Instrument changes

Dorico Pro Help

Product
Dorico Pro
Version
4.3
Language
English
Document type
Webhelp
ft:openMode
fluidtopics

Instruments changes are when a player holding multiple instruments switches from playing one instrument to a different instrument. They are usually indicated in full scores and parts with text indications both after the last note before the change and at the first note after the change.

An instrument change from Oboe to Cor Anglais

Dorico Pro handles instrument changes automatically, including showing the appropriate instrument change labels, when the following criteria are met:

  • You have added a single player holding at least two instruments.

  • You have input notes on at least two instrument staves held by the single player, such as inputting oboe notes on the Oboe staff and cor anglais notes on the Cor Anglais staff.

  • Notes for different instruments held by the same single player do not overlap.

  • Instrument changes are allowed in the layout.

You can see staves for all instruments in galley view, and you can allow/disallow instrument changes in each layout independently.

Instrument change labels use the appropriate prefix for the current instrument name language setting.

Tip

Instrument change labels use the Instrument Change Labels paragraph style, which you can edit in the Paragraph Styles dialog. For example, if you want to show borders on instrument change labels.

Video tutorial about instrument changes (English)