How it works
What this scanner reads
Printed sheet music: PDFs exported from notation software, sharp scans, and straight-on phone photos of a printed page. It finds the staff lines, clefs, key signature and every notehead, then works out each pitch and note length.
Scan or upload
Take a photo of the page or upload a PDF (up to 20MB, multi-page OK). Nothing to install.
Notes are recognized
Noteheads, clefs, accidentals and key signatures are detected on the image itself — no MusicXML needed.
Download three things
Your sheet music with letters (or Do Re Mi) under each note, chord symbols above each bar, and a MIDI file to hear what was read.
Notalo vs. typical sheet music scanner apps
| Notalo | Typical scanner apps | |
|---|---|---|
| Install | None — runs in the browser | Phone app, often paid or subscription |
| Output | Sheet music with letters + chords + MIDI | MusicXML or playback only; no letters on the page |
| Price | Free, ad-supported | Free tier limited by page count |
| Best for | Beginners who want to play from the page today | Musicians editing the score in notation software |
| Weak spot | Rests, ties and tuplets are not read; handwritten or blurry pages miss notes | Varies |
See it in action
No upload needed yet — change the options below and watch the sample update.
Features
Letters under every note
Each note gets its letter — C D E, Do Re Mi, ドレミ, German letters or numbers — placed so labels don't overlap.
Chord symbols
Notalo reads the notes in each bar and prints the chord (C, Am, G7…) in green above the staff.
Sheet music to MIDI
A practice MIDI of the detected notes with their lengths, at any tempo from 40 to 240 BPM.
Photo or PDF
Phone photos, scans and multi-page PDFs up to 20MB. No MusicXML, no notation software.
Free, files deleted
No sign-up, no credits. Uploads and results are deleted right after processing.
Songs
Notalo vs. MusicXML-Based Tools — Two Ways to Get Sheet Music with Letters
Most letter-notes tools require a MusicXML file to start. Notalo works directly from a photo or PDF. Here's how the two approaches compare.
| Notalo | MusicXML-based tools | |
|---|---|---|
| Input format | PDF, JPG, PNG | MusicXML |
| Prep needed | None — upload the file as-is | Export to MusicXML first (e.g. via MuseScore) |
| Labeling | Solfège + letter names, 4 languages | Varies by tool (usually letter names) |
| Free usage | Unlimited — completely free, supported by ads | Varies (often limited by saved-score count) |
| Save/share | Not applicable — files deleted after processing | Some tools offer score libraries and sharing |
| Best for | Sheet music you only have as a photo, scan, or print | Musicians already working in MusicXML |
If your sheet music exists only as a photo, a PDF, or a printed page, Notalo skips the file-conversion step entirely. If you already work in MusicXML and want a score library with sharing, a MusicXML-based tool may fit better.
FAQ
What file formats are supported?
PDF, JPG, and PNG — sheet music files up to 20MB.
Do I need MusicXML or notation software?
No. Just upload a photo or PDF of your sheet music as-is — Notalo detects noteheads directly from the image.
Is it free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up, credits, or payment required. The site is supported by ads.
Which letter and solfège systems are supported?
Letters (C D E), German letters (C D E H), Italian solfège (Do Re Mi), Japanese solfège (ドレミ), and numbers (1 2 3, C=1).
Which scores work best?
Clean, printed sheet music: a PDF exported from notation software or a sharp, straight scan. The model was trained on printed notation, so smudged copies, faded prints, hand-drawn scans and photos taken at an angle can miss or mislabel notes. If you have the original PDF, upload that.
Can I make easy piano sheet music for a beginner?
Yes. Upload the piece you already have — a photo, scan or PDF — and Notalo writes the letter (or solfège) under every note, so a beginner can play it without reading the staff first. Right hand and left hand are colored differently.
Can I convert sheet music to MIDI?
Yes. After conversion, download a practice MIDI of the detected notes with their lengths (whole to sixteenth, dotted) at any tempo. Rests and ties aren't detected, so use it to check pitches and sing along rather than as a finished arrangement.
Does it add chord symbols?
Yes. Notalo reads the notes in each measure, works out the chord (C, Am, G7…) and prints it in green above the staff — handy for accompaniment. It's a best guess from the written notes; turn it off with the checkbox if you don't need it.
Is Notalo a sheet music scanner?
Yes. It scans a photo, scan or PDF of sheet music, reads the notes, and gives you back the same sheet music with letters — plus chord symbols and a MIDI file of what it read. No app to install, free.
Are my files stored?
No. Uploaded files and results are deleted immediately after processing.