# Articulations

This chapter discusses symbols available in the **Articulations** palette (accents, staccato, vibrato markings etc).

To add verbal articulation objects available in the **Text** palette (*legato, pizz., arco, tremolo* etc) to a score, see [Entering and editing text](/text/entering-and-editing-text.md) chapter. Guitar articulation is covered in chapters under [Idiomatic notation: Guitar](/idiomatic-notation/guitar.md). Brass or woodwind articulation (fall, doit, plop, scoop) is covered in [Arpeggios and glissandi](/notation/expressive-markings/arpeggios-and-glissandos.md#bends).

## Adding articulations to a score

### Keyboard shortcuts

To add an articulation with a keyboard shortcut:

1. Select one or more notes
2. Apply the relevant shortcut from the list below:
   * Marcato: <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>O</kbd>
   * Accent: <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>V</kbd>
   * Tenuto: <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>N</kbd>
   * Staccato: <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>S</kbd>.

### From the toolbar

<figure><img src="/files/ZkhxdMCu5e7uDV9Oqu2D" alt="Articulations toolbar"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Certain articulations (accent, marcato, staccato, and tenuto) can be added from the note input toolbar:

1. Select one or more notes
2. Click on the desired icon in the articulations toolbar area.

### Articulations palette

<figure><img src="/files/X5fzdHmjPpBIcnQmwJZQ" alt="Articulations palette"><figcaption><p>The Articulations palette</p></figcaption></figure>

To add an item to a score:

1. Select one or more notes
2. Click on the desired articulation in the **Articulations** palette.

Alternatively, drag and drop an articulation symbol from the palette to a notehead.

## Articulations playback

Certain articulations affect note playback - such as staccato, staccatissimo, louré (tenuto + staccato), and accents. This is handled automatically by the program.

## Articulation properties

Editable properties of selected articulations on the score are shown in the [**Properties** panel](/basics/properties-panel.md).

<figure><img src="/files/vpBhNeySpd6VFoSFI5pQ" alt="Articulation placement"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* **Placement**: This alters the position of the symbol above or below the note.

## Articulation style

*See the main chapter* [*Templates and styles*](/customization/templates-and-styles.md)

* Values of the "Style for Articulations & Ornaments" can be edited in **Format -> Style -> Articulations & ornaments**.

<figure><img src="/files/Mj25n7nYLwTJ6GoTQiMI" alt="Align with stem"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Shown below are the result of some options on the score.

### Alignment options

<figure><img src="/files/SFLw9aPMDPu9t2qnXTOX" alt="Align with stem" width="227"><figcaption><p>Align with stem</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/JanuE625NtBqLGbqfrKL" alt="Align with notehead" width="227"><figcaption><p>Align with notehead</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/l2VNKojkRikY0ECfVIE1" alt="Center between stem and notehead" width="227"><figcaption><p>Center between stem and notehead</p></figcaption></figure>

### Combined articulation options

<figure><img src="/files/eebaQdbnEnGpo8QxiLOh" alt="Always keep together"><figcaption><p>Always keep together</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/iN22wSW7bdJgFdgozygv" alt="Prefer closeness to notehead"><figcaption><p>Prefer closeness to notehead<br>(combined articulations may become separated)</p></figcaption></figure>


---

# Agent Instructions: 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:

```
GET https://handbook.musescore.org/notation/expressive-markings/articulations.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
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.