Quick Start
Choose a category from the home page
Pick what you want to create: choral accompaniment, orchestration, harmonization, hymn setting, or one of the tool modes.
Upload your score or pick a sample
CLARA accepts MusicXML (.mxl, .xml), MIDI (.mid), and ABC notation (.abc). Every page also has sample scores you can try without uploading anything.
Configure and generate
Select a style and any options (variant, key, intro/coda). Click the generate button and wait a few seconds.
Preview, play, and download
See the score in the browser, listen to MIDI playback, and download in MusicXML, MIDI, PDF, or LilyPond format. Not happy? Hit "Try different settings" to re-arrange without re-uploading.
Workflows
Piano Accompaniment
Go to Choral, Vocal, or Instrumental depending on your music.
Choosing a style: Each category offers different styles. Choral has hymn-block, gospel, Bach chorale, and more. Vocal has lieder, impressionist, and French melodie. Browse them all on the Styles page with audio demos.
Variants: Many styles have sub-variants (e.g., gospel has "modern," "traditional," "shout"). Pick one from the dropdown or leave it on default.
Combined score: For choral and vocal styles, "Combined Score" is checked by default. This keeps the melody on top with the accompaniment below, and preserves lyrics. Uncheck it to get accompaniment only.
Extras: Add an intro, coda, descant (final verse), or modulation. Transpose to a different key before arranging.
Ensemble Orchestration
Go to Ensemble Orchestration. Upload a piano score (2-staff MusicXML works best).
Ensembles: String Quartet, String Trio, Piano Trio, Wind Quintet, Brass Quintet, Handbell Choir, or build a Custom ensemble from 12 instruments.
Styles: Baroque (ornaments, walking bass), Classical (clean separation, pizzicato), Romantic (double stops, legato), Impressionist (harmonics, tremolo).
Transposing instruments: Clarinet in Bb and Horn in F parts are automatically transposed with correct key signatures.
Vocal Harmonization
Go to Vocal Harmonization. Upload a single-line melody.
Choose SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass — 4 parts) or SAB (soprano, alto, baritone — 3 parts). Optionally transpose to a different key.
CLARA generates voice-led harmony with parallel fifth/octave avoidance and proper voice ranges.
Hymn Setting
Go to Hymn Setting. No file upload needed — just paste your lyrics.
CLARA analyzes the poetic meter (syllable count per line) and shows matching tunes from a library of 74 public domain hymn tunes. Pick a tune, choose an output mode (SATB, SAB, or piano accompaniment with a style), and generate.
The output includes hymnal-style metadata: first line as title, tune name and meter as subtitle.
Piano Reduction, Transcription, Chord Charter
Piano Reduction: Upload an ensemble or orchestral score. CLARA condenses it to a playable 2-hand piano arrangement with hand-span enforcement.
Solo Transcription: Upload a melody and choose a target instrument (violin, flute, clarinet, cello, etc.). CLARA adapts the range, technique, and transposition.
Chord Charter: Upload a melody or paste lyrics with chords. CLARA generates a text chord chart with symbols above lyrics, transposable to any key.
File Formats
Input formats
MusicXML (.mxl, .xml, .musicxml) is recommended — it preserves notes, rhythms, key signatures, lyrics, and dynamics. MIDI (.mid) works but loses enharmonic spelling and lyrics. ABC notation (.abc) is great for folk and traditional tunes.
Output formats
MusicXML — open in MuseScore, Finale, Sibelius, or Dorico for further editing. MIDI — play in any music player or DAW. PDF — generated client-side from the score preview (no external service needed). LilyPond (.ly) — high-quality engraving with lyrics preserved.
Getting MusicXML from a PDF
Use OMR (optical music recognition) software to convert scanned or PDF scores. MuseScore 4 (free) can import PDFs directly. See our step-by-step conversion guide for more options.
Tips
- Single-melody input works best for accompaniment and harmonization. If your file has multiple parts, CLARA uses the top staff as the melody.
- Try different styles on the same melody. The "Try different settings" button on the result page lets you re-arrange without re-uploading.
- Use samples first to get a feel for each style before uploading your own music. Every page has sample scores.
- Transpose before arranging if you want the result in a different key. Use the "Target Key" dropdown on the arrangement page.
- Listen to style demos on the Styles page. Click any style's "Listen" button or click a variant badge to hear what it sounds like.
- PDF export is generated in your browser from the score preview. Make sure the score has fully loaded before clicking the PDF button.
Not Sure Which Style to Use?
Upload a score and CLARA will analyze its key, tempo, meter, and density to suggest styles that fit.