Guitar Pro

Guitarists have long written music down as tablature, a notation that shows which fret and string to play instead of which note to read. Guitar Pro is desktop software for reading, writing and sharing that kind of notation, together with standard sheet music. It runs on Windows and macOS, the company says it has been downloaded more than fifteen million times since 1997, and it also describes itself as the world leader in tablature editing.

Writing scores for more than the guitar

The editor handles guitar and bass parts on instruments with anywhere from three to ten strings, along with ukulele, banjo, percussion, keyboards, drums, strings and wind instruments. A user can build a tablature for each instrument, scroll through the score, write new music and hear the arrangement played back straight away. Realistic audio rendering and preset sounds are included, with some tuned to resemble the sound of well-known artists.

Tools for practising

Several teaching aids sit inside the software. There is a metronome, with a visual option in the latest version, a chord dictionary, a scale library, a tuner and virtual instruments. Players can slow a passage down and raise the tempo step by step, loop a difficult section, and generate drum and piano backing tracks to play along with. Scale diagrams can be displayed on a tab. A transposition feature makes it possible to move a song from one instrument to another.

Guitar Pro 8

The current release is Guitar Pro 8, which the company says follows user feedback and keeps the same working feel as before. Its additions include attaching an audio track to a score, the visual metronome, easier customisation of tabs, scale diagrams and quicker tab editing. Owners of earlier licences are offered an upgrade deal.

The mySongBook library

The company also runs mySongBook, an online library of scores made by its own team. Songs can be bought one at a time, or users can take a subscription that gives access to the whole library. The site additionally carries news and free music lessons.

Mobile use and trial

The software suite is available as a mobile app for iOS and Android, so a tablature player can be used on a computer, tablet or phone. A free trial is offered for the first seven days.

Who uses it

The company lists music teachers, transcribers, composers, songwriters, editors of tablature books, solo musicians and band members among its users, and says the software suits musicians at every level, whether they compose, learn existing pieces or just rehearse.

Guitar Pro is a desktop program for reading, writing and sharing tablature and standard notation. It runs on Windows and macOS, and the company says it has been downloaded over fifteen million times since 1997.

What Guitar Pro does

• Score editing: notation and tab for guitar, bass, ukulele, banjo, percussion and many other instruments.
• Practice tools: metronome, chord and scale libraries, tuner and virtual instruments.
• Playback: adjustable tempo, looped sections and generated drum and piano backing tracks.
• Transposition: moving a song from one instrument to another.
• mySongBook: an online library of scores that can be bought individually or accessed through a subscription.

Customers and markets

Musicians of all levels who want to write songs, learn pieces or practise with backing tracks.

Key facts

• Platforms: Windows and macOS
• Current version: Guitar Pro 8
• Launched: 1997