord symbol, see ["Convert chord symbols into notes"](#converting-chord-symbols-into-notes) section.
## Playback of Nashville
(MuseScore 3.3 and above)
See [Playback: Chord symbols / Nashville numbers](/3/sound-and-playback/playback-chord-symbols--nashville-numbers.md).
## Roman Numeral Analysis
*Not to be confused with* [*Figured bass*](/3/advanced-topics/figured-bass.md)*.*
(MuseScore 3.3 and above)
The Roman Numeral Analysis system is a type of musical analysis where chords are represented by upper and lower case Roman numerals (I, ii, III, iv etc.), superscripts, subscripts and other modifying symbols.
## Enter RNA
1. Select a start note;
2. **Add → Text → Roman Numeral Analysis**, or the keyboard shortcut assigned in [Preferences](/3/advanced-topics/preferences.md#shortcuts);
3. Input the RNA symbols for the chord just like normal text, as follows;
* **Major chord**: Upper case roman numerals
* **Minor chord**: Lower case roman numerals
* **Diminished chord**: o (lower case)
* **Half-diminished chord**: 0 (zero)
* **Augmented chord**: +
* **Seventh chord and inversions**: Enter up to 3 single-digit numbers, top note first.
* **Accidentals**: enter hash character (**#**) for a sharp, small letter **b** for a flat and **h** for natural. Do *not* use unicode eg U+226D (flat sign, ♭).
* To disable automatic conversion into professional glyph or superscript, prefix the character with a backslash, "**\\**". For example, "**\h**" adds a literal letter "**h**" instead of a natural symbol.
* Inversion notation using alphabet a,b,c,d can be created with the method described above.
* Inversion notation using vertically aligned arabic numerals without accidentals such as 64 can be created with the [method described below](#examples-of-rna).
* Inversion notation using vertically aligned arabic numerals with accidentals such as 6#3, ie altered chord, is *unsupported*, workaround : create [Figured bass](/3/advanced-topics/figured-bass.md) text instead; or create separate text objects and [manually nudge them into place](/3/basics/inspector.md#element).
* For other symbols, see the images [below](#examples-of-rna).
4. Move the cursor forward or backwards to continue entering or editing symbols for other chords;
5. When RNA is completed, exit by pressing Esc, or by clicking on a blank section of the score.
RNA input offers the same keyboard shortcuts for navigation as in chord symbols (see [above](#navigation-keyboard-shortcuts) ).
*Upon each computer keyboard input*, characters are automatically converted to the correct format. MuseScore uses a specialist font, [Campania](https://github.com/MarcSabatella/Campania), to provide the correct formatting for RNA. See also [Fonts](/3/advanced-topics/fonts.md).
## Examples of RNA
Type this:
To get this:
## Playback of RNA
Musescore 3.6.2 does not create playback for RNA.
## Identify harmony or chord
Use a plugin such as:
* [Chord Identifier (Pop & Jazz)](https://musescore.org/en/project/chord-identifier-pop-jazz) for music that features harmonic chromaticism heavily, as the RNA created has jazz influence.
* [Chord ID and Roman numeral analysis](https://musescore.org/en/project/chord-id-and-roman-numeral-analysis) for music that features stable tonality, as conventional RNA are created.
* [Harmony analysis tool (keys, chords and harmonies)](https://musescore.org/en/project/harmony-analysis-tool-keys-chords-and-harmonies)
## External Links
* [Campania font](https://github.com/MarcSabatella/Campania)
* [Chord Symbol Voicings for Playback](https://musescore.com/marcsabatella/chord-symbol-voicings-for-playback)
Chord symbols style file (\*.xml):
* [chords.xml with sub/superscript and stacked chord alterations](https://musescore.org/en/node/312296) shared by RunasSudo
* [github issue Support for chords with stacked extensions #16241 workaround](https://github.com/musescore/MuseScore/issues/16241) by MarcSabatella
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