Brazilian Percussion Bateria MuseScore template

This repository contains a fully useable template for creating, listening and sharing Brazilian percussion arrangement for a variety of styles (Rio, Bahia) in MuseScore.

• Fully useable template, start creating arrangements immediately after installing
• Most common samba instruments readily available with full audio support; listen to your arrangement as you create it!
• Supports a variety of styles: samba, bloco afro, baiao, samba-reggae

Most instruments use a custom SoundFont, which I've carefully composed for this project using various sample sources. Some instruments use the default sounds available in MuseScore4.

See (and hear) this template in action!

ℹ️ This template requires MuseScore version 4.5 or higher

How to use

⚠️ There seems to be a bug when using this template: after creating a new project, the program will crash when you first start editing the score. ⚠️

Until the fix is found the workaround is to simply restart MuseScore and the program will restore your previous session, after which you can continue arranging without any further crashes (don't forget to save your score as well!).

1. Go to the latest release and download the Source code (zip) or Source code (tar.gz) file of the latest version:

   

2. Copy the contents of the folders Soundfonts, Styles en Templates to your corresponding local MuseScore folders. These folders can be usually be found in your user Documents folder, e.g. /Documents/MuseScore4 or /Documents/MuseScore/MuseScore4

   If you cannot find your local MuseScore user folder, open MuseScore's preferences menu via Edit --> Preferences and navigate to the Folders tab:

3. In the dialog menu when creating a new score in MuseScore, choose the tab Create from Template, select category My templates and select the Brazilian Percussion Bateria template.

   

4. Cick Next if you want to modify some additional settings like number of measures, lead in bar, tempo, title, etc. Or simply click Done if you want to start immediately.

5. Remove any instruments you don't need

6. Start arranging!

Tips

• All instrument notes can be input using the keyboard letters a, b, c, d, etc.

• For a rough approximation of samba swing, add a Swing palette with 16th note swing, around 54% works best for me, your mileage may vary:

  • To edit the swing properties right click the Swing palette in the score and choose Edit system text

    

• A single instrument that combines both surdo's 1+2 is available, as well as seperate surdo 1 and surdo 2 instruments. Which you want to use is up to you. For less complex arrangements I personally like to combine surdo's 1 and 2 to make the arrangement more compact.

• You can publish your arrangement to the MuseScore cloud and share it with your band members, they can even listen to the arrangement if you export it with audio!

Suggestions/feedback

On the issues board you can see what I'm planning to implement. Feel free to suggest new features using the issue board.

Or, if you prefer, you can send any suggestions and/or feedback to @jaspercodes.bsky.social.

About me

See my scores using this template on MuseScore.

I've been playing samba for 20 years in different groups in the Netherlands, in which I play most instruments and do musical direction as well.

Currently I'm a member in two dutch percussion groups: Outra Vez! and Gamberro. Aside from that I play in some project specific groups as well from time to time.

I can be found playing (and enjoying cocktails) at the Coburg samba festival in Europe most years.

Note legend

ℹ️ For a print friendly version use the pdf version of the note legend.