Splits in bars

You can split bars rhythmically by changing the number of beats in each bar. You can split bars visually across systems or frame breaks, which might be required in music with an irregular meter or in passages of polymeter.

Splitting bars by inputting new time signatures

You can split bars into two or more bars by changing the time signature. New time signatures apply until the next existing time signature or the end of the flow, whichever comes first.

If the new time signature does not fit completely into the given space, for example, if you wanted to replace two 4/4 bars (eight quarter notes) with either two 3/4 bars or three 3/4 bars (either six or nine quarter notes), then Dorico Pro does not override your existing time signature. Instead, the final bar is made shorter.

For example, replacing a 4/4 time signature with a 3/4 time signature two bars before an existing time signature creates two 3/4 bars and the equivalent of a 2/4 bar, as shown in this example.

However, in Insert mode, Dorico Pro inserts time at the end of the final bar of the new time signature to make sure the final bar is the correct length. For example, in the same scenario as above but with Insert mode activated, two 4/4 bars become three 3/4 bars, with the extra beat required to fill the third 3/4 bar added at the end of the phrase.

Splitting bars by inputting new barlines

You can also split bars by inputting new barlines that are not normal (single) barlines anywhere within a bar without affecting the time signature.

However, inputting a normal (single) barline anywhere within an existing bar resets the pattern of the time signature from that point onwards.

For example, selecting the third quarter note (crotchet) in a 4/4 bar and inserting a new barline causes a new 4/4 bar to start from the added barline. This leaves the equivalent of a 2/4 bar without a time signature to the left of the barline, but the bars to the right of the added barline are in 4/4 and continue to be in 4/4 until the next time signature or the end of the flow, whichever comes first.

After a normal (single) barline is added, a signpost appears to show how it affects the time signature.

Figure 1. Two 4/4 bars with quarter notes
Figure 2. Adding a normal barline halfway through the first 4/4 bar restarts the time signature from that point.