MuseScore 3.0 beta released

Last week, MuseScore announced the beta release of MuseScore 3.0. This new version of MuseScore is a separate application from MuseScore 2.x and will be the first major release of MuseScore since it was acquired by Ultimate Guitar earlier in 2018. It has been nearly four years since MuseScore 2.0 was released, and there have been several updates since then: MuseScore 2.1 in May 2017; 2.2 in April 2018, and 2.3 in July 2018.

The announcement of the MuseScore 3.0 beta release is at the MuseScore forum, where you can also find download links and other information.

There are many new features and improvements in MuseScore 3.0:

Improved score layout

• Automatic placement, layout, and spacing
• Generate parts from individual voices so you can combine instruments on a single staff
• Manual overrides, above/below placement settings, temporary and cutaway staves, mid-score staff type changes, and more

New notation features

• Handwritten font for music notation
• Noteheads with pitch names
• Automatic system dividers
• New articulations, expression text, clefs, accidentals, augmentation dots, capo changes, and more

Improved usability features

• Tours to provide help as needed
• Timeline and single page view for easier score navigation
• Score comparison tool to identify differences between versions
• Timewise insert and delete to provide more editing freedom
• Search facility to help you find palette elements
• Improved Style and Inspector tools for control over appearance and behavior of score elements

Improved playback controls

• Improved Mixer for easier control of instrument sounds
• Improved Piano Roll for fine control of individual notes
• Improved Play Panel for faster access to playback controls

New autoupdate facility for Windows and MacOS

• A brand new autoupdate engine has been developed and included in MuseScore 3 Beta. Keeping up to date with new releases no longer requires you to manually go find and download them.

When MuseScore 3.0 is out of beta and officially released, we will have a more thorough review on Scoring Notes.