ReadSheet: ABC to Lead Sheet

DS soft

Contains adsIn-app purchases

About this app

Turn simple text-based music data into beautiful, session-ready lead sheets instantly. Preview your chart, transpose it for different players, and share it with your bandmates on the spot.

ReadSheet is an ABC notation editor and lead sheet renderer for musicians. Write standard ABC notation, use simplified input, or start with notes and chords. Your music is rendered in real time as readable sheet music.

Use it for jazz, bluegrass, Irish folk, traditional music, songwriting, arranging, rehearsal, practice, or sharing charts with other musicians.

■ KEY FEATURES

● ABC Notation Editor & Lead Sheet Renderer

Create practical sheet music from simple text.

・Notes, chords, durations, rests, ties, triplets, repeats, and barlines
・Optional title, key, meter, tempo, composer, and genre
・ABC headers are optional
・Flexible input when durations are incomplete
・Automatic measure fitting

For example:

"Dm7" D F A c | "G7" B4 |

That's enough to create a readable lead sheet.

Use full ABC notation for precise control, or keep your input simple for a quick chart.

● Real-Time Rendering

No "Render" button. Your lead sheet updates as you type.

Write it as text. See it as music.

● Session-Ready Digital Lead Sheets

Turn your phone or tablet into a practical digital music sheet.

・Fullscreen display
・Hide editors and controls with one tap
・Hide system bars
・Keep the screen awake
・Share the rendered chart as a screenshot

Ideal for jam sessions, rehearsals, practice, and performance.

● Transpose for Different Players

Prepare charts for different instruments and vocalists.

・B♭: Tenor Sax, Trumpet
・E♭: Alto Sax, Baritone Sax
・F: French Horn
・Transpose melody for the player's instrument
・Optionally keep chords in concert pitch
・Transpose the entire song for vocalists and other lead players

For example, turn a concert-pitch chart into an E♭ part for an alto saxophonist.

● Playback & Music Practice

Preview your lead sheet directly from the editor.

・Swing/jazz playback
・Adjustable BPM
・Mute melody for improvisation practice
・Mute chords for comping practice

● Chord Symbol Customization

Choose the notation you prefer:

・Half-diminished: m7-5 ⇔ ø
・Minor: m ⇔ -
・Major: Maj ⇔ △ ⇔ M
・Diminished: dim ⇔ o
・Augmented: aug ⇔ +

Adjust chord text size and staff line spacing.

● Chord-Only Mode

Create rhythm charts and practice chord changes without displaying the melody.

● Interactive Music Editing

Tap a note, chord, or measure on the rendered sheet and adjust it through an interactive dialog.

● Save, Share & Collaborate

Keep your charts as simple text and share them instantly.

・Save and load lead sheets
・Share charts as plain text
・Send them through messaging apps, email, or cloud storage
・Let other musicians edit the text and send it back
・Display a clean fullscreen chart or share a screenshot

Because your lead sheet is text-based, it's easy to copy, edit, send, and reuse.

A lead sheet doesn't always need to be a PDF.

● AI Composition Assistant

Optional AI tools can help generate ABC notation and lead sheets.

・Use your own Gemini API key
・Copy ready-to-use prompts for your preferred AI service

AI is optional. ReadSheet is an ABC notation and lead sheet tool first.

■ FOR MUSICIANS

ReadSheet is especially useful for:

・Jazz players and jazz lead sheets
・Bluegrass musicians
・Irish folk and traditional music
・Composers and arrangers
・Vocalists
・Teachers and students
・ABC notation users

From a simple melody and chord chart to a complete ABC notation lead sheet, ReadSheet helps you move quickly from text to readable sheet music.

Write it.
Render it.
Transpose it.
Play it.
Share it.

ReadSheet — turn text into a lead sheet, ready for the session.

What’s new

Improve rendering.
Introduced ad-free in-app purchases.
Stabilizing the quality of AI-compose.
Update UI.
Fine-tune swing playback.
Implemented multi version management functionality.
Highlight the playback section.
Change app name to ReadSheet: ABC to Lead Sheet
Fine-tune UI.
Highlighting of edited areas.
Implemented automatic density adjustment for rendering.
Implemented Bass Clef view mode.
Implemented Dark Theme.
Fine-tune UI.
ABC Notation: Native support for standard ABC notation.