# Useful shortcuts in MusE

MusE has a number of keyboard shortcuts for various uses, let's go through the ones applicable to each editor. _Note that most shortcuts can be changed in the settings._

## Arranger shortcuts


## Mixer shortcuts

First of, it can happen that focus is stuck in a widget and the keyboard shortcuts seems not working, before giving up try hitting the ESC key. In the case of the mixer this should revert focus to the mixer-window.

Here is a list of keyboard shortcuts:

**CTRL+ALT LEFT**, **CTRL+ALT RIGHT** are used for switching which track is currently selected, a yellow outline will be displayed on the currently selected track.

> _By CTRL+clicking on a track label it is also possible to select several tracks._

While a track is selected use the following shortcuts:

**META+M** will toggle the mute state of selcted track(s)

**META+N** will toggle the solo state of selected track(s)

**ALT+LEFT**, **ALT+RIGHT** will change the panning of selected track(s)

**ALT+UP**, **ALT+DOWN** will change the volume of selected track(s)

## MIDI editor shortcuts

In the midi editors Pianoroll and Drumeditor there are a number of keyboard 
shortcuts that might be hard to understand their usefulness without some 
explanation. 

### Edit toolbar

So, without further ado let's first list the shortcuts commonly available in the 
midi and drum editors.

Edit toolbar shortcuts:

* A - **Pointer tool**   Allows to select and move already existing notes with the mouse
* D - **Draw tool**      Draw new notes by clicking on the canvas or resize existing notes 
* E - **Eraser tool**    Delete notes by clicking on them
* F - **Line draw tool** Can be used to manipulate values in the controller view at 
                     the bottom by drawing lines over several notes to
                     create ramps.
* U - **Cursor tool**    Only available in the drum editor, see the following chapter
                     about drum editing using cursor.

* P - **Pan tool**       Scroll view vertically (not very useful in this day and age, 
                     scrollwheel or mouse pad scrolling is recommended)

Snap shortcuts:

* 1 - Snap grid 1
* 2 - Snap grid 2
* 3 - Snap grid 4
* 4 - Snap grid 8
* 5 - Snap grid 16
* 6 - Snap grid 32
* 7 - Snap grid 64
* , and . - Toggle dotted snap
* T - Toggle triplets

### Drum editing using shortcuts

The drum editor in MusE supports a keyboard based editing mode dubbed CURSOR Mode.
CURSOR Mode is somewhat a relative to trackers but still applied to a common 
drum matrix editor. Basically it enables drum editing without using the mouse.

To get into CURSOR Mode press U or click on the [] tool icon.

In CURSOR Mode the following relevant shortcuts are available:

* Arrow keys - move cursor
* 9          - cursor step down  The number of steps to jump between added notes
* 0          - cursor step up    - "" -
* V          - add note with LV1 velocity (usually lowest)
* B          - add note with LV2 velocity (next lowest)
* N          - add note with LV3 velocity (next higher)
* M          - add note with LV4 velocity (highest)
* DELETE key - remove note

#### Step by step example, making a four by four beat:

1. First create a drum part that is four bars long and open it.
2. U to enter cursor mode
3. 3 to set set snap grid to 4 snaps per bar
4. Press 0 until cursor step is 4
5. Navigate with the arrow keys to the first beat of the kick drum
6. Press N four times to place 4 kick drums each spaced four steps apart
7. Navigate to the third beat of the snare drum
8. Press N four times to place 4 snare drums each spaced four steps apart
9. Navigate to first beat of the hihat
10.Press on 9 until cursor step is 1
11.Press B 16 times to add hihat on all beats

The result should look something like the following:

```
----------1---2---3---4---5---6
Kickdrum: x---x---x---x---
Snare:    --x---x---x---x-
Hihat     xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
```