Format guide
MusicXML
MusicXML notation
MusicXML is the lingua franca of digital sheet music, XML schema designed by Recordare (now MakeMusic, makers of Finale). Carries staves, notes, articulations, dynamics, lyrics, and layout in a way that survives transfer between notation programs (Finale, Sibelius, Dorico, MuseScore). Most digital sheet music sites (musicnotes.com, sheetmusicplus.com) sell MusicXML alongside PDF.
How to open a MusicXML file
Finale, Sibelius, Dorico, MuseScore, Notion, StaffPad, every modern notation app. Plain XML in any editor.
Primary use
Sheet music interchange between notation programs.
Convert other formats to MusicXML
Convert MusicXML to other formats
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