Song Editor Help

Learn how to use the SongBookOnline editor with ChordPro formatting.

Basic Editing

The editor provides a simple text area where you can directly type or paste your ChordPro content:

Supported Metadata Tags
  • {title: Song Title} - The title of your song (required)
  • {artist: Artist Name} - The artist/songwriter
  • {key: C} - The song's musical key
  • {tempo: 120} - The beats per minute
  • {time: 4/4} - The time signature
  • {capo: 2} - Capo position (fret number)
  • {copyright: © 2023} - Copyright information
  • {ccli: 12345} - CCLI song number
  • {ccli_license: 12345} - CCLI license number
  • {header: Additional header info} - Custom header information
  • {footer: Additional footer info} - Custom footer information

Chords and Formatting

Chords

Place chords within square brackets directly before the syllable they apply to:

[G]Amazing [C]grace how [G]sweet the [D]sound
Chord Progressions

For displaying chord progressions with bar lines:

| G | C | Am | D |
Page Breaks

Insert a page break using:

{new_page} or {np}

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Enter or Cmd+Enter

Section Headers

Create sections by typing the section name followed by a colon on its own line:

Verse 1:
[G]Amazing [C]grace how [G]sweet the [D]sound

Chorus:
[G]That saved a [C]wretch like [G]me

Supported section headers:

  • Verse 1-5:
  • Chorus:
  • Chorus 1-2:
  • Bridge:
  • Pre-Chorus:
  • Post-Chorus:
  • Intro:
  • Outro:
  • Interlude:
  • Tag:
  • Ending:
  • Solo:
  • Instrumental:
  • Break:
  • Breakdown:
  • Turnaround:

Tips for Success

  • Start with Metadata: Begin your song with the title, artist, and key metadata tags.
  • Use the Diatonic Chord Buttons: Quickly add common chords in your selected key using the chord buttons or keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+1 through Ctrl+7).
  • Save Often: Use Ctrl+S or Cmd+S to quickly save your work.
  • Preview Your Work: Click "Preview" to see how your song will look when printed, or saved as a PDF.
  • Create Versions: Use the version selector to create and manage different arrangements of your song.
  • Use Blank Lines: Separate sections with blank lines for better readability.

Example Song

{title: Amazing Grace}
{artist: John Newton}
{key: G}
{tempo: 70}
{time: 3/4}
{copyright: Public Domain}

Verse 1:
[G]Amazing [C]grace how [G]sweet the [D]sound
That [G]saved a [C]wretch like [D]me
I [G]once was [C]lost but [G]now I'm [D]found
Was [G]blind but [C]now I [D]see

Chorus:
[G]My chains are [C]gone, I've been [G]set [D]free
[G]My God, my [C]Savior has [G]ransomed [D]me