Guide Note

Sheet music conveys how a song or other musical composition is played. The music is written using musical notation, a language where symbols represent tones and rhythms. Sheet music is a way for one musician to play the music of another and also a way to preserve music so it is not forgotten. Many musicians use sheet music as an aid to learning how to play their instrument. By learning the music of others, they get a feel for how songs are put together.

Fast Facts:

1. Also known as "a score"
2. Sold individually or in books of songs
3. The first sheet music was printed in 1473
4. Musical notation: The language used to write sheet music
5. Lead sheet: Sheet music that gives only the fundamental elements of a song without specifying exactly how it will be played
6. Sight reading: Playing a piece of sheet music while reading it for the first time

Sheet music can be purchased online or at local music retailers. There are also a number of ways to acquire sheet music for low or no cost. One way is to visit a site that offers public domain sheet music. Public domain means that the music was never copyrighted and is freely available to the public. It may also mean that the copyright has expired. There are a number of public domain sheet music sites and collections listed on this page.

Another way to see the musical notation for a song is to use software to "look inside" a midi file. Midi files are programmed with musical notation, and there are a numerous programs that can show you the notation as well as play it or print it out. Several of these are listed on this page as well.