What should a sheet music app do on an Android tablet?
An Android tablet makes a good music stand. It is light, the screen is big, and the price is low. What it lacks is an app that keeps up: many readers need a tap or a foot pedal to turn every page, and a tap is a hand you do not have.
You also want one that works with what you have: PDFs from a teacher, photos of a paper part, a pedal you already own, a digital piano on the desk.
How does SheetScroll work on Android?
- Android 9 or later: phones and tablets, with the same listening, page turns and look as on every other device.
- Add music: in the library, tap Add and pick Files, a whole Folder, or Scan pages. PDFs, photos, MusicXML, MuseScore, Guitar Pro, MIDI, ABC, chord charts and more open.
- Share into SheetScroll: from another app such as Files, Mail or a browser, share a file and choose SheetScroll.
- Open a score and play: it is already listening, through the microphone or MIDI.
- The page turns: two beats before the end of the page, never early. When it is unsure, it holds the page and outlines the places it is choosing between.
Sound is analyzed on the device and never recorded. It works offline, in airplane mode too.
Which size of tablet works best?
Bigger is easier to read. A 10-inch tablet shows a full page of a score at a size you can read from a stand. A 7-inch or 8-inch tablet works in half-page view, where the next line appears before the old one ends. A phone works for a chord chart, a lead sheet or a quick look, in line-by-line view.
Pick the view in the player: one page, two pages side by side, half-page turns, or line by line. Samsung tablets and other Android tablets run the same app as phones do.
What are the setup tips for Android?
- Pair a Bluetooth page-turn pedal in Android's Bluetooth settings, then open a score. Most pedals work as they are; if yours sends other keys, set them in Settings > Pedals and keyboard.
- Connect a digital piano over USB or Bluetooth MIDI and choose it in Settings > Listening. SheetScroll then follows the notes themselves.
- Allow the microphone when asked. If you said no, open Android's Settings, then SheetScroll, and turn on Microphone.
- Mount the tablet on a stand or a clamp at eye level. A tablet leaning on a lap desk slips.
- Turn off notifications while you play, in Android's own settings, so nothing pops up over your thoughts.
How does it fit with Linux tools?
SheetScroll reads the files that Linux notation programs produce. Save a MusicXML or MuseScore file and open it. A PDF from any program opens as printed. Chord sheets and text tabs open as they are, and Guitar Pro files from friends open too.
SheetScroll keeps its own copy of what you add and never changes your original. If a synced folder holds your library, the scores in it are yours to move or back up.
What about a Chromebook?
A Chromebook is a light, low-cost stand. Open app.sheetscroll.com in Chrome and play; add your music with Add in the library.
Chrome is the browser to use there. Chrome, Edge and Firefox are the browsers SheetScroll lists for the web app.
How does Pro work on Android?
Install from Google Play and Pro belongs to your Google Account: tap Restore Purchases on a new device. If you install from sheetscroll.com, Pro is a license key you enter in Settings > SheetScroll Pro > Enter License Key. A key works on up to three devices.
The reader is free forever, with every format and view, annotations, setlists, pedal or tap turns and the eight courses. Pro adds listening and automatic turns: $5.99 a month, $29.99 a year with the first 2 weeks free, or $79.99 once.
Questions
Does SheetScroll work on Samsung tablets?
It runs on Android 9 or later, on phones and tablets. A Samsung tablet running Android 9 or later qualifies.
Do I need Google Play to install it?
No. You can install from Google Play or from sheetscroll.com. Pro from Google Play belongs to your Google Account; a license key serves the other install.
Does my Bluetooth page-turn pedal work?
Yes. Pair it in Android's Bluetooth settings. It works alongside listening, and a press always wins.
Can I use my digital piano with an Android tablet?
Yes. Connect it over USB or Bluetooth MIDI and choose it in Settings > Listening.
Does it need the internet?
No. Importing, reading and following all run on the device. Only sync, purchases and downloads use the internet.
Related
- iPad and iPhoneA sheet music reader for iPad and iPhone (iOS and iPadOS 15 or later). Apple Pencil markings, iCloud sync and hands-free page turns, never early.
- Chromebooks and the webOpen SheetScroll in Chrome, Edge or Firefox with no install. It listens and turns the page, never early. Works in Chrome on a Chromebook. Free reader.
- PianistsA sheet music app for pianists: it listens through the mic or a digital piano over MIDI and turns the page two beats early, never early. Free reader.
- GuitaristsOpen Guitar Pro files, text tabs, PDFs and chord charts. SheetScroll listens as you play guitar and turns the page, never early. Transpose and set a capo.
- Bluetooth page turn pedalsHow a Bluetooth page-turn pedal works, how to pair it with iPad, Android, Windows or Mac, which mode to pick, and notes on AirTurn, PageFlip and Donner.
- Automatic page turnersEvery way to turn sheet music pages hands-free, from pedals to apps that listen, with the pros and cons of each and how a listening page turner decides.
- Opening music filesSheetScroll opens PDFs, photos, MusicXML, MuseScore, Guitar Pro, MIDI, ABC, chord charts and more. How to add them, and pair a scan with a digital copy.
- Digital pianos over MIDIConnect a digital piano by USB or Bluetooth MIDI and SheetScroll follows the notes themselves, with no microphone. Here is how to set it up.
- Page turning appsSheet music apps that turn pages by listening (SheetScroll, Newzik, Smartleggio) or by face and eye gestures (forScore, MobileSheets, SightTune).