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How to Make a Song Sound Like a Music Box

If you have a MIDI file of the original song, you can change the song to sound like a music box. A MIDI file is a type of music file that stores information about the notes, volume and instruments in a song. Creating a MIDI file requires some knowledge of music and the ability to notate those ideas. Taking a course in music theory may be necessary before you're able to complete this process on your own. However, in the meantime, you can enlist the help of a friend or a composer to notate the MIDI file.

Step 1 Open your music notation program and create a new score. This option is found under the "File" menu.

Step 2 Go to the "Instrument List" located under the "Audio" menu. Select the "Instrument" option in the instrument track list. A list of available instruments will pop up. Click on "Music Box" or "Glockenspiel" to make the audio file sound like a music box.

Step 3 Write out the rhythm for the piece on a separate sheet of staff paper. Using the second hand of a watch you can approximately time the correct rhythms you need.

Step 4 Enter the notes in the music staff. As you enter notes, you will hear them play back. If you don't have the ability to read music, listen to the notes that are produced. If the note sounds too high, drag the note lower on the staff until you hear the correct sound. If the note is too low, drag the note higher.

Step 5 Export the file as an audio file by selecting "Export to Audio" under the file menu.


  • A quarter note is equal to one second and has a black note head with a stem coming off the side. 

  • A half note is worth two seconds, has a clear note head and a stem. A half note with a dot is worth three seconds. 
  • A whole note is worth four seconds and looks like a hollow circle without a stem. Adding flags to the stems makes the note twice as fast. So an eighth note is worth half a beat and has one stem, while a 16th note is worth one-quarter of a beat and has two stems. 
  • If you have an audio editor that allows you to manipulate the sound with a filter, you can try using the "Change Pitch" option under "Audio Effects" to try and change the pitch of the instrument by two octaves. This will work with percussive type instruments such as the piano, xylophone and glockenspiel.
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