How to hide non-playing instruments in Flat
Last updated September 23, 2026
Hiding non-playing instruments in Flat removes an instrument's staff from the systems where it has nothing to play. Flat offers two policies - hide after the first system, or hide on all systems - so a score with several instruments saves vertical space and looks tidier without changing a single note.
How do I hide instruments where they are not playing?
Flat controls this from the Layout tab of the left panel, in the Hide non-playing instruments section. Choose a policy there and Flat applies it across the score straight away. Nothing is deleted: the instrument simply stops being drawn on the systems where it rests.
Which hiding policy should I choose?
Here you can decide to hide instruments, either after the first system, or on all systems. Hiding after the first system keeps the full ensemble visible once at the top of the score, which is the usual engraving convention; hiding on all systems is the most compact option.
How does Flat decide what to hide?
Flat is deliberately conservative, so that empty systems stay editable. We designed this feature to make it easy to insert notes on empty systems:
- When a system doesn't hold any notes for any instruments, we will display all the instruments. We will only hide instruments if at least another instrument is holding content.
- Likewise, we will not hide an instrument on a system where it was previously displayed: removing the last note on a system will not cause the instrument to be hidden. You will need to reload the page for it to be hidden.
Despite this, we recommend to only enable this option when you are done writing notes, as it can make it harder if you add notes for instruments on systems where they are hidden.
How do I hide instruments where they are not playing?
Hiding non-playing instruments removes an instrument's staff from the systems where it has nothing to play, which saves vertical space in a score with several instruments. Nothing is deleted: the instrument simply stops being drawn on the systems where it rests.
Open the menu at the top right and tap Layout, then open Hide non-playing instruments and choose a policy. Nothing is deleted: the instrument simply stops being drawn on the systems where it rests.
Which hiding policy should I choose?
Here you can decide to hide instruments, either after the first system, or on all systems. Hiding after the first system keeps the full ensemble visible once at the top of the score, which is the usual engraving convention; hiding on all systems is the most compact option.
How does Flat decide what to hide?
Flat is deliberately conservative, so that empty systems stay editable. We designed this feature to make it easy to insert notes on empty systems:
- When a system doesn't hold any notes for any instruments, we will display all the instruments. We will only hide instruments if at least another instrument is holding content.
- Likewise, we will not hide an instrument on a system where it was previously displayed: removing the last note on a system will not cause the instrument to be hidden. You will need to reload the page for it to be hidden.
Despite this, we recommend to only enable this option when you are done writing notes, as it can make it harder if you add notes for instruments on systems where they are hidden.
Frequently asked questions
Does hiding an instrument delete its music?
No. The setting only changes how the score is drawn: the instrument keeps its part, its notes, and its playback, and it reappears on any system where it plays. Turn the option off and every staff is shown again exactly as before.
Why is an instrument still showing after I deleted its last note?
Because Flat will not hide an instrument on a system where it was previously displayed. Removing the last note on a system does not cause the instrument to be hidden straight away - you will need to reload the page for it to be hidden.
Why are all my instruments still visible on an empty system?
When a system doesn't hold any notes for any instruments, Flat displays all of them. Instruments are only hidden when at least one other instrument on that system is holding content, so a completely empty system always shows the full ensemble.
When is the best moment to enable this?
At the end, once the notes are written. Adding music to an instrument on a system where it is hidden is harder, so we recommend enabling the option when you are done writing and are preparing the score for reading or printing.