Why Purchase Sheet Music Online?

Online sheet music makes learning to play new songs more accessible than ever. As few as ten years ago, the only option for ordering sheet music was to go to a physical store or obtain a catalog and place your order, either online or by phone and wait patiently by the door for it to arrive via snail-mail. Fast-forward to today and not only can you peruse sheet music catalogs and order online, you can often download your selection directly to your computer and print it off for immediate use.

We’ve reviewed a wide range of offerings for purchasing and downloading sheet music for many instruments in many different genres. There are a variety of options for buying the sheet music – most services offer a limited selection of free downloads to whet your whistle. Some charge by the purchase, others operate on a membership basis.

Downloading and printing sheet music is a fantastically easy way to obtain sheet music. If you are shopping for standard classical repertoire you will be able to find a fairly good selection, though you will have to look to some of the more traditional sheet music sellers to find the publishers and editions that have been trusted for hundreds of years. Not all online sheet music stores offer solely downloadable music, but with the advances in shipping, biting fingernails waiting for the mailman is no longer an issue. If you need the music next day and you’re willing to pay the cost, it will be shipped to you the next day. Also be sure to read our article related to sheet music.

What to Look for When Buying Sheet Music Online

Inventory Selection
This category reflects another easy way to decide at a glance which online sheet music site has what you need: whether you’re seeking the Beatles’ greatest hits or a beautiful Chopin sonata, our side-by-side matrix shows you which genre each store carries. Searching for a voice duet? Our matrix will narrow down your search. The best stores we researched have a nice mix of contemporary and classical works. They have scores and arrangements for marching bands, string quartets, piano solos and more. Basically, our favorite stores like Sheet Music Plus and Sheet Music Direct have every kind of music you could possibly imagine.

Website Features
Because their website is their storefront, most online sheet music stores have aesthetically pleasing homepages and accompanying content pages that are very user friendly. Our top reviewed sites divided their content by artist, composer and instrument making it easy to browse. Other awesome features include free downloads or free trials, order tracking, memberships, music lists, level guidelines, MIDI and/or MP3 previews, digital folios and preview or downloads facilitated by Sibelius Scorch. Some of these sites even offer rebates for music teachers, which we think is a great idea.

Ease of Use
When buying online sheet music, it’s all about being able to find exactly what you need and gain access to it immediately – otherwise you would be content to sludge through your local music store. Look for sites that have easy search functions or are organized by artist, skill level and instrument. The more organized the site, the easier it is to find your music. Also, choose an online sheet music store that doesn’t make you jump through hoops to make a purchase or to download an arrangement. We liked those sites where you simply log in, choose the music you like, checkout, download and print. No jumping required.

Help & Support
Online shopping can be scary if you don’t trust the store’s security. Look for online sheet music stores that have SSL protection on all transactions and allow their previous customers to rate their performance. These two features point to the most secure, most customer service-oriented sites. Also, give preference to the stores that have toll free numbers you can call with any questions or specific help email addresses. Just because you’re stocking a virtual shopping cart doesn’t mean you don’t deserve top-notch customer service.

If you are still driving, parking, looking, ordering and waiting for your sheet music, you are wasting time. Purchasing sheet music online skips all of the tediousness and takes you straight to playing beautiful melodies. Don’t believe us? See for yourself by checking out our individual reviews of several online sheet music stores. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don’t Have To.™

 
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Buying sheet music online is easier, faster and more convenient than ever! Start your search now with these top online sheet music stores.

Why Purchase Sheet Music Online?

2012 Sheet Music Review Comparisons

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TopTenREVIEWS  |  Web Services  |  Home / Lifestyles  |  Sheet Music Review
Rank #1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9#10
Excellent score   Excellent
Very good score   Very Good
Good score   Good
Fair score   Fair
Poor score   Poor
Sheet Music Plus Musicnotes Sheet Music Direct Music Dispatch Penders' Music Co. FreeHand Music Virtual Sheet Music 8notes.com Music-Scores Sheet Music Digital
Sheet Music Plus Musicnotes Sheet Music Direct Music Dispatch Penders' Music Co. FreeHand Music Virtual Sheet Music 8notes.com Music-Scores Sheet Music Digital
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Overall Rating Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good
Ratings
Inventory Selection Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good
Website Features Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good
Ease of Use Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good
Help & Support Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good
View Specifications Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
View Screenshots View Sheet Music Plus screenshots View Musicnotes screenshots View Sheet Music Direct screenshots View Music Dispatch screenshots View Penders' Music Co. screenshots View FreeHand Music screenshots View Virtual Sheet Music screenshots View 8notes.com screenshots View Music-Scores screenshots View Sheet Music Digital screenshots
Website Features
Rebates for music teachers Check Mark          Check Mark
Gift certificates Check Mark          
Check order status Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark      
Free downloads   Check Mark     Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Complete product lists Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark  
Level guidelines/Skill levels Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark  
Sales/Clearance Check Mark    Check Mark Check Mark      
Music preview Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Sibelius Scorch Check Mark   Check Mark      Check Mark   Check Mark
Digital folios    Check Mark        Check Mark
Ease of Use
Downloads   Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Top sellers Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Catalog      Check Mark   Check Mark    
Browse by song Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark
Browse by composer Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Browse by instrument Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Browse by skill level Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark   Check Mark  
Account Type
Per piece of music Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
By subscription/membership   Check Mark      Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Download Includes
PDF   Check Mark Check Mark     Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
MP3        Check Mark Check Mark   
MIDI       Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Piano Music
Easy Piano Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Piano method books Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Piano songbooks   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Piano solo   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Piano duets Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Piano trios Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Piano accompaniment Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Guitar Music
Guitar songbooks Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark  
Guitar tab Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark   
Easy guitar Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Acoustic guitar Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark   
Bass guitar Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark  
Classical guitar Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   
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Voice Arrangements
Voice songbooks Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Vocal solos Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Vocal duets Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Karaoke Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark   
Other Instruments
Cello Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Clarinet Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Drums Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark   
Flute Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Folk Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark   
Sax Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Trombone Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Trumpet Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Violin Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
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Ensemble Arrangements
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Concert Band Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark   Check Mark
Jazz Ensemble Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark   Check Mark
Marching Band Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark   
Orchestra Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Small Ensembles Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
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Genres
Broadway Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Classical Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Country Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Holiday Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Jazz Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Latin Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark   Check Mark
Pop Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Religious Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Rock Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
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Instructional Materials
Big Note Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark Check Mark
Blank staff paper Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark    
CD sheet music Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark     Check Mark
DVDs Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark      
Fake books Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark      Check Mark
Method books Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark     Check Mark Check Mark
Teach yourself books Check Mark    Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark Check Mark  
Help & Support
Email    Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Forums Check Mark Check Mark      Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Phone Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark
Mailing list/Newsletter Check Mark   Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark
Copyright information Check Mark       Check Mark    Check Mark
User reviews Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark     Check Mark Check Mark   
Shipping information Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark   
FAQs Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark  
 
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