Voltas

Volta brackets are lines above the staff used to mark different endings for a repeat section. MuseScore Studio creates correct playback. Shown below is an example, the repeat section is played once through with the ending marked "1.", then a second time with the ending marked "2.".

Adding voltas to your score

1. Make sure that repeat barlines are in the correct position;

2. To apply the volta bracket use one of the following:

   • Select a measure and click on the desired line in the Repeats & jumps palette, or

   • Drag a line from a palette onto a measure.

Changing appearance of voltas

1. Select a volta in the score

2. Go to the Properties panel and find the Volta section

3. Select the Style tab and edit the line properties (see Other lines: Line properties)

4. Select the Text tab and edit the text properties (see Entering and editing text and Formatting text).

Note that changing the text is purely visual and does not affect playback.

To change the time range covered, see Changing range of a line chapter.

Changing playback of voltas

1. Select a volta in the score

2. Go the Properties panel and find the Volta section

3. Select the Style tab and edit the Repeat list value.

The Repeat list specifies which times through the music under the volta should be played. For example, a value of "1" means that the passage will be played only the first time, and will be skipped other times. "2" means it will be played only the second time.

If the volta is to be played more than once, you can enter a series of numbers separated by commas, e.g. "1,2,3". In this case, you must also edit Measure properties: Play count accordingly:

1. Right-click the last measure before the end repeat

2. Select Measure properties... from the menu

3. Edit the value of Play count in the dialog.

A measure with an end repeat barline must have a Play count value that is equal to the total number of times of playback of this measure + 1 or more. The total number of times of playback of a measure is usually the number of Repeat list entries. See example below. For example, if Repeat list is "1,7,9" then Play count should be "4".

The End hook property affects playback.

To change the time range covered, see Changing range of a line chapter.

To ignore playback of repeat barlines, jumps and markers:

1. Click the cog in the playback controls toolbar

2. Uncheck Play repeats in the menu.

See the Playback controls chapter for more information.

Example of a complex Volta setting

Download the example .mscz file

Measure 3 should have play count set to 4. Measure 5 should have play count set to 3.

This example plays back as: 1-3, 1-2, 4-5, 1-3, 1-3, 1-2, 4-5, 1-2, 6-8.

Volta properties

1. Select a volta in the score

2. Under Properties panel Volta section, there are two tabs, Style tab and Text tab, their usage are covered in the sections above. The End hook property affects playback.

Voltas style

See the main chapter Templates and styles

Styles for voltas can be found in Format -> Style -> Voltas. Styles for the text under voltas can be found in Format -> Style -> Text styles under Volta.