Microtonal accidentals

Microtonal accidentals indicate pitches beyond the standard accepted chromatic scale in Western tonality, such as a quarter sharp. You can customize microtonal accidentals in Dorico.

The default tonality system can be found in the Key Signatures, Tuning Systems, and Accidentals panel on the right of the window. In Write mode, the default is Equal temperament (12-EDO). When this option is selected, the accidentals available at the bottom of the menu are half-step (semitone) accidentals, such as sharp, flat, double flat, and so on.

You can use microtonal accidentals, such as quarter sharp or quarter flat, when you have selected a tonality system that includes microtonal accidentals in the Tonality Systems section of the Key Signatures, Tuning Systems, and Accidentals panel. For example, Equal temperament (24-EDO).

Note

Even if you do not want to use a conventional key signature, you must create an open or atonal key signature in order to use the microtonal accidentals.

Tip

You can also define your own tonality systems with custom octave divisions, key signatures, and accidentals.