How to Use MuseScore

Step-by-Step Directions for Creating Music on MuseScore

Michael Stum

Do you like listening to music or perhaps even making your own?  MuseScore is an application that allows you to make your own music and listen to it to see how it sounds.  Using MuseScore will help you practice your musical skills, and it is a fun way to spend your time.  Let’s get started!

Step 1

Open MuseScore by going to the terminal and typing in MuseScore.

MuseScore Application Icon

Step 2

Click on create new score.

click on this to create a new score

Step 3

Put the title of the song you want to make, such as Boulevard of Broken Dreams and add the name of the maker of the song you want, or your own name if making your own.

add the title of your song

Step 4

Choose your template such as Treble Clef.

Choose your template

Step 5

Add key signature and tempo (speed) you want the song to be.

Key signature and tempo

Step 6

Add time signature.

Choose your time signature

Step 7

Add whatever instrument(s) you want.

This is where you choose your instrument

Step 8

Look up the song you want, or make your own.

Click on the serch bar at the top of the screen and search your song

Step 9

Click on the Rest (small rectangle in center of bars).

Step 10

Press a number from 3-7 (will mainly use) 3=sixteenth notes, 4=eighth notes, 5=quarter notes, 6=half note, 7=whole note.

this is a sixteenth note rest and a sixteenth note   3

This is an eighth note rest and an eighth note   4

this is a quarter note rest and a quarter note  5

this is a half note rest and a half note   6

this is a whole note rest and a whole note   7

Step 11

Press a letter from A-G and move it up or down til it’s on the line or space you want it.

these are the different notes

Step 12

Add accidentals where you need them (flats are half a step lower and look like a b, sharps are half a step higher and look like #, if you added a key signature and need a regular note like G, you make the note half a step lower or higher, depending on whether the note is flat or sharp and it will add a symbol that looks like an h but has a square where the curve is for an h, and adds another line on the right side but going down from the bottom.

add your accidentals

Step 13

Repeat step 9 until you finish the song.

Step 14

Add dynamics (how loud you want the song at certain points).

add your dynamics

Step 15

Add crescendos (gradually gets louder) and decrescendos (gradually gets quieter) if you want.

add crescendos (top right) and decrescendos (bottom left)

Step 16

Listen to the song and see if it is any good.

press play to listen to the song

Step 17

Make adjustments if it doesn’t sound quite right.

 

Now that you know how MuseScore works, you should give it a try!  Check out https://musescore.org/en

for some examples to help you out!  Have fun!

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