Guide · Agent skill
How to use the MuseScore CLI agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The cli-anything-musescore skill lets an AI agent work on MuseScore 4 files for you through a command-line tool. Once it is installed, you can ask the agent to transpose a score, pull out individual instrument parts, add or remove instruments, and export the score in several formats. This guide explains what the skill does, how to install it, how to ask for things in plain language, and what to check before you rely on the results.
MuseScore CLIHKUDS/CLI-Anything · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Install MuseScore 4. Install MuseScore 4 from musescore.org, since the skill depends on its mscore backend.
- 2Install the command-line tool. Install cli-anything-musescore as described in the project's documentation, because this page does not give those steps.
- 3Download and unzip the skill. Download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder.
- 4Or upload it in the Claude apps. In the Claude apps, open Settings, go to Capabilities, then Skills, and upload the skill.
- 5Ask for a task. Describe the change you want, such as transposing to a key or exporting to PDF, and name your score file and output file.
What the skill lets the agent do
The skill wraps the mscore backend of MuseScore 4, a music notation program, and gives the agent a set of commands for common score tasks. It covers transposition, part extraction, instrument management, exports and score analysis.
The source lists these groups of commands: transposing to a target key, transposing by a number of semitones, diatonic transposition, listing and extracting parts, generating parts into a folder, adding and removing instruments, exporting to PDF, PNG, MP3, MIDI, MusicXML or Braille, and comparing two scores.
- Transpose to a key such as C major or Am, or by semitones or diatonic steps
- List parts, extract one part, or generate parts into a folder
- Add or remove instruments by name or ID
- Export to PDF, PNG, MP3, MIDI, MusicXML or Braille, or batch several formats
- Inspect a score with probe and stats, and compare two versions with diff
- Undo, redo and review session history
Install the skill with a ZIP file or the Claude apps
Download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it. For a personal setup, place the unzipped skill folder in ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, place it in the project's .claude/skills/ folder instead.
If you use the Claude apps, you can upload the skill instead. Open Settings, go to Capabilities, then Skills, and upload the skill there.
The skill file is named SKILL.md. The source does not describe how to install the cli-anything-musescore command-line tool itself, so check the project's documentation for that step. MuseScore 4 must also be installed, because the skill depends on its mscore backend.
- Download the ZIP from this page
- Unzip into ~/.claude/skills/ (all projects) or .claude/skills/ (one project)
- Or upload it in the Claude apps under Settings, Capabilities, Skills
Ask for what you need in plain language
You do not need to type commands yourself. Describe the task and give the score file, and the agent will choose the matching command. Name the file clearly, for example score.mscz, and say where the result should go. Transposition needs both an input and an output file, so say what you want the output called.
The skill accepts .mscz, .mxl, .musicxml, .xml, .mid and .midi input files. Key names can be written as C, C major, Am, A minor, Db major or F# minor.
- Transpose my score.mscz to D major and save it as out.mscz
- Transpose score.mscz up 3 semitones into out.mscz
- Extract the piano part from score.mscz into piano.mscz
- Export score.mscz as a PDF and as an MP3 at 192 kbps
- Show the instruments in score.mscz
- Compare a.mscz with b.mscz and tell me what changed
Examples of the commands the agent runs
These are examples from the skill's own command reference. The agent adds the --json flag so it can read results reliably. You can run them yourself if the command-line tool is installed.
The skill's guidance tells the agent to inspect an unfamiliar score with media probe first, and to verify exports with export verify after rendering.
cli-anything-musescore --json transpose by-interval -i score.mscz -o out.mscz --semitones 3
cli-anything-musescore --json parts extract -i score.mscz -o piano.mscz --part "Piano"
cli-anything-musescore --json export pdf -i score.mscz -o score.pdf
cli-anything-musescore --json export mp3 -i score.mscz -o score.mp3 --bitrate 192What the skill needs and how to stay safe
The skill needs MuseScore 4 and the cli-anything-musescore command-line tool. Without MuseScore 4 installed, the skill will not work. According to the listing, the skill runs scripts and does not use the network.
Because it runs scripts, read the skill and the tool's documentation before you install it, and keep your original score files. Write transpositions and exports to new output files rather than overwriting your source, and check the results by opening them in MuseScore or listening to the audio before you share or print them.
- Keep a backup of original .mscz files
- Use new output file names for every transposition and export
- Open exported PDFs and listen to MP3s before sharing or printing
- Use session undo and history to review changes made during a session
Tips for better results
Give the agent exact file names and key names. Ask it to probe an unknown score first if you are not sure what is in it. For part extraction, the skill's guidance says part names are case-insensitive, so Piano and piano are treated the same.
If you batch-convert many files, ask for one format at a time or use export batch with several outputs. Check one file first to confirm the result is what you expected.
- Name input and output files explicitly
- Probe unknown scores before editing them
- Part names are case-insensitive for parts extract
- Test one file before running a batch
What people use it for
- Transposing a choral or band score to a key that suits the singers or instruments
- Extracting a single instrument part from a full score for a student
- Exporting a score to PDF and MP3 so students can practise with the audio
- Converting a folder of MuseScore files to MIDI or MusicXML in a batch workflow
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the MuseScore CLI agent skill?
Download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder for one project. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings, Capabilities, Skills.
What do I need to run the cli-anything-musescore skill?
You need MuseScore 4 installed and the cli-anything-musescore command-line tool. The skill depends on MuseScore 4's mscore backend and will not work without it.
Is the MuseScore CLI skill free?
The skill's listing states an Apache-2.0 licence. The source does not say anything about MuseScore 4's price or licence, so check musescore.org for that.
Which file formats can the skill read and export?
It reads .mscz, .mxl, .musicxml, .xml, .mid and .midi files. It can export PDF, PNG, MP3, MIDI, MusicXML and Braille.
Can the skill write or edit individual notes?
The listed commands cover transposition, parts, instruments, exports and analysis. They do not cover note entry or editing individual notes, so use MuseScore itself for that.
Why does the skill not work for me?
The most likely cause is that MuseScore 4 is not installed, since the skill depends on its mscore backend. Also check that the command-line tool is installed and that the skill folder is in the correct location.
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Our verdict
This skill suits musicians, arrangers and teachers who need to transpose scores, pull out parts or export audio and PDFs quickly, and who have MuseScore 4 installed. It is not a good fit if you want to compose or edit individual notes, or if you do not have MuseScore 4.
Download the skill