MuseScore Studio Handbook
Languages (A to F)Languages (G to Z)Main websiteMore
  • MuseScore Studio Handbook
  • About the handbook
    • Editing the Handbook
    • Style guide
    • Using GitBook
  • Introduction
    • Download and installation
    • Create your first score
    • Upgrading to MuseScore Studio 4 from earlier versions
  • Navigation
    • Accessibility
    • The user interface
    • Navigating your score
    • Timeline
    • Braille
  • Basics
    • Setting up your score
    • Entering notes and rests
    • Working with multiple voices
    • Input by duration mode
    • Alternative note input methods
    • Adding and removing measures
    • Selecting elements
    • Editing notes and rests
    • Copy and paste
    • Using the palettes
    • Properties panel
    • Adjusting elements directly
    • Parts
    • Default keyboard shortcuts
  • Notation
    • Instruments, staves, and systems
      • Instruments and system markings
      • Showing staves only where needed
      • Implode and explode
      • Mid-score instrument changes
      • Staff type change
      • Staff/Part properties
      • Brackets
    • Rhythm, meter, and measures
      • Time signatures
      • Stems and flags
      • Beams
      • Regroup rhythms
      • Tuplets
      • Barlines
      • Measure numbering
      • Measure rests and multimeasure rests
      • Pickup and non-metered measures
      • Measure properties
    • Pitch
      • Clefs
      • Key signatures
      • Transposition
      • Octave lines
      • Noteheads
      • Ambitus
      • Respell pitches
    • Expressive markings
      • Articulations
      • Dynamics and hairpins
      • Slurs and ties
      • Laissez vibrer ties
      • Breaths and pauses
      • Ornaments
      • Arpeggios and glissandos
      • Grace notes
      • Tremolos and rolls
      • Other lines
      • Other symbols
    • Repeats
      • Repeat signs
      • Voltas
      • Jumps and markers
      • Items across repeats and jumps
      • Changes and courtesies at repeats and jumps
      • Measure and multi-measure repeats
  • Idiomatic notation
    • Keyboard
      • Pedal
      • Cross-staff notation
      • Accordion notation
    • Guitar
      • Fretboard diagrams
      • Guitar techniques
      • Creating a tablature staff
      • Entering and editing tablature notation
      • Customizing a tablature staff
      • Applying capos
      • Alternate string tunings
      • Guitar bends
    • Harp
    • Percussion
      • Inputting percussion notation
      • Customizing the percussion panel
      • Percussion kit customization
      • Other percussion notation
  • Alternative notation
    • Mensural notation and Mensurstrich
    • Slash notation
    • Custom staff types
  • Text
    • Entering and editing text
    • Formatting text
    • Staff Text, System Text and Expression Text
    • Tempo markings
    • Lyrics
    • Fingering
    • Chord symbols
    • Figured bass
    • Rehearsal marks
    • Header and footer
    • Text blocks
  • Formatting
    • Page layout concepts
    • Positioning of elements
    • Score size and spacing
    • Systems and horizontal spacing
    • Pages and vertical spacing
    • Using frames for additional content
    • Working with images
    • Using sections for multiple movements or songs
  • File management
    • Opening and saving scores
    • File export
    • Working with MusicXML files
    • Backup and recovered files
    • Project properties
    • Publish to MuseScore.com
    • Share on Audio.com
  • Sound and playback
    • Playback controls
    • Mixer
    • SoundFonts
    • Installing MuseSounds
    • Sound flags
    • Swing playback
    • Working with MIDI
    • Working with VST and VSTi
  • Customization
    • Language
    • Appearance
    • Toolbars and windows
    • Templates and styles
    • Palettes
    • Workspaces
    • Keyboard shortcuts
    • Preferences
    • Plugins
  • Support
    • Getting help
    • Revert to factory settings
    • Troubleshooting
  • Appendix
    • Command line usage
    • All keyboard shortcuts
    • Changes for MDL percussion
    • Upgrade from MuseScore 3.x
    • Glossary
Powered by GitBook
On this page
  • MuseScore versions covered
  • Exploring the handbook
  • Browsing chapters
  • Searching the handbook
  • Reading in a different language
  • Downloading the handbook
  • Contributing to the handbook

Was this helpful?

Export as PDF

About the handbook

PreviousMuseScore Studio HandbookNextEditing the Handbook

Last updated 1 month ago

Was this helpful?

MuseScore versions covered

This handbook is valid for MuseScore version 4.0 and above.

If you're using a different version of the program, please consult the appropriate handbook for your version:

Exploring the handbook

Browsing chapters

Use the chapter links on the to explore content in each chapter of the handbook.

There is also a , which can be used with your browser's find-in-page facility (shortcut: Ctrl+F, or Cmd+F on macOS).

Searching the handbook

To search the handbook, use the dedicated search field in the top right of each handbook page.

site:musescore.org your topic here

Reading in a different language

The handbook is translated into several languages, although translations are not always up-to-date with the English version. Pages are translated individually, so not every page is available in every language.

Downloading the handbook

To save a copy of the handbook to your computer for offline viewing:

  1. Open your browser's Print facility (shortcut: Ctrl+P, or Cmd+P on macOS).

  2. Choose the option labelled Print to PDF, Save to PDF, or similar.

    • Make sure you are saving a file rather than printing a physical copy.

If you require a physical copy, it's best to follow the above steps to create a PDF, then check the PDF is formatted correctly before you proceed to print it with a real printer. The handbook is quite long, so please don't print a physical copy unless you really need to.

Contributing to the handbook

If you're not sure what to search for, try browsing the . It has pictures to help you to find things that you are unable to name.

You can also try a web search using this special syntax to only include results from :

This works with most search engines. For example, .

If you still can't find the information you need, please ask for help in the .

To read the handbook in a different language, use the languages dropdown displayed in the top right of each handbook page, directly below the . If a particular language isn't available in the dropdown this means the page hasn't been translated into that language yet.

In case of doubt, please consult the , or ask for help in one of the . Use the if posting in English, otherwise use the appropriate forum for your language.

Visit the .

The handbook is maintained and translated by the MuseScore community. If you'd like to help write content, please read .

If you want to translate pages, please read .

Glossary
MuseScore.org
perform a Google search for "site:musescore.org tempo markings"
Support Forum
Search field
English version of the handbook
forums
Support and bug reports forum
single-page view of the entire handbook
Editing the handbook
How to translate the handbook
MuseScore 3 Handbook
MuseScore 2 Handbook
MuseScore 1 Handbook
main page
single-page view of the entire handbook
Search in the handbook
Handbook languages dropdown