ChordPro basics

ChordPro is a simple text format for chord charts: you write the lyrics, and put each chord in square brackets right before the syllable it lands on. Stagemates parses it into an editable, transposable chart.

Chords in brackets

[G]Amazing [G7]grace, how [C]sweet the [G]sound
That [G]saved a [D]wretch like [G]me

The chord anchors to whatever comes right after it — including the middle of a word:

won[Am]derful

A chord with nothing after it (like an instrumental turnaround) is fine too: [C] [G] [D].

Slash chords and extensions all work: [D/F#], [Cmaj7], [Bsus4].

Section labels

Label sections either with a comment directive:

{comment: Verse 1}
[G]Amazing [G7]grace, how [C]sweet the [G]sound

or with start/end directives, which display as the prettified section name:

{start_of_chorus}
[C]How sweet the [G]sound
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse: Verse 2} gives the section an explicit name. Blank lines create spacing between blocks.

Chords-over-words also works

If you paste plain text with chords on their own line above the lyrics, Stagemates detects that format and aligns the chords automatically:

      C              G
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

(If a paste can't be parsed at all, nothing is lost — it comes in as plain lyric lines you can refine.)

A complete example

{comment: Verse 1}
[G]Amazing [G7]grace, how [C]sweet the [G]sound
That [G]saved a [D]wretch like [G]me

{start_of_chorus}
I [G]once was [G7]lost, but [C]now am [G]found
Was [G]blind but [D]now I [G]see
{end_of_chorus}

For the full ChordPro reference, see chordpro.org.