Song editor

The song editor lets you edit your songs. The screen has the following features to help you create and edit your charts:

Header
In the header, you can edit the song title, artist, add or remove tags, and set other song details like the key, duration, tempo, time signature, and the MIDI message that will be sent when the song appears. You can also set other standard attributes used in the chordpro format.

Text editor
Most of the screen is taken up by the text editor, where you can edit your song. Tap on it to make changes using the on-screen keyboard and quick chord bar.

Chord bar
The quick chord bar appears above the keyboard, letting you easily insert chords or symbols into your chart.

Tools
In the top right corner, you’ll find helpful tools: Search & replace, Rewrite the song in a different key, Tidy up and convert the song, Preview the song.

Text editor

Song is written as text document and uses simple syntax based on chordpro format.

For example, this is the contents of a simple song:

Chorus:
In the [C]world full of [G]chords, where [D]melodies un[Em]fold,
A [C]digital ha[G]ven for [D]stories untold.
With a [C]tap and a [Em]swipe, a [C]music[D]ian’s de[Em]light,
Just[C]Chords guiding [D]through the musical [Gsus4]night.[G]
(repeat 2x)

Verse 1:
In the [C]palm of your [G]hand,
a song[D]writer’s [Em]dream,
…

The lyrics of the song are interspersed with chords written between brackets [and ]. The chords are placed in front of the syllable they belong to.

Sections of the song are separated by empty line. Sections are typically used to divide verses from the chorus or bridge. Each section can be labeled with a name. You can label your sections by typing a name on the first line of the section (followed with a colon), and then follow it with a new line. After you have labeled sections, you can define song structure.

Comments or musical instructions should be written as text on a line surrounded with parenthesis.

Text formatting

*bold.
Use the same character to stop bold before line end e.g. Song line with *bold* text
**italic
Use the same characters to stop italic before line end
***bold & italic
Use the same characters to stop italic before line end
_underline
Use the same characters to stop italic before line end
<red>text color
Use character “<” to stop color before line end e.g. Line contains <red>red text<
supported colors: blue, brown, cyan, darkGray, gray, green, lightGray, magenta, orange, purple, red, white, yellow
<@yellow>text highlight color
Use character “<” to stop color before line end e.g. Line contains <@yellow>yellow text<

Rewrite into key

The rewrite into key menu option allows you to transpose the song’s content.

  1. Make sure that song has set correct key (the field near note icon).
  2. Click Rewrite into key from menu.
  3. Select new song key.
  4. Song content is rewritten into the new key.

Note: You can transpose a song into any key without affecting the underlying song content. Use Transpose and Capo for temporary changes of song key. See Song Tools.

Rhythm diagram

In Just Chords, you can create rythm patterns, such as guitar strumming patterns, or make your own rythm patterns for other instruments using our Action and Modifier characters.

Let’s see how Actions and Modifiers can be used to create a strumming pattern for guitarists. 

  • – (dash) for take no action on time line = a space 
  • D inserts a down arrow in time line = a down strum
  • U inserts an up arrow in time line = an up strum
  • X inserts a ⊗ symbol in time line = a muted strum

You are not limited to these actions. You can use any other uppercase character to represent your own action requirements. The selected character will appear on the time signature time line, where ever you choose to place it.

Modifier characters: These are used to “modify” a chosen action, for example, to accent a strum to indicate a hard or loud strum. One or more Modifiers are placed immediately after an Action character, as needed, and when saved, will appear above the related action symbol  or letter in the timing diagram. Available modifiers are:

  • >  accent or make loud
  • <  soften or mute
  • p or pm  palm (for mute strum)
  • b for base note or root note
  • any other lowercase character including #, +

The selected characters and symbols will appear above their related actions on the time signature time where you chose to place them.

Here is an example how to create a rythm diagram

Convert “Chords over lyrics”

“Chords over lyrics” are other common way to write chord charts. It means writing lyrics on one line and writing chords on the line above the lyrics. Chords are then aligned with lyrics using spaces. 

  1. Paste song content with “Chords over lyrics”
  2. Click Convert ‘Chords over Lyrics’ to ChordPro in menu
  3. Song is converted to JustChord notation.