Select the notation software you want to use. Finale is the most popular and the easiest to use. Other notation software includes Sibelius, Notation Composer and Magicscore. Regardless of the software you choose, they all work basically the same. You can try trial versions to determine which works best for you.
Create a new document from the "File" menu. Finale uses a treble clef default with a 4/4 time signature in the key of C. You can use a wizard to set up your sheet music or begin with the default and set your sheet up by hand. With Finale, you get a toolbar running along the left side of your work space and along the top. Adding notes and symbols to your score is as easy as selecting the note you want and clicking your blank sheet music to place it. In "Simple Entry" mode, accessed through the "Simple" menu, Finale formats your sheet music as you add notes. The software is a word processor for songwriters.
Enter lyrics into your score by selecting the lyric tool in the toolbar. Check the "Type into Score" option on the "Lyrics" menu and place the cursor in the score where you want to add lyrics. Finale places your lyrics exactly where they go in relation to the notes in the score, expanding each bar to accommodate the words and keep them placed correctly.
Play your song to make sure it sounds the way you want it to sound. Finale has a standard playback tool right above your score that works like the controls in software that plays music. Use the "Midi/Audio" menu to set up the instrument voices you want to use for playback of your song. The "Erase" tool allows you to remove any notes that aren't right so you can add new notes.
Save your Finale song file, then go to the "File" menu and export your sheet music as a sound file. With Finale, you can also save your sheet music as a high-quality MP3 song file.