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Thread: Sheet Music on a Tablet

  1. #1
    Registered User CharlieKnuth's Avatar
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    Default Sheet Music on a Tablet

    I am hoping someone will have some experience with this and be willing to make helpful suggestions. I am wanting to purchase a tablet (Android or IPad) with the express purpose of uploading sheet music that I have in books and sitting around in notebooks. How well does this work with either platform and what apps are available that work well in doing this. Any help with this would be appreciated. I am thinking that the local stores wouldn't necessarily be knowledgeable with what I want to do.

    Thanks,

    --charlie

  2. #2
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    I know a number of jazz players that refer to pdf files now, instead of fake books, for tunes they don't play often. It's smaller to take a portable device than a box of sheet music.

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    I am sure that the real books are available as PDFs or ebooks. I have a friend who also has a foot pedal for her iPod to turn pages.

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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    I started using iPad for my gigging sheet music and it has really changed my life. I was doing the same thing as my band mates, keeping music in big heavy binders and using page protectors too, which collectively double the weight. We have a library of hundreds of songs. But now the entire library is just the weight of the tablet.

    I use the ForScore app for organizing the music. I bought it 6 months ago for 1.99. It is now 9.99 and worth every penny. You can organize your music multiple ways in any way you choose- by libraries, set lists, genres, composers, etc. there is ever a built in tuner and metronome. Not the main purpose but a neat little bonus anyway. You can get your music in there a number of ways. It just needs to be a PDF. You can purchase it or download from free sites, or scan it yourself. I scan it as a PDF then e ail it to myself. You can also use Dropbox if you have it.

    I also have the Cicada Bluetooth pedal for turning pages. Works like a charm. No wires.

    I would advise buying an iPad with the highest memory you can afford. The basic model will not be enough if you do other things with it. Mine is 32G. I wish I had bought 64. But regardless ForScore is the way to go.
    Don

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    MandolaViola bratsche's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    Here's a related question that someone will hopefully know the answer to: How do you make PDF files? I have all sorts of things on my computer in .mus format (that I've created in Finale PrintMusic), and printing them out is easy, of course. But there is no way to post them online, unless I figure the PDF thing out (I use Foxit Reader to view them). Thanks for any help!

    bratsche
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    Registered User Manfred Hacker's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    Hi Charlie,
    I recently bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab 12.2 with the main purpose of organizing my sheet music. I also looked at an iPad, but much prefer the larger display on the Samsung. It lets you view sheets almost in letter size.
    There are several software options available in the Android play store. Upon a recommendation I have chosen mobilesheets:
    http://www.zubersoft.com/mobilesheets/
    I love it. I already had plenty of pdf scans from my books for these big binders. pdf or image files can be imported easily. You can also just take a photo of a page or a screenshot. Tunes can be arranged in multiple ways, set lists created, etc.
    Also works great with a bluetooth pedal. NFI, just very glad I have my repertoire (or practice material) of more than 300 tunes/pieces virtually at my fingertips.
    Last edited by Manfred Hacker; Jan-10-2015 at 10:12pm.
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  10. #7
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    Quote Originally Posted by bratsche View Post
    Here's a related question that someone will hopefully know the answer to: How do you make PDF files? I have all sorts of things on my computer in .mus format (that I've created in Finale PrintMusic), and printing them out is easy, of course. But there is no way to post them online, unless I figure the PDF thing out (I use Foxit Reader to view them). Thanks for any help!

    bratsche
    You can buy Adobe, but if you are on Mac, just start print, and there's an option to save as a pdf.

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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    Quote Originally Posted by bratsche View Post
    Here's a related question that someone will hopefully know the answer to: How do you make PDF files? I have all sorts of things on my computer in .mus format (that I've created in Finale PrintMusic), and printing them out is easy, of course. But there is no way to post them online, unless I figure the PDF thing out (I use Foxit Reader to view them). Thanks for any help!

    bratsche
    If you scan something, you can have the scanned copy emailed to yourself as a PDF file. If your sheet music is in unbound sheets, it's pretty easy/quick if you have access to a good copier. But if it's bound as a book, the copying is a pain. bb

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    MandolaViola bratsche's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidKOS View Post
    You can buy Adobe, but if you are on Mac, just start print, and there's an option to save as a pdf.
    I'm on a PC, and hoped for free, as I'm broke, but your idea prompted me to look at the many options under "print" - which I would have never thought of! Foxit Reader has an option for printing to a .pdf file, and I tried it, with success! So, thanks for the "hint"!

    bratsche
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  14. #10
    Registered User Fred Young's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    Charlie, all the suggestions are spot on. I do however prefer a thin laptop pc, 8 meg of ram, one trig bite of hard drive, Bluetooth, and all the goodies. I'm 68, eyes not so great, have some health issues, and shakes. I handle the laptop great, But the ipod, ipad and kindles are touch screen mostly, and if I try to touch, my darn hand will touch it somewhere and then off I on a goose chase I go. And I prefer the larger screen for the ole peepers. fred
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  15. #11
    Registered User CharlieKnuth's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    Thank you for your posts. This is most helpful.

    --charlie

  16. #12

    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    Bullzip PDF printer is a free download that works well to allow you to print to a pdf.

  17. #13

    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    Quote Originally Posted by Manfred Hacker View Post
    Upon a recommendation I have chosen mobilesheets
    2nd vote for Mobilesheets. It supports a lot of great features, including mass import from a folder of PDFs or JPEGs. I use it on a Nexus 10 but I really wanted a Tab 12 for it. TAS to go with my MAS?

    If anyone wants to go the whole hog and start digitising their printed music collection, Scan Tailor is a free and well featured option with a bit of a steep learning curve. I digitised four books I had purchased that weren't available electronically, and having a catalogue at my fingertips is so handy. I made this based off digital photos I took, as the book was comb bound.

    http://scantailor.org/

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  19. #14
    Registered User bmm5255's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    Another vote for Mobilesheets. Great program! I run it on a Samsung Galaxay note 2014. And PDF Creator is free, and will run on about any pc.

    Good luck.

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  21. #15
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    I recall reading of one with a foot pedal to 'change the Page' without taking a hand off the playing.
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    Registered User johnbaxter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    If you get an iPad, I recommend Deepdish GigBook. I really like that I can add a multipage songbook, and then select specific songs that will be isolated as individual song sheets. Here's the link: http://deepdishdesigns.com/gigbook.html

    I have a app list at:http://www.mandotunes.com/media/musicapps/index.html

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  24. #17
    Registered User Manfred Hacker's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    Quote Originally Posted by mandroid View Post
    I recall reading of one with a foot pedal to 'change the Page' without taking a hand off the playing.
    Just read my post above
    I have never let my schooling interfere with my education - Mark Twain

  25. #18

    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    I joined Scribd, which also has an iPad App, sort of a Netflix for books, you can access their massive library, downloading (for keeps) things that you want. There are numerous, even endless, sheet music there (and I have even copped full Opera Scores), including a load of Ukulele, piano and Mandolin Methods, and sheet music. Well worth the $9 or so per month subscription price. Its like 200+ publications you can carry with you....don't even need to be on line, if you've downloaded it.

    You can try the service free for a few weeks, I think, so see for yourself.

    Craig
    Beaufort, SC

    PS....most of my Mandolin tunes I store in my personal songbook at Chordie.com, as they include tabs for Mandolin, Uke or Guitar (plus other instrument, but those are all I play!)



    Thanks,

    --charlie[/QUOTE]

  26. #19
    Registered User Dobes2TBK's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I am sure that the real books are available as PDFs or ebooks.
    I recently got a Kindle primarily for books (less weight to tote, added benefit of not lugging my laptop for internet connections when I travel. And no, my phone "hain' gone tru eleben' grade."). Then I discovered it could carry my knit/crochet patterns. Now I hear it can hold sheet music for my mando/dulcimer herd?

    Oh, Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!

    Connie


    ps. Beware using "sheet music" as your search entry on Amazon. You're likely to get more than you expected.
    Connie

  27. #20
    Registered User MLT's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    I agree with Dan concerning ForeScore. I have been using it for several years and upgrades. One thing Dan didn't mention (which he may not use) is the ability to add mark-ups or edits. I use this program for all my sheets including our orchestra performance music. I also highly recommend wireless foot pedals as well as a music stand style holder for the iPad, both of these items will make the experience better.
    MLT
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  29. #21
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    MLT, it's Don not Dan. But call me whatever, just don't call me late for supper!

    Yes, that is a great feature. It's called Annotate and you can hand write notes to yourself just like you would on paper, only with a virtual pencil, then save it that way. You can reverse that with a virtual eraser. And there is a virtual highlighter if you want something to pop out at you. My wife, a bass player, highlights the chords.

    You can also crop, meaning if you have a lot of extraneous border on your scan you can enlarge the music so that there is no excess fat, so to speak.

    A very versatile program. I haven't even used all the features yet. As I said before, the best 9.99 you'll spend if you already have a iPad.
    Don

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  31. #22
    Registered User CharlieKnuth's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    Thank you all for your insights. This is most helpful.

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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    Try FoxIt. Free PDF Reader / Creator for Windows.
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    Registered User Gary Flye's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    I went the route of an iPad (32 GB) and am using the OnSong app. It takes PDFs, but what I like the most is the ability to take text files of lyrics, add chords in any key, then OnSong can instantly transpose to any other key. I have a tripod for the iPad that I take to jams. It is great to be rid of the notebooks and paper sheet music!
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  35. #25
    Registered User Steve Lavelle's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sheet Music on a Tablet

    I keep waiting for a tablet or e-reader that has a screen the same size as a sheet of 8.5 X 11" sheet of paper. Sony Digital Paper (https://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/show-d...r:digitalpaper) is the right size but waaaay too expensive for it's limited functionality. I see that there are 12+"diagonal tablets coming onto the market (HP and a rummored Apple product) but the aspect ratios are set up for viewing movies (1.7 aspect ratio) vs paper (1.3) so all my lyrics are too wide to get a full page on screen without it getting too small for my old, tired eyes. I have Hundreds of single sheet song pages with chords down the left margin and lyrics to the right that I wilc eventually convert and scan (for thereally old pre digital sheets) as pdfs when the right product comes along.
    Steve Lavelle
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