FREE TO DOWNLOAD ChordPro formatted songs
see below for software that can read this open source format
First of my prizes:"
Came across this truly wonderful website that this person has/continues to put a lot of careful time into organizing.**
It is in constant upgrade mode, and has a change log too so you can track tasty songs he’s added
Each of the 1,100+ songs is in PDF, WordDoc, and ChordPro formats
Songs are tagged with stuff like “sing along”, “easy to play”,“which chords”
The website Chordie https://www.chordie.com/ has thousands of songs that can be downloaded in ChordPro format.
It’s also very easy to write your own ChordPro formatted song in any word doc program like note pad or word. The format it’s self has been around since the early 90s
Yes, absolutely. Chordie is good too–I found them to be bare bones, mostly just lyrics, like Ultimate Guitar, YMMV–it depends mightily upon the diligence/knowledge of the person uploading.
This guy from first link, Songbook19, appears to be an entertainer, and his songs include playing tips, links to YouTube, background banter, and chords through all verses. The first link also spins my wheels because he and I have similar tastes…
Here’s an example of how he annotates his songs:
It’s really helpful to know some of those little tips.
There are a couple songs I play where a particular chord is played in a shortened version. In the examples I play, it’s typically at the bass end of that particular chord. In one song, it’s the G chord (you only play the lowest 1 or 2 strings of the chord) and on another, you play the bottom end of a B7 chord. In the context of the song, it strongly simplifies things because the moments where you do this are always quick changes.
Trying to hit the full chord shape on those quick changes always results in a huge mess for me. When I’m in a jam group and folks in the group already “know” these things but I don’t and I have to figure them out on the fly…ugh. I hate that. Most songsheets usually don’t include these kinds of notes. Ultimate Guitar sometimes does include a quick note about which fingering to use for a specific chord. And that’s the way I usually try to make those notes, rather than the lengthy descriptions above.
I do wish Songbook Pro would actually use the chordpro syntax to make the chord boxes display that particular grip. But until then, I have to use simple text notes for it (but I do tend to also write in the chordpro syntax for it because I have hopes that the developer will add that functionality later).
FWIW, there are multiple things called JustChords. The website with that name is absolutely NOT what you describe. It gives chord names only. No lyrics. No chord boxes.
I assume you’re referring to the iOS app. It looks nice and clean. But it’s a nonstarter since it’s iOS only. I didn’t mention it in this discussion since it wasn’t topical at the time. But I use Songbook Pro on an iPad, an Android tablet, and two Windows PCs.
One thing that’s not clear about the app is how it handles file storage. When I sync my songbook library with my tablet, the whole library is accessible on that tablet without internet.
So far none of the apps out there can do everything I need. I’d be willing to give up cloud sync (assuming that leaves me with manual file syncing between devices) if I could have multiplatform support AND either a full chord library or the ability to define chords. Extra bonus for the ability to specify different chord voicings at different spots in a song.
After using tablet version, I purchased the Songbook Chordpro for my Mac desktop so I could futz around on a big monitor (I understand you’re on Windows). I agree, the desktop version seems immature in comparison.
I think I’ve finally figured out why Songbook Chordpro seems to be missing my expectations:
Perhaps the app is aimed primarily at performers,
hence the support for pedal control, MIDI support, grouping, play lists, tags, syncing multiple iPads in a performance, etc.
Not a performer (at all) myself I’m reasonably happy learning with the tablet/phone version, and disappointed in the desktop version of Songbook Chordpro by LinkeSoft.
Though, for working with chordpro formatted songs, in the Mac environment, I haven’t found any software that I find better than https://www.linkesoft.com/songbook/
The coder is still very actively enhancing the apps, so I have hope that he’ll eventually fill in the rough/missing spots.
Cheers,
Bruce
Songbook Chordpro supports defining a chord, but not the fingering
I think I can manage without the fingerings in the chord boxes well enough. SBP doesn’t show fingering, either, though it does show barres. If there’s a chord that’s new, I do have to work it out but I’m okay with that. I don’t tend to learn songs with this notation.
As far as I understand it, the whole point of this notation is a sort of shorthand for performing, anyway, at least up until you have the songs memorized. It’s a shame that it’s the default for sharing new songs for so many.
You were commenting on a Songbook Pro, an APP not a “site”. My suggestion was (in relation to quoted comment) for an alternative app that had the desired feature. Sorry for confusion. Amended original reply to clarify.
Files can be stored in iCloud or locally, or both. Devices on same Apple account will have access to all files.
You can also share set lists and or songs with friends, band members etc, and have them able to sync changes or updates. I haven’t needed to share songs but discord comments indicate it works well for many worship groups.
To be clear it is built for the Apple environment and not currently available in windows or android systems.
You can import songs from other apps or search web for songs. Also handles ABC files with tabs.
Details here: https://www.justchords.app/
Yes. I did a google search for “JustChords” and it wasn’t clear at first in the search results which ones were the same and which were different. Had to click into the links to see that the website at the first result was NOT the same as the link to the app on the apple store (nor was it a link to the app developer’s website) and various reviews and other misc stuff farther down the list and that its functionality didn’t match your description.
FWIW, SBP has a website you can use to organize and edit your library, set lists, and songs. Sometimes there’s not always a clean separation between app and website functionality.
