Music notation apps have become increasingly popular among musicians, composers, and music enthusiasts. These apps offer a convenient way to create, edit, and share music scores using a mobile device. They come equipped with a range of features, such as note input, playback, transposition, and automation, to name a few. This article highlights some of the best music notation apps currently available for Android and iOS platforms. The apps have been selected based on their functionality, user interface, and overall performance. Whether you are a professional musician or a beginner, these apps can help you create and explore music in new and exciting ways.
We have compiled a list of 10 Best Music Notation Apps For Android & iOS for your consideration, which have undergone rigorous testing and evaluation by our team of experts.
Table of Contents
10 Best Music Notation Apps For Android & iOS
1. Chords, chords and more chords
The app being discussed is a free version designed to help musicians with their music theory and chord knowledge. The basic premise of the app is to provide information on the different types of chords that exist in music. Chords, in music, are defined as any harmonic set of three or more notes that are heard as if sounding simultaneously. The app provides chords for jazz music or rock music and can be used for all music instruments and singing.
The app is aimed at anyone looking to learn guitar chords or piano chords. Knowledge of music notes and what semitones and tones are is enough to use the app. The app features a user-friendly interface that includes selecting a chord category and the type of chords one wants to study within that category. The notes of the chord and their names are displayed once a type of chord is selected, and the user can listen to the chord by clicking on it. A pop-up keyboard is also provided to check each note of the chord.
There are several chord categories in the app, including Triads & Power Chord, Other chords without 7 = add, sus, 6, 6/9, 7 Chords, 9 Chords, 11 Chords, and 13 Chords. Each category is further divided into subcategories containing several types of chords. For instance, the “7 Chords” category has subcategories like Major triad/major 7, Major triad/minor 7, Sus 4 triad/minor 7, and so on. Each subcategory has several types of chords, with the “Major triad/major 7” subcategory containing chords such as Cmaj7, Cmaj7b5, Cmaj7(add#11), and Cmaj7(ad13).
In conclusion, this app is an excellent tool for anyone interested in music composition, songwriting, music improvisation, or learning about different chord types.
2. NotateMe Now
NotateMe, developed by Neuratron, is a music composition and notation software that includes handwriting recognition and PhotoScore Now printed sheet music capture using the device’s camera. With powerful handwritten music recognition, users can quickly and accurately enter music notation using a finger or stylus on a tablet or smartphone. NotateMe has a simple and intuitive interface, similar to writing with pen and paper, which allows users to focus on their creativity. The software includes PhotoScore Now, a free 1-staff version of the PhotoScore Add-In for full NotateMe.
With NotateMe, users can take photos of printed sheet music with their device’s camera and edit it with the software. The software recognizes 5-line staves and most markings, including chords, flags, beams, rests, accidentals, articulation marks, clefs, key signatures, time signatures, tuplets, slurs, ties, hairpins, and text, including lyrics, dynamics, and instrument names. NotateMe is also great for learning or teaching music notation. Users can email MusicXML and MIDI files of their scores to friends or other musicians and open them in Sibelius, Finale, and other desktop software.
NotateMe Now recognizes a wide range of music notation symbols, including notes with solid, open, and slanted noteheads, flags, beams, leger lines, multiple voices per staff, chords, rests, accidentals, articulation marks, augmentation dots, ties, slurs, hairpins, clef changes, key signatures, barlines, clefs, time signatures, and triplets. NotateMe Now updates the printed score automatically while the user writes. If NotateMe Now doesn’t recognize the user’s style immediately, they can make clearer markings with further strokes, and if any transcription errors occur, they can leave clear space between symbols.
3. Learn sight read music tutor
Solfa is a music education app that teaches users to sight read music in both G and F clef. The app spans 6 octaves and can be applied to any instrument. Music notes are randomly generated and not limited to a repeating set, allowing for greater versatility. Users can switch between clefs for added variety and can set the pace for learning by limiting the octave section. The app includes major and minor scales with sharps and flats. The speed of the app is dependent on how quickly the user can identify the music notes. Additionally, the piano sound can be muted, making it ideal for use on phones or tablets.
Solfa also includes alternate sound options such as guitar, organ, trumpet, vibraphone, and telephone. Users can also choose from alternate musical notations including C D E F G A B, Do Ré Mi Fa Sol La Si, ハ ニ ホ ヘ ト イ ロ, and Ni Pa Vu Ga Di Ke Zo Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni.
It’s worth noting that the app is a limited version with advertisements. Overall, Solfa is a comprehensive music education tool that is great for beginners and experienced musicians alike.
4. Musitude
Musitude is a music system that allows users to read and play music using a computer or phone QWERTY keyboard. The system offers easy-to-read Musitude music notation, with new pieces added daily and thousands of pieces of music available. Users can log in to the system with a single account that works across both the mobile app and website.
The system is designed to make music accessible to the 97% of people who are not musicians, but who want to experience playing an instrument. Traditional sheet music and instruments can be difficult to learn, but Musitude adapts music to skills users already have. If users can read and type on a QWERTY keyboard, they can use Musitude as their musical instrument.
Features of the Musitude system include a news page, music genre selection, search functionality, instrument selection, and Musitude notation that appears on the screen. Users can play the music they see on the screen, listen to the piece, or play along with auto-play. The system also offers support for duets or multi-part pieces, with the app accompanying the user as they play their chosen part. Users can manage their profile, and new features will be added in the future.
Musitude is a London-based music tech startup that aims to make music notation reading and instrument playing available to everyone. The team recognizes that traditional music notation and instruments can be difficult to learn, and they have adapted music to users’ existing skills. The Musitude app is available for free download from the Google Play Store, and users can also visit the Musitude website, Twitter, YouTube channel, or email the team for more information.
5. Music notes training for piano score
The application is designed to aid in the reading of music scores, specifically for instruments such as the piano and staff score. The training program aims to cover a wide range of notes, spanning 3 octaves at once. The center of the piano is represented by the star on the keyboard and score. The program provides training with a note sign on the right hand and a note on the left hand to simulate the experience of playing the piano.
To use the application, users can slide their finger to select the desired key on the keyboard. The keyboard is designed to be narrow to facilitate training across a wide range of notes. After completing the training exercises, users can view their results on the results screens. Correct answers are represented by “o,” incorrect answers by “x,” and answers that exceeded 3 seconds by “â–³.” Users can also view their score by selecting the corresponding keyboard key to identify areas of weakness.
Upon initial use, only C major is available for selection. However, additional modes can be unlocked by acquiring points based on the user’s performance. Points are determined by a combination of clear time and the number of correct answers within 3 seconds. The ultimate goal is to achieve the Rank Master status.
6. Notation Pad
The sheet music creator is an app designed for composers and musicians to record their creative ideas and inspiration anytime and anywhere. It provides a simple way to read, compose, edit, playback scores, and write music notes, lyrics, and chords by touch and move. The app can handle complex symphonies and supports over 100 kinds of musical instruments. It is a great tool for anyone who wants to learn music or learn how to write music with notation, and it can serve as a songbook or scoresheet.
One of the features of the sheet music creator is the ability to export MusicXML, MIDI files, PNG images, and PDF documents. This function allows users to exchange sheet music with other software such as Finale, Sibelius, Encore, and MuseScore. The app can support up to 8 staffs at the same time, and it provides high-quality sound for playback. Furthermore, the app has a great lyric feature and can support multi-voice.
The app supports a wide range of notation, including whole notes, 128th notes, and dotted notes. It also includes chord symbols and treble, alto, and bass clefs. Users can edit lyrics, choose from a variety of beat types, adjust the tempo, and use all standard key signatures. Additionally, the app supports all accidentals, such as sharps, flats, double sharps, double flats, and naturals, and includes tie, slur, and tuplet functions. Finally, the app offers many types of ornament, as well as a wide range of dynamics.
7. Manoké
Manoké Stage is a music learning platform for beginners and enthusiasts who want to improve their music performance across various genres including Classical, Jazz, Pop, and Bollywood. It offers a vast collection of high-quality transcriptions of Indian songs in different regional languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, and Malayalam.
To use the app, users need to install and download it on their device, sign up using their email or Facebook, pick a song from the home page or search for one, and practice until they master the song with their preferred instrument. They can also record and share their performance with friends and family.
Manoké Stage’s features include a growing library of high-quality transcriptions of popular music, the ability to play along with orchestration that users can modify, learning different instruments such as piano, guitar, keyboard, bass, and vocal practices, an in-built karaoke feature, and tracking practice progress.
The app offers tutorials and feedback for self-learners and is designed to make guitar, piano, and keyboard lessons more fun. Users can also use it for traveling and practice their favorite musical instruments on the go. They can learn new chords, tabs, and notes for their favorite music collection.
Manoké Stage is constantly evolving, and more music collections and instruments are added regularly. The app invites feedback from users to improve and add new features to make it a more extensive and better learning platform. Users can stay in touch with Manoké Stage on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
8. Solfa: learn music notes. Solfege.
Learning how to read sheet music and remember note names is an essential skill for anyone interested in playing musical instruments such as the piano, guitar, or singing. Two resources that can assist with this are “Solfa” and “Musical Notes.”
“Solfa” is designed to assist with ear training and provide a basic understanding of solfa. It is suitable for individuals who are just starting and looking for a foundation in music.
“Musical Notes,” on the other hand, is a quiz game that caters to kids and beginners. It assists in sight-reading and can teach users how to read notes of various clef staff, including alto, bass, tenor, and treble. Additionally, it facilitates the learning of tonality and chord names while allowing users to switch between English and German note names.
Both resources can be useful in learning various musical instruments, including singing, piano, guitar, bass guitar, violin, cello, and double bass.
9. Musescore: view and play sheet music
MuseScore offers a platform for playing free music scores for a variety of instruments such as pianos, guitars, harmonicas, and kalimbas. The website hosts a collection of over 1 million free sheet music pieces, including piano notes, guitar tabs, and scores for almost any instrument. Users can browse timeless classics, Christian music, anime music transcriptions, movie soundtracks, and video games. Additionally, scores may be added to favorites, viewed and played offline, and searched for with convenience. The ever-growing number of scores uploaded by MuseScore.com users means that the collection is continuously expanding. Users can also unlock MuseScore PRO member benefits on both the mobile app and MuseScore.com site.
MuseScore boasts one of the largest catalogs of sheet music available online. Scores can be browsed by instrument, and played immediately from the site. The catalog may be filtered to find compositions suitable for solo, band, ensemble, or orchestra. Additionally, the website offers an embedded player that allows users to boost their music reading skills and listen to how scores sound. Scores from popular composers such as Bach, Mozart, Morricone, Zimmer, Joe Hisaishi, and Koji Kondo are also available.
Users have the option to add pieces of sheet music they enjoy to favorites for quick access, and to learn to play them. Additionally, the website offers a songbook feature that allows users to download and keep their favorite scores offline. An integrated sheet music reader allows users to load scores from their device or cloud.
With MuseScore, users can view and play sheet music, set tempo, transpose sheet music, adjust the volume and visibility of each instrument in every score using the Mixer tool, and share their favorite sheet music. Scores can also be exported to PDF, and the website includes a metronome and a loop tool that allows users to loop any part of a song and play note-by-note.
10. Yousician Guitar, Piano & Bass
Yousician is a learning app that offers a fast and fun way to master the Piano, Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, or Singing / Vocals. The app supports both acoustic and electric instruments, and provides thousands of songs for learners to enjoy. Yousician listens to users play and provides instant feedback on accuracy and timing. Its curriculum, developed by expert music teachers, caters to complete beginners as well as professionals. Step-by-step video guides and fun gameplay help users progress and stay motivated.
Yousician is designed for singers, pianists, guitarists, bass & ukulele players, as well as music teachers. The app includes over 1,500 missions, lessons, and exercises with hundreds of videos that cover all the necessary skills. Yousician also teaches music theory and provides special trainers for each skill and chord. The app offers a Weekly Challenge that allows users to compete with friends and millions of other Yousicians worldwide.
Yousician listens to users sing or play the piano, guitar, bass, or ukulele and provides instant feedback on their performance. Its step-by-step tutorials and constant feedback ensure users are playing their instruments correctly. Yousician makes learning fun with rewarding gameplay, lessons, and challenges. The app requires no additional equipment and is played with a real instrument.
Yousician is perfectly suited for self-learning or as a supplement to learning with a teacher. The app is compatible with any piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, or vocals. Yousician offers a premium subscription that provides unlimited and uninterrupted playtime across all platforms. Subscription types include annual plans billed in monthly installments, upfront annual and monthly plans. Prices may vary in different countries.
Yousician has received positive feedback from Guitar World and the New York Times. The app is the largest and fastest-growing music educator in the world. Yousician believes that musicality should be as commonplace as literacy.