The answers are yes and yes.

You can mute parts using F5 in the PC version, I'm not shure when it comes to a Mac.

Standard Chord Entry allows you options to hold chords or change what you hear.

There are 3 types of breaks:

1. Rests, where the instruments stop playing

2. Shots, where the instruments play a staccato chord then stop playing.

3. Held Chords, where the instruments hold a chord.

Rests are put in by adding a single period after the chord.

Shots are put in by adding 2 periods after the chord

Held Chords are put in by adding 3 periods after the chord.

After typing the periods, you can type the letter names of instruments that shouldn’t rest.

You can use the letters b, d, p, g, and s for Bass, Drums, Piano, Guitar, Strings.

Examples:

C. This is a C chord with all instruments resting (also called an NC - No Chord).

G7sus.b This is a G7sus chord that rests all instruments except the bass.

Ab7..dp This is an Ab7 chord with a shot for all instruments except the drums and piano.

Cm7... This is a Cm7 chord with a held chord for all instruments.

And so forth, read it in the manual...

John Conley
Musica est vita