Creating custom percussion kits

You can create custom percussion kits and save them as default to make them available in multiple projects; for example, if you regularly write music for a concert band with a consistent percussion section.

Procedure

  1. Choose Library > Instruments to open the Edit Instruments dialog.
  2. In the instruments list, select the percussion kit that you want to duplicate as the basis for your new percussion kit.
    Tip

    Percussion kits have the Edit Percussion Kit button available in the Instrument section.

  3. In the action bar, click New Instrument from Selection .
  4. In the Instrument section, enter an instrument picker name for the percussion kit in the Name in instrument picker field.
  5. Optional: To change the instrument families to which the new percussion kit belongs, click Edit , then activate/deactivate instrument family checkboxes.
  6. Click Edit Percussion Kit to open the Edit Percussion Kit dialog.
  7. Enter names for the percussion kit in the following fields:

    • Name

    • Short name

  8. Edit the percussion kit using the available options.

    For example, you can:

    • Add/Remove instruments and change their order.

    • Change the stem direction and voice of instruments.

    • Add groups and gaps to the grid presentation type.

  9. Click OK to save your changes and close the Edit Percussion Kit dialog.
  10. In the Staff Labels section, click Edit Instrument Names to open the Edit Instrument Names dialog.
  11. Enter new names in any of the name fields.
  12. Choose one of the following options for Show transposition:

    • Always

    • Follow Layout Options

    • Never

  13. Click OK to save your changes and close the Edit Instrument Names dialog.
  14. In the Staves and Clefs section, change the value for Number of staff lines.

    For example, if you want to show only a single staff line when the percussion kit uses the five-line staff presentation type.

  15. Optional: To make the percussion kit available in all future projects, click Save as Default in the instruments list action bar.
  16. Click OK to save your changes and close the Edit Instruments dialog.

Result

The new percussion kit is created in the current project.

If you clicked Save as Default so that it appears as , the percussion kit is available in all future projects on your computer.