Note symbols like articulations and ornaments are available in the property panel of a note. This property panel appears when a note is selected. 

 

Other symbols are located in the Dynamic, 

Text,

and Symbol menus

 

Whenever possible, click on a note head or rest to place a symbol. This will associate it to the correct time position (for the playback effect) and you will benefit from the automatic positioning mode, so that in most cases, the symbol is correctly positioned with no further need for manual adjustment.

 

Staff symbols (like dynamics, pedal, text expressions,...) can be moved by clicking and dragging the symbol. However, the vertical position is by default computed by the layout engine.

 

Some types of symbols have a checkbox labeled Manual positioning in their property panels.  Checking this box will enable you to freely position the symbol, with no interference of the layout engine. Unchecking it will force the layout engine to determine its position.

 

Moving the mouse will highlight symbols and notes

 

Clicking on a symbol will select it. Clicking on a note to add a symbol will attach it to the note.

 

Using the DEL or ← (backspace) shortcuts will remove the selected symbol.

 

The letter V will select the last dynamic tool used, or the mf symbol.

 

There is a history stack of tools that you select using a mouse click.  The two following shortcuts navigate this stack by reselecting the previously selected tools : 

• H will select the previous tool in the history stack
• J will select the next tool in the history stack

 

This can be helpful when you write a score and need to use a few symbols that have no shortcut defined.  The first time, select the symbol with the mouse and the next time you can navigate with these two shortcuts to select them.