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| MuseScore Studio | |
|---|---|
 | |
 MuseScore 4.0 in dark mode, showing palettes, and full screen mode | |
| Original author | Werner Schweer |
| Developers | Muse Group MuseScore BVBA[1] |
| Initial release | 2 September 2002; 23 years ago (2 September 2002) |
| Stable release | |
| Written in | C++,Qt,QML[3] |
| Operating system | Windows 7 and later,Linux,macOS 10.10 and later |
| Platform | x86-64 (Windows, Linux and macOS),IA-32 (Windows only) |
| Size | 110–173MB |
| Available in | Fully supported in 17[1] languages[4] |
List of languages Afrikaans, Asturian, Catalan, Chinese (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English (United Kingdom and United States), Faroese, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish | |
| Type | Scorewriter |
| License | MuseScore 0–3:GPL-2.0-only withfont exception and proprietary (online and mobile)[5] MuseScore 4:GPL-3.0 withfont exception and proprietary (online and mobile)[6][7] |
| Website | musescore |
| Repository | github |
MuseScore Studio (branded asMuseScore before 2024)[8] is afree and open-sourcemusic notation program forWindows,macOS, andLinux under theMuse Group, which owns the associated online score-sharing platformMuseScore.com and afreemium mobile score viewer and playback app.
MuseScore was created as afork of theMusE sequencer'scodebase. In 2002, Werner Schweer, one of the MusE developers, decided to remove notation support from MusE and create a stand-alone notation program from the codebase.[9][10]
The MuseScore.org website was created in 2008,[11] and quickly showed a rapidly rising number of MuseScoredownloads. By December 2008, the download rate had reached 15,000 per month.
Version 0.9.5 was released in August 2009. By October 2009, MuseScore was being downloaded more than 1000 times per day. By the fourth quarter of 2010, it was being downloaded 80,000 times per month.[12][13]
At the end of 2013, the project moved fromSourceForge toGitHub. Continuous download statistics have not been publicly available since then. However, a March 2015 press release stated that MuseScore had been downloaded over eight million times;[14] and in December 2016 the project stated that version 2.0.3 had been downloaded 1.9 million times in the nine months since its release.[15]
The MuseScore company uses income from their commercial sheet music-sharing service to support the free notation software's development.[16]
In 2017, the MuseScore company was acquired byUltimate Guitar, which added full-time paid developers to the open source team.[17] In 2021, the MuseScore company, Ultimate Guitar, and other properties (includingAudacity) were put under a new parent company,Muse Group,[18] inLimassol, Cyprus. In 2022, the MuseScore company finished relocating to Muse Group's Cyprus headquarters.[19] In January 2024, the music notation app formerly known as MuseScore was rebranded MuseScore Studio.[8]
MuseScore Studio's main purpose is the creation of high-qualityengraved musical scores in a"What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get" environment.[20] It supports unlimited staves, linked parts and part extraction,tablature,MIDI input and output,percussion notation, cross-staff beaming, automatictransposition, lyrics (multiple verses),fretboard diagrams, and in general everything commonly used insheet music.[21][22] Style options to change the appearance and layout are available,[23] andstyle sheets can be saved and applied to other scores. There are pre-defined templates for many types of ensembles. Functionality can be extended by making use of the many freely available plugins.[21][22][24][25]
MuseScore Studio can also play back scores through the built-in sequencer andSoundFont sample library.[23] Multiple SoundFonts can be loaded into MuseScore Studio's synthesizer. It includes a mixer to mute, solo, or adjust the volume of individual parts, andchorus,reverb and other effects are supported during playback.[26] MIDI output to external devices and software synthesizers is also possible.[27]
MuseScore Studio can import and export to many formats, though some are export-only (visual representations and audio) and some are import-only (native files from some other music notation programs).
MuseScore Studio's native file formats are.mscx, which isXML data containing the score; and.mscz, a zip archive containing the.mscx and other data. The.mscz format is the default format, as it occupies less space and supports additional data, such as images.[28]
MuseScore Studio also can import and export compressed (.mxl) and uncompressed (.xml)MusicXML files, which allows a score to be edited in other music notation programs (includingDorico,Sibelius, andFinale). The latest edition of MuseScore Studio uses MusicXML 4.0.[29] It can also import and exportMIDI (.mid,.midi, and.kar), which is supported by many other programs (such asSynthesia), although since MIDI is not designed for sheet music, some information may be lost.
MuseScore Studio can also import certain other music software's native formats, includingBand-in-a-Box (.mgu and.sgu), Bagpipe Music Writer (.bww),Guitar Pro (.gtp,.gp3,.gp4,.gp5, and.gpx),Capella (must be version 2000 (3.0) or later;.cap and.capx) andOverture formats. It can also importMuseData (.md), which has been superseded byMusicXML.
Audio can be exported toWAV,FLAC,MP3 andOGG files; and graphical representations of scores can be exported toPDF,SVG andPNG formats, as well as printed.[28]
Since May 2014 MuseScore has mobile apps available foriOS,Android andKindle Fire which tie into the MuseScore score-sharing site. The app can play scores, and allows transposition and part extraction, but does not create or edit scores.[24]
MuseScore Studio also runs as aportable application.[30] It can be installed onto a regularhard disk drive or stored on a removable storage device such as aCD,USB flash drive orflash card, so that it can be run on any compatible Windows computer system.
A new notation font,Leland, created by Martin Keary and Simon Smith, was introduced in MuseScore 3.6. Its name is a reference toLeland Smith, the creator ofSCORE, a notation program formerly used by many publishers.[31] The update also introduced a new text font,Edwin, influenced by the classicNew Century Schoolbook typeface.[32]
In Musescore 4.0, support was added forVST3 instrument and effects plugins on Windows and macOS. TheMuse Group also released a free orchestral plugin,MuseSounds, designed to provide more realistic playback.[33][34]
| Version Name | Date Released | Notable features | Screenshot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pre-release | ||||
| MuseScore 0.9 | 0.9.5 | August 2009[35] | First stable version, as well as the first version to supportmacOS.[35] |  |
| 0.9.6 | June 2010[36] | Introduced many new features, includingout-of-the-box support for playback of all instruments based on theGeneral MIDI standard, support formultimeasure rests, initial support for customkey signatures, and the "Save Online" feature connecting to sheet music sharing siteMuseScore.com. | ||
| ||||
| MuseScore 1.0 | February 2011[37][38] | The milestone release focused on delivering a stable package rather than adding new features to the prerelease versions. |  | |
| MuseScore 1.1 | July 2011 | Fixed around 60 bugs and featuring improved jazz sheet support.[39] MuseScore Connect, a feature allowing on-line community interaction and publishing, was also included in this release. | ||
| MuseScore 1.2 | March 2012[40] | This version included over 100 bug fixes, improvedMusicXML import/export support, and improved support for special characters. It also introducedMarc Sabatella's original composition "Reunion" as the new demo score loaded when launching MuseScore. | ||
| MuseScore 1.3 | February 2013 | Small update containing mostly bug fixes.[41] | ||
| ||||
| MuseScore 2.0 | 2.0.0 | March 2015[42] | A large number of new features were introduced, including full support fortablature and guitar chord diagrams, linked part/score editing, an image capture capability, two newSMuFL-compliant music fonts, and MusicXML 3.0 support. |  |
| 2.0.1 | May 2015[43] | Many bug fixes and introducingIsaac Weiss' "Getting Started" tutorial score along with several additional templates. | ||
| 2.0.2 | July 2015[44] | Many bug fixes and new features, including playback of trills and other ornaments. The professional guide "Mastering MuseScore" was published in tandem with this release.[45] | ||
| 2.0.3 | April 2016 | Many bug fixes,[46] and new features including the ability to reorder linked parts, a tool to copy all lyrics to the clipboard, and anAppImage build for all Linux flavors. | ||
| MuseScore 2.1 | May 2017[47] | Numerous new features, including real-time MIDI input, a new "Swap" function, and a tool to rewrite rhythms for clearer notation.[48] | ||
| MuseScore 2.2 | March 2018[49] | Over 200 bug fixes and new features, including MIDI output and a newSoundFont. Three regressions affecting playback were fixed one week later in MuseScore 2.2.1.[50] | ||
| MuseScore 2.3 | June 2018[51] | New extension facility (in addition to the existing system of plugins) and a first extension that customizes MuseScore fordrumline music.[52] Two point updates with bug fixes, 2.3.1 and 2.3.2, were released in July 2018.[53][54] | ||
| ||||
| MuseScore 3.0 | December 2018[55] | Many new features, including an automatic smart layout system to avoid collisions between score elements, a jazz notation font, support for more advanced notations, more style controls, tours to help new users, a timeline reduction view for faster navigation, redesigned mixer andpiano roll editor, and a built-in auto-update facility. |  | |
| MuseScore 3.1 | May 2019 | Many new features, including playback of crescendos and diminuendos on single notes and more customization options for fretboard diagrams.[56] | ||
| MuseScore 3.2 | June 2019 | Many new features.[57] | ||
| MuseScore 3.3 | October 2019 | New palette and note input workflow designs and accessibility improvements.[58] | ||
| MuseScore 3.4 | January 2020 | New telemetry feature and UX improvements.[59] | ||
| MuseScore 3.5 | August 2020 | New chord symbol playback feature, workflow improvements, layout improvements and many more.[60] | ||
| MuseScore 3.6 | January 2021 | New notation and text fonts, and other engraving improvements.[61] | ||
| ||||
| MuseScore 4.0 | December 2022 | An almost complete overhaul with many new features added. Version 4.0 added an included orchestral plugin, VST support, a new engraving system and a new playback system and mixer.[33][34][62][63] |  | |
| MuseScore 4.1 | July 2023 | New engraving options for ornaments, harp pedal diagrams, and guitar capos, as well as other engraving improvements. Significant performance improvements thanks to an improved playback engine, and a live braille module for visually impaired users.[64] | ||
| MuseScore 4.2 | December 2023 | Improved notation for guitar, with a new system for bends and support for alternate string tunings, engraving refinements for ties and arpeggios, a more versatile system for part scores, and the ability to import and export files in theMEI format.[65] | ||
| MuseScore Studio 4.3 | 4.3.0 | May 2024 | "Contains numerous fixes and improvements, including a new sound flags feature that provides advanced control over score playback with MuseSounds."[66] Renamed toMuseScore Studio.[66] | |
| 4.3.1 | "Improves CPU performance when using MuseSounds, and resolves a number of playback bugs associated with repeats".[67] | |||
| MuseScore Studio 4.4 | August 2024 | New Muse Drumline sound library, more flexible system for dynamics, overhauled accidentals layout system, and many more improvements. Version 4.4 was the first to use Qt 6, allowing amongst other things for native Apple Silicon support.[68] | ||
 MuseScore 4.5+ | ||||
| MuseScore Studio 4.5 | March 2025 | New popup and shortcuts for dynamics. A fully accessible, modern 'drum pad' layout, with faster note input, and seamless integration with MuseSounds percussion libraries. Workflow updates intended to feel familiar toFinale users. New engraving features.[69][70] | ||
| MuseScore Studio 4.6 | September 2025 | New features for: hiding empty staves, realtime playback, PVG (piano, voice, guitar) scores, chord symbols (polychord vs.slash chord), loading any SMuFL-compliant fonts, Linux VST3 support, workflow and engraving enhancements around measure numbers, horizontal note spacing, repeat count text over barline, selection filter, text formatting widget.[71][72] | ||
MuseScore Studio is free and open-source software and is written mainly inC++, with thegraphical user interface making use of the cross-platformQt toolkit. Originally founded by Werner Schweer, Nicolas Froment and Thomas Bonte, the project is now headed by Martin Keary (Head of Software) and Vasily Pereverzev (Lead Developer) with a wider community also contributing.[73]Google Summer of Code has sponsored students to help develop MuseScore in 2013, 2014 and 2016 to 2021.[74] MuseScore Studio's development takes place onGitHub.[75]
Contributing code to MuseScore Studio requires that contributors sign an onlineContributor License Agreement.[76]
MuseScore has accumulated generally favorable reviews since its release from critics, scholars, and educators, who praise its relative ease of use and free availability.[77][78]
Online computer magazinePC World gave a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars toMuseScore 1.3. It praised the precise control over the size and spacing of every object, and the abilities to define keyboard shortcuts and drag and drop modifiers, but criticized its mouse methodology as occasionally unintuitive for not fully exploring the potential ofdrag-and-drop menus.[79] Technology news websiteSoftpedia rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling it "well-organized" and "comprehensive". It was lauded for its customizability, the ability to upload user sheet music, and import support for many different file formats.[80]
In its review of the3.3 release,TopTenReviews gave MuseScore 4.5-stars out of 5, praising its ability to create tablature and percussion sheet music alongside traditional notation, its support for hundreds of instruments, and the abilities it gave users to share music and interact with other users online.[81]
ReviewingMuseScore 4.0, British magazineMusic Teacher welcomed the version's improved engraving, new cloud storage, and focus onaccessibility, such as allowing users to export their compositions in braille, an expanded colour scheme, and keyboard navigation. It also noted its support for VSTs, including the application's ownMuseSounds, which the magazine considered a boon to teachers seeking easier ways to export their scores to audio.[82]
MuseScore reported over 7,000 downloads per day in 2016.[15] Many Linux distributions also include MuseScore in their software libraries,[30] such as in theUbuntu Software Center. As of December 2022[update], MuseScore had been downloaded 12.1 million times.[33][83]
Many educational institutions use MuseScore, includingDrew University and theIonian University.[84] The Board of Education of La Seigneurie des Milles-îles in Canada has made it available on 10,000 computers in schools across theMilles-îles region ofQuébec.[85]
In 2011, MuseScore launched aKickstarter campaign to create high-quality, freely available digital score and audio versions of theGoldberg Variations. The process influenced the development of MuseScore 2, with notation improvements needed in order to create a high-quality engraving of the variations.[86] With the fundraising goal met, MuseScore developers, pianistKimiko Ishizaka, and crowd-sourced reviewers collaborated to create anengraved score and also record a new album, both of which were released under aCreative Commons Zero license (without copyright), meaning they can be downloaded and shared freely.[86] In 2012, at the end of the online public review process, the final engraved score was released for free onMuseScore.com,[87] and printed and bound by GRIN in Germany. Kimiko Ishizaka's recording was released for free on BandCamp.[86][88][89]
In 2013, a second successful Kickstarter funded the creation of a new edition ofBach'sWell-Tempered Clavier. Once again, the score underwent public review onMuseScore.com,[90] and was recorded by Kimiko Ishizaka,[91][92] with both score and recordings released into thepublic domain in 2015.[93]
After hearing from a blind musician[94] who contributed to the OpenWTC Kickstarter, MuseScore set up new stretch funding goals to support makingmusic notation more accessible to blind and visually impaired musicians. Though the top goal of automatically converting all scores in theMuseScore.com library tobraille was not funded, they did get funding to create braille sheet music for both theGoldberg Variations and theWell-Tempered Clavier.[94] The digital files (forbraille terminals & printers) are available for free download, like the standard scores.[95]
In 2017, MuseScore and theInternational Music Score Library Project (IMSLP) launched a Kickstarter forOpenScore, an initiative to create MuseScore and MusicXML versions of public domain music from IMSLP's library.[96]
OpenScore wants to digitise and liberate all public domain sheet music, including the great classics of Mozart, Beethoven and Bach. Our community aims to transfer history's most influential pieces from paper into interactive scores which you can listen to, edit and share. Together, we can make sheet music accessible to everyone. For free, for any purpose, for evermore.
— OpenScore,[97]
As of December 2020[update], a number of scores had been completed, includingMozart'sJupiter Symphony,Gluck'sIphigénie en Aulide,Tchaikovsky's1812 Overture,Holst'sThe Planets and around 900 songs in the OpenScore Lieder Corpus.[98]
There are several ongoing OpenScore projects which provide Public Domain scores:
 | |
 Screenshot of Musescore.com | |
| Industry | Music, Entertainment Software |
|---|---|
| Revenue | 1.7M[99] |
| URL | https://musescore.com |
| Advertising | Yes |
| Users | > 225,000 |
TheSave Online feature of the MuseScore application allows users to publish and share their music online throughMuseScore.com. Initially,MuseScore.com allowed free downloads of scores, free uploads of up to 5 scores, and unlimited uploads for paid accounts.[21]
Starting in 2015 withMuseScore 2.0, itsStart Center displays featured scores from the website.[22] This feature is no longer present inMuseScore 4.0.
| This sectionrelies excessively onreferences toprimary sources. Please improve this section by addingsecondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: "MuseScore" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(April 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Starting in June 2019, a number of users who uploadedDisney songs were "copyright struck" by Disney.[100] PublisherHal Leonard was taking down original music, or arrangements of music that was in the public domain, based on song titles.[101] MuseScore.com has since obtained permission to publicly display Disney music on the site, unblocking previously uploaded scores.[102]
In July 2019, following complaints from some copyright holders, MuseScore.com changed its policies so that only paying subscribers could download music sheets. Since MuseScore.com did not have a "trustworthy tool to distinguish songs under copyright from songs available for distribution", this applied to all scores, even those intended for liberal sharing via aCreative Commons license.[103]
In August and September 2019, features were added to allow works to be marked aspublic domain or original, so they could be made available for free download.[104][105]
On 19 February 2020, MuseScore.com announced that everyone could now upload an unlimited number of scores, even without subscribing. Subscribers still have access to special features such as Track setup and downloads.[106] MuseScore.com allows playback of a score in any browser supporting theHTML5 audio tag. A score can also be linked toYouTube so that one may follow the sheet music while watching a video of hearing audio featuring the score.
In September 2021, MuseScore.com launched Official Scores, scores licensed from sheet music publishers, available with an additional subscription.[107]
As of December 2022[update], the website hosts 1.3 million scores and averages 300,000 visitors per day.[33] For the year 2023, they claimed at least 450 million score views, 56 million visitors, and 1.35 million added scores.[108]
This allowed us to identify the most relevant music softwares, and, especially, to come acrossMuseScore, a musical recording and editing software. Its user friendly interface,free downloading option and the fact that it can be accessed in multiple languages –Romanian included – led us to its inclusion within the study.
| Free and open-source | |
|---|---|
| Proprietary | |
| No longer developed | |
