Top Free Sheet Music Sites

for printable piano sheet music

Some free sheet music directory sites are definitely better than others!

If you've done any searching for printable piano sheet music, you know what I mean. Flashing ads, banners, links to other sites... nothing but confusing.

Many pianists, after searching a bit, find only hard-to-navigate sites and poor quality downloads and decide it's too much bother.

They head off to the local music store to buy the music instead.

But the truth is - there's so much great, free sheet music available online!

From piano beginner to advanced player, there's something for everyone.

Start your search here with the very best directories. I've sifted through the online sheet music directories for you and chosen the best - and told you why. You'll find complete descriptions of each site. The good and the bad. The details that matter!

Chosen For: Terrific navigation, friendly interface, and personal reviews

Free Sheet Music Guide is my top pick for a free sheet music directory.

I love the simple, clean interface. Front and center is the main menu - in red. Couldn't be easier!

But even better is the fact that each entry in this directory is personally reviewed. You get information on instrumentation, categories, and catalog size. Following that is a paragraph reviewing the site, including helpful hints on getting around the site and other good information.

The tone of the writing is friendly and down-to-earth. The information you want is in the center, advertising is off to the side - that's good.

This site focuses on piano and guitar music. Categories include classical, Christian, Christmas, original (modern), pop/rock, and play by ear.

Excellent information, excellently organized. Make this your first choice as a free sheet music directory!

Top Pick #2: Free Scores

Chosen For: Huge, comprehensive database of links for all instruments

Free Scores is... well... big. The tagline says, "World of Free Sheet Music," and they're not kidding.

You will find listings for every kind of free sheet music site imaginable: from university research sites on ancient music, to more commercial sites, to small sites of international composers. For every instrument you can think of - how about zither? :-)

The piano database alone has over 600 pages - with at least 20 listings per page! You can narrow down the listings by searching for files in specific formats (PDF, Scorch, PS, etc.). It's enough to keep you busy and interested for a very long time.

Since this directory will include anyone with legal free sheet music, it's a great resource for small treasure troves of music on obscure sites.

On the downside...I'd prefer a simpler home page. This one seems to go on... and on. The original Free Scores site is in French, so on the English version you will find typos.

Since the sites in this directory are submitted by site owners through a form, and not chosen or reviewed by the site owner, there are some duds. Site listings range from brief descriptions given at submission - to no description at all. As a result, using this directory can be somewhat frustrating.

However, the sheer amount of information is worth it! I like to think of it as though I'm in the storeroom of some amazing library, digging through stacks of music hardly anyone knows exist! :-)

Top Pick #3: Musica Viva

Chosen For: Excellent category choices, low amount of advertising

Musica Viva is both a free sheet music directory site and a sheet music library. Its nice selection of categories and divisions include: instruments, musical genres, stage music, film music, educational music, children's music, nationalities, and holidays.

I especially like all the different nationalities represented, and that you can search for educational and children's sheet music!

This site also has a small music encyclopedia (good stuff) and midi files for your listening pleasure.

The advertising is limited and placed around the sides of the site - so the information you want is front and center.

On the downside... you can print sheet music for free. But it will have a banner, and you can't download and save it. In order to get banner-free music you can save, you have to become a member for $30 per year. As an entrepreneur myself, I understand. :-) But it would be nice to print the music without a banner, even if I can't save it.

Also, you'll find some broken links. I give kudos to the site owner for even trying to list such fly-by-night sites as those with Anime sheet music. Here today, gone tomorrow! But it can be disappointing to see a link that looks really interesting only to find the site no longer exists.

What About The Rest?

"But wait!" I can hear you saying. "There are so many more free music sites out there! And some are in the top 10 when I look on Google!"

You're right. But remember, I promised to steer you clear of confusing sites where you'd get lost trying to find your way around. And I promised to weed out sites with obnoxious advertising and animated, flashing banners.

I also left off sites that require you to take surveys or pay money to join. After all, you wanted free sheet music directory sites, right? Giving away personal or demographic information to a site just for access isn't free in my book.

More free sheet music resources and recommendations...

Free sheet music on this site
Christmas sheet music
Celtic sheet music
Free kids piano music
Video game sheet music
Anime sheet music

Happy searching - happy downloading - and happy piano playing!

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