Aspiring to create your next musical masterpiece? You can achieve this on your Windows computer. There are numerous options available for writing sheet music on Windows. Here, we present a selection of the top free music composition software and web apps, enabling you to begin scoring music today.

Interested in the best app for listening to music? Explore our comparison of Spotify and Apple Music.

Table of Contents

• 1. Noteflight
• 2. Flat.io
• 3. MuseScore
• 4. Sibelius First
• 5. LilyPond
• Frequently Asked Questions

1. Noteflight

Launched in 2007, Noteflight stands as one of the earliest browser-based music notation tools. It features a user-friendly interface that allows you to compose effortlessly using your keyboard and mouse. Noteflight's longevity is a strength – you can draw inspiration from the freely available sheet music crafted by other composers on the platform or access 80,000 scores from Hal Leonard with a premium subscription. However, transcribing music using MIDI instruments is not available in the free version.

Pros

• Access and listen to community-created sheet music
• User-friendly interface

Cons

• Default instruments may not sound optimal
• Free plan limits you to 10 scores

2. Flat.io

Like Noteflight, Flat.io operates through a browser but offers a more modern and polished experience. It also has a robust community, alongside a notably cleaner website design. Remarkably, for a free app, the quality of the instruments is superior to many other free options – they might even be suitable for use in a final product. If you're not fond of subscriptions, you'll be pleased to know that the premium version offers a one-time purchase option.

Pros

• Access and listen to community sheet music
• Available as a mobile app

Cons

• Free plan limits you to 15 scores

Good to know: If you're ever trying to identify a song, these methods could help you crack the case.

3. MuseScore

MuseScore distinguishes itself by offering all features completely free, a rarity among mostly subscription-based software. It provides advanced notation features that rival those of the priciest paid programs, along with input options via MIDI, keyboard, and an on-screen piano keyboard. While the default instruments in MuseScore might not sound the best, you can enhance your experience by downloading new sounds.

Pros

• All features available for free
• Customizable with community-developed plugins

Cons

• Default instruments may not sound optimal

4. Sibelius First

Sibelius First is the free counterpart to the premium Sibelius music composition software. It includes most of the essential features of the paid version but with limitations such as no advanced notation tools and lower quality instruments. The interface might be less intuitive than web-based alternatives. For example, Sibelius's keypad interface is advantageous if you have a keyboard with a physical number pad, but less so without one.

Pros

• Offers advanced customization and composition features
• "Wildcards" feature simplifies text addition with variables

Cons

• Interface might be challenging for some users
• Limited to four instruments per score

5. LilyPond

LilyPond is a unique tool designed for advanced users. Unlike other programs, it's not a graphical music editing tool. You can't simply click and drag notes to see changes in real-time. Instead, you must write a text file using LilyPond's specific code and compile it (similar to a programming language) to produce sheet music. This method presents a steep learning curve, which may or may not be justified based on your needs.

Pros

• Text-based editing enhances efficiency for complex compositions
• Portable, allowing music composition wherever text files can be edited

Cons

• Only produces a PDF, so you can't preview your music

Interested in composing from your mobile device? Check out the best music-making apps for iOS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MIDI?

MIDI, or Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is a protocol that enables electronic instruments (such as keyboards or guitars) to connect with other devices. It allows you to link an instrument to your computer, play notes, and have your computer interpret those notes. When integrated with the music composition software and web apps mentioned here, MIDI makes composing music feel more natural: simply play notes that sound good and see them transcribed on the screen.

How can I learn musical notation?

There are excellent online resources to help you learn to read or write sheet music. Consider these options:

• MangoldProject on YouTube
• musictheory.net
• Music Notation Training
• Music Theory Practice

Can I convert audio into sheet music?

Yes, there is music transcription software that can listen to your music and automatically generate sheet music for you. Some options include:

• ScoreCloud
• AnthemScore
• Transcribe!

Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Brandon Li

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