There are so many tablets available that choosing the best option for reading sheet music and digital chord charts can seem overwhelming.
You may even wonder if there’s a difference as to which tablet you get but some are designed to make a musician’s life easier. The best tablet for a gigging musician often differs from what more ambient tablet users may prefer.
Top 8 Sheet Music Tablets:
1. Apple iPad Pro Tablet for Sheet Music
Apple iPad Pro is known for being a user-friendly tablet. It’s easy to learn the ins and outs of this tablet plus it’s compatible with the Apple Pencil 2 which will let you mark up sheet music as you normally would. The basic iPad Pro is under $1000 but you can get up to a terabyte of memory and add cellular data for gigging with ease which will bring the price up to over $1500.
- Four speaker audio
- Compatible with with Apple Pencil 2nd Generation, keyboards, and other useful gear
- Lightweight
- Light sensors to keep screen brightness at optimal level
Professional Opinions of Apple iPad Pro
The Apple iPad Pro is one of the easiest tablets for gigging musicians. The cellular data addition increases the amount of work you can do when on the road and the Apple Pencil is a valuable tool. Plus the tablet includes apps such as forScore and Garageband which are both extremely useful for musicians.
- User-friendly
- Lightweight (under 1.5 pounds)
- 10-hour battery life
- 12.9 inch screen with auto-adjusting brightness
- Expensive
- Memory isn’t expandable
Is The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 Worth It?
If you can afford a $1000 tablet, there’s nothing better than the iPad Pro. It makes life much easier for gigging musicians as it’s truly the best tablet for musicians’ sheet music.
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 Tablet for Music
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro is the best android tablet for sheet music. There are 32 gigabytes of internal memory with room for expansion with a compatible SD card. The Galaxy Tab Pro is compatible with useful tools including the S Pen and full-sized keyboards.
- 32 GB internal memory (expandable)
- Compatible with S Pen and full-sized keyboards
Expert Opinions of Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro has more advanced functions which can make it a little more difficult to use for those who aren’t tech-savvy. However, this can be a huge advantage if you know your way around android devices already as there’s a lot of flexibility as to what you can do.
- Expandable memory
- S Pen compatible
- File explorer
- No music apps included
- Expensive
Is The Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 Worth It?
If Android is your preferred operating system, Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro is a solid option in terms of tablets for musicians. The screen is large enough for easy reading and your files can be organized in your preferred fashion.
3. iView 1760AIO Apollo Lake Tablet for Sheet Music
iView 1760AIO Apollo Lake is made to have all of the functionality of a computer in a tablet. For under $400, this impressive digital sheet music tablet even includes a keyboard, wireless mouse, and carrying bag. The tablet’s built-in kickstand makes practicing easy anywhere since it can stand on its own.
- Built-in kickstand
- Familiar Windows interface
- Expandable 32GB memory
- Functions well as tablet or laptop
- Large 17.3″ screen
Expert Opinions of iView 1760AIO Apollo Lake
Professional gigging musicians are loving this budget tablet due to its multi-function capabilities. Plus, in the case that a music stand is unavailable, the kickstand is a lifesaver because any elevated surface allows you to clearly see the sheet music without fear of the tablet just falling over.
- Large 17″ screen
- Includes wireless mouse, keyboard, and carrying case
- Expandable memory
- Short battery life
- Fine for just sheet music use but doesn’t work well for more intensive tasks like mixing and recording
Is the IView 1760AIO Apollo Lake Worth It?
If you’re just looking for a basic sheet music reading tablet, this is everything you want and more. However, if you’re interested in recording and mixing your music on your tablet, this isn’t the best choice.
4. Microsoft Surface Pro 6 Tablet for Sheet Music
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is a tablet made to be a laptop hybrid with user-friendly Windows interface. The long battery life is impressive plus the compatible Surface Pen can be a valuable tool The screen is a little over 12″ which is just one of the many things that make the Surface Pro a good tablet for sheet music.
- Large 12.3″ screen with auto-adjusting brightness
- Can be used as a laptop or tablet
- Built-in kickstand
Expert Opinions of Microsoft Surface Pro 6
The impressive battery life is ideal for gigging musicians. From performance to practice, Surface Pro 6 holds up all day. This tablet is made to hold up to all of the tasks a musician needs without having to work near an outlet. Plus the screen is amazingly easy to read on due to the large size and auto-adjusting brightness.
- Long-lasting battery
- 12.3″ screen with auto-adjusting brightness
- Compatible with useful tools such as Surface Pen
- Built-in kickstand
- Able to convert into laptop
- Occasional charger issues arise and charger replacement is somewhat pricey
5. RCA Galileo 11.5″ Tablet for Music
RCA Galileo is a hybrid laptop and tablet. The 11.5″ screen makes it a comfortable tablet for reading sheet music that costs less than $150. The sturdy detachable keyboard is included with the RCA Galileo which makes it easy to stand up just about anywhere.To add if you have interest in android tablets with keyboard see our list with the best products.
- Easy charging with common Micro USB cables
- 32 GB expandable memory
- Detachable keyboard included
Expert Opinions of the RCA Galileo
This is among the best budget tablets for gigging musicians. At less than $150, it gets the job done. Just make sure the tablet is fully charged before practice sessions and performances because it has notoriously short battery life.
- Cheap
- Durable
- Detachable keyboard included
- Short battery life
- Not super fast
6. Apple iPad Pro 11″ Tablet for Music
Apple iPad Pro 11″ has all of the functionality of the previously mentioned 12.9″ version in a smaller tablet. This more compact version of the iPad Pro starts at under $700 but depending on your needs may still cost you well over $1000.
- Fast response time
- Compatible with helpful tools including Apple Pencil
- Can include cellular data for use outside of WiFi areas
Expert Opinions of Apple iPad Pro
If you can afford an Apple iPad Pro, there’s no better choice for a gigging musician. As long as you can comfortably read your sheet music on the slightly smaller 11″ screen, this is a great way to cut back costs and still get a top of the line tablet for your music.
- Extremely responsive
- Includes helpful apps including forScore and Garageband
- 64GB to 1TB of memory
- Compatible with useful accessories including Apple Pencil
- Expensive
- Average battery life isn’t impressive
- Chargers are expensive and prone to failing
- Memory isn’t expandable
7. Amazon Fire HD 10.1″ Tablet
Amazon Fire HD may be the best cheap android tablet for musicians. With up to 64GB of internal memory under $200, this responsive tablet is a great tool for your sheet music.
- Fast response time
- Affordable
- 4 Color Options
- 32GB or 64GB expandable memory
Expert Opinions of the Amazon Fire
This is a great responsive tablet for gigging musicians. The above-average battery life is useful but there’s the drawback of the smaller screen size being somewhat harder to read from a comfortable distance.
- Responsive
- Affordable
- Reputable
- Smaller screen size may be inconvenient for some sheet music
8. Apple iPad Air 2 Tablet
Apple iPad Air 2 is an affordable way to get some of the desired Apple tablet features. It’s among the best electronic sheet music devices and is available with different storage capacities all under $300.
- Access to apps such as for Score and Garageband
- Internal memory of 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB
- Fast response time
Expert Opinions of the Apple iPad Air 2
The iPad Air 2 is a budget Apple tablet. If you want the Apple operating system, this is an okay replacement, but there are better android tablets for about the same amount or less.
- Fast response time
- forScore and Garageband pre-installed
- Small screen size
- Short battery and charger life
The Best Sheet Music Tablet
The best tablets for sheet music is the Microsoft Surface Pro 6. The battery is made to last all day even when heavily used and the screen size is large for comfortable reading. It’s compatible with the extremely useful Surface Pen and the price is moderate when compared to other top-tier sheet music tablets.
If you’re looking for the best budget tablet for sheet music, the Amazon Fire HD 10 is likely the best option. As long as you can work with the smaller screen size, this tablet offers as much as a lot of the more expensive options.
These are the 8 best tablets for reading sheet music and digital chord charts but the number tablet for your needs may differ from others. Compare these options and choose the best tablet for your needs as a musician
