How to copy, cut, and paste music in Flat
Last updated September 23, 2026
Copy and paste in Flat duplicates part of a score. You can easily duplicate part of your scores by using the copy and paste feature that our web and mobile editor provides: select the music you want, copy or cut it, then paste it where your cursor sits. Copy-Paste also works between scores, tabs or windows from the same web browser.
Where are the copy, cut, and paste tools?
Flat offers the three actions both as buttons in the editor and as the standard keyboard shortcuts. Select the elements that you want to copy by clicking just before the first element desired and drag your mouse to the extent of your selection - see range selection for every way to build one.
| Feature | Toolbar | Icon |
|---|---|---|
| Copy | Document |  |
| Cut | Document |  |
| Paste | Document |  |
How do I copy or cut a selection?
In order to copy the elements selected, you can click on the "Copy" button located in the top menu or press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + C on Windows or Cmd + C for Mac users. Cutting works the same way and removes the music from its original place.
How do I paste the copied music?
To paste the copied elements, select where you want to insert the content then click on the "Paste" button located in the top menu or press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl / Cmd + V. Flat inserts the music at the cursor, so place it before pasting.
How do I copy or cut a selection?
Copying duplicates the music you selected and leaves it in place; cutting removes it from its original position. Either way the music goes to the clipboard and stays there until you paste it, so you can move a phrase from one part or one measure to another.
Select the range, then tap the copy or the cut button in the toolbar under the transport. Flat confirms with a message at the bottom of the screen; cut removes the music from its original place at the same time.
How do I paste the copied music?
Flat inserts the copied music at the cursor position, so where you place the cursor before pasting decides where the music lands. Pasting can be repeated, which is how a repeated figure or an accompaniment pattern is duplicated across a score.
Tap the note where the music should go, then tap the paste button in the same toolbar. Flat inserts at the cursor, so place it before pasting.
Frequently asked questions
Can I copy music from one score into another?
Yes. Copy-Paste also works between scores, tabs or windows from the same web browser, so you can open two scores side by side and move material between them. The clipboard is shared within that browser, not across different browsers or devices.
How do I select the music I want to copy?
Click just before the first element you want and drag your mouse to the end of the passage, or build the block with the keyboard. Range selection covers every method, including adjusting a selection afterwards by dragging its anchors.
Where exactly does pasted music land?
At the cursor. Flat inserts the copied content where you placed the cursor before pasting, so position it in the right measure and the right part first. Pasting into a different instrument works, which is how a line is doubled across parts.
I pasted in the wrong place. Can I undo it?
Yes. Every change is recorded, so undoing a paste restores the previous state immediately, and older states remain reachable through the score's history if you notice the mistake later.