Printable Music Notation Paper: Free Staff Paper with Treble & Bass Clef

What is music notation paper?

Music notation paper — also called manuscript paper or staff paper — is ruled with groups of five horizontal lines called staves. Each stave provides a framework on which notes, rests, and other musical symbols can be written. It is used by composers, arrangers, students, and musicians of all levels to write down original music or copy out existing pieces by hand.

Whether you are jotting down a melody that just came to mind, completing a music theory exercise, or preparing a clean copy of a composition, having a supply of fresh staff paper to hand makes the whole process faster and more enjoyable.

Treble clef or bass clef — your choice

Paper Maker lets you choose exactly which clef appears at the start of every stave — or leave the staves blank if you prefer to add clefs by hand.

Music notation paper showing a treble clef stave (top) and a bass clef stave (bottom).

• Treble clef — ideal for melody instruments such as violin, flute, guitar, and the right hand of piano music.
• Bass clef — perfect for lower-register instruments such as cello, double bass, trombone, and the left hand of piano music.
• No clef — blank staves give you a clean slate for adding clefs, key signatures, and time signatures yourself, or for percussion notation.

Choose your line colour

One of the most popular features of Paper Maker is the ability to change the colour of the staff lines. Instead of being stuck with standard grey, you can pick any colour to suit your purpose — or even go full rainbow.

• Classic grey — the traditional look, easy on the eye and perfect for everyday use.
• Custom colour — choose any colour from the picker to match a brand, a theme, or simply your personal preference. Pastel blues and greens are popular choices for keeping the lines unobtrusive while still adding a touch of character.
• Rainbow — each stave takes on a different hue as the rainbow gradient sweeps down the page, making the sheet visually striking and great for children's music activities.

Who is music notation paper for?

• Composers — quickly sketch out ideas on paper before transferring them to notation software.
• Music students — complete theory exercises, sight-reading practice, and dictation assignments.
• Music teachers — print custom worksheets with the right clef and line colour for each group or student.
• Instrumentalists — write out transpositions, arrangements, or fingering reminders by hand.
• Children — introduce young learners to the stave in a fun, colourful way using the rainbow colour option.

How to print your music notation paper

1. Open Paper Maker and select the Music paper type.
2. Choose your clef — Treble, Bass, or None.
3. Pick a line colour using the colour swatch or select the rainbow option for a gradient effect.
4. Adjust the staff spacing to narrow, standard, or wide depending on whether you are writing small scores or large notation for beginners.
5. Click Download PDF — no sign-up required and no watermark.

What options would you like to see?

We are always looking to improve the music notation paper options in Paper Maker. Some ideas we are considering include grand staff (treble and bass paired together), customisable number of staves per page, time signature presets, and key signature markers.

Is there a feature you would find useful? Get in touch and let us know — your feedback shapes what we build next.

Try it free today

Music notation paper is available now in Paper Maker — completely free, no account needed. Generate your PDF directly in your browser and download it in one click.