Musescore for Charts

[rpjazzguitar]

Musescore is a notation program that's free and very capable. I use it, but this post is about something else.

Musescore also has a subscription service from which it is possible to d/l charts, which, I'd assume can be loaded into the notation program and be tranposed. And, from what I can tell, there is a huge number of charts available.

Lately, I've been working on tunes for which I would like transposable charts, but it's laborious to start from scratch by entering the song into Musescore's notation program.

I'm interested in the subscription service, but the on-line reviews are generally negative. suggesting that it's too easy to accidentally order a subscription you don't really want and then it's hard to cancel it.

I'm writing to see if anyone can shed light on this. Is it possible to cancel something that you didn't really want? Can you d/l any song in Musescore format? Are there limits to which songs or how many songs you can d/l over a specific period of time?

Anything else worth knowing?

So, just to pick a possible example at random. Suppose I want a chart for Volare and I want to transpose it to concert, Eb, Bb and the singer's key. And, suppose I've already got a monthly subscription to Musescore's service. So, I need a mscz (Musescore format chart) file that I can load and transpose on my own. Will I have to pay extra? What, if anything, is reasonably likely to go wrong? Apparently, a lot of people have tried something like this and ended up annoyed. Can that be avoided?

[sgcim]

Musescore is a notation program that's free and very capable. I use it, but this post is about something else.

Musescore also has a subscription service from which it is possible to d/l charts, which, I'd assume can be loaded into the notation program and be tranposed. And, from what I can tell, there is a huge number of charts available.

Lately, I've been working on tunes for which I would like transposable charts, but it's laborious to start from scratch by entering the song into Musescore's notation program.

I'm interested in the subscription service, but the on-line reviews are generally negative. suggesting that it's too easy to accidentally order a subscription you don't really want and then it's hard to cancel it.

I'm writing to see if anyone can shed light on this. Is it possible to cancel something that you didn't really want? Can you d/l any song in Musescore format? Are there limits to which songs or how many songs you can d/l over a specific period of time?

Anything else worth knowing?

So, just to pick a possible example at random. Suppose I want a chart for Volare and I want to transpose it to concert, Eb, Bb and the singer's key. And, suppose I've already got a monthly subscription to Musescore's service. So, I need a mscz (Musescore format chart) file that I can load and transpose on my own. Will I have to pay extra? What, if anything, is reasonably likely to go wrong? Apparently, a lot of people have tried something like this and ended up annoyed. Can that be avoided?

I don't know. They've completely confused me with this two sites thing.
I only use their notation program, which now they call a "Studio" further confusing everybody.
I think when something like MS became a success after Finale failed, they wanted to become an online behemoth and and confuse hapless people like you and I.
While we're talking about it, I had an incident Monday night at a rehearsal with the notation program. I used their Harmon mute symbol for the trumpets on one of my charts, and instead of the mute sound on the MS playback, I got the real sound of the Harmon mute sound by the trumpet player for his soli.
I stopped the band and asked them, "Does anyone use MuseScore? Why can't I get the same sound that I get out on the playback, no matter what mute sound I write on the trumpet part?"
A brilliant young trombonist who's played with the Julliard Jazz Orchestra told me that it's because that mute sound doesn't exist in reality. He calls it the "MAGIC MUTE" sound that only exists on the MuseScore playback!
I thanked him for saving what's left of my sanity. Then I asked him what I should notate on the trumpet part to get that great sound, and he said, "I
don't know, Magic Mute?

[Unclegrumpy]

The learning curve for entering notation in Musescore is not great. I do exactly what you want to do, takes about 15 minutes to enter melody and chord names. Transposing is easy, export to pdf or digital.

[grahambop]

The quickest way to enter lead sheets on musescore is to use the keyboard shortcuts as much as possible. E.g. letters = note pitches, numbers = duration, etc. Don’t use a mouse, that is the slowest way.

Read the manual for the rest.

It’s very quick once you have used it a bit.

[Christian Miller]

Musescore is a notation program that's free and very capable. I use it, but this post is about something else.

Musescore also has a subscription service from which it is possible to d/l charts, which, I'd assume can be loaded into the notation program and be tranposed. And, from what I can tell, there is a huge number of charts available.

Lately, I've been working on tunes for which I would like transposable charts, but it's laborious to start from scratch by entering the song into Musescore's notation program.

I'm interested in the subscription service, but the on-line reviews are generally negative. suggesting that it's too easy to accidentally order a subscription you don't really want and then it's hard to cancel it.

I'm writing to see if anyone can shed light on this. Is it possible to cancel something that you didn't really want? Can you d/l any song in Musescore format? Are there limits to which songs or how many songs you can d/l over a specific period of time?

Anything else worth knowing?

So, just to pick a possible example at random. Suppose I want a chart for Volare and I want to transpose it to concert, Eb, Bb and the singer's key. And, suppose I've already got a monthly subscription to Musescore's service. So, I need a mscz (Musescore format chart) file that I can load and transpose on my own. Will I have to pay extra? What, if anything, is reasonably likely to go wrong? Apparently, a lot of people have tried something like this and ended up annoyed. Can that be avoided?

I fell foul of this a few weeks back on the MuseScore app. I would recommend avoiding it. We were able to get the bank to cancel and reverse the transfer.

It’s the fly in the ointment. Once you have an account, many pieces in the MuseScore library are free, and it’s easy to see from the webpage which ones they are, so I’ve been fine using that.


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[Christian Miller]

I don't know. They've completely confused me with this two sites thing.
I only use their notation program, which now they call a "Studio" further confusing everybody.
I think when something like MS became a success after Finale failed, they wanted to become an online behemoth and and confuse hapless people like you and I.
While we're talking about it, I had an incident Monday night at a rehearsal with the notation program. I used their Harmon mute symbol for the trumpets on one of my charts, and instead of the mute sound on the MS playback, I got the real sound of the Harmon mute sound by the trumpet player for his soli.
I stopped the band and asked them, "Does anyone use MuseScore? Why can't I get the same sound that I get out on the playback, no matter what mute sound I write on the trumpet part?"
A brilliant young trombonist who's played with the Julliard Jazz Orchestra told me that it's because that mute sound doesn't exist in reality. He calls it the "MAGIC MUTE" sound that only exists on the MuseScore playback!
I thanked him for saving what's left of my sanity. Then I asked him what I should notate on the trumpet part to get that great sound, and he said, "I
don't know, Magic Mute?

It’s a problem for music schools apparently - people learning to orchestrate and arrange from a notation app.

The problem is playback does sound much more lifelike now so it can fool you - even without high end sound libraries. Back when it was crappy midi sounds it was perhaps easier to make that distinction.

I mean I say that having never arranged anything for big band. I’m certain I’d make a million mistakes…

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[sgcim]

It’s a problem for music schools apparently - people learning to orchestrate and arrange from a notation app.

The problem is playback does sound much more lifelike now so it can fool you - even without high end sound libraries. Back when it was crappy midi sounds it was perhaps easier to make that distinction.

I mean I say that having never arranged anything for big band. I’m certain I’d make a million mistakes…

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've just gotta go back and white out all the Harmon mute markings on my 80+ BB scores. The "Magic Mute" sound is kind of pleasant; it sounds like they threw Toots Thielemans in there for fun!
I write them over and over about their shite jazz guitar sound. I yell out ARCHTOP, HOLLOW BODY, JOE PASS BARNEY RUBBLE- I mean KESSEL etc..., but they just keep giving me John Williams, Joan Baez, and Cornell DuPree. The CDP sound is good for some of the rock tunes, but
I mostly just conduct on my charts anyway, because these trumpet players give me a hard time about jumps and repeats, Coda signs, D.S signs etc...
I had a lot of fun writing a theme song for a disco band that I also play in that uses strings, 4 mallet vibes and percussion.

[rpjazzguitar]

I fell foul of this a few weeks back on the MuseScore app. I would recommend avoiding it. We were able to get the bank to cancel and reverse the transfer.

It’s the fly in the ointment. Once you have an account, many pieces in the MuseScore library are free, and it’s easy to see from the webpage which ones they are, so I’ve been fine using that.

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Sorry Christian, I'm unclear on this. You reversed which and ended up with what?

[Christian Miller]

Sorry Christian, I'm unclear on this. You reversed which and ended up with what?

Contacted Apple (made the purchase through out household account by accident) and got our money back


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[rpjazzguitar]

Contacted Apple (made the purchase through out household account by accident) and got our money back


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Thanks. So, while you had it, it worked okay?

If a chart wasn't free what would it cost? And would you get pdf or mscz?

[Christian Miller]

Thanks. So, while you had it, it worked okay?

If a chart wasn't free what would it cost? And would you get pdf or mscz?

I didn’t want it. I opened it by accident.

They sign you up to a subscription service and charge you for the whole year.

The library works great. Knock on wood I’ve been fine with the web page. It’s the phone app that got me.

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[stevo58]

I bought a score I needed, and quickly discovered somehow I was subscribed. I was able to cancel the subscription easily though. I had paid with PayPal for the score, and fortunately was checking my PayPal account for subscriptions, and saw it there. I cancelled the subscription in PayPal and it was processed immediately.

I am by no means computer illiterate; I worked for 45 years as a Unix programmer and then infrastructure architect for bank security systems at IBM. Any system set up to slyly subscribe you is dishonest. I’m sure there was some small indication somewhere, designed to be easily overlooked but keeping things legal, but once burned twice shy. I’ve used MuseScore for years, but I won’t be using their score library again any time soon.

I am considering buying another score and carefully watching for the subscription trap. If I do so, I can post it here as a heads up for others.

Steven

[GuyBoden]

For a more realistic MIDI sound.

I think MIDI2 has been a big advancement in playing real instrument samples.

The sound can be superb, if programmed correctly, the instrument control and expression can be very, very good.

To be honest, you do need to use MIDI2 for more realistic instrument expressiveness.

When using MIDI, I'm a big fan of using good quality real piano samples and especially VHORN Sax with MIDI2:

Edit: But, no self respecting Sax player thinks MIDI Sax sound good.

[Ukena]

Personally, for wind instruments I prefer to use a wind controller.

I only use Musescore on the computer. I have put in quite a number of lead sheets of GASB tunes. Some of them have run afoul of copyright issues, and are not available for download; but they are all free, and many people have downloaded them.

I haven't used it for about a year, however.

[sgcim]

I bought a score I needed, and quickly discovered somehow I was subscribed. I was able to cancel the subscription easily though. I had paid with PayPal for the score, and fortunately was checking my PayPal account for subscriptions, and saw it there. I cancelled the subscription in PayPal and it was processed immediately.

I am by no means computer illiterate; I worked for 45 years as a Unix programmer and then infrastructure architect for bank security systems at IBM. Any system set up to slyly subscribe you is dishonest. I’m sure there was some small indication somewhere, designed to be easily overlooked but keeping things legal, but once burned twice shy. I’ve used MuseScore for years, but I won’t be using their score library again any time soon.

I am considering buying another score and carefully watching for the subscription trap. If I do so, I can post it here as a heads up for others.

Steven

Yeah, that happened to a friend of mine, and he was able to get out of it.
As for getting them to add a jazz guitar sound for the "Studio" notation part of MuseScore, I contacted a guy who worked for MS, and made some videos for them. I knew he was a jazz guitar player who studied with Johnny Smith. His reply was, "I just did some contract work for them a number of years ago.". Strike Three.