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The Big Free Music Related Software Thread

Anvil Studio

www.anvilstudio.com

It's a MIDI music editor with an extremely easy user interface, even kids can use it. It doesn't sound fantastic but it's great for mapping out songs. The drums though, are pretty awesome and I've used them to make drum tracks for songs before I brought them to the band. The bass doesn't sound half bad either.

The best feature is it has a piano roll, staff, and tab layout. I can write it out on sheet music but the piano roll is easier and you can cut/paste and then you can print out the sheet music/tablature.
 

When you check out the Anvil website, they have a Music Tools Pack you can purchase for $19 that includes:
Chord Recognition
Timing Drill
Timing Dictation
Interval Ear Training
Chord Ear Training
Voice Training
Scales Exercise

Some of TB's bass players that will be attending music school may want to check them out. Probably good for everyone else as well. :)
 
Very well done program. Cool ear training exercises.

Program can compare different types of scales/chords (user selectable) where you must select the chord/scale type and test your ear to find out if you can hear the difference. Lots of good stuff here.

Guitar and Bass Software - Features All the exercises are customizable, allowing you to select which notes, scales, chords, and intervals to work on.

Theory Exercises: These exercises are designed to practice the basic theory, but always focusing on a practical approach.

Keys Exercise 1: You are given a list of chords, and you must answer to which keys these chords belong.

Scale Exercise 1: You are asked to list the notes that belong to a given scale (for example C Major). Enharmonic notes are considered the same (focusing on a more practical approach).

Scale Exercise 2: You are given the notes that form a scale, and you must answer which scale it is.

Intervals: You are asked to select the correct interval of a note.

Interval example: Which is the Perfect fifth of G, in which case you should select D from the list. You can select if you want to work with ascending or descending intervals (or both).

Fretboard exercises: Use these to learn the notes on the fretboard.

Exercise 1: In this exercise, you are asked to locate a note on the fretboard.

Exercise 2: A fret is highlighted on the fretboard, and you must answer which note it is.

Ear training exercises: Use this to train your ear. Again, always focusing on a practical approach.

Intervals: Two notes are played, and you must answer the interval between them. Only ascending intervals targeted in this exercise.

Chords recognition: A chord is played, and you must answer what type of chord it is (Major, minor, etc).

Scales: A scale is played in one octave. You must answer which scale it is. This exercise is designed for people interested in learning scale modes.

Keys: A key is selected, and chords of this key are played. You must answer which chord is played. You can always play the tonic of the key, to help you locate the chord inside the key.

Absolute pitch: Use these exercises to help you memorize the pitch of certain notes.

Fretboard notes: A note is played on the fretboard, and you must click on the fret that was played. This exercise is useful to learn the pitch of the open strings.
 
Free Fretboard learning downloadable software:

Link Removed

For 4 string bass fret board, uncheck the string selection boxes on the left.

Seems to work pretty well.

Note: also for guitar (fret boardchords and scales).
 
MuseScore

richardgk mentioned this in June of 2010.

Free music notation software: MuseScore | Free music composition & notation software

Here is an update.

Handbook is 67 pages, a 1.92 meg PDF file
This handbook is for MuseScore version 0.9.2 and above.

They are developing MuseScore 2.0 that will have

New features for MuseScore 2.0

Tablature creation for Bass, Guitar and Lute
Staff type properties
Foto-Mode allows to create image snippets out of MuseScore scores.
 
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Some cool stuff here. Must plug in. And here's my contribution if someone hasn't already posted it (haven't checked everything here yet). Great free keyboard samples from ikmultimedia [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] . I believe they have other free downloads also if you search their site.
 
It may be good, it isn't free, though...

Hard to say if it was in 2006, when the original post was made. At any rate, thanks for letting us know that it is now unfree (at $9.95, according to the website). They do still have a free reader. If you have their Notepad or higher to create files, you can send them to others who just use the reader. In addition to viewing the files, the site says the reader can also print and play them.

Marcus