diff --git a/include/PianoRoll.h b/include/PianoRoll.h
index 8ef669286..5548d73ec 100644
--- a/include/PianoRoll.h
+++ b/include/PianoRoll.h
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ public:
 		return m_midiClip;
 	}
 
+	// TODO remove this since PianoRoll should no longer be visible without a valid midi clip
 	bool hasValidMidiClip() const
 	{
 		return m_midiClip != nullptr;
@@ -588,6 +589,8 @@ private slots:
 private:
 	void clipRenamed();
 	void focusInEvent(QFocusEvent * event) override;
+	void showEvent(QShowEvent* se) override;
+
 	void stopStepRecording();
 	void updateStepRecordingIcon();
 
diff --git a/src/gui/editors/PianoRoll.cpp b/src/gui/editors/PianoRoll.cpp
index 37951bc37..145e8cc07 100644
--- a/src/gui/editors/PianoRoll.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/editors/PianoRoll.cpp
@@ -5388,8 +5388,82 @@ bool PianoRollWindow::hasFocus() const
 
 
 
+void PianoRollWindow::showEvent(QShowEvent*)
+{
+	// PianoRoll can ONLY be shown if hasValidMidiClip is true
+	// TODO remove hasValidMidiClip checks throughout the code
+	if (m_editor->hasValidMidiClip()) { return; }
+
+	// A new user might try to open PianoRoll in an empty project unaware that they first need to create a clip.
+	// To make life easier for them we create and/or open the first clip in an empty project.
+	// If there are multiple non-empty clips, we tell the user to double click one of them instead.
+
+	InstrumentTrack* firstTrack = nullptr;
+	MidiClip* firstEmptyClip = nullptr;
+	MidiClip* firstMelodyClip = nullptr;
+
+	// Iterate through all instrument tracks in the Song
+	for (auto track: Engine::getSong()->tracks())
+	{
+		if (track->type() != Track::Type::Instrument) { continue; }
+		auto instrumentTrack = static_cast<InstrumentTrack*>(track);
+		if (!firstTrack) { firstTrack = instrumentTrack; }
+
+		// Iterate through all midi clips in each track
+		for (auto clip: instrumentTrack->getClips())
+		{
+			auto midiClip = static_cast<MidiClip*>(clip);
+
+			// Remember the first empty clip in the Song (ignore subsequent empty clips)
+			if (midiClip->notes().empty())
+			{
+				if (!firstEmptyClip) { firstEmptyClip = midiClip; }
+			}
+			// Remember the first non-empty clip in the Song
+			else if (!firstMelodyClip)
+			{
+				firstMelodyClip = midiClip;
+			}
+			// If there are multiple non-empty clips in the Song, show a hint
+			else
+			{
+				TextFloat::displayMessage(tr("No clip selected"),
+					tr("Double click a melody clip in the Song Editor to open it."),
+					embed::getIconPixmap("error"), 5000);
+				parentWidget()->hide();
+				return;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	// If we found a clip, open it
+	if (firstMelodyClip || firstEmptyClip)
+	{
+		m_editor->setCurrentMidiClip(firstMelodyClip ? firstMelodyClip : firstEmptyClip);
+	}
+	// If we found a track with no clips, create a clip and open it
+	else if (firstTrack)
+	{
+		m_editor->setCurrentMidiClip(new MidiClip(firstTrack));
+	}
+	// If we found no instrument tracks, show a hint
+	else
+	{
+		TextFloat::displayMessage(tr("No instrument tracks"),
+			tr("Drag an instrument plugin or preset from the sidebar to the Song Editor."),
+			embed::getIconPixmap("error"), 5000);
+		parentWidget()->hide();
+	}
+}
+
+
 void PianoRollWindow::updateAfterMidiClipChange()
 {
+	if (!m_editor->hasValidMidiClip())
+	{
+		parentWidget()->hide();
+		return;
+	}
+
 	clipRenamed();
 	updateStepRecordingIcon(); //MIDI clip change turn step recording OFF - update icon accordingly
 }