Is there software to "read and write" music notation?

[Fender32]

I really didn't find what I was after thru Google, or thread searching, so here goes ..........

I believe that there is a piece of software (probably several, in fact), which allow you to "plot" music notation onto a blank staff and the software will then "play" it back for you . Not for recording purposes, or anything fancy, just sufficient to get an idea of the rhythm and pitch of a piece of music .

Does anyone here know the name of any such software (or better still, freeware), please?

I did find a very basic TAB version on Activebass.com, but it doesn't allow for ghost notes, odd meters etc. I'm really looking for something that would be able to read and write a fairly complex and detailed score.

Thanks in advance!

[chutsk10]

Guitar Pro is one that comes to mind.

http://www.guitar-pro.com/en/index.php

It is not free to my knowledge.

[TeeMartin]

Guitar Pro sounds like it is exactly what you need, and more.

[manicbassman]

Tuxguitar

http://www.tuxguitar.com.ar/

free, open source and cross platform (runs on windows, Mac OSX and Linux)

reads and writes guitar pro files as well

[ElliotBass]

yeh man, sibelius is what ive used in the past, sounds exactly like exactly what youre lookin for

[lowerclef]

If you want something good and FREE, try Finale Notepad: https://www.finalemusic.com/notepad/

[98dvl]

Power-Tab is Freeware as well:

http://www.power-tab.net/

[Jonny B]

+1 to Guitar Pro (not free) and Power Tab (free).

[El-Bob]

Originally Posted by chutsk10

Guitar Pro is one that comes to mind.

http://www.guitar-pro.com/en/index.php

It is not free to my knowledge.

not free? i didn't notice

[Fender32]

Thanks for all of the suggestions guys !

So far, I've downloaded a trial version of Guitar Pro, but not had time to really get into it yet. I couldn't download the Txguitar software at all (for some reason ), although it was free and I can't afford/justify $600 for Sibelius !

The thing I've noticed about a lot of this software, is that it appears to (remember, I haven't got right into it yet ) require some MIDI input device to create the score.

All that I really want is a mouse/keyboard input system, which will allow me to "draw in" a musical score from a piece of sheet music, or one of my own compositions and hear it played back by a synthesised bass guitar sound.

Does anyone know of anything that's that simple and free, please?

I'll keep trying to do my own (Google) research on this, but my works' PC has soooooooo many restrictions on its' Firewall, that this is not as easy as you might think .

Thanks again for your help .

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Sibelius G7 is a lower, more guitar oriented form of Sibelius which is pretty good once you get the hand of it.

[Fender32]

Originally Posted by 98dvl

Power-Tab is Freeware as well:

http://www.power-tab.net/

Originally Posted by lowerclef

If you want something good and FREE, try Finale Notepad: https://www.finalemusic.com/notepad/

I can't download thess onto my current PC, but can you tell me please, do these applications have built-in "playback" functions, or are they simply used to print out sheet music?

[Fender32]

Originally Posted by Smallmouth_Bass

Sibelius G7 is a lower, more guitar oriented form of Sibelius which is pretty good one you get the hand of it.

Looks good, but it's still nearly $300 (in Europe) .

Thanks for the tip, but I'd prefer somethimg more basic and ... MORE FREE !!!!

[mjwhit]

are you doing tab or notation? If tab, use power tab. Its free. But i dont think you can put in notation.\
I use guitar pro i got a free copy from somewhere but duno were. It can convert tab to notation and vice versa. Plus theres heaps of tabs on the net if you want to learn a song quickly. All these programs should be able to play back the music as well as be able to print them out.

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by Fender32

The thing I've noticed about a lot of this software, is that it appears to (remember, I haven't got right into it yet ) require some MIDI input device to create the score.

None of those programs require a MIDI controller.

[ARCtrooper225]

Tabledit works. It's pretty much a free Guitar pro...I have both and they're pretty much the same.

[Fender32]

Originally Posted by mjwhit

are you doing tab or notation? If tab, use power tab. Its free. But i dont think you can put in notation.\
I use guitar pro i got a free copy from somewhere but duno were. It can convert tab to notation and vice versa. Plus theres heaps of tabs on the net if you want to learn a song quickly. All these programs should be able to play back the music as well as be able to print them out.

Definitely notation, rather than TAB.

The main reason that I want it is to help me familiarise myself with the exact 16th note/rest placements in formally written notation.

My bass teacher has given me some fairly complex passages to learn (from "What is Hip?" by Tower of Power, for instance) and I want to be able to do a "reality check" on my interpretation of the sheet music. If I play it the same way as the software does, then I know that I'm making good progress with my reading skills.

So, in this instance, I'm not actually concerned about learning the songs (hence, no interest in TAB) - I simply want to improve my reading.

[Fender32]

Originally Posted by lemur821

None of those programs require a MIDI controller.

That's good news, thanks!

I should add that I'm asking you guys about all of this stuff, as I am unable to access the Internet from home at the moment and am restricted to doing all of my research from a heavily-protected, download-restricted workstation .

Thanks again for all of your input .