Pizzicato

Active

Country: Belgium (BE)
Founded: 1990
Developer: Arpège Music
Pricing: Freemium (Light version free; Professional, Notation, Composition Pro, Beginner, and Choir versions paid)
Open source: No
Platforms: Windows, macOS

Indexes

Music Notation

Overview

Pizzicato is a music composition and notation software suite that enables users to write, compose, arrange, and print sheet music with support for various instruments including guitar tablature, drums, percussion, and piano. The software caters to musicians and composers of all skill levels, from beginners learning music theory to professionals orchestrating full arrangements. It provides tools for MIDI and audio recording, score playback, and music theory exploration before final recording and sharing.

Key Features

Sheet Music Notation - Write and print sheet music with support for standard notation across multiple instruments
Guitar Tablature - Dedicated tools for composing and notating guitar TABs alongside standard notation
Drum and Percussion Notation - Specialized notation capabilities for drums and percussion instruments
MIDI and Audio Recording - Record and playback compositions using MIDI and audio formats
Music Theory Learning - Built-in tools and exercises for learning and practicing music theory concepts
Composition Tools - Intuitive tools for composing and arranging music for solo instruments or full orchestras
Score Import/Export - Ability to encode existing scores and work with various file formats
Multiple Instrument Support - Support for piano, solo instruments, choirs, and full orchestral arrangements

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Pizzicato Light	Free	Introductory music software for learning, basic exercises, small scores (1-2 pages), basic MIDI and audio recording
Pizzicato Beginner	Paid	Beginner-level composition and notation tools
Pizzicato Notation	Paid	Full sheet music notation with guitar TABs, drums, percussion, piano, and orchestral support
Pizzicato Composition Pro	Paid	Advanced composition tools for professional orchestration
Pizzicato Professional	Paid	Complete suite with all tools for solo instruments and full orchestra composition

Platforms & Requirements

Pizzicato runs on Windows (2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10) and macOS. Version 3.6.2.3 is noted as the most stable version currently available, while version 4.0 exists as a beta test version. The software can be installed independently across versions.

Integrations & Ecosystem

MIDI recording and playback
Audio recording and playback
Sheet music file import/export
Guitar tablature support
Drum notation compatibility
Score encoding from existing music
File format compatibility with music libraries

Alternatives

App	Difference
MuseScore	Open-source, free notation software with community-driven development and broader platform support
Finale	Professional-grade notation software with more advanced orchestration and publishing features
Sibelius	Industry-standard notation software with extensive engraving capabilities and institutional adoption
Flat.io	Web-based notation editor with cloud collaboration and real-time sharing features

Reputation

Pizzicato is a long-established music notation software (released 1990) that serves both educational and compositional purposes. Users appreciate its intuitive interface and comprehensive toolset for various musical instruments and arrangements. The software maintains active development with multiple product tiers to accommodate different skill levels. However, it has a smaller user base compared to industry leaders like Finale and Sibelius, and some users note that newer versions remain in beta testing phases, suggesting ongoing stability refinement.

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