PDF downloads only? You kidding?
Sorry, folks.
But when I search for Sheet Music at the top of the MuseScore, the responses (for Sound of Silence, at least) take me to MuseScore.com, where they ONLY provide PDFs. I guess that's understandable, but I need a version I can transpose that has both vocal parts--to create a version we can actually sing!
I don't mind paying for such a score--especially when the proceeds are shared with the artist, as the Hal Leonard version seems to be. When I'm doing it often enough, I'll even pay for a subscription. But what's the point, if all I can get is a PDF??
(I've tried the PDF conversion option in the past. Very spotty results -- as in "converted a spot here, a spot there, and joined them all together. So still clearly a beta effort.)
Is there an option I'm missing?
Comments
"Is there an option I'm missing?"
The option of complaining about this in the right place - the place that does the score sharing and from which you are wanting to download - musescore.com.
Se https://musescore.org/en/node/277874
In reply to "Is there an option I'm… by SteveBlower
Were it not for the fact that is Musescore.ORG that gave me a search result that took me to Musescore.com, I would not be mentioning it here.
And in fact, I did talk to the .com folks. They said they only download PDFs, not Musescore files, for copyright reasons--which is why I said it's understandable.
When I went to .org I wanted to see what was available in Musescore format.
I can do a search for a PDF score on my own.
In reply to Were it not for the fact… by forwardtoeric
Official scores are only available a) for an extra pay and b) as PDFs. All others are available also as MIDI, MusicXML, MP3, and MSCZ.
In reply to Official scores are only… by Jojo-Schmitz
Really good to know.
What I really wanted to know is what is available in one of the other formats.
There are pages of Sound of Silence PDFs on the .com site.,
only a couple of which could be construed as "official".
I didn't see an option to filter out PDFs from the search results.
Did I miss something??
In reply to Were it not for the fact… by forwardtoeric
The musescore.org has no scores for download. This site is about user support for the MuseScore Studio notation program.
In reply to The musescore.org has no… by TheHutch
Musescore.org has "Search for Sheet Music" right at the top of every page, including this one.
As yonah_ag pointed out in a comment below, "The search box at the top of the page adds to the confusion between the .org and .com sites".
If it finds Musescore-format files, then it is a good thing. If it only points to .com PDFs, it effectively erases any distinction between the .com and .org sites.
In reply to Musescore.org has "Search… by forwardtoeric
It finds both but official scores have started to swamp the catalogue for some compositions.
In reply to Musescore.org has "Search… by forwardtoeric
Try the search box on this page, for example for the keyword "vocal"
https://musescore.com/song/the_sound_of_silence-1411462
In reply to Try the search box on this… by yonah_ag
Yeah. That was the easy part. Found a couple with exactly what I need: vocal duet.
But ALL you can download from the .com site are PDFs.
Talked to their support, friendly fellow explained that it's by design.
(Copyright restrictions or some such. Can't say I understood, but it sounded good.)
Hard to transpose a PDF unless you're really good writing a score!
Hence the search for anything other than a PDF -- a search that ought to be possible
at the .org site. (If there is some such option, I've missed it thus far.)
In reply to Yeah. That was the easy part… by forwardtoeric
You can also download .mscz files. I have done so many times and other users have downloaded my scores. I think that it's only official scores that are restricted to PDF.
The .org site is dedicated to the free MuseScore score editor. The .com site is the only one that shares scores. The search box at the top of the .org page is just a hook into the .com search.
In reply to Yeah. That was the easy part… by forwardtoeric
Here are my download options on a random score:
![Screenshot_20241031-231357_Samsung Internet.jpg]( "Screenshot_20241031-231357_Samsung Internet.jpg")
Open in Musescore downloads the .mscz file.
I never finished this score but just in case it helps I have made it public:
https://musescore.com/user/28842914/scores/7908674
In reply to I never finished this score… by yonah_ag
Based on these videos:
https://youtu.be/u9jxR19JgoQ
https://youtu.be/nZivseZxMEM
https://youtu.be/k0Xrll79Sxk
In reply to I never finished this score… by yonah_ag
Nice work! I wish I could use it.
There are literally dozens of solo-version scores.
There are very few duet-versions--and only a couple of those show lyrics!
In reply to Nice work! I wish I could… by forwardtoeric
Why can't you use it? MuseScore Studio can convert TAB to standard notation.
The first video linked above is a vocals only duet and it is very clear, so suitable for making a transcription.
In reply to Why can't you use it? The… by yonah_ag
Your score is good--for the solo part. So again, thank you. I'm trying to find a transposable score for the harmony part. (We step down the lead 3 half-steps to get it into my range.) So basically I need a score with both parts.
It's damn shame that MuseScore.org doesn't let me search for .mscx files that folks have uploaded. (I wouldn't mind paying for them, either.) But returning search results that come from MuseScore.com is just inane. The .com site ONLY provides PDFs -- which makes the combination of the two utterly useless to me!)
Regarding transcriptions:
Ha ha! You have me confused with someone who knows what they're doing!
If I could make a transcription -- and write a score--I wouldn't need a .mscx file.
:__)
Where do I find those files, anyway?
If there is one with two vocal parts, I can use a PDF to see the lyrics for both parts,
and add maybe add them to the .mscx file for our sheet-music reading harmony person!
(I'm pretty strong on the lead part, but only after stepping down about 3 half-steps.)
In reply to Ha ha! You have me confused… by forwardtoeric
The search can only return scores from the .com site because that's where all the scores live. There are no scores on .org. Even the score above is only a link to .com.
As I said above, and showed the dialogue, the search finds all files and you can choose your preferred format for download, (except for Official Scores which are PDF only.)
You can download the above score by following the link underneath it then pressing the download button and choosing your preferred format.
Here is the full score:
https://musescore.com/user/28842914/scores/7899161
(Well, technically speaking there are a few scores on .org but these are from users attaching them to a support thread so they're not part of the search system and not intended for mass consumption.)
In reply to The search can only return… by yonah_ag
Nice work. Not sure how you figured all that out, but great job that you did.
AFTER I hit the download button at the .com site I can see which formats are available, and choose the one I want?
a) That's a bit backwards. There several dozen of Sound of Silence scores. I should click all of them?
b) All the ones I saw said "PDF". I stopped after 4 pages -- only 18 more to go, to see if any say somthing different.
c) Apparently there are .mscx versions, like yours, but even if you know they're there, how do you find them (Only by getting a link from the author, apparently.)
d) I was about to give up on Musescore, because--nice as Studio is--a bunch of downloadable PDFs just don't cut it. They pretty much destroy the whole value proposition the app is going for.
e) I DID find a sheet music library site. $16 for a lifetime membership, and you can browse or search by format. (details below.) Found 2 versions of Sound of Silence, but at the time all they give is the title--no descriptions, no page previews, nothing. So it's anybody's guess whether what they have is what I need. (It's worth the gamble, I suspect, but it's still a gamble.)
Once again, much as I admire the work you put into your score, I need a DUET with TWO vocal parts.
I saw pages of solo versions at the ,com site. Exactly two duet versions--both PDFs. (Alas)
I know the lead well enough to sing it a cappella--but in Bm, not the original Dm. It's our new harmony singer needs the sheet music. We can easily transpose chords, but notes is something else again.
LIBRARY-SITE ADFRESSES
https://sheetmusiclibrary.website/musescore-files/
lets you search by title, but returns titles only. No other information. You can't click on the titles for more information. (Might be different if you're a member. Or not.)
https://sheetmusiclibrary.website/2024/03/11/musescore-files-in-the-sml…
-- Gives more useful results, but why there is date in the address, I know not. (Got there by searching on "sheet music library musescore". It ought to be possible to get there from the main page: https://sheetmusiclibrary.website, but I'm darned if I see how.)
-- Unfortunately, the "Added information" is a tiny page-1 thumbnail that is too small to read, even at maximum browser magnification.
--At maximum magnification, though, I could just make out that all three are solo versions -- no duets. Drat!
In reply to Nice work. Not sure how you… by forwardtoeric
It would be nice to filter out official scores but musescore.com is a commercial enterprise so they need to promote these scores. However, you don't need to click on a score to check the download options because official scores are labelled with a blue sticker:
You could try MusicNotes.com:
https://www.musicnotes.com/search/go?lbc=musicnotes&method=and&p=Q&ts=c…
They seem to have their own free software for score management and playback but I don't know what formats you can export to - maybe something that MuseScore can import?
In reply to Nice work. Not sure how you… by forwardtoeric
I've just searched musescore for Sound of Silence choir and there are 11 scores, only 2 of which are official. Aren't any of the other 9 suitable?
https://musescore.com/sheetmusic?text=Sound%20of%20silence%20choir
In reply to Nice work. Not sure how you… by forwardtoeric
You say, "we can transpose chords but notes are something else". Isn't a note just a chord with only 1 note in it and therefore would transpose the same way? Alternatively, enter the range of notes required into MuseScore Studio then use the transpose function.
In reply to You say, "we can transpose… by yonah_ag
Hey, Yonah (is it?)
Eric here.
First thanks for the work you've been doing to help solve the immediate problem!
A few notes:
1. Most of my feedback on how things SHOULD work has been aimed at the people who run .org and .com
As you noted earlier, the .org site has a search box. It takes you to .com, which ONLY provides PDFs.
(Both confusing and pretty dumb, imho)
Thanks for the pointer to MusicNotes. Handy!
I'll try to use your screenshot to replicate the search you did on that site.
The note about the "Official" sticker is very handy.
(It's just annoying that the .com site won't let me specify format first, and have to click download buttons to see what's available -- Human-usability perfectionist, here.)
Thanks for the .com search results. Didn't think to search for "choir". I only searched on "duet."
I'll take a look at those, as well as MusicNotes.
Thanks again!
In reply to Hey, Yonah (is it?) Eric… by forwardtoeric
I think that pro users may have an option for marking their scores as "not downloadable" but I'm not sure.
I haven't used MusicNotes myself.
There is no need to click a button to see what is available. See 2 above.
In reply to Your statement Is incorrect… by yonah_ag
Oh! So if it isn't an official score, ALL formats are available? (.mscx, .mxl, .midi, etc., in addition to .pdf)
Didn't guess that. But it makes sense, once you know that anything other than a pdf will be available.
Once you know that, yeah. No need to click the download button to see.
As for MusicNotes, don't bother. All I saw were PDFs, $2 or $3 each, with a MINIMUM ORDER of 1o.
No thanks...
In reply to Oh! So if it isn't an… by forwardtoeric
Ouch! That's a bit pricey when there's such a high minimum order. I guess that if they made the minimum 1 then buyers would simply print the PDF to file, from which they could then print any further number of copies.
In reply to Your statement Is incorrect… by yonah_ag
Update:
With your help, I was able to find a nice Duet version in Musescore format that I could transpose to Bm.
Yay!
It doesn't have chord names written in for the guitarists, but they're relatively easy to add.
Most importantly, the sheet-music reading harmony singer now has what she need!
(Thanks a ton, man.)
In reply to Update: With your help, I… by forwardtoeric
Fantastic!
The search box at the top of this page adds to the confusion between the .org and .com sites. Here we are on .org but the search box pertains to .com. ¿Qué?
In reply to The search box at the top of… by yonah_ag
Thanks for adding that. It's how I got confused, for sure.
In reply to Thanks for adding that. It's… by forwardtoeric
Fine. Jeez. Not really worth it to me.
In reply to Here's the two parts. Verse… by bobjp
😮
I don't think that copyrighted scores should be shared on .org. Maybe you should upload it to .com and then share the link.
In reply to 😮 I don't think that… by yonah_ag
At least here you're not protected from copyright lawsuits, but are on .com
In reply to At least here you're not… by Jojo-Schmitz
That's a darn good reason for limiting what's available on ,org.
But still, I want the ability to select the kind of scores I'm going to get a Musescore.com
If I want a PDF, fine. I'll select that. But when I'm coming from Musescore.org, the odds that I really want a PDF are staggeringly low!
:__)
In reply to That's a darn good reason… by forwardtoeric
I'm so confused.
• I've explained that the scores are all on .com so searching from .org does not make any difference.
• I've explained that all formats are available except for official scores which are PDF only.
• I've shown you how to spot official scores.
• I've sent you a link that gives 9 non-official, choral versions of The Sound of Silence.
• I've shown you the dialogue popup which allows you to select any format for these 9.
So, why can't you pick any/all of them and download in mscz format?
In reply to Here's the two parts. Verse… by bobjp
As Jojo intimated, I was just warning you to watch out for copyright lawyers but I see that you've removed the score anyway. I have had 2 copyright take downs even on .com so the copyright owners are definitely active.
In reply to As Jojo intimated, I was… by yonah_ag
I had 5 or 6 takedowns
@forwardtoeric,
I posted here a file of the song you are after. The melody and harmony, in Bm. No lyrics. I assume you know them. But I forgot how uptight the music industry is, so I took it down. I wonder if they will let me post a DropBox link.
Yes, uptight. I get there should be protections. But the music industry has tons of money and lawyers to get more. What does a performer like myself have? Nothing. If the venue I play at doesn't have the proper license, I get to pay. Sure I can sue someone who uses my music without my consent. Great. Time and money I don't have.
My wife and I once did a 30 minute show of children's music We where told to get permission from the bands whose music we were performing. So we did. Some never responded. Others gave us permission. One was totally surprised that we asked. They said no one ever asks. They were happy for us to perform their music because it was like free advertising.
All of which has next to nothing to do with PDF's, I know. Speaking of which, I believe it is OK to import a PHF into MuseScore.
In reply to @forwardtoeric, I posted… by bobjp
I hear your pain! If I was making money from these gigs, I'd be happy to share.
But they're free recitals from (very) amateur musicians.
The music library I mentioned in an early comment does have Musescore-format files. If you happen to stumble across your version, perhaps you could upload yours there? Then send me a note! (Here, or eric -at- MeditateBetter -dot- com).
I'd love to find a DUET version, so my sheet-music-reading harmony partner has notes she can follow after we stop it down to Bm from the original DM.
As for me: Give me sheet music and i play connect-the-dots. (Seriously though. I use a combination of tabs and play-by ear to learn a tune. Once I have it, I find the sheet music easier to follow as a reminder--the up-and-down placement of the notes tells me what direction I should be moving, with an indication of how much. So it's all useful!
:__)