Chord chart formatting

Songlib stores all chords in a simple plain text format that is easy to learn.  Each line is can be marked as either chords, lyrics, or heading.  This article explains everything to need to know to enter in chord charts.

Contents

  1. Getting started
  2. Chords and lyrics
  3. Verses
  4. Full example

1. Getting started

We are sure that you will pick up the Songlib format quickly.  However, we also provide some simple formatting buttons to do the work for you.  Just place the cursor on a line and click one of corresponding buttons.


Those buttons are shortcuts to what is described below:

2. Chords & lyrics

Specifying which lines are chords and lyrics allows Songlib to do more with your song.  Chords can be displayed differently, transposed, or even stripped out to create a slideshow presentation of your lyrics.  Just remember these two options:

  • Chords lines start with a period "."
  • Lyric lines start with spaced " "
For example:

. G                C         G
 Amazing grace how sweet the sound
.     G                   D
 That saved a wretch like me

It's hard to see, but notice how the lyric lines start with a space.  When rendered, these prefixed periods and spaces will be stripped away, as shown as below.  The space at the start of each lyric line is optional. However, since chord lines are prefixed with a single character, the space allows the chords and lyrics to be correctly aligned.  The above example would render as: 

G                 C         G
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
     G                   D
That saved a wretch like me

When you specify which lines are chords you will be able to transpose this song later, or have them stripped out to make slides.  For example, automatic transposing could look like: 

Ab                Db        Ab
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
     Ab                  Eb
That saved a wretch like me

3. Verses

Songlib splits your song up into verses. Each verse will created as separate slide in the slideshow presenter.

Verses are separated by a single blank line.
Multiple blank lines are allowed, but will be treated as a single blank line.

Verses headings are wrapped in [Square brackets] and are optional.  It is worth putting these in if you plan to use the slideshow presenter to help you identify slides. 

[Verse 1]
. G                C         G
 Amazing grace how sweet the sound
.     G                   D
 That saved a wretch like me

[Verse 2]
.     G          C         G
 Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
.   G                D
 And grace my fears relieved;

[Verse 3]
 The Lord has promised good to me,
 His word my hope secures;

As you can tell from the example above, chords are optional.  To save space, I will often only put the chords on the first verse if the rest of the verses use the same chords, .

4. Full example

Here is a full example of a formatted chord chart.

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

[Chorus]
.              C                  G
 My chains are gone, I've been set free.
.          C                   G
 My God, My Savior has ransomed me.
.          C               Em
 And like a flood his mercy reigns.
.         D              G
 Un-ending love, amazing grace

[Verse 2]
 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
 And grace my fears relieved;
 How precious did that grace appear,
 The hour I first believed!

[Verse 3]
 The Lord has promised good to me,
 His word my hope secures;
 He will my shield and portion be,
 As long as life endures.

[Verse 4]
 The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
 The sun forbear to shine;
 But God, who call'd me here below,
 Will be forever mine.
 (Will be forever mine)
 (You are forever mine)
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