Blank Sheet Music and Staff Paper
Make printable music manuscript paper: single staves, grand staff for piano or guitar tablature, in the staff size that suits your writing.
Print at “Actual size” or 100% scale so the spacing comes out exactly as set. Everything is made in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Ready-made Staff paper PDFs
Just need one sheet? Download a finished template in Letter or A4.
10-stave manuscript 
12-stave manuscript 
Grand staff (piano) 
Large staff for beginners 
Guitar tab How to make blank sheet music
- Choose the type Single staves for melody and most instruments, grand staff for piano, or 6-line guitar tab.
- Set staves and size Pick how many staves fit on the page and how large each staff is.
- Add bar lines Leave staves open or pre-draw 2 to 5 measures per line.
- Print or download Download a PDF with as many pages as your piece needs, or print it directly.
Staff, grand staff or tab?
A staff (also called a stave) is the set of five horizontal lines and four spaces that music is written on. Each line and space stands for a pitch, set by the clef you draw at the start. Single staves suit voice, flute, violin, trumpet and any instrument that reads one line of music.
A grand staff joins two staves with a brace and a line at the left edge: normally a treble staff on top for the right hand and a bass staff below for the left hand. Piano, harp and organ music is written on grand staves, and bar lines run through both staves so the hands stay aligned.
Guitar tablature uses six lines, one per string. The top line is the high E string and the bottom line is the low E string; you write fret numbers on the lines instead of note heads. The “TAB” mark at the start tells players which system they are reading.
Choosing a staff size
| Setting | Staff height | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Small | about 7 mm | Fitting 12 or more staves, orchestral sketches, experienced copyists |
| Medium | about 8.5 mm | Everyday composing, theory homework, lead sheets |
| Large | about 10.5 mm | Clear handwritten parts, teachers preparing examples |
| Extra large | about 14 mm | Young children and beginners learning to draw notes |
Ten medium staves on a Letter page is the most common layout for blank manuscript paper. If you write chords or lyrics under each staff, choose fewer staves so there is more room between them.
Tips for writing on staff paper
- Use a pencil first: note heads should fill a space or sit centered on a line, and stems should be about one octave (three and a half spaces) long.
- Pre-drawn bar lines are handy for rhythm exercises and simple songs with a fixed number of measures per line.
- Black lines photocopy and scan best. Gray lines look softer but may fade on older copiers.
- Print at 100% so the staff spacing stays even across the page.
Frequently asked questions
How many staves are on standard staff paper?
Most blank manuscript paper has 10 or 12 staves per Letter or A4 page. Use fewer staves for beginners or when you need space for lyrics.
What is the difference between staff paper and sheet music?
Staff paper is blank: just the lines. Sheet music is staff paper with music already written on it. People searching for blank sheet music usually mean staff paper.
Can I print grand staff paper for piano?
Yes. Choose “Grand staff (piano)” as the type. Each system has two staves joined by a brace and a line at the left.
Do the staves include clefs?
No, the staves are left open so you can write treble, bass, alto or tenor clefs, or none at all for rhythm work.
Can I make guitar tab paper?
Yes. Choose “Guitar tab (6 lines)”. Each tab staff has six lines, one per string, with TAB marked at the start.
Lined paper 
Blank PDF 
Graph paper 
Dot grid paper