Inputting bar rests into specific voices

When inputting music in multiple voices, rests are normally created automatically when there is a gap in the secondary voice. However, if you want secondary voices to begin with explicit bar rests in strict contrapuntal music, you can input a bar rest into those voices.

For music in a single voice, you do not have to input bar rests as they appear in each new bar automatically when you advance the caret. You can also hide/show bar rests in all empty bars in each layout independently.

Procedure

  1. In Write mode, start note input.
  2. Select the appropriate secondary voice by pressing V until the voice direction indicator shows the correct voice.

    Alternatively, if you want to input bar rests into a new voice, press Shift-V until the voice direction indicator shows the correct voice.

  3. Open the bars and barlines popover in any of the following ways:
    • Press Shift-B.

    • In the Notations toolbox, click Popovers Popovers button, then Bars and Barlines Bars and Barlines button.

  4. Enter rest into the popover to add a bar rest.
  5. Press Return to close the popover.
  6. Press Ctrl/Cmd-Right Arrow to advance the caret to the start of the next bar after the bar rest.
  7. Optional: If you want to show bar rests in multiple bars for the selected voice, repeat steps 3 to 6 as many times as required.
    Tip

    If your notation options are set to show bar rests in additional voices, bar rests appear in all subsequent empty bars for the selected voice after you have input one bar rest.

Result

Bar rests are input into the selected voice at the caret position. If the caret position is within a bar that contains notes for the selected voice, these notes are replaced by the bar rest.

Note

Alternatively, you can click Insert Bar Rest in the Insert Bar Rest section of the Bars and Barlines panel to input bar rests during note input.