Freedom251 › Music notation software
Pizzicato
by Pizzicato
What Pizzicato is
Pizzicato Professional is desktop software for writing sheet music, composing, and studying music theory on Windows and macOS. Its notation tools cover note entry, chords, lyrics, score layout, playback, and audio-to-MIDI-to-score conversion. Composition features include melody and harmony tools, music vectors, accompaniment, and a score arranger. The software also provides MIDI sequencing and effects, audio editing, sound creation, virtual synthesizers, and a sound library. MusicXML supports score exchange, while scores can be exported to PDF and MIDI is supported. The maker describes use from solo parts to full orchestral scores, in styles including classical and techno. Pizzicato can run independently or alongside other music software. The download version costs €195, paid once and includes all versions’ features. There is a 30-day trial, but no free plan.
Who it suits
It suits musicians, composers, and students working on notation, composition, or theory. The maker positions Professional for solo through orchestral scores and multiple styles.
What it does well
- Works on Windows and macOS
- Supports MusicXML and MIDI
- Includes audio-to-score conversion
- Offers composition and notation tools
- Exports scores to PDF
What to know first
- No free plan
- Evaluation version disables printing, saving, and exporting
- Download costs €195, paid once
- VST3 support is described as preliminary beta
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Pizzicato Light | Introductory notation and learning edition · Basic MIDI and audio recording features | On request |
| Pizzicato Guitar | Notation for guitar and other fretted instruments · Tablature and chord diagrams | On request |
| Pizzicato Beginner | Score editing for small ensembles · Supports up to 16 instruments | On request |
| Pizzicato Notation | Full score editing and printing · Supports guitar tablature, drums, piano and orchestral notation | On request |
| Pizzicato Professional | Combines notation and composition features · Includes music theory course features | On request |
| Pizzicato Professional — download version | All Pizzicato versions’ features · Windows & Mac | €195, paid once |
As arpegemusic.com lists them, read 19 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Pizzicato Professional combines notation, composition, MIDI, and audio tools for desktop music work. Its paid download includes all listed versions’ features, while evaluation restrictions mean users should review the trial limits first.
Facts from Pizzicato's own pages
- Composition tools
- Composition tools include melody and harmony tools, music vectors, accompaniment, and a score arranger. · arpegemusic.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Demo limits
- The free evaluation version disables printing, saving, and exporting; a Pizzicato Light shareware version can be used for one month with printing and saving. · arpegemusic.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- desktop · arpegemusic.com, 19 Sept 2026
- File exchange
- Pizzicato supports score exchange through MusicXML and can export scores to PDF. · arpegemusic.com, 9 Oct 2026
- For whom
- The maker describes Professional as suitable for writing music from solo parts to full orchestral scores, across classical and techno music. · arpegemusic.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1990 · arpegemusic.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- No · arpegemusic.com, 19 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The maker says Pizzicato can be used as a standalone product or as a companion tool to other music software. · arpegemusic.com, 9 Oct 2026
- MIDI and audio
- The maker describes MIDI sequencing and effects, audio editing, sound creation, virtual synthesizers, and a sound library. · arpegemusic.com, 9 Oct 2026
- MIDI support
- Yes · arpegemusic.com, 19 Sept 2026
- MusicXML support
- Yes · arpegemusic.com, 19 Sept 2026
- Notation
- Features include note entry, chords, lyrics, score layout, playback, and audio-to-MIDI-to-score conversion. · arpegemusic.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Parts extraction
- Yes · arpegemusic.com, 19 Sept 2026
- Security
- I found no security or compliance statement on the maker pages checked. · arpegemusic.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker directs users with technical questions to [email protected]. · arpegemusic.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Supported systems
- The product list identifies the English Professional download as available for Windows and Mac. · arpegemusic.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Tablature support
- Yes · arpegemusic.com, 19 Sept 2026
- VST3
- The maker’s version history says Pizzicato 4 added support for VST3 sound banks; it describes that release as preliminary beta software. · arpegemusic.com, 9 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Pizzicato Professional is music software for writing sheet music, composing music, and studying music theory. · arpegemusic.com, 9 Oct 2026
Where Pizzicato stands on Freedom251
- Music notation software#30 of 38