An articulation is Articulationsa symbol used to tell the player how a particular note is to be played: an accent, staccato mark, for example. NotePad will automatically center the markings and place them the proper distance from the noteheads; you’ll even hear their effect on the music when you play it back.
The Articulation tool is used for placing these markings. An articulation must be attached to a note (or a rest); you can’t insert one into an empty measure. The marking maintains its position relative to that note, even if you transpose it; in fact, the symbol will automatically flip to the opposite side of the note if the stem changes direction, and even switch to a different symbol if the new stem direction warrants (as when a fermata symbol flips upside-down).
To put one articulation mark in the score
Click the Articulation tool 
. Click on, above, or below the note in question. The Articulation Selection dialog box appears.
Double-click the symbol you want. You may need to use the scroll bar to see all of the articulations.
The marking now appears in the score. NotePad will automatically center the articulation, and choose the correct side of the note for it, depending on the marking. You can adjust its position by dragging its handle.
To move or delete an articulation
Follow the first step only if the marking’s handle isn’t visible.
Click the Articulation tool , and then click the note to which the symbol was attached. Its handle appears.
Drag the handle to move the marking. Select it and press the arrow keys to "nudge" it for fine positioning; select it and press delete to remove it.
Dynamics
In NotePad, dynamics are Articulations; see Articulations. See also Crescendo/Decrescendo.
The rolled-chord marking (a vertical wavy line) uses a special Articulation feature, letting you drag the wavy line to make it as long or as short as you want it to be.
To adjust, move, or delete the rolled chord marking
Click the Articulation tool .
Drag the top handle horizontally to move the entire marking. Drag the bottom handle up or down to shorten or lengthen the marking. For best results, don’t adjust the bottom handle horizontally, or you’ll move the composite "links" of the marking out of alignment.
Click either handle and press delete to remove the marking.
A trill is often notated with two symbols: the tr indication and a wavy extension line (~) that indicates the length of the trill. Both components of a trill are available as Articulations.
To create a trill or trill extension line (wavy line)
Click the Articulation tool . Click on, above, or below the note in question. The Articulation Selection dialog box appears.
Double-click the tr symbol. The marking now appears in the score.
Repeat the steps and select the wavy extension line (~). The marking now appears in the score as a single extension.
Drag the handle on the trill extension to shorten or lengthen the marking.
See Also
Articulation Selection dialog box
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