Workshop tool · Free, with limits
Your online songbook for guitar chord sheets
Chord charts scribbled on loose paper, the same song copied out three times: the songbook keeps everything in one place. You write the song's structure, the chords bar by bar and the lyrics, and every chord gets its guitar diagram. Ready to play, save and print as a PDF.
Included in the free account with a limit, unlimited with Premium.
What you can do with the songbook
Each song is a sheet with a header (title, artist, key, tempo, time signature) and a list of sections: intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, solo, interlude, outro or a free section. Inside each section:
- bars are laid out in a grid, 4 per row on a computer;
- each bar takes one or two chords (the small "+" button under the chord adds the second);
- under each chord, a guitar chord diagram is drawn automatically;
- under each bar, there is a line for lyrics.
You can move a section up or down, duplicate it (handy for a second verse) or delete it. The tool warns you if you leave the page with unsaved changes. The "Export PDF" button produces an A4 sheet with the title, artist, key, tempo and time signature at the top.
Writing a good chord sheet: the theory that helps
A chord sheet reads in bars: one box equals one bar, and two chords in a box share the bar (in 4/4, two beats each). Always set the time signature in the header: a song in 3/4 or 6/8 feels completely different from 4/4.
The templates give you classic forms to fill in:
- 12-bar blues in C: C7, C7, C7, C7 / F7, F7, C7, C7 / G7, F7, C7, G7. That is the 12-bar blues in I-IV-V, with a V7 in the last bar to turn the form around;
- AABA (jazz standard): four 8-bar parts, 32 bars in all, the form of countless standards;
- Verse · Chorus and Modern pop for songs, with intro, bridge and outro.
Type chords the way you would on a chart: C, Am, G7, Dm7, F#m7b5, Cmaj9, Bsus4. A chord progression is easier to memorise when it is split into named sections: you see at a glance that the chorus reuses the verse with one chord changed.
Free or Premium: the exact limits
The songbook is part of the GuitarHarmony workshop (app.guitar-harmony.com), open with a free account and no card.
- Free: write and save up to 3 songs, with diagrams and lyrics. PDF export follows the free quota: 1 PDF export per 30 days.
- Premium (4.90 € a month or 39 € a year): unlimited songs and unlimited PDF exports, on top of every Premium tool.
The counter at the top of your song list shows where you stand (songs saved and PDF exports this month). Deleting an old song frees a slot among your 3 free songs.
Tips for a songbook that makes you a better player
- Write down the real key and tempo. When you come back to the song, set the metronome in the guitar toolbox to that tempo.
- Use sections to spot repeats. If verse 2 is the same as verse 1, duplicate it: you will see straight away what changes.
- Write bass lines as slash chords (G/B, C/E) when the song has them: the diagram shows the chord, and the bass note after the slash makes the bass line visible on the sheet.
- Keep a practice sheet. One working chart (a ii-V-I or a blues) that you open before every session beats a pile of songs you never play again.
How to use it
- Create a song. Click "+ New song" and pick a starting point: Blank page, Verse · Chorus, AABA (jazz standard), 12-bar blues or Modern pop.
- Fill in the header. Enter the title, artist, key, tempo and time signature (4/4 by default). These details print at the top of the PDF.
- Type the chords and lyrics. Click in a bar and type the chord; the small "+" button under it adds a second chord to the same bar. The diagram appears underneath. Write lyrics in the field at the bottom of the bar, then use "Add a measure" and "Add a section".
- Save and export. Click "Save" to store the song in your account, then "Export PDF" for an A4 sheet ready to print or send to your band.
What you can do with it
Your band's rehearsal folder
Write the chart with sections in playing order, add key and tempo, export the PDF and send it to the band. Everyone shows up with the same version.
Learning a song by writing it out
Copying a chart bar by bar forces you to count. As you place each chord in its box, you notice which chords last two bars and which change halfway through a bar.
Writing from an analysis
Start from a continuation suggested by the AI chord progression analysis, then organise it into verse and chorus in the songbook and add your lyrics under each bar.
Frequently asked questions
Is the songbook free?
Yes. With a free account you can save up to 3 songs and export 1 PDF per 30 days. Premium (4.90 € a month or 39 € a year) makes songs and PDF exports unlimited.
How many chords can I put in one bar?
One or two. The small "+" button under the first chord adds the second one, which shares the bar with the first. For faster changes, simply add another bar.
Are the guitar chord diagrams automatic?
Yes. As soon as you type a recognised symbol (C, Am7, F#m7b5, Cmaj9…), a diagram appears under the chord, and it is included in the PDF export.
How do I play a song with a capo?
Write the real key in the header, then use the capo transposer in the toolbox: it shows which chord you hear for each shape you play. With a capo at the 2nd fret, for example, a G shape sounds as A.