Gobbo app

Introduction

Google Drive is a free service by Google that allows you to save, organize, and share your files in the cloud safely and easily. In addition to documents, photos, and audio recordings, Drive includes a very useful feature for musicians: scanning paper documents. This feature lets you turn your sheet music on paper into clear, well-aligned PDF files, ready to view on your tablet during practice or share with other musicians.

Requirements

• Google Account (@gmail.com)
• Android device with Google Drive installed (free from the Google Play Store)

In this guide you will learn how to:

• Scan a paper sheet music using the Google Drive app on Android
• Adjust cropping, brightness, and contrast for optimal readability
• Save the sheet music as a PDF file directly to your Google Drive storage

Steps to Scan

1. Open the Google Drive app

• Open Google Drive on your Android device
• Sign in with your Google account (@gmail.com) if you haven't already

2. Start the scanning function

• On the main screen, tap the camera icon 📷 at the bottom
• The Document Scan mode will open
• If this is your first time, allow the app to access your camera

3. Frame the sheet music

• Place the sheet music on a flat, well-lit surface
• Hold your phone steady above the page, making sure the entire page is visible in the frame
• The app can:
  • Automatically capture when it detects the document edges
  • Or let you manually tap the capture button
• Repeat the scan if necessary

4. Enhance and adjust the scan

After capturing, a preview will appear. You have two options:

5. Save as PDF

• Tap “Save” when you are satisfied with the result
• Give the file a clear name (e.g. Sheet Music – C Major Sonata)
• Select the destination folder in your Drive and confirm with “Save”

Your sheet music is now available as a PDF file, ready to be uploaded, viewed in Gobbo app, or shared.

Practical Tips for Scanning

• Place the sheet music on a flat, well-lit surface
• Prefer natural or side lighting to avoid reflections or shadows
• Turn off the flash, which can create glare on the notes
• Keep the phone steady and parallel to the page while scanning
• Scan one page at a time, especially if the sheet is large or bound
• Use the “Enhance” feature in Google Drive to automatically optimize brightness, contrast, and sharpness
• For sheet music with very fine notes, consider the Black & White option for better readability