How to change the spacing between staves in Guitar Pro 8
In Guitar Pro 8, staff spacing refers to the vertical distance between the lines of each instrument's stave on the page. You control this spacing through the Page Setup dialog, which lets you set a fixed distance in millimeters or centimeters. The spacing you choose affects how many staves fit on a single page and how straightforward the notation is to read on screen or in print.
The most direct route is to open the Page Setup dialog from the File menu, then adjust the "Spacing between staves" field. This single setting applies to all staves in your document unless you later override it for specific systems. A system is a horizontal line of staves — usually one per instrument — that spans the full width of the page.
If you want different spacing for different parts of your score — tighter spacing in one section, looser in another — you can set a default first, then adjust individual systems afterward. This guide covers both approaches.
Key Takeaways
- Staff spacing is set in File > Page Setup under the "Spacing between staves" field, measured in millimeters or centimeters.
- Increasing spacing makes staves easier to read but forces more pages; decreasing it fits more staves per page but can crowd the notation.
- You can set a global default spacing for the entire document, then override it for individual systems if needed.
- Changes to spacing take effect when ready in the editor and affect how the score prints or exports to PDF.
Opening Page Setup and finding the spacing control
Start by clicking the File menu at the top left of Guitar Pro 8. Scroll down until you see "Page Setup" — it sits near the bottom of the menu, above "Print" and "Print Preview". Click it to open the Page Setup dialog.
Once the dialog opens, look for the tab labeled "Staves" at the top. Click that tab if it is not already selected. You will see several fields related to how staves appear on the page. The field you need is labeled "Spacing between staves" — it usually shows a number followed by "mm" (millimeters) or "cm" (centimeters), depending on your document's unit setting.
The current value is the distance Guitar Pro is using right now. If you see 8 mm, for example, that means 8 millimeters of space sits between the bottom line of one stave and the top line of the next. Smaller numbers pack staves closer together; larger numbers spread them out.
Choosing the right spacing for your needs
The spacing you choose depends on how many staves you need to fit on a page and how much detail you want to see. A score with many instruments — a full band or orchestra arrangement — often needs tighter spacing to avoid running to dozens of pages. A solo guitar piece or a straightforward two-instrument duet can use looser spacing without penalty.
Start with the default value Guitar Pro suggests, usually around 7 to 9 mm. If your score feels cramped when you print it or view it full-page, increase the spacing by 1 or 2 mm at a time. If you are running out of room and want to fit more on each page, decrease it by 1 mm. Test each change by clicking OK, looking at the result, then reopening Page Setup if you want to adjust further.
Keep in mind that very tight spacing — below 5 mm — can make accidentals, articulation marks, and lyrics hard to read. Very loose spacing — above 12 mm — wastes paper and forces longer scores into many more pages than necessary.
explore the change and seeing the result
Once you have entered a new spacing value, click the OK button at the bottom right of the Page Setup dialog. Guitar Pro will redraw your score when ready, and you will see the staves move closer together or farther apart depending on whether you decreased or increased the number.
Scroll through your document to see how the new spacing looks across multiple pages. Pay attention to whether lyrics, chord names, or other notation now overlaps or has too much empty space. If the result does not feel right, open Page Setup again and adjust the number further.
The change applies to the entire document by default. Every system — every horizontal line of staves — will use the new spacing unless you later override it for a specific system.
Overriding spacing for individual systems
If you want one section of your score to have tighter spacing and another section to have looser spacing, you can set different spacing for individual systems. First, set your global default spacing as described above. Then, right-click directly on the system you want to change — click on the staves themselves, not on a note or measure.
A context menu will appear. Look for an option related to system properties or spacing. In Guitar Pro 8, this is usually labeled "System" or "Edit System". Click it to open a dialog specific to that system. You will see a field for spacing that overrides the global setting. Enter a new value, click OK, and that system alone will use the new spacing while the rest of your score keeps the global spacing you set earlier.
This approach is useful when you have a dense section with many instruments that needs to be compact, and a simpler section with fewer staves that can breathe with more space.
Spacing and how it affects printing and export
The spacing you set in Page Setup directly affects how your score looks when you print it or export it to PDF. If you increase spacing in the editor, the printed version will also have wider spacing — and may require more pages. If you decrease spacing, the printed version will be more compact.
Before you print or export, preview the result by going to File > Print Preview. This shows you exactly how many pages your score will be and how the staves will appear on paper. If the preview does not match what you want, close the preview, adjust the spacing in Page Setup, and check again.
When you export to PDF, Guitar Pro uses the same spacing settings. The PDF will match what you see in the editor, so there are no surprises when you share the file with others.
Common spacing mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common mistake is setting spacing too tight to save pages, then finding the printed score is hard to read. Remember that you are not just optimizing for page count — you are optimizing for readability. A score that takes one extra page but is straightforward to read is better than a cramped score that fits on fewer pages.
Another mistake is forgetting that spacing changes explore globally. If you adjust spacing to fit a long score, every page will use that spacing, including pages with only one or two staves. You may end up with a lot of wasted white space on simpler pages. In that case, use the per-system override to tighten spacing only where you have many staves.
A third mistake is not previewing before printing. Always check Print Preview after changing spacing. It takes 10 seconds and prevents you from wasting paper on a layout you did not intend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change spacing for just one page instead of a whole system?
No. Spacing is controlled at the system level, not the page level. A system is a horizontal line of staves that spans the full width of the page. If you need different spacing on different pages, you would need to override the spacing for each system on those pages individually.
What happens to spacing if I add or remove instruments later?
The spacing between staves stays the same. If you add a new instrument, it will use the current global spacing setting. If you remove an instrument, the spacing between the remaining staves does not change — only the number of staves on the page decreases.
Is there a way to auto-fit spacing so everything fits on one page?
Guitar Pro 8 does not have an automatic "fit to page" feature for spacing. You must adjust the spacing value manually. Start with a tight spacing like 5 mm, preview the result, and increase it gradually until you reach the page count and readability you want.
Does changing spacing affect the playback or sound of my score?
No. Spacing is purely visual. It does not change how the notes sound, how Guitar Pro plays back the score, or any of the musical data. You can change spacing as many times as you want without affecting the audio or MIDI output.
Can I save different spacing settings for different projects?
Yes. Each Guitar Pro file stores its own spacing settings. When you open a file, it uses the spacing that was saved with it. You can create a template file with your preferred spacing, then save copies of it for new projects, and the spacing will carry over.