Markdown music notation maker

Write sheet music from ABC notation. Enter the tune as text and get rendered notation you can read, play back and share.

ABC notation syntax

ABC notation writes a tune as text. A short header sets the tune number, title, metre, default length and key. The key line ends the header, then the body lists the notes bar by bar. Here is each piece you can write.

Header fields

Each header field is one line, a letter, a colon and a value. Put them in this order. The key line K: comes last and starts the tune body.

`X:`	Tune number. Starts a tune. Use `X:1`.
`T:`	Title of the tune.
`C:`	Composer.
`M:`	Metre, the time signature, such as `4/4` or `6/8`.
`L:`	Default note length, such as `1/4` or `1/8`.
`Q:`	Tempo, such as `1/4=120`.
`K:`	Key signature, such as `C` or `Am`. Ends the header.

Writing notes

A note is a letter A to G. Upper case notes sit in the middle octave. Lower case notes sit one octave up. A comma lowers a note an octave, an apostrophe raises it. Put an accidental before the note and a length after it.

`C D E F G A B`	The middle octave, low to high.
`c d e f g a b`	The octave above.
`C, C c c'`	Down an octave, middle, up one, up two.
`^C _E =F`	Sharp, flat, natural.
`C2 C3 C/2 C3/2`	Twice, three times, half and one and a half the default length.
`z z2`	A rest, and a rest twice the default length.
`\|`	A bar line between measures.

Header and notes

Set the tune number, title, metre, default note length and key, then write the notes.

You write

X:1
T:Simple scale
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:C
C D E F | G A B c |

You get

Octaves and length

Lowercase notes sit an octave up, and a number after a note holds it longer.

You write

X:1
T:Octaves
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:C
C c C2 | G g G2 |

You get

Rests and accidentals

Use z for a rest, ^ for a sharp and _ for a flat before a note.

You write

X:1
T:Accidentals
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:C
^C _E z G | A2 z2 |

You get

A full tune

Add a composer and a tempo, then write the tune across several bars and lines.

You write

X:1
T:Ode to Joy
C:Beethoven
M:4/4
L:1/4
Q:1/4=120
K:C
E E F G | G F E D | C C D E | E3/2 D1/2 D2 |

You get

Cheat sheet

Write this	You get
Header
`X:1`	Tune number, starts a tune
`T:Title`	The title
`C:Name`	The composer
`M:4/4`	Time signature
`L:1/4`	Default note length
`Q:1/4=120`	Tempo in beats per minute
`K:C`	Key signature, ends the header
Notes
`C D E F`	Notes A to G in the middle octave
`c`	The same note an octave up
`C,`	An octave down
`c'`	Two octaves up
`C2`	Hold a note twice as long
`C/2`	Half as long
`C3/2`	One and a half times as long
`z`	A rest
`\|`	A bar line
`^C`	A sharp
`_E`	A flat
`=F`	A natural