User manual

2. Stem to stem, which does not allow noteheads to overlap. This voice order keeps notes in
different voices separate.
Dorico SE positions notes by default with the noteheads partially overlapping, in order to
minimize the horizontal space they occupy and to maintain the clarity of the rhythm. The order
and position of notes in different voices is also automatically adjusted so that each rhythmic
position uses as little horizontal space as possible, while remaining clear and legible.
You can manually swap the order in which opposing voices are positioned horizontally.
RELATED LINKS
Stem direction on page 921
Slashes in multiple-voice contexts on page 871
Implicit rests in multiple-voice contexts on page 881
Note spacing on page 406
Voice column index
The voice column index is used to determine the positions of notes when multiple columns are
needed, for example, when notes in two voices are a second interval apart and therefore cannot
be placed directly above each other vertically, instead they must partially overlap.
Dorico SE automatically changes the voice column of voices according to the number of active
voices and the pitch of notes. Dorico SE prefers showing voices with the widest pitch range
between them on the left of the rhythmic position and voices with narrower pitch ranges to the
right, as this produces the most balanced result, especially when there are multiple accidentals.
One voice
Two voices vertically
aligned in the same
voice column
Three voices all still
vertically aligned
Four voices with
two voice columns
Five voices with two
voice columns
Swapping the order of voices
Dorico SE automatically positions notes with the noteheads partially overlapping, in order to
minimize the horizontal space they occupy and maintain the clarity of the rhythm. You can
Voices
Note positions in multiple-voice contexts
999
Dorico SE 3.5.12