Using Sibelius/Musescore

Configuration

Selecting Audio Device

If you use a bluetooth audio device, you may find that Sibelius will ignore it and output sound through your computer speakers. Here's how to fix it:

Under the "Play" tab, click the popup button next to "Setup." This will open a dialogue.
Click "Audio Engine Options" in the lower left.
Use the "Interface" selector to choose the correct device.

Managing Large Scores

Scores can get very long very quickly: the score of a 3-minute piece with about 70 measures will take up about 8 pages of letter-size paper, which can get somewhat difficult to navigate.

Panorama/Continuous View

When editing the full score, take advantage of the Panorama/Continuous View, that way you can ignore the page and formatting when you're arranging/transcribing.

Note/Measure Selection

The usual hold-shift, hold-control, copy & paste behavior applies when you are selecting. Once you select some notes, pressing R will automatically replicate the selection to the next note available. You can also consider using the Repeat symbols:

Double click selects the whole measure (all voices).

Triple click selects the whole part (all voices).

After selecting a note or measure, use Shift + Left Click to select all the notes in between (like with a text editor). Be aware that dynamics, text, and slur markings within the selection will be copied as well.

Clicking anywhere in the middle of a measure that's not a note or other symbol will select the whole measure.

Consider using repeat symbols (in the repeats and jumps pallete) if you repeat a measure several times.

Voice Selection

If you use the normal hold-shift method, you will select all the voices. To select voices separately, select the bar(s) first, then Ctrl + Shift + Alt + [the number for the voice]. For more information on how/why/when to use separate voices, refer to this.

Clicking on the whole measure will select all voices in the measure. To select notes within a single voice, select a note in that voice and press Shift + Left Click on another note within that voice.

Note Entry

Basic Workflow

Choose a note value on the right bottom corner (if you have a keypad, notice that it maps to your keypad)
Choose the note you want by pressing the A, B, C, etc. keys

Select a note or rest, and use Q to halve its value or W to double it (Musescore remembers the value of the last note you entered or the last one you selected)
Choose the note you want by pressing the A, B, C, etc. keys

Dotted Notes

Select a note, and select the dot on the keypad.

Select a note. If it isn't dotted, pressing Shift + Q will halve the length and then add a dot (e.g. a whole note will become a dotted half), and Shift + W will add a dot (e.g. a half note becomes a dotted half). If it is dotted, Shift + Q removes the dot (e.g. dotted half becomes half), and Shift + W removes the dot and doubles the note length (e.g. dotted half becomes whole).

Pressing . will also toggle the dot on a note, or extend it with a tie into the next measure if necessary.

Hard-to-Play or Impossible Notes

When arranging, keep in mind that your notes are being played by real instruments. Sibelius tells you which notes are out of an instrument's range.

If it is a dark shade of red, it means it is hard to play for a beginner but is usually playable for an experienced player. Whether or not Intermission musicians can hit them depends on the instrument, and the individual players (check with a relevant section leader if you're unsure).

Example: (violin)

If it is a solid red, it means that it is impossible to play with a standard instrument. This is especially the case if the note is on the lower range of the instrument. Higher notes tend to be bounded by technique, but lower notes are usually bounded by physical limitations.

Example: (piccolo)

To resolve these issues, you can consider having them play at a different octave, or letting another instrument that has a more appropriate range play.

Changing Octaves

Select the note(s) you want to change
Control + ↑ on Windows or Command + ↑ on Mac raises by an octave; Control + ↓ on Windows; Command + ↓ on Mac lowers by an octave

Select the note(s) you want to change
Control + ↑ on Windows or Command + ↑ on Mac raises by an octave; Control + ↓ on Windows; Command + ↓ on Mac lowers by an octave

Multiple Notes

There are two cases for multiple notes. If all the notes have the same length (ie. chord, divisi, double stop), use regular numbers not on keypad—indicating the relative position—to enter notes. For example, if you have a C and want a chord that has C and G in it, to type the G, make sure C is selected, then press 5 (G is a fifth away from C). To get the G below instead, then press Shift + 4 (G is a fourth below C).

If the notes you want have different lengths but coincides sometimes, use multiple voices. Voicing options can be found below the note value selection box.

Example:

There are two cases for multiple notes. If all the notes have the same length (ie. chord, divisi, double stop), use Add -> Intervals and choose the appropriate interval, or Option + {n} where {n} is replaced by the size of the interval you want to enter. For example, if you have a C and want a chord that has C and G in it, to type the G, make sure C is selected, then press Option + 5 (G is a fifth above C). To get the G below instead, use Add -> Intervals -> Fourth Below (G is a fourth below C).

If the notes you want have different lengths but coincide sometimes, use multiple voices. Select Tools -> Voices to show voice options.

Example:

Grace Notes

Click on the note that has grace notes and navigate to your Keypad:

Select the note you want to attach a grace note to. From the Grace Notes palette, double click the kind of grace note you want:

Tied Notes

Select the tie from the keypad.

Press + to tie the selected note to the next.

Slur Lines

Click on the notes you want to slur and press S. If the slur starts with a grace note, click the first grace note, then press S and space to extend over to the next note.

Click on the notes you want to slur and press S.

Text Entry

Tempo

Click on the first rest or note that the tempo is applied to
Go to Text->Styles->Tempo -> Metronome Mark
The text cursor that looks like | will flicker on top of the note you selected
Right click on that, and select the quarter note, dotted quarter, etc. as appropriate
Complete the tempo with “ = 180”; for example:

Go to Add -> Text -> Tempo Marking , or press Alt/Option + Shift + t to insert tempo text
Musescore will choose the appropriate beat for you; you just need to enter an appropriate number on the right side of the =

Titles/Subtitles

You must leave panorama/continuous view in order to enter title text.

Go to Text -> Style -> Title . When typing, you can also use \$title\ etc. placeholders; they will be replaced by whatever you filled in the score information section.

Go to Add -> Text, and use the appropriate text type.

Expression Markings

Select a note/measure, and then press Ctrl + E (Command + E on Mac). If you're entering dynamics, hold Ctrl (or Command) while typing to bold the text.

Select a note/measure, and then press Ctrl + E (Command + E on Mac). If you're entering dynamics, use the Dynamics pallet to get the right formatting and affect playback.

Technique Markings

Select a note, and press Ctrl + T (or Command + T), and start typing.

Lyrics

Select a note, and press Ctrl + L (or Command + L), and start typing. Pressing space will automatically enter the next word/syllable on the next note.

Large Time Signatures in Score

Appearance -> Engraving Rules -> Time signatures -> Time signatures (huge)
Edit Text Style -> Opus Big Time Std
Same place -> Line Spacing -> 100%
Hit Ok
Appearance -> Design & Position (arrow)
Time signature (huge) -> Set Vertical position relative to staff to 0 for both score and parts -> hit OK
Appearance -> System Objects -> Select other systems you want the time signature on (horn, percussion)
Ctrl + A -> Ctrl + Shift + N to fix spacing between time signature and bar line and notes

Not really supported :(. There are some workarounds though; Google them if you really want this.

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Last updated 5 years ago

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