If you are wondering how to insert music symbols into your Word or Excel document without necessarily adding images to it, then this article has you covered.
We will take you through a step-by-step guide on inserting music text symbols into your documents, for both Microsoft Word and Excel.
Adding Music Text Symbols in Word and Excel
There are several ways to add music symbols to your document. Here are some of the most effective ones.
Method 1: Using the Symbols Window
To add a text symbol to your Word or Excel document;
- Open your intended document and place your cursor at the exact location where you want your symbol to appear.
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Click on the Insert Tab option > Select the Symbol option.
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On the drop-down menu, click on More Symbols to access the symbols that are not available on display.
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A symbols window will appear. Click on the Font drop-down menu.
- Select the MS UI Gothic font.
- Click on the Subset menu> Miscellaneous Symbols.
- Scroll down the symbols displayed. On the symbols window, you will find seven different music symbols.
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Click on the music symbol you want to add to your document> Insert. Alternatively, you can double-click on the symbol to insert it into your document.
- If you want to insert additional symbols, repeat the step above.
- Click on Cancel when you finish inserting all the characters.
Method 2: Keyboard Shortcuts
If you probably find it much easier and convenient to use keyboard shortcuts rather than follow the procedure described above, then here is a cheat sheet for you.
| Shortcut | Symbol |
| Alt+14 (Windows) | ♫ |
| Alt+13 (Windows) | ♪ |
| Option + 2669 (Mac) | ♫ |
| Alt+9833 | ♩ |
| Alt+9835 | ♫ |
| Alt+9836 | ♬ |
| Alt+9837 | ♭ |
| Alt+9838 | ♮ |
| Alt+9839 | ♯ |
Note that the Alt code will only work if you use your numeric keypad to key in the corresponding number. So if you are using a laptop with no numeric keypad, that may hinder you from using these shortcuts.
Remember to hold down the Alt key and release it only after you’ve typed in the code.
Method 3: Copy and Paste
In case you find the first two methods tedious, you might consider copying the symbol and pasting it into your document. This could come from any source, including the internet or other personal files.
No Graphic Images Required
Adding graphic images of small music symbols can make your work look cluttered. By using text symbols, you can get the highest quality of work. Word even allows you to add Chinese phonetic symbols into a document! Do not let anything hold you back as you create your musical files. These methods will work perfectly fine for you.