UbuntuHandbook

Scorewriter MuseScore 3.6 Released with New Fonts, Improvements

Last updated: January 16, 2021

MuseScore, free open-source sheet music player and editor, released the new major version 3.6 with many new features, improvements and bug-fixes.

New features in MuseScore 3.6 include:

New default notation fonts “Leland”
New default text font “Edwin”
New dialog suggests trying out the new engraving defaults
Automatic score ordering and bracketing
Automatic vertical justification of staves
Added Mountain Dulcimer instrument and 3-string tab presets
Added portamento for FLUID synthesiser
Added Petaluma notation font
Added mnemonics for “Save”, “Save As” and “Resource Manager”

The new release also features many UI and performance improvements including:

Improved the vertical staff justification algorithm
Improved functionality and appearance of ‘Add Palettes’ button
Implemented a new “Export” dialog
Added extended fermata symbols to MusicXML I/O
Added heavy, reverse end and heavy double barlines
Added a harmony duration interpretation
Added support for triple sharp and triple flat

And much more other improvements, tons of bug-fixes. For details, see the link below.

How to Get MuseScore 3.6 in Ubuntu Linux:

For Linux users MuseScore 3.6 is only available as Appimage package so far.

MuseScore in Github (Appimage)

Just grab the package, right-click and go to its Properties. Under ‘Permissions’ tab check the box which says ‘Allow executing file as program‘. Finally click run the Appimage to launch the scorewriter.

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Scorewriter MuseScore 3.5 Released with Chord Symbol Playback

Last updated: August 9, 2020

MuseScore, free music composition and notation software, released version 3.5 with long list of new features, bug fixes, and other improvements.

MuseScore 3.5 contains one of the most requested features: Chord Symbol Playback. The feature is disabled by default so far. You can enable it by going to Edit > Preferences > Note Input.

Other features in MuseScore 3.5 include:

Much improved support for voices to arts feature
Dragging the end handles of hairpins and other lines will change their actual durations.
Specify whether transposition should prefer flats or sharps in the key signature.
Improved tremolo layout, so you need to do a lot less manual adjustments
Support “beamed half note” style of minim-based two-note tremolo
Support the Orca screenreader on Linux.
See release note for details.

Download / Install MuseScore 3.4 in Ubuntu:

Single executable Appimage package is available for download:

MuseScore Appimage

Right-click on the Appimage, then go to Properties -> Permissions, check the box ‘Allow executing file as program’. Finally run the Appimage to launch MuseScore 3.5 and enjoy!

Also MuseScore flatpak package has been updated, and you can install it via following commands.

1.) Open terminal and run command to install flatpak framework in Ubuntu:

sudo apt install flatpak

2.) Add the flathub repository which hosts the flatpak package:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

3.) Finally install MuseScore via command:

flatpak install flathub org.musescore.MuseScore

If an old version of this package installed, update it via command:

flatpak update org.musescore.MuseScore

(Optional) To remove MuseScore flatpak package, run command:

flatpak uninstall org.musescore.MuseScore

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MuseScore 3.2 Released with Dozens of Bug Fixes

Last updated: June 26, 2019

Free scorewriter MuseScore 3.2 was released a day ago with dozens of bug-fixes as well as some improvements to user interface.

MuseScore 3.2 release highlights:

Default to dark theme on macOS Dark Mode
Sticking (the process of assigning certain notes to either our left or right hand) as a new command
A few improvements to user interface.
Fixed exporting parts from a score didn’t produce correct MIDI, MP3, WAV, OGG, and FLAC files
Fixed that tuplets and articulations were laid out incorrectly
And many other fixes, see the relese note for details.

Download / Install MuseScore in Ubuntu:

MuseScore has a stable PPA for Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, though it’s falling behind with version 3.0.5.

There’s non-install single executable Appimage available to download at the link below:

MuseScore Appimage (64-bit)

Right-click the Appimage, go to Properties -> Permissions -> tick the box says ‘Allow executing file as program’, finally run it to launch MuseScore 3.2:

In News free scorewriter, musescore 3

MuseScore 3.0.1 Released with Redesigned New Score Wizard

Last updated: January 16, 2019

Free Scorewriter MuseScore released version 3.0.1 yesterday with some improvements and numerous bug-fixes.

MuseScore 3.0.1 redesigned New Score Wizard for easy searching templates, better score previews, and accessibility improvements for blind users. The new release also features better import of 2.X scores, better automatic placement of hairpins and dynamics, and reworked Mixer UI.

There are also dozens of issues fixed in the release, including:

Properties were not saved properly in a number of cases
Layout was broken after operations with measure rests and tuplets
Time signatures appeared incorrectly in some cases and might lead to crash
Using the implode tool on notes connected with slurs led to crashes
Editing a barline was applied incorrectly
Context menu on instrument names didn’t appear
Pages with landscape orientation were cropped when printing
Playback went crazy on saving
Tempo was applied incorrectly in certain cases involving fermatas
Slurs were lost or detached in some cases
Autoplacement couldn’t be switched off for stems and arpeggio

How to Install MuseScore 3 in Ubuntu:

MuseScore is available via Snap (available in Ubuntu Software), Ubuntu PPA, and Gnome Flatpak.

As there are not updated to MuseScore 3.0.1 at the moment, you may download the Appimage (single executable package), and run the file to launch the software.

MuseScore Appimage

In Howtos, News free scorewriter, MuseScore

Free Scorewriter MuseScore 2.3 Released (How to Install)

Last updated: July 27, 2018

Free and open-source musical notation software MuseScore 2.3 was released with new features and numerous bug fixes.

MuseScore 2.3 release highlights:

Implement extensions to provide an easy way to install soundfont, templates and instruments.xml
Add buzz roll tremolo stem
Add a more flexible way to choose noteheads in drumset for percussion instrument
Implement filters in Zerberus
Add ability to have a different MIDI pitch for drum instrument based on articulation or tremolo
Implemented flams and crush notation for unpitched percussion

And there are lots of bug-fixes, see the release note for details.

Install MuseScore via PPA in Ubuntu:

The software has a stable PPA contains the most recent MuseScore packages for all current Ubuntu releases.

Open terminal (either via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for terminal from app launcher) and run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mscore-ubuntu/mscore-stable

Then you can upgrade the software via Software Updater, or run command to install the latest MuseScore:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install musescore

For more details, see this how to tutorial.

Install MuseScore snap package in Ubuntu:

The software offers official snap package. Snap is an universal Linux package format that runs in sandbox and it auto-updates itself once a new release is published in snappy store.

The snap application can be easily installed in Ubuntu Software:

Download MuseScore appimage:

While PPA and Snap packages are always delayed for a few days, MuseScore 2.3 Appimages, single executable to run the software, are available for download:

MuseScore Appimage (64-bit)

MuseScore Appimage (32-bit)

Select download the appimage matches your OS type, and:

go file Properties -> Permissions tab.
check the box says “Allow executing file as program“
finally click Run the appimage to launch MuseScore.

In Howtos, News free scorewriter, MuseScore

Music Notation Software ‘MuseScore’ 2.2 Released

Last updated: March 27, 2018

Free and open source music composition and notation software, MuseScore 2.2.0, was released earlier today.

MuseScore 2.2.0 comes with new features and tons of bug fixes:

New MuseScore_General.sf3 soundfont
Option to select the MIDI Output
Built-in MP3 support for Windows (finding and installing third-party DLL no longer necessary)
Add search field to template chooser in New Score Wizard
Option to select whether to “Play repeats” for jump elements (D.S. al Coda, etc.)
Selected notes are highlighted on the piano keyboard
Select / More: ability to distinguish same pitch on a specific string in tablature
All elements are now selectable by voice
Copy and paste of multiple fretboards
Fretboards can be added to chord symbols
See release note for more details.

How to Install MuseScore 2.2.0 in Ubuntu:

The single executable Appimage files to run MuseScore in Linux are available for download:

32-bit Appimage

64-bit Appimage

ARM-architectures

Download the appimage, make it executable and run the file to launch the free scorewriter:

MuseScore is also available as Snap, version 2.2 will be available in a few days, which can be easily installed via Ubuntu Software Center (See HERE for details).

In Howtos, News free scorewriter, MuseScore

MuseScore 2.1 Released! New Input Modes & Huge List of Fixes

Last updated: May 2, 2017

MuseScore 2.1, a free music notation software, was released today with new note input modes and a huge list of bug-fixes.

According to the release note, MuseScore 2.1 brings than 350 new features, improvements, and bug fixes. It mainly features:

New note input modes:
- Rhythmic input: enter rhythm first, pitches later.
- Semi-real-time MIDI input – a limited form of real-time input.
Much better support for SFZ sample libraries in Zerberus synthesizer
New “Regroup Rhythms” command under Layout menu
And so many bug fixes, improvements.
There are also known incompatibilities with the 2.0 release. See the release note.