ABC Notation Editor
Type notation below to generate sheet music. Ideal for capturing song ideas in Hampton or Norfolk sessions.
💡 Tip: ABCJS allows you to change keys by setting K: (e.g., K:G or K:Dmix).
Writing music in ABC notation
ABC notation writes music as plain text, which makes it easy to share in an email, store in a text file or paste into a forum post. It emerged from the folk and traditional music community and remains the standard way tune collections are exchanged.
The header fields
Every tune opens with a short header. X: is a reference number, T: is the title, M: is the metre such as 4/4 or 6/8, L: sets the default note length, and K: gives the key. The key field must come last, because everything after it is read as music.
L:1/8 is conventional for reels and jigs, meaning a bare letter represents an eighth note. Setting it correctly means you write far fewer explicit durations.
Writing the notes
Capital letters C through B give the octave below middle C, lowercase gives the octave above. Apostrophes push a note up further and commas push it down, so c' is an octave above c.
A number after a note multiplies its length, so a2 is twice the default. A slash divides it, making a/2 half. Bar lines are written as a vertical pipe, and |: with :| marks a repeated section.
Accidentals go before the note: a caret raises, an underscore lowers, and an equals sign cancels. So ^f is F sharp and _b is B flat.
Why it stays useful
The format is compact enough to remember, readable enough to edit by hand, and small enough that a whole tune fits in a text message. For monophonic melody — which is most of the traditional repertoire — it is considerably faster to write than clicking notes onto a stave.
K comes last
Everything after the key field is treated as music. A header line placed below it will be read as notes.
Mind the default length
Setting L:1/8 rather than L:1/4 saves writing explicit durations throughout a jig or reel.
Test the playback
Hearing the tune back catches wrong octaves and mistyped accidentals far faster than reading does.
Frequently asked questions
What do the header letters mean?
X is the tune number, T the title, M the metre, L the default note length and K the key. K must be the final header line.
How do I write sharps and flats?
Place a caret before a note to raise it, an underscore to lower it, and an equals sign to cancel an accidental from the key signature.
Can ABC handle chords and multiple voices?
Basic chords work using square brackets, and multiple voices are possible with V fields, though ABC is happiest with single-line melody.
Can I export as PDF or MIDI?
Print the rendered score to PDF from your browser. For MIDI, paste the ABC into a dedicated converter.