Fronimo

What is Fronimo?

Fronimo is a specialized software designed for those who study, transcribe, and perform music for the lute and other historical plucked string instruments. Unique in its field, it was developed with a deep respect for Renaissance and Baroque musical traditions, meeting the needs of both scholars and performers.

With Fronimo, you can create, edit, and print tablature using Italian, French, German or Spanish notation, faithfully following the conventions found in historical sources. The software supports custom tunings and allows you to display standard notation alongside the tablature, making it easier to analyze and interpret the music. With Fronimo you can trasncribe from notation to tablature even if some editing will be necessary. Trasciption from tablature to notation is possible too, with some limits.

Its interface is clean and user-friendly, designed to make note entry and score management intuitive and efficient. Copying, pasting, and transposing sections is seamless, even with complex pieces, and built-in tools help prevent common mistakes and ensure consistency.

One of Fronimo’s strengths lies in the quality of its printed output. It produces beautifully typeset scores, with precise control over layout details such as spacing, margins, system arrangement, and graphical style. Your work can be exported as a PDF or image, or printed directly from the program.

Fronimo is compatible with Windows and supports both importing and exporting files in its native format (.ft3) as well as MIDI. This makes it easy to share your projects or use them in teaching and performance contexts.

Beyond practical use, Fronimo is also a valuable tool for musicological research. You can add annotations, insert critical comments, and manage metadata, making it ideal for preparing scholarly editions and academic publications.

Whether you're a lutenist, a conservatory student, a teacher, or a researcher, Fronimo provides a robust and flexible working environment tailored to the needs of early music.

Take a look at some examples of typical scores created with Fronimo to see the quality and clarity of its output in action. 

Downloads and Additional Resources

The official distribution of Fronimo is available here (the files in window below are downloadable). If you're looking to localize the interface, you’ll also find the necessary DLL files—just make sure they match the revision number of your Fronimo installation to ensure proper compatibility.

Please note that Fronimo 2.1 is no longer available for purchase. It remains accessible on this page solely as a backup for users who have not yet upgraded to the latest version.

In the Tablatures folder, you'll also discover a small collection of free music generously shared by Fronimo users—an inspiring resource for exploration and study. 

How to Get a Fully Functional Copy of Fronimo

When you install Fronimo, you'll start with the demo version. This version is fully functional in every respect—allowing you to open, play back, and print any of the thousands of Fronimo files available online. The only limitation is that you won’t be able to save your own work.

If you’d like to create and save your own tablatures, you can purchase a personal license, which gives you a lifetime right to use the software. Your license allows you to install Fronimo on as many computers as you need, as long as you’re the sole user. All future maintenance updates are included and can be activated with the same license code—no extra fees or reactivation needed.

To obtain your license code, simply open the "How to register" option from the Help menu within the demo version. A page will appear with detailed instructions and a PayPal button at the bottom to complete your purchase securely.

Join the Fronimo Discussion Group

Fronimo users are invited to join the Fronimo Lute Tablature Editor discussion group on Google. It’s a welcoming space where you can ask questions, request assistance, share tips, or report any issues you encounter while using the software.

As a group member, you’ll also gain full write access to the Tablature folder—perfect if you’d like to contribute your own music and be part of the growing community of Fronimo users sharing their work.