Paste a chord chart from anywhere (and get a clean chart every time)

The fastest way to build your songbook is to bring in the charts you already use. Copy a chart from any chord site, a document, or an old email, and paste it into SongChute. Here's what it understands and how to get the cleanest result.

Chords over words

This is the most common format, and SongChute handles it well:

[Verse]
G              D
Walking down the line tonight
Em             C
Every light is calling home

Each chord sits above the word where it changes. SongChute keeps that position, so when you transpose, the chords stay in the right place.

ChordPro

If your charts are in ChordPro, with chords in square brackets inside the words, paste them as they are:

{title: Example Song}
{key: G}
[G]Walking down the [D]line tonight

SongChute recognizes ChordPro automatically, including the title and key.

Sections

Put section names on their own line, in brackets or followed by a colon: [Chorus], Verse 2:, Bridge. SongChute colours each kind of section so you can see the shape of the song at a glance. If a chorus repeats, you don't need to paste it again: write [Chorus] on its own line and SongChute shows a reference to it.

Tab

Paste tab right into the chart if that's how you have it. SongChute spots the tab lines and moves them to the song's Tab view, so your lyric view stays readable. If you'd rather keep the tab in the chart, untick Move tab to the Tab view before you save.

Key and capo

• Type the key in the Key box, or leave it empty and SongChute works it out from the chords.
• Write "Capo 2" anywhere near the top of the chart and it's picked up.
• Songs that change key partway through are noted too.

Make it yours

A pasted chart is a starting point. Edit it like any document: fix a chord, add a note like (let it ring), or write your own arrangement. Because your songbook is private to you and your band, it can be exactly how you play the song.

Quick checklist for a perfect paste

1. Chords on their own line, directly above the words.
2. Section names on their own line.
3. One blank line between sections.
4. Remove ads or site menus that came along with the copy.

In Part 3 we'll make the song work for you: transposing, capo help, and the screen-fit view that makes SongChute great on a tablet.