Implicit rests in multiple-voice contexts

In Dorico Pro, implicit rests are shown automatically to fill in rhythmic positions around notes, including when there are multiple voices on the staff. However, in these contexts you might want more control over when and where rests are shown.

Usually, rests or notes are shown for whole bars when voices contain at least one note in the bar. This helps make the rhythmic position of every note in all voices in the bar immediately clear.

When there are multiple voices on a staff, implicit rests are shown in every bar in which there are notes of any duration in more than one voice. However, there might be circumstances in which you do not want to show rests either before the first note in a voice or after the last note in a voice when there are multiple voices on the staff. For example, it can be useful to hide rests when a voice is being used to show passing notes within a bar that otherwise contains a single melodic line.

Figure 1. A second voice used to notate passing notes
Tip

By default, Dorico Pro consolidates rests when multiple voices have rests of the same duration at the same rhythmic position.

You can show multiple rests at individual rhythmic positions by changing the vertical position of rests.

You can also change your project-wide settings for the consolidation of rests in multiple-voice contexts on the Rests page in Notation Options.

You can hide rests before the first note in voices and after the last note in voices individually by activating properties in the Properties panel. You can show rests that you have hidden by deactivating the corresponding property.

Figure 2. A phrase with multiple voices showing implicit rests.
Figure 3. The same phrase without implicit rests.

You can choose when rests are shown in a number of different multiple-voice contexts project-wide on the Rests page in Write > Notation Options.

You can also delete rests from selected passages.