Synthesia or Clefsight for learning to read music
Clefsight teaches reading: you play from a still page, as from a book on the stand, every note is graded, and it writes new music at your level for you to read at sight. Here is Synthesia beside it, fact by fact, and when Synthesia is the better choice.
checked 4 October 2026Every fact about Synthesia is from its own website, on this date; prices as published, in the currency shown there.
Side by side
| Synthesia | Clefsight | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39 once to unlock; free to try | Free, no account |
| How the music is shown | Falling notes, or sheet music turned on for any song | A still, engraved page that turns half a page at a time; nothing scrolls |
| Hears you through | MIDI or USB keyboard (a headphone socket isn't enough) | MIDI keyboard over USB (or Bluetooth on a Mac); keys on screen without one |
| New sight-reading | Not described | Yes: writes new pieces at your level from what you read well and what you don't; 36 printable exercises over six levels |
| Easier versions | Not described; plays any MIDI or MusicXML file you give it | Every piece, and music you bring: 3 or 4 versions, from right-hand melody to as written |
| Runs on | Windows, Mac, iPad, Android | Chrome or Edge on a computer or an Android phone or tablet, Firefox on a computer |
Checked 4 October 2026 on: Price, falling notes, sheet music and MusicXML; Devices; Keyboards need MIDI or USB. “Not described” means the app's own site doesn't say, not that it can't. Prices change and differ by country and offer; the app's own payment page has the price you'd pay.
When Synthesia is the better choice
The better choice if you want to learn songs by ear and eye from falling notes, from any MIDI file, for one small payment.
Tried side by side
Synthesia hasn't been tried side by side with Clefsight; everything above is from its own website.
What Clefsight is, and isn't
- For reading, levels 2 to 7. From a first tune over a simple left hand to advanced pieces, about Henle grades 6 to 7: 419 pieces in the library, each with 3 or 4 versions from right-hand melody to as written, and your own MusicXML or MIDI files simplified the same way.
- New music to read. Fresh sight-reading written for what you read well and what you don't, and 36 free sight-reading exercises at levels 1 to 6 to print or play.
- Marked like a teacher's copy. After a take, wrong and missed notes are circled, early and late ones ticked, and the bar to practise is bracketed. How grading works.
- Not for songs from the charts, video lessons, an acoustic piano through a microphone, or a keyboard plugged into an iPhone or iPad.
Questions
Is there a free alternative to Synthesia for reading sheet music?
Yes: Clefsight is free, with no account needed. You play from a still page at a MIDI keyboard, every note is graded, and it writes new sight-reading at your level, beside 419 public-domain pieces at levels 2 to 7. Synthesia is the better choice if you want to learn songs by ear and eye from falling notes, from any MIDI file, for one small payment.
How much does Synthesia cost?
$39 once to unlock; free to try (Synthesia's own website, checked 4 October 2026). Clefsight: Free, no account.
Does Synthesia hear you through a MIDI keyboard or a microphone?
MIDI or USB keyboard (a headphone socket isn't enough) (Synthesia's own website, checked 4 October 2026). Clefsight: MIDI keyboard over USB (or Bluetooth on a Mac); keys on screen without one.
Does Synthesia write new music to sight-read?
Synthesia's own website doesn't say (checked 4 October 2026). Clefsight: Yes: writes new pieces at your level from what you read well and what you don't; 36 printable exercises over six levels.
What does Synthesia run on?
Windows, Mac, iPad, Android (Synthesia's own website, checked 4 October 2026). Clefsight: Chrome or Edge on a computer or an Android phone or tablet, Firefox on a computer.
Try it at your keyboard. A 3-minute check plays notes and shapes on the staff and finds what you already read, so you start at your level. Free, no account.
Take the placement checkNo keyboard yet? What you need to connect one. Every app side by side. Clefsight isn't connected with Synthesia; its name belongs to its owner.