Keyboard navigation to chord symbols

Dorico
1

Is it possible to navigate to a chord symbol without using the mouse?

In Galley view, objects occasionally collide, making it difficult or impossible to select a chord symbol with the mouse. I half expected the Tab key to work, since it can be used to move between objects attached to the same note or rhythmic position, such as dynamics and articulations.

I know I could switch to Page view, but that seems like a poor workaround if there’s another way to access the chord symbol from the keyboard.

2

Hi @rraby,

  • if objects collide in Galley view, I suggest to increase the minimum staff gaps just for Galley view (to something like 180%):

CleanShot 2026-07-03 at 22.45.13@2x
CleanShot 2026-07-03 at 22.45.13@2x1920×1033 148 KB

  • Then there is a very useful shortcut to cycle the selection of items that are very near to another or even superimposed: Shift+Option(Alt)+click (every click selects another unique item). (Ok this needs the mouse, but can be very helpful in such cases)
  • I tried also this steps:
    select a note (where a chord symbol is present), activate the chord symbols popover (Shift+Q), just press enter to confirm the chord: nothing will change but now the chord symbol is selected, and you can navigate with the arrow keys to the previous or subsequent chord symbol:
    CleanShot 2026-07-03 at 22.52.52
3

Thanks for this comprehensive explanation - much appreciated.

Unfortunately, owing to the bug mentioned in this recent thread about chord symbols placed between the staves of a grand staff, activating Shift Q doesn’t populate the popover with the current chord symbol.

You mention

Shift+Option(Alt)+click

as a way of navigating between items at the same note/rhythmic position. What do you mean by click…? It’s probably obvious, but I can’t figure… sorry.

Increasing the space in Galley view will help, but I have countless instruments in a musical theatre score, many of which are there for playback only and will eventually find their way into one of the Keys parts. It’s already becoming a little unwieldy.

4

With the mouse.

5

I was clicking on the note while holding Shift+Alt, expecting the focus to move to another connected element. I now understand that when objects overlap, clicking on one object while holding Shift+Alt cycles through the other object(s). A very useful shortcut - thank you, @Christian_R (and for your patience, @asherber).