Keyboard commands

Keyboard shortcuts that don't involve the command key:

'-' (minus sign) If the cursor is the selection arrow this alters the accidental downward on any selected notes (x, #, natural, none, b, bb). If the cursor is a note tool, this changes the accidental on the tool.
'+' or '='Changes accidental upward (bb, b, natural, none, #, x) on selected notes or on a note tool.
Left Arrow Move the insertion point left.
Right Arrow Move the insertion point right.
Left Arrow + Shift Move the insertion point all the way left.
Right Arrow + Shift Move the insertion point all the way right.
Left Arrow + Option (On Windows use CapsLock*) Move the insertion point left and select each item it passes.
Right Arrow + Option (On Windows use CapsLock*) Move the insertion point right and select each item it passes.
Up Arrow (with no notes selected) Activate the next staff up from currently active staff.
Down Arrow (with no notes selected) Activate the next staff down from currently active staff.
Up Arrow (with notes selected) Move selected notes up one staff line or space (tonally transpose up a second).
Down Arrow (with notes selected) Move selected notes down one staff line or space (tonally transpose down a second).

(*On Windows computers the Alt key normally serves as the "Option key" for Ars Nova products, but unfortunately on Windows the Alt key blocks the arrow keys so for these combinations using arrow keys you must use CapsLock instead of Alt).

The numbers below refer to the number keys above the letter keyboard (not the ones on a number pad).
1 Change current note or rest cursor to whole note/rest.
2 Change current note or rest cursor to half note/rest.
3 Change current note or rest cursor to quarter note/rest.
4 Change current note or rest cursor to eighth note/rest.
5 Change current note or rest cursor to sixteenth note/rest.
6 Change current note or rest cursor to thirty-second note/rest.
7 Change current note or rest cursor to sixty-fourth note/rest.
Adding Shift to above numbers Adds a dot.
Pressing Shift while choosing a dotted note/rest popup box Converts the requested dot to a double dot.
Adding Option to above numbers Toggles between notes and rests.
Adding Command to above numbers Chooses the desired note/rest cursor even if cursor is not presently a note or rest.
"/" key (same key that has "?") Chooses the Arrow Cursor.
"<"Lowers keyboard 'piano' range one octave.
">"Raises keyboard 'piano' range one octave.

Keyboard shortcuts that use the command key:

The following shortcuts are invoked by holding down the command key (ctrl key if on a Windows computer) and pressing the indicated letter. Some also require you to hold down the Option key (Alt on Windows) in addition to the command key.

We'll display the letters here as capitals just to make them easier to read - you don't need to hold down the shift key unless specified.

Command-A Select All in the current staff/layer/track. See selecting items for more information.
Command-B Beam or Unbeam selected notes.
Command-C Copy selected notes.
Command-D Toggle the stem direction. Changes both the cursor and any selected notes.
Command-E Hear (think hEar) the music.
Command-F Hear with Active Listening (think Free rhythm).
Command-G MerGe staves.
Command-H No longer used by Songworks (on Mac OSX this hides the application).
Command-I Show information window for selected items.
Command-J Toggle Justify on/off.
Command-K Toggle Keyboard visible/invisible.
Command-L Force Linebreak at selected item.
Command-M Toggle Metronome on/off.
Command-N New music file.
Command-O Open music file.
Command-P Print.
Command-Q Quit.
Command-R Start Recording.
Command-S Save music file.
Command-T Set Tempo.
Command-U Toggle repeat play on/off.
Command-V Paste previously copied or cut items.
Command-W Close frontmost window.
Command-X Cut selected items.
Command-Y Tie or Untie selected notes.
Command-Z Undo. See the Edit menu.
Command-? Show manual table of contents.
Command-; Toggle between Spreader and Shrinker tools (if one of them is the current choice)
Command-( Slur or UnSlur selected notes.
Command-) Tie or UnTie selected notes.

Command-Option-K Set keyboard split.
Command-Option-P Take a Picture.
Command-Option-S Reposition the music.
Command-Option-T AutoTrack. This attempts to make sense of voiceleading if it's mixed up in an imported MIDI file.
Command-Option-U Interpret accidentals.
Command-Option-V Set volume (MIDI attack velocity).

Go to Table of Contents