Banjo Resources

Added 20 Nov 2011 (last updated 07 Mar 2014)

For use with Sibelius 6, Sibelius 7.1, Sibelius 7.5, Sibelius 8.x, Sibelius 18.x, Sibelius 19.x, Sibelius 20.x, Sibelius 21.x, Sibelius 22.x, Sibelius 23.x, Sibelius 24.x, Sibelius 25.x, Sibelius 26.x and Sibelius 26.x

This is not a plugin, but rather a document describing how to use Sibelius to produce 5-string banjo tablature.

The zip file also contains a set of Manuscript Papers, each of which has a matched notation and TAB instrument, where the TAB instrument shows its tuning, and the notation instrument is transposed (by an octave) correctly for use in Sibelius 6. (Banjo notation staves in Sibelius 7 are correctly transposed, but these Manuscript Papers will work correctly in Sibelius 7 as well.

Plug-in written by Bob Zawalich.

Banjo Resources

Added 20 Nov 2011 (last updated 07 Mar 2014)

For use with Sibelius 6, Sibelius 7.1, Sibelius 7.5, Sibelius 8.x, Sibelius 18.x, Sibelius 19.x, Sibelius 20.x, Sibelius 21.x, Sibelius 22.x, Sibelius 23.x, Sibelius 24.x, Sibelius 25.x, Sibelius 26.x and Sibelius 26.x

This is not a plugin, but rather a document describing how to use Sibelius to produce 5-string banjo tablature.

The zip file also contains a set of Manuscript Papers, each of which has a matched notation and TAB instrument, where the TAB instrument shows its tuning, and the notation instrument is transposed (by an octave) correctly for use in Sibelius 6. (Banjo notation staves in Sibelius 7 are correctly transposed, but these Manuscript Papers will work correctly in Sibelius 7 as well.

Plug-in written by Bob Zawalich.

Fix TAB 5 String Banjo

Version 01.16.00
Added 20 Nov 2011 (last updated 13 Jul 2017)

For use with Sibelius 6, Sibelius 7.1, Sibelius 7.5, Sibelius 8.x, Sibelius 18.x, Sibelius 19.x, Sibelius 20.x, Sibelius 21.x, Sibelius 22.x, Sibelius 23.x, Sibelius 24.x, Sibelius 25.x, Sibelius 26.x and Sibelius 26.x

This plugin is intended for use after music is copied from a notation staff to a 5-string banjo tablature staff.

Sibelius treats the 5th string as if it were a normal string, and any fretted notes copied to the 5th string will not be correct.

This plugin has 2 options. One is to move any fretted notes from the 5th string to the next highest string, and then try to remove collisions, when there is more than one note on the same string.

The second option ignores the 5th string, and just fixes collisions on the 4 lower strings.

Updated 13 July 2017. Support added for magnetic glisses in Sib 8.6 and later

Plug-in written by Bob Zawalich.

Fix TAB 5 String Banjo

Version 01.16.00
Added 20 Nov 2011 (last updated 13 Jul 2017)

For use with Sibelius 6, Sibelius 7.1, Sibelius 7.5, Sibelius 8.x, Sibelius 18.x, Sibelius 19.x, Sibelius 20.x, Sibelius 21.x, Sibelius 22.x, Sibelius 23.x, Sibelius 24.x, Sibelius 25.x, Sibelius 26.x and Sibelius 26.x

This plugin is intended for use after music is copied from a notation staff to a 5-string banjo tablature staff.

Sibelius treats the 5th string as if it were a normal string, and any fretted notes copied to the 5th string will not be correct.

This plugin has 2 options. One is to move any fretted notes from the 5th string to the next highest string, and then try to remove collisions, when there is more than one note on the same string.

The second option ignores the 5th string, and just fixes collisions on the 4 lower strings.

Updated 13 July 2017. Support added for magnetic glisses in Sib 8.6 and later

Plug-in written by Bob Zawalich.

Banjo Play Fretted 5th String

Version 01.11.00
Added 20 Nov 2011 (last updated 07 Mar 2014)

For use with Sibelius 6, Sibelius 7.1, Sibelius 7.5, Sibelius 8.x, Sibelius 18.x, Sibelius 19.x, Sibelius 20.x, Sibelius 21.x, Sibelius 22.x, Sibelius 23.x, Sibelius 24.x, Sibelius 25.x, Sibelius 26.x and Sibelius 26.x

This plugin makes fretted notes playable, above the 5th fret, on a banjo 5th string. It does this by adding a note on the same string 5 frets lower, and silencing the original note.

This should really only be used if you will not be copying the music to a notation staff, and there are other limitations and peculiarities. Clicking on Help will provide more details.

Plug-in written by Bob Zawalich.

Banjo Play Fretted 5th String

Version 01.11.00
Added 20 Nov 2011 (last updated 07 Mar 2014)

For use with Sibelius 6, Sibelius 7.1, Sibelius 7.5, Sibelius 8.x, Sibelius 18.x, Sibelius 19.x, Sibelius 20.x, Sibelius 21.x, Sibelius 22.x, Sibelius 23.x, Sibelius 24.x, Sibelius 25.x, Sibelius 26.x and Sibelius 26.x

This plugin makes fretted notes playable, above the 5th fret, on a banjo 5th string. It does this by adding a note on the same string 5 frets lower, and silencing the original note.

This should really only be used if you will not be copying the music to a notation staff, and there are other limitations and peculiarities. Clicking on Help will provide more details.

Plug-in written by Bob Zawalich.

Banjo Convert Legacy Staves

Version 01.12.30
Added 27 Jun 2026 (last updated 28 Jun 2026)

For use with Sibelius 26.x

Added 26 June 2026. Version 01.12.20.

Supports the Initial Fret Number property for Banjo Tablature staves introduced in Sibelius Ultimate 2026.6. This allows the use of traditional Tablature numbering for fretted notes on the 5th string.

Banjo Convert Legacy Staves will convert instruments in the previously available Legacy staves so they can use the new feature on 5th string notes.

Updated 28 June 2026. Version 01.12.30. Transposition code updated to better handle transposing notes in chords.

Plug-in written by Bob Zawalich.

Banjo Tab Utilities

Version 01.12.20
Added 27 Jun 2026 (last updated 28 Jun 2026)

For use with Sibelius 6, Sibelius 7.1, Sibelius 7.5, Sibelius 8.x, Sibelius 18.x, Sibelius 19.x, Sibelius 20.x, Sibelius 21.x, Sibelius 22.x, Sibelius 23.x, Sibelius 24.x, Sibelius 25.x and Sibelius 26.x

Banjo Tab Utilities can trace properties of Legacy and Fret 6 Banjo Tab staves and can also filter fretted notes on the 5th string. It is useful for differentiating staves that are visually the same, and can also filter 5th string notes for examination.

Updated 28 June 2026. Version 01.12.20. Can now run in Sibelius 6 or later.

Plug-in written by Bob Zawalich.

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