How a page-turn pedal works
A page-turn pedal is a small wireless keyboard with one or two big keys under your foot. It does not know anything about music. When you press the right pedal, it sends a key such as the right arrow or Page Down. When you press the left pedal, it sends the left arrow or Page Up. The reader app on your tablet sees a key press and turns the page.
This is why one pedal works with so many apps. Any app that accepts keyboard input can use it. It is also why a pedal sometimes seems not to work: the app expects one key and the pedal sends another.
Most pedals send keys over Bluetooth Low Energy as a standard keyboard (a human interface device, or HID). Some also offer a mode that sends mouse clicks or MIDI messages. Some include a USB receiver for computers without Bluetooth.
Pairing a pedal on each device
The steps are almost the same everywhere. Put the pedal in pairing mode first. That usually means holding a button until a light blinks. Your pedal's manual shows the exact button.
- Turn the pedal on and start pairing mode.
- Open Bluetooth settings on the device.
- Pick the pedal from the list of nearby devices and confirm.
- Open your sheet music app and a score.
- Press each pedal and see which way the page goes.
- iPad and iPhone: Settings, then Bluetooth. Pick the pedal under Other Devices.
- Android: Settings, then Connected devices, then Pair new device. Choose the pedal.
- Windows: Settings, then Bluetooth and devices, then Add device, then Bluetooth.
- Mac: System Settings, then Bluetooth. Click Connect next to the pedal.
- Keep the pedal within a few feet of the device.
Pair the pedal once. After that it reconnects when it is on and the device is near. If it does not reconnect, turn it off and on, or pair it again.
Choosing a mode
Many pedals have modes, and each mode is a different pair of keys. Common pairs are left and right arrows, up and down arrows, and Page Up and Page Down. Some pedals add mouse clicks, Space and Enter.
If the pedal pairs but the page does not turn, or turns the wrong way, switch modes. Then try again in your app. A few apps let you set which key does what, which is the easiest fix. Each pedal shows its mode with a light or a number on its body.
Battery matters on stage. Charge or replace the battery the day before, and carry a spare or a cable.
Notes on common pedals
Check your own model's manual for the exact keys. These notes only say what each maker or a retailer states publicly.
AirTurn. AirTurn says its controllers are programmable for apps that accept keystrokes, macros, mouse clicks or MIDI commands, and that they work with tablets, phones and computers that have Bluetooth 4 or higher. For modes and key mappings, use the manual for your model.
PageFlip. Retail listings for the PageFlip Butterfly describe a Mode button that switches between mappings, such as Page Up and Page Down, left and right arrows, or up and down arrows with mouse clicks. The user guide has a Bluetooth pairing section.
Donner. Donner's page turner manual describes modes that emulate left and right arrows, Page Up and Page Down, mouse clicks, or Space and Enter, with LEDs showing the mode. It also describes a repeat setting for scrolling quickly, and advises trying different modes to find the one your app needs.
Moukey. Moukey sells Bluetooth foot pedals of the same kind. We could not confirm the key table for a specific model, so check the manual that came with yours.
iRig BlueTurn. Retail listings for the IK Multimedia iRig BlueTurn say it has two buttons and three command pairs: Page Up and Page Down, Arrow Up and Arrow Down, or Arrow Left and Arrow Right. The mode is chosen on the device at power-on, and it pairs as a keyboard.
Using a pedal with SheetScroll
Pair the pedal in your device's Bluetooth settings, then open a score. Most pedals work as they are, with Page Down and Page Up, the arrow keys or Space. If yours sends other keys, set them in Settings, then Pedals and keyboard.
Pedals work alongside listening. A pedal press or a tap always wins, and each press tells SheetScroll where you are. Turning pages by pedal or tap is part of the free reader. Listening and automatic turns are SheetScroll Pro.
If the pedal does not work
- Charge the pedal, then turn it off and on.
- Remove it from the device's Bluetooth list and pair it again.
- Try the other modes, one at a time.
- Make sure the pedal is connected to one device only.
- Check the key settings in your app, in case it has remapped them.
- Keep the pedal within a few feet of the device.
Questions
How does a Bluetooth page turner pedal work?
It pairs with your device as a keyboard and sends a key press, such as an arrow key or Page Down, when you step on it. The app turns the page when it sees that key.
Will an AirTurn, Donner or Moukey pedal work with any sheet music app?
With any app that accepts keyboard input, usually yes. If it does not respond, change the pedal's mode to one the app expects or set the keys in the app.
Do I need a special app for a page turner pedal?
No. You pair the pedal in the device's Bluetooth settings. After that your reader app sees key presses. Some pedals have their own app for settings, but it is not needed for turning pages.
Can I use a pedal and an automatic page turner together?
Yes. In SheetScroll, a pedal press or a tap always wins over listening, and each press tells it where you are.
Why does my pedal turn two pages, or go backward?
It is usually in a mode that sends different keys than your app expects, or the pedals are swapped. Try another mode, or swap the keys in the app.
Related
- 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.
- Turning pages at the pianoPractical ways pianists turn pages without a break: layout tricks, half-page turns, pedals, memorizing the turn and apps that listen.
- Choosing a tabletHow to choose a tablet size for sheet music (12.9 to 13 inch or 11 inch), when a phone is enough, plus stands, glare, battery, and digital versus paper.
- Page turning appsSheet music apps that turn pages by listening (SheetScroll, Newzik, Smartleggio) or by face and eye gestures (forScore, MobileSheets, SightTune).
- Church musiciansKeep a service in order, follow every repeat and D.S. through the verses, and put chord charts in the singers' key. Free reader, hands-free turns with Pro.
- 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.
Sources
- AirTurn FAQ, checked October 22, 2026
- PageFlip Butterfly at Thomann, checked October 22, 2026
- Donner page turner manual at OnSong, checked October 22, 2026
- IK Multimedia iRig BlueTurn at Andertons, checked October 22, 2026