What does Frettify convert?
Frettify turns readable sheet music, lead sheets, PDF scores, and MusicXML files into editable guitar, four-string bass, four-course standard mandolin, standard high-G ukulele, or five-string banjo tablature.
FAQ
Questions about converting sheet music to fretted-instrument tab.
Here are practical answers about guitar, four-string bass, four-course mandolin, standard high-G ukulele, five-string banjo, editing, playback, and source quality.
Frettify answers
Which mandolin and ukulele tunings are supported?
Mandolin uses four tablature courses in standard G3–D4–A4–E5 tuning. Ukulele uses standard re-entrant high-G C6 tuning (G4–C4–E4–A4), with the high g shown in lowercase where labels distinguish the octave. Low-G ukulele, alternate mandolin tunings, and custom tunings are not yet supported.
Does Frettify work in the browser?
Yes. Public pages are lightweight, and the conversion studio, tab editor, library, billing, and tab viewer tools run from the browser-based studio.
Can I export or view playable tab files?
Frettify includes a Tab Viewer workspace for saved tab data, so converted tabs can move into a playable browser practice flow.
Can I download my tab?
Yes. From the Tab Editor page, you can download your tab as a Guitar Pro file or a PDF.
How do I play a tab one, two, or three octaves lower?
Open a MusicXML-backed tab in the Tab Editor or Tab Viewer, choose Play lower near the audio controls, and move the Play tab lower slider from Original pitch to 1, 2, or 3 octaves lower. Use the apply button to rebuild the tab and playback 12, 24, or 36 semitones lower; the key and intervals stay the same, and exported standard notation remains at the original written octave. If a setting moves notes below the range of your selected strings, choose a smaller shift or change the Allowed strings selection.
What source files work best?
Clean digital scores, MusicXML files, lead sheets, and readable sheet music PDFs are the best starting points. Clear phone photos can work too, but low-quality scans, blurry photos, handwritten notation, and dense markings may need manual cleanup.
Can I upload a picture of sheet music taken with my phone?
Yes. Frettify accepts phone photos of scores as image uploads. For best results, place the page flat, use bright even lighting, avoid shadows and glare, keep the full page in frame, hold the phone parallel to the paper, and make sure the staff lines and notes are sharp before uploading.
How do Frettify credits work?
New accounts get 1 free conversion credit for one PDF/image page or one Guitar Pro file. After that, you can choose a monthly subscription for recurring work or buy a one-time credit pack through Stripe. One-time credits do not reset monthly. MusicXML imports require paid credits or a subscription.
What counts as a conversion?
PDF and image conversion is counted by page: a five-page PDF uses five credits. Guitar Pro to sheet music costs one credit per file, regardless of page count. A MusicXML import uses one paid credit or the MusicXML allowance included with a subscription. One-time credits do not reset monthly.
Does a 20-page Guitar Pro score still cost only one credit?
Yes. One Guitar Pro file costs one conversion credit whether it renders as one page, 20 pages, or more. Track changes, notation/tab display, playback, and printing or saving as PDF within that conversion have no extra charge. Starting a new conversion costs another credit. Retrying the same conversion after a connection error does not charge twice, and files that cannot be parsed or rendered are not charged.
Are my Guitar Pro files uploaded when I use a credit?
Yes, after a successful conversion. Guitar Pro files are parsed and rendered in your browser first. Frettify then stores the original file, filename, and score title in your signed-in account's private library so you can reopen, play, and download it later without another credit. Files that cannot be parsed or rendered are not stored or charged. Sign in and choose Convert for 1 credit at /guitar-pro-to-sheet-music.
How many pages can we upload at a time?
You can upload up to 20 pages at a time for PDF sheet music conversion. Each page uses one conversion credit.
Where do I start converting music?
Use Frettify Studio to upload a lead sheet or readable score, run conversion, review the generated tab, and open the result in the editor. Start from /sheet-music-to-guitar-tab for guitar, /sheet-music-to-bass-tab for four-string bass, /sheet-music-to-banjo-tab for five-string open-G banjo, /sheet-music-to-mandolin-tab for four-course mandolin, or /sheet-music-to-ukulele-tab for standard high-G ukulele so the matching instrument is already selected. To open an existing Guitar Pro file as sheet music, use /guitar-pro-to-sheet-music.
How do I contact Frettify support?
Email support@frettify.com for help with your account, billing, saved tabs, or sheet music conversion workflow.
Can Frettify convert PDF sheet music to guitar tab?
Yes. Frettify can work from readable sheet music PDFs by recognizing the notation, generating MusicXML, and turning the result into editable guitar tablature.
What is the best way to convert sheet music to guitar tabs online?
The best results usually come from clean digital scores or readable PDFs. Frettify lets you upload the score, generate a tab draft, review warnings, and edit the tablature in the browser.
Does Frettify support MusicXML to guitar tab conversion?
Yes. If you already have a MusicXML file from notation software, Frettify can use that structured score data as a cleaner starting point than PDF recognition.
How accurate is automatic sheet music to tab conversion?
Accuracy depends on the quality of the source score. Clean notation usually produces a stronger draft, while scans, photos, handwritten music, or dense markings may need manual cleanup.
Can I edit the guitar tab after conversion?
Yes. Frettify is designed to produce an editable tab draft so you can adjust string choices, fret positions, and layout after the first conversion.
Can I use Frettify to create bass tabs?
Yes. Frettify creates real four-string bass tabs in standard E1–A1–D2–G2 tuning, not a guitar tab with unused strings. Start from /sheet-music-to-bass-tab or /pdf-to-bass-tab so Bass is preselected, or choose Bass in Frettify Studio before you convert. The output is a four-line bass tab, and treble-register or guitar-clef notation can be fitted down into a playable bass range.
How is Frettify bass tab different from guitar tab?
Score recognition is the same. Bass output uses four strings in E1 A1 D2 G2, a four-line tab, and bass-range fitting. Guitar output uses six-string EADGBE tab. Switch instruments before you convert, or start from /sheet-music-to-bass-tab versus /sheet-music-to-guitar-tab.
Can I convert piano or guitar sheet music to bass tab?
Yes. Open /sheet-music-to-bass-tab or /pdf-to-bass-tab so Bass is already selected, then upload the sheet music. If the written part sits above the bass register, Frettify can shift it down so the line is playable on four-string bass. Dense piano arrangements may still need simplification.
Do I need MusicXML to create bass tabs?
No. There is no separate MusicXML-to-bass-tab route. Open /sheet-music-to-bass-tab, upload a readable sheet music PDF, score photo, or lead sheet, and generate tab. MusicXML still works from the studio if you already have a notation export.
Can I use Frettify to create banjo tabs?
Yes. Frettify creates five-string open-G banjo tabs in gDGBD tuning, including the short re-entrant fifth string. Start from /sheet-music-to-banjo-tab or /pdf-to-banjo-tab so 5-string Banjo is preselected, or choose 5-string Banjo in Frettify Studio before you convert. It does not generate tenor or plectrum banjo tab.
How is Frettify banjo tab different from guitar tab?
Score recognition is the same. Banjo output uses five strings in open-G gDGBD, a five-line tab, and the short drone fifth string. Guitar output uses six-string EADGBE tab. Switch instruments before you convert, or start from /sheet-music-to-banjo-tab versus /sheet-music-to-guitar-tab.
Can I convert guitar, fiddle, or piano sheet music to banjo tab?
Yes. Open /sheet-music-to-banjo-tab or /pdf-to-banjo-tab so 5-string Banjo is already selected, then upload the sheet music. Frettify maps the written melody onto open G. It gives you an editable draft, not an automatic Scruggs-roll or clawhammer arrangement, and dense piano parts may still need simplification.
Do I need MusicXML to create banjo tabs?
No. There is no separate MusicXML-to-banjo-tab route. Open /sheet-music-to-banjo-tab, upload a readable sheet music PDF, score photo, or lead sheet, and generate tab. MusicXML still works from the studio if you already have a notation export.
Can I use Frettify to create mandolin tabs?
Yes. Frettify creates four-course standard mandolin tabs in G3–D4–A4–E5, not eight separate strings. Start from /sheet-music-to-mandolin-tab or /pdf-to-mandolin-tab so Mandolin is preselected, or choose Mandolin in Frettify Studio before you convert. Alternate mandolin tunings are not supported yet.
How is Frettify mandolin tab different from guitar tab?
Score recognition is the same. Mandolin output uses four courses in standard GDAE, a four-line tab, and fifths tuning. Guitar output uses six-string EADGBE tab. Switch instruments before you convert, or start from /sheet-music-to-mandolin-tab versus /sheet-music-to-guitar-tab.
Can I use Frettify to create ukulele tabs?
Yes. Frettify creates standard high-G ukulele tabs in re-entrant gCEA. Start from /sheet-music-to-ukulele-tab or /pdf-to-ukulele-tab so Ukulele is preselected, or choose Ukulele in Frettify Studio before you convert. Low-G ukulele is not supported.
Is Frettify ukulele tab high-G or low-G?
High-G only. The fourth string is re-entrant G4, shown as a lowercase g where labels distinguish octaves, and it is higher in pitch than the C and E strings. Low-G is not silently substituted. Open /sheet-music-to-ukulele-tab to start with Ukulele selected.
Do I need MusicXML to create mandolin or ukulele tabs?
No. There are no separate MusicXML-to-mandolin-tab or MusicXML-to-ukulele-tab routes. Open /sheet-music-to-mandolin-tab or /sheet-music-to-ukulele-tab, upload a readable sheet music PDF, score photo, or lead sheet, and generate tab.
Can Frettify convert piano sheet music to guitar tab?
Frettify is best for melody lines, lead sheets, and guitar-friendly notation. Dense piano arrangements may need simplification before the tab feels playable on guitar.
Can I use Frettify for lead sheets?
Yes. Lead sheets are a strong use case because they often contain clear melodies and chord context that can be turned into practical guitar, four-string bass, mandolin, high-G ukulele, or five-string banjo tablature.
Do I need Guitar Pro or other notation software?
No. Frettify runs in the browser and includes conversion, editing, library, and tab viewer workflows without requiring desktop notation software.
What file types should I use for the best conversion?
Use clean PDF scores or MusicXML files when possible. MusicXML is usually cleaner because it contains structured notation data instead of scanned image data.
Can I save converted tabs in my library?
Yes. Frettify connects conversion with a saved library workflow so you can return to generated tabs, edit them, and continue into the tab viewer.
Start converting music in Frettify Studio.
Start with a lead sheet or readable score and use Frettify Studio to generate, review, and edit guitar, bass, mandolin, high-G ukulele, or banjo tablature.
Open Frettify Studio