Making Selections in Dorico
Introduction
Selecting music efficiently in Dorico is a crucial skill that enables smooth workflow, precise editing, and quick navigation. Unlike other notation software, Dorico offers multiple methods for making selections, depending on what you need to manipulate. This guide will cover the key selection techniques in Dorico.
Simple Selections in Write Mode
- Click on a note, rest, or object to select it.
- Shift-click to extend the selection.
- Click an empty space in the measure to select the bar.
- It’s possilble to make non-contiguous selections in Dorico
Selecting in Note Entry Mode
- While entering notes, selections remain within the active voice.
- Arrow keys navigate the selection while in input mode.
- Press Esc or Return to exit note entry mode and make a regular selection.
Using the System Track to Select
- The System Track (visible above the score) provides a way to select entire bars quickly.
- Click on a section of the System Track to select corresponding bars across all instruments.
- Lyrics and chord symbols are associated with the System Track, rather than individual notes or bars, making them easier to select this way.
- Once all items are selected, select the desired entry type with the right-click dropdown and use any of the various Filter options.
Edit Filters
- Edit > Filter allows you to refine selections for specific elements, such as:
- Notes (by pitch or duration)
- Dynamics
- Articulations
- Lyrics
- Chord Symbols
- Slurs and ties
- Use Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + A to expand selections based on filters.
Selecting Voices
- Dorico allows working with multiple voices in a single instrument staff.
- Edit > Voices provides options to select and manipulate specific voices.
- Filtering voices is useful for copying or transforming only certain musical lines.
Selecting Chord Members
- Dorico makes it possible to select notes in the chord by their position in the voicing, top to bottom, maximum 4 entries.
- This can be done with one chord, or a range of chord entries to extract melodic lines from chord progressions
Selecting with Arrow Keys and Modifiers
- Left/Right Arrows: Move selection focus forward or backward.
- Up/Down Arrows: Navigate between staves in the system.
- Shift + Left/Right: Extend selection.
- Ctrl/Cmd + Click: Select non-contiguous items.
- Tab key to increase or change items selected at that insertion point
- One press selects dynamics and no notes
- Second press selects other notes but not dynamics
Marquee Selection
- Click and drag a box around elements to select them.
- Useful for selecting multiple notes, dynamics, or articulations in a region.
- Works best in Write Mode.
How to Move Selections
1. Drag
- Click and drag a selection to move it.
- Works well for text, dynamics, and non-note objects.
2. Option-Click (Mac) / Alt-Click (Windows)
- Quickly copies and pastes a selection to another location.
- Unlike drag-and-drop, this does not overwrite existing material.
3. Copy/Paste
- Ctrl/Cmd + C: Copy selection.
- Ctrl/Cmd + V: Paste at the current selection point.
- Ctrl/Cmd + X: Cut selection and move it elsewhere.
- Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + V: Paste Special options, such as pasting into a new voice.
Making Selections in Engrave Mode
- Selections in Engrave Mode work differently from Write Mode.
- Click elements like frames, text boxes, or graphic objects.
- Use Shift-click to extend selections.
- Adjust note spacing and staff spacing without altering musical content.
Making Selections in the Key Editor (Piano Roll)
- Click on MIDI notes to select them.
- Shift-click to select multiple MIDI notes.
- Drag to create a Marquee Selection.
- Use velocity and automation lanes to refine playback edits.
Selecting Players and Layouts to Edit Options
- Open Setup Mode to access Players and Layouts.
- Click on a Player to select and modify instrument settings.
- Click on a Layout to change formatting and engraving settings.
Selecting Layouts for Printing
- In Print Mode, use the Layout Selector to choose which scores or parts to print/export.
- Click multiple layouts to batch print/export.
- Ensure correct paper size and scaling settings before printing.
Conclusion
Mastering selection techniques in Dorico will significantly improve your efficiency and flexibility when working on scores. Whether using the System Track, Edit Filters, or quick key commands, these tools will help refine your workflow.