ABC+ is a professional evolution of the ABC notation standard. It introduces high-fidelity musical directives designed for modern music applications, game audio orchestration, and advanced MusicXML 4.0 interchange. ABC+ now supports compatibility with a wide range of music notation formats, including MEI, Dorico, Flat.io, TuxGuitar, StaffPad, and NoteWorthy Composer.
X:1
T:Example Song
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:C
%%dir mood="energetic"
"C"C2DE F2GA | "G"B2AG "C"c4 |
w: Hel-lo world, this is ABC+!
- ✅ Full ABC notation compatibility
- ✅ Custom directives (
%%dir,%%fx,%%loop) - ✅ Enhanced articulation, ornaments, and dynamics
- ✅ Playback control (
%%swing,%%mute) - ✅ Advanced layout (
%%vskip,%%sep,%%measurenumbering) - ✅ Game audio integration (
%%game_state) - ✅ MusicXML 4.0 export support
- ✅ MEI (Music Encoding Initiative) compatibility
- ✅ Support for multiple notation formats (Dorico, Flat.io, TuxGuitar, StaffPad, NoteWorthy Composer)
- ✅ Comprehensive compatibility mapping
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| SPECIFICATION.md | Complete syntax reference with MEI mapping |
| CHANGELOG.md | Version history |
| CHECKLIST.md | Detailed MusicXML element coverage |
| examples/ | Sample ABC+ files |
| Compatibility Analysis | Detailed compatibility analysis for various formats |
ABC+ has been analyzed for compatibility with the following music notation formats:
- MusicXML - Highest compatibility, primary interchange format
- LilyPond - Very high compatibility for notation and layout
- MEI - Very high compatibility for scholarly features
- Dorico - Very high compatibility with professional notation
- StaffPad - Very high compatibility with touch-based notation
- Guitar Pro - High compatibility for guitar-specific features
- Finale/Sibelius/MuseScore - High compatibility with core elements
- MIDI 1.0/2.0 - Good for core musical elements
- Noteflight - Good compatibility with core elements
- Flat.io - Good compatibility with web-based notation
- TuxGuitar - Good compatibility for string instruments
- NoteWorthy Composer - Good compatibility with affordable notation software
- Band-in-a-Box - Good for chord progressions and accompaniment
ABC+ is a notation format. To use it:
- Write ABC+ files using any text editor
- Convert to MusicXML using the ABC+ Web Converter
- Import into notation software (MuseScore 4, Sibelius, Finale, Dorico, StaffPad, etc.)
Current specification version: 1.4.0
MIT License - See LICENSE for details.
- abc-to-xml-converter - ABC+ to MusicXML converter app