# Grace notes

Grace notes can be applied to the score from the **Grace notes** palette.

<figure><img src="https://3437726813-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FhlQyZtOnJ5I68XsXPBVv%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-0633daf7a368e11682f7868d06dfbd05c151b008%2Fgrace_notes_palette.png?alt=media" alt="Grace notes palette"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

For bagpipe players there is a comprehensive range of grace notes in the **Bagpipe embellishments** palette.

## Types of grace notes

Grace notes are small (cue-size) notes which ornament a previous or following note. They take their value from this parent note but do not themselves count towards the measure duration.

There are several kinds:

* **Acciaccatura**:

  <figure><img src="https://3437726813-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FhlQyZtOnJ5I68XsXPBVv%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-0d44c4684f7f868515cc881065d6ec5c5d02dbd4%2Fgrace_notes_acciaccatura.png?alt=media" alt="Acciaccatura"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

  Usually written with an oblique stroke through the note flag, or through the beam, if there is a beamed series.
* **Appoggiatura**:

  <figure><img src="https://3437726813-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FhlQyZtOnJ5I68XsXPBVv%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-483e144440299aab725c3ca387813ba7b67844fd%2Fgrace_notes_appoggiatura.png?alt=media" alt="Appoggiatura"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

  A stressed note which takes half the value from the parent note.
* **Grace note after** (trill endings).

## Adding a grace note to your score

**Note:** For standard staves *and* tablature, the following instructions for adding grace notes work in both note input *and* normal modes.

### Add grace note with keyboard shortcut

1. Ensure that the "parent" note is selected (multiple selection is possible in normal mode)
2. To apply an acciaccatura, press `/` (slash).

You can create a custom shortcut for other types of grace notes if you wish (see Preferences: Shortcuts).

### Add grace note from palette

1. Ensure that the "parent" note is selected (multiple selection is possible in normal mode)
2. Click on the desired symbol in the **Grace notes** palette.

Alternatively, you can drag and drop a grace note from the palette onto a note in the score.

## Multiple grace notes

### Sequential grace notes

You can add a run of grace notes to a selected note by repeatedly doing any of the following:

* pressing the relevant keyboard shortcut (see above)
* clicking on a grace note icon in a palette
* dragging and dropping a grace note from a palette onto a note.

### Grace note chords

To input a chord of grace notes:

1. Add a single grace note (as described above)
2. For standard staves, use one of the following methods:
   * Press `Shift` and a note letter, `A` to `G`; this will add the corresponding note above
   * Press `Alt`+`1`-`9`
   * from the menu bar, select **Add -> Intervals** and choose an interval from the list. This will add a note at the indicated interval above the selected note.
3. **For tablature**, select the grace note in **normal mode**, then add further chord notes using the method of adding intervals in step 2.

## Editing grace notes

### Change duration

To edit the visual duration, click on the grace note in normal mode, and select a duration from the note input toolbar or by using a keyboard shortcut (see Selecting duration).

### Change pitch

On a standard stave, change the pitch of a grace note using one of the methods described in Editing notes and rests.

On tablature staves, use one of the methods described in Changing the pitch in normal mode (tablature).

## Grace note properties

The same properties are available for grace notes as for normal notes. See Notehead properties, Stem and flag properties.

To control whether a slash should be shown through the stem, there is one additional option for grace notes only

1. Select a grace note
2. Go to the **Properties** panel
3. Under **Note**, select the **Stem** tab
4. Toggle **Show stem slash**.

In the case of a beamed group, setting this for any note in the group will set it for the entire group.

## Grace note style

You can adjust the default size for all grace notes in **Format -> Styles -> Sizes -> Grace note size**.

{% hint style="info" %}
Note that \*\*Grace note size\*\* is independent from \*\*Small note size\*\*, which is the size used for cue-size notes; the two sizes are often the same, and they are in MuseScore Studio by default, but do not have to be.
{% endhint %}