Creating and Inserting Rests in the Score Editor

In certain situations, you may want to insert rests manually. These manually inserted rests (also called user rests) can be used if you don’t like the way a particular automatic rest is displayed; for example, to avoid dotted rests, or for the syncopated display of rests, even when Syncopation is turned off. (See Syncopation.)

In rhythmic display terms, user rests behave like notes, with enabled Syncopation and disabled Interpretation parameters. (See Interpretation.) User rest interpretation is affected by the display quantize setting just as notes are. (See Quantize.)

Other properties of user rests are as follows:

Using Multi Bar Rests in the Score Editor

Rests with a duration of several bars can be indicated by these two symbols.

Figure. Modern rest and church rest in the Part box.

These are most suitable for single instrument parts.

Note: In the Full Score view (where multiple regions or staffs are displayed), they are only visible when all staffs contain multi bar rests at the same position.

To insert modern or church rests
Do one of the following:
  • Choose the rest type from the Rests Part box, then click the desired position with the Pencil tool.

  • Drag the rest type (from the Part box) to the appropriate position.

Church rests (the older form of display) default to a length value of two bars.

The default length of normal multi bar rests is Auto (a value of 0 in the Event List). The duration of the rest is automatically calculated with respect to the position of the next note, user rest, or global symbol (repeat signs, double bar lines, and so on).

To change the rest type or duration
  • Double-click the rest symbol in the score with the Pointer tool.

    In the dialog that opens, choose the shape (modern or church) and select or deselect the automatic length function. You can only determine the length (in the Bars field), if Auto Length is unselected.

    Figure. Multiple Bar Rest dialog.

Note: Church rests cannot be longer than nine bars. If this length is exceeded, the modern symbol automatically replaces the church rest.

Multi bar rests cannot be moved with the mouse. You can, however, change their bar position in the Event List or Event Float window. You can also alter the length of the rest (shown in the VAL column) in these windows.

Using Beat Slashes in the Score Editor

Beat slashes can be used in place of automatic rests, or they can be manually inserted. Both single and double slashes (commonly used to indicate a pause) are available in the Part box.

You can freely place slashes on top of the staff.