Creating custom beat groupings for meters

If your music requires a different beat grouping for a particular meter than the default setting for that time signature, you can specify your preferred beat grouping within the time signature. You can choose whether or not the time signature shows this custom beat grouping.

1. In Write mode, select an item at the rhythmic position where you want to input a time signature with a custom beam grouping.
2. Press Shift-M to open the time signatures popover.
3. Enter the division you want in square brackets into the popover.

   For example, to divide a 7/8 time signature into 2+3+2, enter [2+3+2]/8 into the popover. To divide a 5/4 time signature into 2+3 rather than 3+2, enter [2+3]/4 into the popover.

4. Input the time signature and close the popover in one of the following ways:

   • To input a time signature on all staves, press Return.

   • To input a time signature on the selected staff only, press Alt-Return.

Result

The time signature specified is input and beam and beat grouping in subsequent bars follows the division you specified.

Tip

You can change the appearance of numerators in individual time signatures so that they show a single number or beat groups independently of your project-wide settings.