# Using sections for multiple movements or songs

## Overview

A **section break** is used to divide a score into separate sections, such as might be required in a musical suite, for example.

In the following score example, there is a section break at the end of the first system, followed by a text [frame](https://handbook.musescore.org/formatting/using-frames-for-additional-content) providing the title of the next movement.

<figure><img src="https://3455969201-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FP81HaeapLzzJGtG6DSwH%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f2ddab51837cb907a2d0d1ee28a222f496955400%2Fsection_break.png?alt=media" alt="Section break"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Features

A section break has the following features:

* The measure after the point of application is forced to start a new system (like a [system break](https://handbook.musescore.org/systems-and-horizontal-spacing#system-breaks))
* An adjustable playback pause between movements
* An option to restart measure numbering
* An option to display long instrument names (as you might at the start of a piece).

These options are detailed in [Section break properties](#section-break-properties) (below).

### Time and key signatures

If the beginning of a new section is accompanied by a change of time or key signatures, there will be no courtesy signature at the end of the previous section.

## Adding section breaks

To add a section break, select a measure, barline (or any element within the measure), then click the **Section break** icon in the **Layout** palette. You can substitute the latter action with a custom shortcut if desired (see [Preferences: Shortcuts](https://handbook.musescore.org/customization/preferences#shortcuts)).

## Section break properties

The following properties of section breaks are adjustable from the **Section** break part of the **Properties** panel:

### Pause

To adjust the playback **pause** after a section break: select the break and edit “Pause before new section starts”.

### Instrument names

To display the **long intrument names** on the first system after a section break: select the break and make sure that “Start new section with long instrument names” is checked.

### Bar numbers

To **restart measure numbering** after a section break: select the break and make sure that “Reset bar numbers for new section” is checked.

Additional settings for measure number display are available in the [Measure properties](https://handbook.musescore.org/notation/rhythm-meter-and-measures/measure-properties) dialog.