Using different notehead shapes

F3 N (Articulations tab) replaces the selected note’s head shape with one of ten alternatives — a purely visual change, the pitch and duration underneath are unaffected.

The ten shapes

0–9: Normal, X, Diamond, Triangle, Slash, Circle-X, Square, Cross, Inverted triangle, None.

Why you’d reach for one

Each non-normal shape has a real notation convention behind it:

• X — percussion cues (hi-hat, cymbal), or a “dead”/ghost note with no definite pitch.
• Diamond — a natural harmonic; also common for cowbell/open hi-hat in a drum part.
• Circle-X — a pinch (artificial) harmonic.
• Triangle — another percussion-cue variant (e.g. a closed hi-hat or cowbell, depending on the part’s convention).
• Slash — slash notation, e.g. a chord-chart rhythm slot with no specific pitch shown.
• None — a silent placeholder that still occupies its beat, for spacing out a count with nothing visibly notated.

Tips

• Pick 0 (Normal) to change a note back to a standard notehead.
• This is purely notational — playback and pitch are unaffected by the shape you pick.