Add key and time signature changes

The Score Editor displays the key signature and time signature for the project, as well as any key or time signature changes you make using the Signature track or Signature List. You can change the key and time signature, and add key and time signature changes in the Score Editor. Key and time signatures are global events that affect all tracks in your project.

In order to select and copy signatures, the Signature track must be visible, and must not be protected.

Key signature changes

Key signature changes (you make in the Score Editor) affect only the display of notes in the Score Editor—they have no effect on MIDI playback. Changing the initial key signature for a project, however, does affect the playback of Apple Loops.

You can add any number of key signature changes to a project. When you add a key signature change, the new key signature changes the key from the insertion point forward, until the next key signature change is reached (if one exists).

You can store up to nine signature alternatives, which are reflected in the Signature track, Signature List, and Signature window.

Key signatures inserted in the Score Editor (or global Signature track or Signature List) affect all instruments on all display levels. This is reflected both visually and in MIDI playback.

The display of key signatures and key signature changes depends on:

The Score project settings in the Clefs & Signatures pane (see Clefs & Signatures settings).
The Key parameter in the Staff Style window (see Staff Style window).

Time signature changes

The time signature determines the number of beats in a bar, so changing the time signature affects how barlines appear in the score. Functions that depend on the chosen time signature and bar positions (such as MIDI metronome click or Transform window functions) are affected if bar positions are used to restrict a function to a certain part of the project.

Add a key signature change in the Score Editor

If the Key Signatures section of the Part box isn’t visible, click the Key Signature button in the Part box.
Drag a key signature from the Part box to the place in the score where you want to add it, or use the Pencil tool.

Change the key signature in Linear view

Click the key signature, then choose a new key signature in the Key Signature dialog.

Change the key signature in Wrapped view and Page view

Control-click the key signature.
If there is no visible key signature (key of C/A minor), Control-click between the clef and the time signature.
Choose Edit Key Signature from the shortcut menu.
Choose a value from the Key pop-up menu.
Click either the Major or Minor button, then click OK.

Add a time signature change in the Score Editor

If the Time Signatures section of the Part box isn’t visible, click the Time Signature button in the Part box.
Do one of the following:
- Drag one of the defined time signatures from the Part box to the place in the score where you want to add it.
- Drag one of the undefined time signature symbols (A/B or A+B/C) to the place in the score where you want to add it, then, in the Time Signature dialog, enter the numbers for the Number of Beats and Note Value in their respective fields.

Change the time signature in Linear view

Click the time signature, then change the time signature in the Time Signature dialog.

Change the time signature in Wrapped view and Page view

Control-click the time signature.
Choose Edit Time Signature from the shortcut menu.
Enter a value for the Number of Beats, choose a value from the Note Value pop-up menu, then click OK.

Detailed information about key and time signatures can be found in Time and key signatures overview.