Crescendo/Decrescendo

A crescendo may be notated either as a "hairpin" shape or as the word cresc. or crescendo. The hairpin is created with the Smart Shape tools. A Smart Shape hairpin expands and contracts automatically to fit the layout of music it affects. It also automatically breaks into two segments if it straddles a system line break.

If you want the word cresc., you can use the Text tool.

In all cases, the process for creating crescendo or decrescendo markings is nearly identical.

To create a Smart Shape crescendo or decrescendo marking

1. Click the Smart Shape tool . The Smart Shape palette appears.
2. Click the Crescendo tool or Decrescendo tool .
3. Position the cursor in the measure where you want the marking to begin so that the cursor arrow points to the staff to which you’re attaching it.
4. Double-click; on the second click, hold the button down and drag to the right until the hairpin is the correct length.

To move, reshape, or delete a Smart Shape crescendo

1. If the hairpin is already selected, it displays handles; if so, skip to the last two steps.
2. Click the Smart Shape tool . The Smart Shape palette appears.
3. Click the handle of the shape you want to modify. The shape displays editing handles:

4. Drag the appropriate handle to change the width, angle, or height of the hairpin. If you do any dragging while pressing shift, the mouse will be "constrained" to horizontal or vertical movements.
5. Drag one end of the hairpin to the opposite side to turn a crescendo into a decrescendo and vise versa.
6. Press delete to remove the selected shape.

To create a Text crescendo (such as "cresc." or "decresc.")

You can use any text you want: "crescendo," "diminuendo," and so on. See Text blocks.

User Manual Home