Easy Music Notation Software For Mac

Below is a list of the best free and paid music notation software with support for guitar tablature.

Unlike other scoring software, Notion can handle all of the most important modern video file formats, including mp4, WMV (Windows only), H.264, mpeg, mov, avi, m4v, and 3gp on Mac and Windows. And Notion is the only major scoring program that handles video natively on 64-bit Windows. Finale is the world-wide industry standard in music notation software. Anywhere music appears on the printed page, Finale likely created those pages. Finale helps the choir to sing, the band to march, the students to learn, and the orchestra to raise the excitement level in the latest blockbuster movie.

I wanted to find some free software to easily create guitar tab snippets to post on this website alongside tutorials.

A lot times I’ll come across a cool lick or riff mentioned in a video or lesson online that I want to write down for easy reference instead of having to fast-forward and rewind back to where the notes are shown or mentioned over and over again.

Having music notation software that supports guitar tablature is good tool to have to help learn new guitar parts, patterns and shapes really fast.

Sometimes when you learn a new riff it pushes an old one out of your brain. A quick look at the tablature can bring the notes combinations all back again.

So without further ado, here’s the list of music notation software with tablature support for stringed instruments like guitars and bass. This list is in no particular order other than free options are listed first.

Music Notation Software

MuseScore – MuseScore is free open source music notation software with a solid amount of features. MuseScore can import and export MIDI and MusicXML files and export to PDF, image formats, WAV and other audio formats. There’s also a MuseScore Player for iOS and Android devices. MuseScore works with Windows, Mac, Debian/Ubuntu, and Linux.

LilyPond – LilyPond is free music writing software with special emphasis on creating beautiful sheet music following the best traditions of classical music engraving. LilyPond supports tablature notation and long list of features, and works with Windows, Mac and Linux.

Power Tab Editor – Designed for Windows, Power Tab Editor is a free tablature creating tool designed specifically for making guitar sheet music. The software includes chord names, chord diagrams, rhythm slashes, bends, slides, hammer-ons/pull-offs, harmonics and palm muting. It can import MIDI tracks and can export to ASCII Text, HTML and MIDI files. It hasn’t been updated in forever but it still works well once you get used to it.

TuxGuitar (Beta) – TuxGuitar is a guitar tablature editor written in Java-SWT. The software is free and supports GuitarPro, PowerTab and TablEdit files, and is listed as working with Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Guitar Pro 6 – One of the most popular commercial options for guitar tablature editing is Guitar Pro, which has a ton of features and includes extra goodies like importing and exporting MIDI files and playing sound libraries like drums and guitars. It sells for around $40-$60 depending on the version.

MusicEase Software – MusicEase has been developing music notation software for over 25 years, with special attention paid to creating a good user-friendly interface. The full version of their software can be downloaded and used for free; the only limitation is printouts are watermarked. To upgrade the standard version costs $80 and the Professional version is $250. The software works with both Windows and Mac computers.

Finale NotePad – NotePad is the entry-level free version of Finale’s music writing software. It works with Windows and Mac computers. But it requires setting up an account to download so I won’t be trying this one anytime soon…

TablEdit – TablEdit is designed for creating, editing, printing and listening to tablature and sheet music for guitar and other instruments. TablEdit runs on Windows and Macintosh, and Lite versions are available for iPad and Windows Mobile. The demo version is limited; the full version of the software costs $60.

Sibelius First – Avid’s Sibelius First is the big fish in the pond. Apparently it’s the world鈥檚 best-selling music notation software, according to their own claims. It costs around $120 and works with Windows and Mac computers.

Ableton Live 10.1.3
Ableton Live lets you easily create, produce and perform music withinone intuitive interface. Live keeps everything in sync and works inreal-time, so you can play and modify your musical ideas withoutinterrupting the creative flow.
Live comes with a versatile collection of instruments, sounds, kits andloops for creating any kind of music and provides a full complement ofeffects to tweak and process your sound.
  • License: Demo, Intro $99, Standard $449, Suite $749
  • Developer/Publisher: Ableton
  • Modification Date: October 8, 2019
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11.6 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 1.9 GB

Absynth 5.2.0
Semi-modular synthesizer offering a vast range of sonic possibilities.Perfect for pads, endlessly evolving soundscapes, otherworldly sounds,and more.
Absynth is a synthesizer with exceptional sonic potential. Its specialtyis unusual, evolving sounds created using a powerful, hybrid synthesisarchitecture and sophisticated modulation and effects. Dig in to morethan 2,100 presets or start building your very own sound worlds.
  • License: Demo, $149
  • Developer/Publisher: Native Instruments
  • Modification Date: October 10, 2013
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 or higher - 64-bit
Notation

Download File Size: 1.31 GB

Amazing Slow Downer 4.0.7
Change the speed of the music - from 20% (one fifth speed) to 200%(double speed) without changing the pitch.
Wrong key? Change the pitch in semi-tones - at full or changed speed.
Out of tune? Adjust the pitch in cents (100ths of a semi-tone) to suityour instrument.
Real-time processing - all described above is done in real-time - justinsert the CD and press the play button!
Also slows down MP3, AIFF, AAC/MP4 and wave files on your computer inreal-time.
  • License: Shareware, $50
  • Developer/Publisher: Roni Music
  • Modification Date: March 17, 2019
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 3.1 MB

AudioFinder 5.9.27
AudioFinder is the OS X standard in audio asset management systems, andmusic production hub
AudioFinder can build a catalog of every sound on your system, save it,and search it instantly to find the sounds you need when you need them.Use AudioFinder to create custom sets for sound categories and specificprojects, with fast file browsing to audition, analyze, process,convert, and move or copy the samples in your library. AudioFinderfeatures the ability to add Metadata to your library of sounds, makingit simple and easy to find the sounds you're looking for when you needit. AudioFinder can visualize sounds instantly with the waveformoverview and preview them at any pitch via MIDI or the built inkeyboard, all in real-time. Sounds can even be previewed through yourfavorite AudioUnits. Speaking of Plug-Ins, AudioFinder features anadvanced Plug-In manager and slew of other studio necessities that willmake your workflow flow. Necessities like audio editing with built-inbeat detection and tools for fast trimming, fading, slicing and dicingyour sounds. You can even convert your audio sample CDs into individualfiles with just a few clicks of the mouse.
  • License: Shareware, $70
  • Developer/Publisher: Iced Audio
  • Modification Date: June 22, 2019
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.8 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 25.8 MB

Battery 4.1.5
Battery is the cutting-edge drum sampler - the worldwide studio choice for creative beat production.
  • License: Demo, $199
  • Developer/Publisher: Native Instruments
  • Modification Date: April 24, 2015
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 247.4 MB

Capo 3.8
Capo uses a blend of advanced signal processing and machine learning tohelp you learn songs by ear. Its powerful, simple-to-use tools allow youto dig deep into the details of a recording so you can learn to playsongs more accurately, and in less time.
  • License: Demo, $50/year
  • Developer/Publisher: SuperMegaUltraGroovy
  • Modification Date: October 19, 2019
  • Requirements: macOS 10.12 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 26.6 MB

Download File Size: 78.8 MB

Crystal 2.5.6
Crystal is a semi-modular software synthesizer featuring bothsubtractive synthesis and frequency modulation (FM) synthesis. It offersabundant modulation control with over 90 parameters which may bemodulated, multi-stage envelopes with graphical editors, extensive temposync of envelopes/lforates/delay times, built-in effects forchorus/flanging/comb filtering/echoes, and a band splitter for effectsprocessing by frequency band. Not only that, Crystal has wavesequencing, granular synthesis, program morphing, MIDI learn, andimports soundfonts. The musical applications for Crystal are literallyboundless.
Crystal is a plugin, which means it runs within a host, such as Cubase,Logic, etc.
  • License: Freeware
  • Developer/Publisher: Green Oak
  • Modification Date: August 22, 2016
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 27.4 MB

Cubase 10.0.40
Our most complete DAW ever. Period. With millions of musicians,producers and sound engineers around the world using Cubase every day,Cubase is one of the most popular digital audio workstations of ourtime. Due to its pristine sound quality, intuitive handling andunrivaled range of advanced tools, Cubase is not only considered by manyusers as the most complete DAW on the market today, but also sets thebenchmark for contemporary music production software.
  • License: Demo, Elememts $100 - Artist $330 - Pro $580
  • Developer/Publisher: Steinberg
  • Modification Date: August 22, 2019
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 to macOS 10.13 - 64-bit

Download File Size: 113.6 MB installer

Digital Performer 10.01
Spark your creativity, then refine your mix — all in a singularworkflow. Digital Performer 9 delivers inspirational features devised toignite your creative muse, combined with state-of-the-art studioproduction technologies engineered for the most demanding, world-classrecording and production environments.
  • License: Demo, $499
  • Developer/Publisher: Mark of The Unicorn
  • Modification Date: April 22, 2019
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 1.07 GB

Finale 26.1.0
Finale is the world-wide industry standard in music notation software.Anywhere music appears on the printed page, Finale likely created thosepages. Finale helps the choir to sing, the band to march, the studentsto learn, and the orchestra to raise the excitement level in the latestblockbuster movie.
Part of what sets Finale apart is its unique ability to create anythingon the printed page. Where other software offers paint-by-numberssolutions, Finale offers complete freedom and flexibility. As a result,musicians around the world rely on Finale to create, edit, audition,print, and publish the widest variety of musical scores.
Finale also offers breathtakingly realistic music playback, and moreways to share music with others.
  • License: Demo, $600
  • Developer/Publisher: Makemusic Inc.
  • Modification Date: May 1, 2019
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 330.7 MB

FM8 1.3.2
Native Instruments has harnessed the power of FM synthesis. Thestrengths of digital are manifest in FM8’s powerful audio engine whichgenerates breath-taking, brilliantly dynamic FM sound in pristinequality. With its emphasis on ease-of-use, the FM8 brings a high degreeof simplicity to the otherwise intricate process of FM synthesis,delivering unsurpassed depth, brilliance, and dynamism.
  • License: Demo, $149
  • Developer/Publisher: Native Instruments
  • Modification Date: October 21, 2014
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 121.5 MB

GarageBand 10.3.3
GarageBand is a fully equipped music creation studio right inside yourMac - with a complete sound library that includes instruments, presetsfor guitar and voice, and an incredible selection of session drummersand percussionists. With Touch Bar features for MacBook Pro and anintuitive, modern design, it’s easy to learn, play, record, create, andshare your hits worldwide. Now you’re ready to make music like a pro.
  • License: Comes with your Mac
  • Developer/Publisher: Apple
  • Modification Date: October 7, 2019
  • Requirements: macOS 10.13.5 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 1 GB

Free Music Notation Software Windows

Download File Size: 1.7 GB

Guitar Pro 7.5.2
Guitar Pro allows you to edit your music scores and tablature forguitar, bass, and ukulele, as well as create backing tracks for drums orpiano. This is a most thorough yet user-friendly tool for musicians whowish to get better, compose, or simply play along.
  • License: Demo, $70
  • Developer/Publisher: Arobas Music
  • Modification Date: March 29, 2019
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 983.7 MB

Guitar Rig 5.2.2
A studio full of amps, cabs, mics and creative tools- Guitar Rig givesyou the power to shape your tone to perfection. Get perfect custom tonewith a complete guitar studio in your computer. Stunning amps andeffects - exquisitely modeled in a powerful and intuitive virtualeffects rack. Premium sound quality, maximum flexibility, and totalcontrol for guitar, bass and more.
  • License: Demo, $199
  • Developer/Publisher: Native Instruments
  • Modification Date: May 31, 2016
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 552.1 MB

Harmony Assistant 9.9.0i
Harmony Assistant is an unbeatable software for computer-assisted musiccomposition and editing. Its harmonizing capabilities enable thecomposer to build quickly and efficiently tunes that includeaccompaniment, multiple instruments and drum patterns
Its full page edit and engraver modes will ease editing and page setupof your scores.
  • License: Shareware, $85
  • Developer/Publisher: Myriad Software
  • Modification Date: August 8, 2019
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 47 MB

Kontakt 6.0.3
Kontakt is the world’s leading software sampler. Its sophisticated soundengine, wide array of effects, powerful modulation possibilities, andadvanced scripting brings a universe of sound to life with unrivaledplayability and realism. And with an ever-growing feature set, Kontaktcontinues to be the sample engine behind the future of sound.
Kontakt is the industry-standard sampler from Native Instruments. Theworld’s most detailed and innovative sample-based instruments are builtusing its outstanding audio engine and state-of-the-art modulararchitecture. For creative sampling and advanced instrument building,Kontakt provides a unique set of sample manipulation tools and unmatchedcreative possibilities.
Kontakt Player is a free application that hosts all of NativeInstruments’ sample-based instruments, as well as third-party productsmade for the platform. Instruments made for Kontakt Player will also runin the full version of Kontakt.
  • License: Buy, $399
  • Developer/Publisher: Native Instruments
  • Modification Date: November 13, 2018
  • Requirements: macOS 10.12 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 40.2 MB Installer - Kontakt 6 Player is a free application that runs all Native Instruments’ KONTAKT instruments, as well as a large number of instruments from other companies.

Logic Pro X 10.4.7
Whether you produce tracks in a professional studio or are an aspiringmusician, Logic Pro X gives you all the tools you need to create, edit,and deliver your best music. Right on your Mac.
  • License: Buy, $200
  • Developer/Publisher: Apple
  • Modification Date: October 7, 2019
  • Requirements: macOS 10.13.6 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 1.5 GB

MainStage 3.4.3
The right rig for every kind of performer.
MainStage has something for every kind of performer. You can use allyour favorite instrument and effect plug-ins from Logic Pro. Simplifysetup and teardown. Sound as big as you want with backing tracks. Anduse all your favorite hardware controllers.
  • License: Buy, $30
  • Developer/Publisher: Apple
  • Modification Date: July 16, 2019
  • Requirements: macOS 10.12 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 1.3 GB

Massive 1.5.5
The synth that defined bass music, this powerhouse synthesizer is anuncompromising sonic monster and the go-to choice for bass music andelectro producers.
  • License: Buy, $149
  • Developer/Publisher: Native Instruments
  • Modification Date: July 19, 2018
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 93 MB

Melody Assistant 7.9.0i
Melody Assistant is dedicated to music writing, printing and rendering.
Easy to use, Melody Assistant offers a user-friendly interface andpowerful capabilities.
Now used by a very active community of thousands of people, it hasbecome a favored tool for creating music
  • License: Shareware, $37
  • Developer/Publisher: Myriad Software
  • Modification Date: August 8, 2019
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 44.2 MB

Melodyne 4.2.2
Melodyne is a software application for macOS and Windows with which youcan edit audio in a more musical way than was ever thought possible. InMelodyne, you work with notes - not with some waveform that tells younothing. You don’t just see where the music gets louder or quieter butalso where notes begin and end and at what pitch they lie.
You can modify each note and thereby influence directly the intonation,phrasing and dynamics - and do this not only with vocals and monophonicinstruments but with polyphonic instruments such as pianos and guitarsas well.
Melodyne is employed worldwide in countless major studios and bythousands of professionals every day, for vocal correction and for theenhancement of recordings, as well as for creative editing of a kindthat would be unthinkable without Melodyne.
  • License: Demo, Essential $99, Assistant $249, Editor $449, Studio $849
  • Developer/Publisher: Celemony Software
  • Modification Date: May 21, 2019
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.6.8 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 91.5 MB

MidiPipe 1.5.5
MidiPipe can be useful in a music studio or live on stage to route, map,filter, convert, display, input and output MIDI messages in real-time.
  • License: Freeware
  • Developer/Publisher: Nico Wald
  • Modification Date: July 31, 2019
  • Requirements: macOS 10.12 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 3.9 MB

MuseScore 3.2.2
Create, play and print beautiful sheet music. The world's most popular notation software.Write music for: Piano; Guitar; Orchestra; Jazz; Choir; Band
  • License: Freeware, Course Enrollment $25
  • Developer/Publisher: MuseScore
  • Modification Date: June 30, 2019
  • Requirements: macOS 10.12 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 139.8 MB

Overture 5.6.1
Overture was the first notation program to include MIDI data editingusing a Piano Roll and continuous data editor. Overture was also thefirst to notation to implement VST/AU plugin support. We have alwaysbelieved that not only should your scores look good, they should alsosound great. After all, we create music to be heard, not seen.
As today's technologies have changed, so has Overture. And while ourcompetitors just keep repackaging their same old design, we redesign.

Easy Music Notation Software For Mac Free


  • License: Demo, $249
  • Developer/Publisher: Sonic Scores
  • Modification Date: August 31, 2019
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 288.2 MB

Pro Tools 2019.6
From powerful new loop-based music creation and trying ideas viaRevision History, to timesaving workflows that simplify editing and postproduction, Pro Tools enables you to create at the speed of yourimagination—without limits. That’s why top artists, musicians,producers, mixers, engineers, sound designers, recording studios, andpost facilities choose Pro Tools for everything they do. Because whenyou need to sound your best, nothing delivers like Pro Tools can.
  • License: Demo, $35/month or $300/year, or Perpetual License $599
  • Developer/Publisher: Avid
  • Modification Date: June 25, 2019
  • Requirements: macOS 10.12.6. 10.13.6. 10.14.4 or 10.14.5 - 64-bit

Download File Size: 1.68 GB Easiest small business accounting software for mac.

Reaper 5.98.400
REAPER's full, flexible feature set and renowned stability have found ahome wherever digital audio is used: commercial and home studios,broadcast, location recording, education, science and research, sounddesign, game development, and more.
Feature Highlights
* Efficient, fast to load, and tightly coded. Can be installed and run from a portable or network drive.
* Powerful audio and MIDI routing with multichannel support throughout.
* 64-bit internal audio processing. Import, record to, and render to many media formats, at almost any bit depth and sample rate.
* Thorough MIDI hardware and software support.
* Support for thousands of third-party plug-in effects and virtual instruments, including VST, VST3, AU, DX, and JS.
* Hundreds of studio-quality effects for processing audio and MIDI, and built-in tools for creating new effects.
* Automation, modulation, grouping, VCA, surround, macros, OSC, scripting, control surfaces, custom skins and layouts.
* A whole lot more.
  • License: Demo, $60
  • Developer/Publisher: Cockos Incorporated
  • Modification Date: October 11, 2019
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 18.3 MB

Reason 10.4d3
The software synth that is harder than hardware. Reason is a completestudio package with synths, samplers, drum machines, loop players, asequencer, mixing, effects and much much more.
  • License: Demo, $399
  • Developer/Publisher: Propellerhead Software
  • Modification Date: May 15, 2019
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 3.94 GB

SoundSoap 5
Rescue your recordings from noise problems like air conditioners,traffic, fans, hiss, hum, clicks, pops, crackles, distortion/clipping,and low volume. SoundSoap is inexpensive and easy to use withprofessional results.
Open the media to be cleaned and SoundSoap will automagically find andremove background noise. Adjust the settings and share the results- itsthat easy! In most cases, only a few mouse clicks are needed forpowerful results. SoundSoap includes everything you need to record andclean your media files.
  • License: Demo, $149
  • Developer/Publisher: Antares Audio Technologies
  • Modification Date: January 11, 2016
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 2.9 MB

Traktor Pro 3.1.1
Traktor Pro's customizable 4-deck interface and streamlined workflow were designed with the professional DJ in mind.
Packed with a full set of creative features, the Traktor Pro DJ software makes it easy to create your own unique style and sound.
  • License: Demo, $99
  • Developer/Publisher: Native Instruments
  • Modification Date: February 22, 2019
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 405.6 MB

MacZebra 2.8.0
Zebra is a wireless modular synthesizer. It combines numerous synthesistechniques (subtractive, additive, fm, wavetable, etc.) with a powerfulmodulation engine that even smoothly integrates with the built-ineffects section.
Unlike its analog predecessors Zebra has got an adaptive user interfacethat shows only what you can hear. You don't have to worry aboutcomplexity - but it's available when you need it!
  • License: Demo, $230
  • Developer/Publisher: Heckmann Audio
  • Modification Date: March 12, 2018
  • Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 90.8 MB