The Best Public Domain Sheet Music
With so many titles to choose from, we’re going to share some of our favorites!
When it comes to sheet music, the term “public domain” refers to pieces that are not protected by copyright laws. Whether the laws never applied or have simply expired, what this essentially means is: free sheet music! You can own, record, arrange and perform public domain pieces without worry, since they are not “owned” by anyone. And the best part is, every year, more pieces reach their copyright expiration date. The catalog of public domain music is always increasing!
However, there is one major downside to public domain sheet music. Since no one has ownership of the music, the arrangements are often incorrect, awkwardly formatted, and hard to read. In the wormhole of poorly scanned pieces of sheet music across the internet, it can be incredibly difficult to find an accurate transcription. This is where Musicnotes Editions come in.
Musicnotes Editions are public domain pieces that have been expertly arranged as digital sheet music files. These arrangements are offered in multiple keys, for multiple instruments, regardless of what instrument the piece was originally written for. You can sync the songs instantly to your Musicnotes app and print off as many copies as you like, in all available keys! It’s time to stop squinting at smudgy PDFs and get yourself some high-quality sheet music.
With so many Musicnotes Editions to choose from, we’re going to share some of our favorites!
Moonlight Sonata
Moonlight Sonata is the nickname for “Sonata No. 14, Op.27, No.2 Quasi una fantasia” by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is one of Beethoven’s most famous pieces and has become standard repertoire for many pianists. Though the first movement is arguably the most popular, all three movements are public domain. With arrangements for advanced, easy, and beginning piano, in addition to arrangements for more instruments, Moonlight Sonata is one of those pieces you just can’t pass up!
Click here to find your perfect Moonlight Sonata arrangement.
Clair de Lune
Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” has become a beloved piece both in and out of the classical music world. Appearing in countless films and television series, this enchanting piece has found its way into millions of unsuspecting Spotify playlists.
Click here to browse “Clair de Lune” sheet music arrangements for every instrument and skill level.
Amazing Grace
When it comes to songs nearly everyone can sing, there aren’t very many. The traditional hymn, “Amazing Grace,” is one of these songs, and the best part about grabbing the Musicnotes Edition is your access to eight different keys. But don’t worry, we’ve got arrangements for every instrument as well.
Click here to find the perfect “Amazing Grace” arrangement for you!
Canon in D
Any weddings coming up? Johann Pachelbel’s famous “Canon in D” typically falls in the lap of most classical musicians at some point or another. Though commonly played on stringed instruments, we love every instrument, so we thought we’d make an arrangement for each of them!
Click here to find your perfect “Canon in D” arrangement.
Ave Maria [Franz Schubert]
Right now, vocalists everywhere are giving us their nod of approval. With our Musicnotes Edition of “Ave Maria,” you can choose from nine keys, so this song is yours to own no matter what voice part you may sing be! And since we’re not biased, we’ve taken the liberty of creating sheet music arrangements for every instrument and skill level too.
Click here to find your perfect Schubert “Ave Maria” arrangement.
Ave Maria [Johann Sebastian Bach/Charles Gounod]
In 1853 famed French composer Charles Gounod improvised a melody over J. S. Bach’s “Prelude No.1 in C major” from the Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1. Originally played by a violin or cello, soon the Latin text of the Ava Maria was set to the melody, and an instant sacred hit was born.
This version of the “Ave Maria” is a fixture at weddings, funerals, and church services. At Musicnotes it’s available for just about every voice or instrument in a variety of keys. Find the one that is just right for your special occasion.
Click here to browse Bach’s “Ave Maria” sheet music arrangements for every instrument and skill level.
Für Elise
What better piece to strengthen your fourth and fifth piano playing fingers than Beethoven’s “Für Elise?” While the complete piano arrangement of “Für Elise” is considered a more intermediate level, we’ve arranged easy and beginner versions for the millions of students who will be taking this piece on in the future.
Click here to browse “Für Elise” sheet music arrangements for all instruments and skill levels.
Danny Boy
Most musicians will stumble across “Danny Boy” at some point in their career. The lyric, written by Frederic Weatherly in 1913, is sung to the melody of the traditional Irish song, “Londonderry Air.” This popular Irish tune is perfect for beginning students, so we’ve arranged easy and beginner versions that all students will be sure to enjoy.
With arrangements for vocalists and guitarists as well, click here to find the perfect arrangement for you.
Gymnopédie I, II, and III
Eric Satie’s Gymnopédie compositions are versatile piano pieces that can be played by both intermediate and advanced musicians. With simple right-hand melodies accompanied by strong left-hand chords, these pieces allow unlimited room for expression in your playing. Though “Gymnopédie No. 1” is easily the most popular, don’t forget to grab “Gymnopédie No. 2” and “Gymnopédie No. 3” to complete the trifecta. We’ve also included a beginner piano arrangement, as well as an arrangement for guitarists–because pianists shouldn’t have all the fun!
Click here to find your perfect Gymnopédie arrangement.
Nocturne in E Flat Major, Opus 9, No. 2
You may not recognize the title of this piece right away, but simply listen, and you’ll instantly recognize this Chopin masterpiece. Chopin’s “Nocturne in E Flat Major (Op. 9, No. 2)” is for advanced musicians, but nearly every pianist aspires to conquer it. We’ve also put together an arrangement for guitarists who want to take on the challenge!
Click here to find your perfect “Nocturne in E Flat Major” arrangement.
Honorable Mentions
We’ve only touched the tip of the Musicnotes Editions iceberg, and there are a few pieces we don’t want to skip over! Make sure to check out all of the incredible arrangements for:
- “Prelude and Fugue No.1 in C Major” by Johann Sebastian Bach
- “Maple Leaf Rag” by Scott Joplin
- “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Traditional
- “O mio babbino caro” from Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini
- “Caro mio ben” by Tommaso Giordani
- “The Entertainer” by Scott Joplin
- “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” African-American Spiritual
And if you still haven’t found your perfect public domain piece, click here to browse all of our Musicnotes Editions!
FAQ
- Is Mozart’s sheet music public domain? Since Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived from 1756-1791, his music belongs to the era that predates Austrian copyright laws and is therefore public domain. However, just because his music is public domain doesn’t mean all the editions are public domain. For example, if a music publishing house hired an editor to create new fingerings, dynamics, and critical notes for a volume of Mozart Piano Sonatas and that volume was published after 1927, you may not photocopy those Sonatas. All the editorial comments are copyright protected. So if you are looking for Mozart sheet music you can legally download or photocopy for free, you need to do your homework and check the edition. That’s why it’s a smart decision to use Musicnotes’ public domain library sheet music.
- How do I find out if a song is public domain? In the United States, pieces are copyrighted according to the copyright law in place at the time of their creation. As copyright law has changed several times, it’s important to know the year the song was written to know which law it falls under. Anything written prior to 1927 is in the public domain. For more recent works, you will need to search online for information about their copyright status. There are several outstanding websites that can assist with this. If the song was written or published from 1950 onward, you can assume it is still protected under copyright. Most of the music in public domain is very old.
- What happens if I use a song that is still under copyright? That depends upon what you are using it for. If you legally purchased your sheet music and are playing it at home or for private lessons or at school, those are perfectly appropriate ways to use your song. If you are using it to make a recording that you intend to sell for money or to make a video you will post on the internet, you may run into trouble. You could receive a cease and desist order from the copyright owner’s lawyer and could even be sued. If you want to share your performance with the world, public domain sheet music is the safe way to go.
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