Editing Staves and Formatting Parts > Editing Staves > Splitting Staves > Splitting a Staff into Melody and Accompaniment

Sometimes it is useful to split the notes in a staff into two staves, one for melody notes and a second staff for accompaniment notes. For example, you might want to do this to prepare a melody vocal staff to which you will add lyrics.

To split a staff into two staves with melody notes and accompaniment notes:

1.	The remaining steps of this procedure will replace the original staff that you are splitting. If you want to preserve a copy of the original staff, then use the Clone Staff command in the Staff menu to make a copy of the staff.

2	If the staff controls are visible, then click depress the Staff Selection button to select a staff. If the staff controls are not visible, you can make them visible by choosing the Show Staff Controls option from the View menu.

3	Choose the Split Melody and Accompaniment command from the Staff menu.

-- OR --

Type "qsplm" for Quick Split Melody.

Musician will present you with the Split Melody and Accompaniment Notes dialog box.

4	In the dialog box, confirm the staff you selected in step #1, or select a staff.

5	Click the OK button to confirm the Split Melody and Accompaniment Notes command.

Musician will replace the original staff with a pair of melody and accompaniment staves, as illustrated below:

splitmelody