Is there any notation software that supports unconvential notation like Schenker graphs? [closed]

Question

What is the best free or cheap music editing software available? I am looking for something to write and edit scores with. I know that Finale and Sibelius are the best on the market, but I wouldn't use them enough to justify the price.

I don't need many features, though here are a few that I could really use:

• Audio play back
• Ability to write without a time signature
• Able to draw non-conventional notation (i.e. Schenker graphs)

Here's an example of what I'd like to draw:

Answer 1

Check out Lilypond: http://lilypond.org/ It's free and powerful, and although it won't do audio playback, I believe it can do the rest of what you ask. It's text-based, and if you are at all familiar with TeX or LaTeX, Lilypond will feel similar. It has a somewhat steep learning curve, but there are some GUIs in active development that make things easier, and there's also some software that allows for input via MIDI keyboard.

Edit: Seems Lilypond can output MIDI files, so presumably you could get audio playback that way.

Answer 2

With Lilypond, the example of the OP could be drawn like follows:

\score {
  \relative c {
    \time 2/4
    \clef bass
    \key f \major
    << { \override NoteColumn.ignore-collision = ##t \stemDown
         \phrasingSlurDown \phrasingSlurDashed 
         \once \override NoteHead.duration-log = #1
         \once \override Beam.positions = #'(-6.47 . -6.47)
         \once \override PhrasingSlur.control-points = #'((1 . -.5) (3 . -5) (22 . -5) (24 . -3))
         f8*4[\( ~ \hide Stem f8*4] ~ f4*2( 
         \newSpacingSection g4 a)( 
         \phrasingSlurSolid \undo \hide Stem f,\)\()(
         \once \hide Stem c') d\)\(( \once \hide Stem a') 
         \once \override Stem.length = #9.27 
         \newSpacingSection \time 4/4
         bes8*8/3\)\( \once \hide Stem e,4*4/3( f) 
         \newSpacingSection \time 8/2
         \once \hide Stem d4*2
         \once \override Beam.positions = #'(-5.97 . -5.97)
         \once \override Beam.transparent = ##f
         \once \hide Stem e8*4[\) 
         \once \override NoteHead.duration-log = #1 
         f8*16] } \\ 
       { \hide NoteHead \hide Stem \slurUp s2*6 
         \once \override Slur.control-points = #'((1 . 3.5) (3 . 5) (11 . 4) (13.5 . 1))
         bes2( bes,4*4) 
         \undo \hide Stem e4*2 } \\ 
       { \hide NoteHead \hide Stem s2*6 
         \once \override Slur.control-points = #'((1 . -7) (10 . -10) (17 . 7.5) (20 . -.5))
         bes'2( s4 e,4) } >> \bar "|."
  }

  \layout {
    \omit Score.TimeSignature
  }
}

Answer 3

I agree with everyone else that is suggesting Lilypond. Here is a Linux Journal article on creating Schenker Graphs with Lilypond.

Answer 4

MuseScore

is getting some attention. It's free, cross-platform, and imports and exports MusicXML. I have not tried it.

Answer 5

As little addon to the Lillypond suggestion:

Check out this snippet from the Lilypond Snippet Repository

I also found the channel #lilypond on Freenode being quite a good resource when getting stuck with something.

Answer 6

rosegarden is another option. It's mostly meant to be used as a MIDI sequencer/DAW, but has a score facility which I believe will let you edit scores directly. It's only available for linux.

Answer 7

Denemo is an open source tool for writing scores. It appears to be quite powerful (and has a lilypond interface as well as playback), but the documentation is weak. I couldn't even figure out how to do score writing with bass-line and melody in the same staff, although I know it's possible.