Linux tablet as sheet music

[luobo]

Hello everyone. This is a topic that's rather neglected among Linux users.

More and more often, I see a tablet computer on the music stand instead of a paper sheet of music. I've owned a tablet for a while now and use it, among others, as a sheet music display. I play the viola da gamba (for those who don't know: it's a string instrument). I can download music minus one online and play alone multi-part pieces at home. Instead of printing out the sheet music, I can play it from my tablet.

The tablet is also very useful for choir singing. That's where I currently use it mostly.

The computer is an HP Elite X2 with a 12.5" screen. I'm using Linux Mint 22 as th operating system. I have the sheet music in PDF format, and I use the Okular program (KDE) to view the music.

The program works quite well. I can select different pens for annotation, and marker including thick and thin freehand lines. I've created bookmarks so I can jump directly to specific sections. To configure the entire program I am using the keyboard. While using as a sheet music I use the stylus only. For keyboard input via the stylus, I use the Onboard program. Page turning with a Bluetooth page turner works quite well. Even during rehearsals lasting over three hours, I haven't yet reached the battery's limits.

Unfortunately, the program isn't designed to be operated exclusively by the stylus. When I switch to a mode that can only be exited via keyboard input, I'm lost. Caution is advised when using it. There are also functions I didn't expect. For example, the sheet display was suddenly rotated during the frequent back-and-forth movement during a rehearsal. Later, I discovered that a two-finger rotating gesture on the screen could be used to flip the sheet music back.

The Bluetooth page flip isn't very practical while choir rehearsal. Currently, I swipe across the screen to change the page view. A better solution would be welcome. Page flipping via the scroll bar isn't reliable, also the scrollbar is difficult to see due to the low contrast. If the scroll bar would be wider it could be used by the finger.

I'd like to start a discussion about using a tablet as a sheet music reader under Linux.

[zigmhount]

I'm having the same struggles with Okular. I mostly use it in presentation mode when playing my instrument, then I can switch pages by just tapping the left or right side of the screen.
However, annotations made in presentation mode don't seem to be stored after exiting it, so I always exit the presentation mode before annotating. This can be annoying especially on long partitions, on when I need to be quick, because the active page is not synchronised between presentation and normal mode...

I've tried Evince, Zathura, Xournal++, but didn't find anything better than Okular.

[noedig]

Up to recently, I have been playing with an old Lenovo tablet with Linux Mint on it, for which I created my own sheet music viewer, "SheepMusic".

https://github.com/noedigcode/SheepMusic

It allows you to load several PDF files in sequence and allows you to go to the next or previous page by tapping (clicking) on the right- or left-hand side of the screen. Each page can be cropped and you can draw on pages. PDF files can be re-organized. Two bars at the top show your current position with regards to the file sequence and page, respectively.

The entire sequence is saved as a project file that can be opened again later. The last session is automatically opened again when you launch the app.

I created it for myself and it does exactly what I wanted from it. Maybe it works for you too. At the moment I'm not using it anymore, but if there are bugs or small requests, I'm happy to try to accommodate it.

[luobo]

Thanks for replies. I appreciate others using a Linux tablet to display sheet music.

@noedig: Can your program do annotations? This is very important for me. Anyway, I will give it a try after my Christmas concert .

I have been experimenting with Okular to make it functional close to my requirements. I found a device that is dedicated as a page turner but it is not properly working with my tablet. It is kind of a finger-ring (see picture), basically used to work with a smartphone, making photos. It can be coupled with Linux but the page turning function is not satisfactory at all. I tried 'Input Remapper' to redirect the signals to the function as I need. In principle it should be feasible but it needs a little work for proper function.

My idea is to to be able to send the keyboard-signal 'escape' to finish the presentation mode, as well as doing page turns by this little inconsiderable device. I will keep on it to find a solution.

@zigmhount: How can you end the presentation mode having an active pen only? I did not find a solution to quit presentation mode wíthout having a keyboard attached. By the way, I made the same experiences about usability of Okular, as you did.

I had another issue using Okular: The scrollbar is barely visible to touch it, and do a quick change of pages. Sometimes I touch it by mistake, and do an unwanted page-turn. On the other side, when I want to use it on purpose I cannot find it fast enough to use it.

If I could write computer programs I would do some changes in the code of Okular for my desires.

[noedig]

@noedig: Can your program do annotations? This is very important for me.

Yes it has basic drawing functionality.

[zigmhount]

@zigmhount: How can you end the presentation mode having an active pen only? I did not find a solution to quit presentation mode wíthout having a keyboard attached. By the way, I made the same experiences about usability of Okular, as you did.

While in presentation mode, an annotation bar with an exit button appears when the mouse pointer reaches the top edge of the screen. If you touch the top of the screen and aim well, you can get it to show up too, but it's not convenient. The active pen should enable the mouse pointer when you get close to the screen, so it's easier to make this bar appear than with fingers.

I use Gnome shell, so the easiest for me is actually to press the tablet button to go to overview mode, and close the window, with the help of a Gnome extension that keeps the closing buttons always visible (not only on mouseover).

I had another issue using Okular: The scrollbar is barely visible to touch it, and do a quick change of pages. Sometimes I touch it by mistake, and do an unwanted page-turn. On the other side, when I want to use it on purpose I cannot find it fast enough to use it.

I display the side bar with page previews, this can also be scrolled with touch. Or use the toolbar buttons to change to the next/previous page.
I've also once configured MIDI pedals to change pages, using mididings to emulate arrow keys IIRC.

@noedig Thanks for SheepMusic, I may use it!

[Paul Joosten]

Hi all, newbie here both in using Linux and tablets. I have an old laptop that couldn't do W11 so at a repairshop a volunteer put Linux Mint on that. A laptop might be a bit large but at almost 69 my eyesight isn't what it used to be and I have a very sturdy music stand that can take it

Is there some manual that I could use to get Sheepmusic or Okular working? As said, I'm totally new to Linux and only know Windows (and DOS).

What I need is a way to sight read and annotate PDF's like you would on paper scores and perhaps a way to have a handsfree way of moving through the pages. For music editing and playback during rehearsing I already use Musescore on a windows device.

[noedig]

For SheepMusic on Linux Mint, download the deb file of the latest release here:
https://github.com/noedigcode/SheepMusi ... tag/v1.0.4
Assuming you have a recent version of Mint, the 25.04 package should be fine.

Once downloaded, you should be able to double-click it and install it.

There's no user manual, but it should be pretty straight forward to add PDF files and save a session.
The app was made with a touch screen in mind, so to proceed to the next/previous pages, tap (click) on the right- or left-hand side of the page.
You can also use arrow keys and more. A list of keyboard shortcuts is available under settings (the cog icon).

At the moment, there is no direct way to use it hands free. It is probably possible to set up something with other apps to convert MIDI commands into key presses.


MuseScore also supports Linux, so you can give that a go too.

[raboof]

Update: I have since found https://codeberg.org/vandenoever/rehorse/ , which is a web-based application (so it works across Android/Apple/Linux devices) .

It's a bit early days still, and requires an experienced administrator to set up the server-side stuff, but then it has some interesting features to help a whole (big) band to be up-to-date with all needed information and music.

[Paul Joosten]

For SheepMusic on Linux Mint, download the deb file of the latest release here:
https://github.com/noedigcode/SheepMusi ... tag/v1.0.4
Assuming you have a recent version of Mint, the 25.04 package should be fine.

Once downloaded, you should be able to double-click it and install it.

There's no user manual, but it should be pretty straight forward to add PDF files and save a session.
The app was made with a touch screen in mind, so to proceed to the next/previous pages, tap (click) on the right- or left-hand side of the page.
You can also use arrow keys and more. A list of keyboard shortcuts is available under settings (the cog icon).

At the moment, there is no direct way to use it hands free. It is probably possible to set up something with other apps to convert MIDI commands into key presses.


MuseScore also supports Linux, so you can give that a go too.

Thanks @noedig I'll try that when I get time. I've already got a foot switch connected through bluetooth, hope that will be recognised. I'm an avid user of Musescore and use that to practise, add instrument parts and create scores. It is not what I'm looking for now, intended to show PDF score files and be able to annotate them on the fly.

[Paul Joosten]

Update: I have since found https://codeberg.org/vandenoever/rehorse/ , which is a web-based application (so it works across Android/Apple/Linux devices) .

It's a bit early days still, and requires an experienced administrator to set up the server-side stuff, but then it has some interesting features to help a whole (big) band to be up-to-date with all needed information and music.

Thanks for the suggestion @raboof but this sounds like overkill for what I want and I'm by no means anywhere near a server geek...