Adding a time signature

First Steps

Product
Dorico
Version
5.0
Language
English
Document type
Webhelp
ft:openMode
fluidtopics

All new Dorico projects start with no time signature by default. As this piece is in 3/4, it requires a time signature.

You can input notes without a time signature, but you can only add extra bars once you have input a time signature so Dorico knows how long the bars should be. You can change and delete time signatures at any time: Dorico moves barlines and adjusts how notes are notated accordingly.

Procedure

  1. Click the rest on the top staff.
  2. Press Shift-M to open the time signatures popover.
  3. Enter 3/4 into the popover.

    Time signatures popover above the staff with the entry for 3/4

  4. Press Return to close the popover.

Result

A 3/4 time signature is input at the rhythmic position of the selected rest, which is the start of the flow. It is automatically shown to the right of both the initial clefs and key signature. There is now a single bar’s worth of rhythmic space in the flow.

3/4 time signature input at the start of the piece

Tip

You can also add time signatures using the Time Signatures (Meter) panel on the right of the window, which you can show by clicking Panels Panels button in the Notations toolbox, then Time Signatures (Meter) Time Signatures (Meter) button in the Notations toolbox in the Notations toolbox.