Note positions in multiple-voice contexts

Notes are usually placed directly above each other and at the same horizontal position, so that it is immediately clear which notes are played together. However, the horizontal alignment of notes can be different in multiple-voice contexts.

When there are three or more voices in a single staff, some notes must be positioned slightly to one side in a different voice column to ensure the division of notes across the voices is clear.

Interlocking notes in different voices can be positioned in two ways:

  1. Notehead to notehead, which allows noteheads to overlap partially. This voice order often takes up less horizontal space than positioning notes stem to stem, as notes can overlap.

  2. Stem to stem, which does not allow noteheads to overlap. This voice order keeps notes in different voices separate.

You can choose how interlocking notes in different voices are positioned project-wide on the Voices page in Write > Notation Options.

Dorico Pro positions notes by default with the noteheads partially overlapping, in order to minimize the horizontal space they occupy and to maintain the clarity of the rhythm.

The order and position of notes in different voices is also automatically adjusted so that each rhythmic position uses as little horizontal space as possible, while remaining clear and legible. The voice column for some voices automatically changes as more voices are added, as Dorico Pro prefers showing voices with the widest pitch range between them on the left of the rhythmic position and voices with narrower pitch ranges to the right, as this produces the most balanced result, especially when there are multiple accidentals.

Figure: One voice

Figure: Two voices vertically aligned

Figure: Three voices all still vertically aligned

Figure: Four voices with two voice columns

Figure: Five voices with two voice columns