Difference between revisions of "MuseScore"

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MuseScore is a free open-source graphical music-notation editor which is available for all three major operating systems: linux, Apple MacOS, and Microsoft Windows. This is possible due to the use of the cross-platform graphical window interface called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qt_%28framework%29 Qt].
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MuseScore is a free, open-source graphical music-notation editor that is available for all three major operating systems: linux, Apple MacOS, and Microsoft Windows. These are supported by a cross-platform graphical window interface, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qt_%28framework%29 Qt].
  
MuseScore' user interface is an intersection of those found in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibelius_%28software%29 Sibelius] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finale_%28software%29 Finale].  All three notation programs have significant overlap in their user interface conceptualization and organization.  But there are differences in how each of these programs behave, which hinders users' facility in more than one of these programs at a time.
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[[File:exercise4inmusescore.png|250px|thumb|right|Exercise 4 in the MuseScore editor.]]
  
Finale has been around the longest of the three notation editors, and has been dominant in the U.S. where it was originally developed.  Sibelius was originally created for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_Computers Acorn computer] in the U.K., and is now owned by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avid Avid]. MuseScore development started around 2002.
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MuseScore's user interface is an intersection of those found in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibelius_%28software%29 Sibelius] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finale_%28software%29 Finale].  All three notation programs have significant overlap in their user interface conceptualization and organization. Yet  there are differences in how each of these programs behaves, and this can hinders users' facility.
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Finale had been under development (and under a series of management teams) since 1988, with a primary locus of development in Minnesota. Its primary strength was in the capture of real-time MIDI input. Sibelius grew out of an Acorn (UK) computer program (with no graphical display) and had until recent years a stable development environment in Cambridge. MuseScore began to take shape around 2002 in Germany as a collaborative, open-source project. It is now owned by [https://musescore.org/en/node/269605 Ultimate Guitar] but for now free to use. 
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We present below exercises intended to help new users get started and links to specific features in the MuseScore online manual.. A more extensive set of examples with selected feature hints is available in the [https://wiki.ccarh.org/wiki/Musescore_Supplement MuseScore Supplement.
  
 
== Exercises ==
 
== Exercises ==
  
* <b>Exercise 1: Note Entry and Lyrics</b>
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=== Notes and Lyrics ===
::Basic note and lyric entry. You may need to use {{keypress|Ctrl|Up}}/{{keypress|Down}} to transpose the notes by an octave at the start of the note entry.
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* <b>Exercise 2: Octaves, Slurs, Fingerings and Text</b>
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This exercise introduces note entry ([[Media:ex1-mary.pdf|PDF file with step-by-step instructions]]).
::A demonstration of how to add fingerings, slurs as well as dealing more with octave transposition during data entry on the computer keyboard.
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* <b>Exercise 3: Chords</b>
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[[File:ex1-mary-image.svg]]
::A demonstration of how to enter chords.  Chords can also be entered by interval: {{keypress|Shft}} plus a number will add a diatonic interval below the current note in a chord. {{keypress|Alt}} plus a number will add a diatonic interval above the current note in a chord.
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<br>
* <b>Exercise 4: Upper and Lower Voices</b>
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</br>
::A demonstration of how to place multiple voices onto a single staff.
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=== Octaves, Slurs, Fingerings and Text ===
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::A demonstration of how to add fingerings, slurs as well as dealing more with octave transposition during data entry on the computer keyboard ([[Media:ex2-bach.pdf|PDF file with step-by-step instructions]]).
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[[File:ex2-bach-image.svg]]
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=== Chords ===
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::A demonstration of how to enter chords by adding notes above other notes in the chord with the shift key ([[Media:ex3-bach.pdf|PDF file with step-by-step instructions]]).
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[[File:ex3-wtc-image.svg]]
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=== Voices/Layers ===
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::A demonstration of how to place multiple voices onto a single staff ([[Media:ex4-chorale.pdf|PDF file with step-by-step instructions]]).
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[[File:ex4-chorale-image.svg]]
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=== Turn in ===
  
<center>
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[[File:exercise4musicxmlsave.png|250px|thumb|right|Export dialog window.]]
{| cellpadding="3" class="wikitable"
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|- {{Style|table header}}
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Email PDF and MusicXML files for the above exercises. To create a PDF, go to File&rarr;Export and select "PDF File" as the save typeTo create a MusicXML file, go to File&rarr;Export and select "Uncompressed MusicXML File".
! Description
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! Exercise 1
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([[Media:musescore-exercises.pdf|PDF file with instructions for all exercises]])
! Exercise 2
 
! Exercise 3
 
! Exercise 4
 
|-
 
| Instructions: || [[Media:Musescore1.pdf|musescore1.pdf]]          ||  [[Media:Musescore2.pdf|musescore2.pdf]]        || [[Media:Musescore3.pdf|musescore3.pdf]]              ||[[Media:Musescore4.pdf|musescore4.pdf]]
 
|-
 
|PDF file export: || [[Media:Musescore-exercise1.pdf|ex1.pdf]]        ||    [[Media:Musescore-exercise2.pdf|ex2.pdf]]      ||  [[Media:Musescore-exercise3.pdf|ex3.pdf]]          ||[[Media:Musescore-exercise4.pdf|ex4.pdf]]
 
|-
 
| Native MuseScore data file,<br> uncompressed: ||[[Media:Musescore-exercise1.mscx|ex1.mscx]]      ||  [[Media:Musescore-exercise2.mscx|ex2.mscx]]    || [[Media:Musescore-exercise3.mscx|ex3.mscx]]    ||[[Media:Musescore-exercise4.mscx|ex4.mscx]]
 
|-
 
| Native MuseScore data file,<br>  compressed: ||  [[Media:Musescore-exercise1.mscz|ex1.mscz]]    ||  [[Media:Musescore-exercise2.mscz|ex2.mscz]]      || [[Media:Musescore-exercise3.mscz|ex3.mscz]]        ||[[Media:Musescore-exercise4.mscz|ex4.mscz]]
 
|-
 
| MusicXML file export,<br> uncompressed: ||  [[Media:Musescore-exercise1.xml|ex1.xml]]          ||  [[Media:Musescore-exercise2.xml|ex2.xml]]          ||  [[Media:Musescore-exercise3.xml|ex3.xml]]        ||  [[Media:Musescore-exercise4.xml|ex4.xml]] 
 
|-
 
| MusicXML file export,<br> compressed:    ||    [[Media:Musescore-exercise1.mxl|ex1.mxl]]          ||  [[Media:Musescore-exercise2.mxl|ex2.mxl]]        ||  [[Media:Musescore-exercise3.mxl|ex3.mxl]]      ||[[Media:Musescore-exercise4.mxl|ex4.mxl]]
 
|-
 
| Lilypond file export: || [[Media:Musescore-exercise1.ly|ex1.ly]]            ||  [[Media:Musescore-exercise2.ly|ex2.ly]]            || [[Media:Musescore-exercise3.ly|ex3.ly]]              || [[Media:Musescore-exercise4.ly|ex4.ly]]
 
|-
 
| MIDI file export: ||  [[Media:Musescore-exercise1.mid|ex1.mid]]        ||    [[Media:Musescore-exercise2.mid|ex2.mid]]          ||    [[Media:Musescore-exercise3.mid|ex3.mid]]        ||  [[Media:Musescore-exercise4.mid|ex4.mid]]
 
|-
 
| PostScript file export: ||    [[Media:Musescore-exercise1.ps|ex1.ps]]          ||    [[Media:Musescore-exercise2.ps|ex2.ps]]         ||  [[Media:Musescore-exercise3.ps|ex3.ps]]          || [[Media:Musescore-exercise4.ps|ex4.ps]]
 
|-
 
| PNG image file export: || [[Media:Musescore-exercise1.png|ex1.png]]          ||    [[Media:Musescore-exercise2.png|ex2.png]]          ||[[Media:Musescore-exercise3.png|ex3.png]]              || [[Media:Musescore-exercise4.png|ex4.png]]
 
|-
 
| SVG image file export: || [[Media:Musescore-exercise1.svg|ex1.svg]]      || [[Media:Musescore-exercise2.svg|ex2.svg]]      || [[Media:Musescore-exercise3.svg|ex3.svg]]      || [[Media:Musescore-exercise4.svg|ex4.svg]]     
 
|-
 
| HE-AAC audio export || [[Media:Musescore-exercise1.m4a|ex1.m4a]] || [[Media:Musescore-exercise2.m4a|ex2.m4a]] || [[Media:Musescore-exercise3.m4a|ex3.m4a]] || [[Media:Musescore-exercise4.m4a|ex4.m4a]]
 
|}
 
</center>
 
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==
  
* http://www.musescore.org MuseScore program website.
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* http://www.musescore.org MuseScore website.
 
* http://musescore.org/en/download MuseScore download page.
 
* http://musescore.org/en/download MuseScore download page.
* http://sourceforge.net/projects/mscore/files MuseScore source code.
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* https://github.com/musescore/MuseScore MuseScore source code.
 
* http://www.musescore.com Score sharing site for MuseScore files.
 
* http://www.musescore.com Score sharing site for MuseScore files.
 
* http://www.musescore.org/en/handbook MuseScore online documentation:
 
* http://www.musescore.org/en/handbook MuseScore online documentation:
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* [http://www.musescore.org/en/handbook/how-report-bug-or-ask-support How to report bug or ask for support]
 
* [http://www.musescore.org/en/handbook/how-report-bug-or-ask-support How to report bug or ask for support]
 
* [http://www.musescore.org/en/handbook/revert-factory-settings Revert to factory settings]
 
* [http://www.musescore.org/en/handbook/revert-factory-settings Revert to factory settings]
* [http://www.musescore.org/en/handbook/known-incompatibilities Known incompatibilities]
 
 
<b>Appendix</b>
 
<b>Appendix</b>
 
* [http://www.musescore.org/en/handbook/keyboard-shortcuts Keyboard shortcuts]
 
* [http://www.musescore.org/en/handbook/keyboard-shortcuts Keyboard shortcuts]
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</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
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== See also ==
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Also check out the [[MuseScore MIDI Input|next MuseScore lab exercise]] where the MIDI keyboard is used to enter music.
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== Tips ==
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* To use a more conventional music font, go to Format&rarr;Style...&rarr;Score pane and select "Bravura" from the dropdown menu for the Musical symbols font.
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[[File:stylefontmusescore.png|400px|thumb|center|MuseScore 3.3.4 Style format window showing Bravura selected for the music font.]]

Revision as of 20:38, 14 September 2020

MuseScore is a free, open-source graphical music-notation editor that is available for all three major operating systems: linux, Apple MacOS, and Microsoft Windows. These are supported by a cross-platform graphical window interface, Qt.

Exercise 4 in the MuseScore editor.

MuseScore's user interface is an intersection of those found in Sibelius and Finale. All three notation programs have significant overlap in their user interface conceptualization and organization. Yet there are differences in how each of these programs behaves, and this can hinders users' facility.

Finale had been under development (and under a series of management teams) since 1988, with a primary locus of development in Minnesota. Its primary strength was in the capture of real-time MIDI input. Sibelius grew out of an Acorn (UK) computer program (with no graphical display) and had until recent years a stable development environment in Cambridge. MuseScore began to take shape around 2002 in Germany as a collaborative, open-source project. It is now owned by Ultimate Guitar but for now free to use.

We present below exercises intended to help new users get started and links to specific features in the MuseScore online manual.. A more extensive set of examples with selected feature hints is available in the [https://wiki.ccarh.org/wiki/Musescore_Supplement MuseScore Supplement.

Exercises

Notes and Lyrics

This exercise introduces note entry (PDF file with step-by-step instructions).

Ex1-mary-image.svg

Octaves, Slurs, Fingerings and Text

A demonstration of how to add fingerings, slurs as well as dealing more with octave transposition during data entry on the computer keyboard (PDF file with step-by-step instructions).

Ex2-bach-image.svg

Chords

A demonstration of how to enter chords by adding notes above other notes in the chord with the shift key (PDF file with step-by-step instructions).

Ex3-wtc-image.svg


Voices/Layers

A demonstration of how to place multiple voices onto a single staff (PDF file with step-by-step instructions).

Ex4-chorale-image.svg

Turn in

Export dialog window.

Email PDF and MusicXML files for the above exercises. To create a PDF, go to File→Export and select "PDF File" as the save type. To create a MusicXML file, go to File→Export and select "Uncompressed MusicXML File".

(PDF file with instructions for all exercises)

Links

See also

Also check out the next MuseScore lab exercise where the MIDI keyboard is used to enter music.

Tips

  • To use a more conventional music font, go to Format→Style...→Score pane and select "Bravura" from the dropdown menu for the Musical symbols font.
MuseScore 3.3.4 Style format window showing Bravura selected for the music font.