Played vs. notated note durations

You can show notes in the piano roll editor in Play mode with their played duration or notated duration.

Played duration

When Played Durations in the Play toolbox is selected, note events in the piano roll editor are each shown with two components:

  • A filled, light-colored rectangle showing the played duration of the note.

  • A thin, darker rod showing the notated duration of the note.

For example, notes with staccato articulations are played for less time than their notated duration, whereas notes under slurs are played for longer than their notated duration.

By default in Dorico Elements, notes in the piano roll editor in Play mode are shown with their played duration.

Note

Editing the played duration of notes causes them to appear in a darker color in the piano roll editor to notes whose played duration you have not changed.

Notated duration

You can select Notated Durations in the Play toolbox to see note events as single rectangles, which span the full width that corresponds to the notated duration of the note.

You can change the notated duration of notes in the piano roll editor when Notated Durations is selected.

Example

The following examples all contain the same musical phrase, shown in different ways.

Played duration

Notated duration

Score