This article is written by Toru Hoshino, a jazz bassist and instructor based in Japan who teaches online lessons to students worldwide. In this article, he recommends the free notation software he’s used for years.
One question I get a lot is: “What notation software do you use?” Here’s my answer, along with what I like about it.
The software I use is called MuseScore.
It’s free on both Mac and Windows, and I’ve used it for years. It’s apparently usable from phones and tablets too, but I mainly work with it on a PC.
Here are the three things I like most about it:
1. Automatic tab conversion
2. Playback of whatever you write
3. Choice of instrument tone for playback
Contents
1. Automatic Tab Conversion
Whatever bass line you input gets automatically converted into tab. Input a C note, for example, and it automatically maps it to the 5th fret on the 3rd string for you.
2. Playback of Whatever You Write
Whatever you write can be played back instantly, so you can check how a phrase or bass line feels without having your instrument in hand.
I also like that you can input chords and have the chord backing play back with one click.
3. Choice of Instrument Tone
You can also pick the playback tone by instrument — piano, bass, guitar, and so on. For bass specifically, you can choose between electric and upright tone.
Every piece of sheet music I publish on YouTube is made with this software. Since it’s free, if you’re on the hunt for good notation software, it’s well worth trying.
Get MuseScore here: https://musescore.org/en
Writing out your own bass lines is great practice — having someone check whether what you wrote actually works musically is exactly where a teacher comes in.
Want Personalized Feedback on Your Playing?
This is exactly the kind of thing that’s hard to fix alone — and where having a teacher makes all the difference.
At Line on Bass, I offer an online lesson service where you send me a video of your playing, and I give you specific, detailed feedback — every single day if you want.
Students from around the world are using this to fix exactly these kinds of issues and steadily improve their jazz bass skills.