ChordPro Format Reference

Official spec: https://www.chordpro.org/chordpro/

Bluegrass Songbook Format Strategy

We use ChordPro-compatible syntax with extensions:

• Standard ChordPro for portability (works in other apps)
• {meta: key value} pattern for all metadata (consistent, explicit)
• {meta: x_*} for custom Bluegrass Songbook fields
• ABC notation for fiddle tunes (via {start_of_abc})

File Extensions

.pro, .cho, .crd, .chopro, .chord

Line Types

# Comment (ignored by processors)
{directive: value}           # Metadata or formatting control
Lyrics with [C]inline [G]chords
                              # Blank line (section separator)

Chord Syntax

[C]        # Basic major chord
[Am]       # Minor chord
[Am7]      # With extension
[C/B]      # With bass note (slash chord)
[F#m]      # With accidental
[Bbmaj7]   # Flat + extension
[*Coda]    # Annotation (asterisk prefix = not a chord)
[*N.C.]    # "No chord" annotation

Chord structure: Root + Qualifier + Extension + /Bass

Alternate notations (supported by reference implementation):

• Nashville: [1], [4], [5], [b7]
• Roman: [I], [IV], [V], [bVII]

Metadata Directives

Bluegrass Songbook uses {meta: key value} pattern for consistency:

{meta: title Song Title}       # Required
{meta: artist Artist Name}     # Performer (from "Recorded by")
{meta: composer Writer Name}   # Songwriter (from "Written by")
{meta: lyricist Lyricist}      # If different from composer
{meta: album Album Name}
{meta: year 2024}
{key: G}                       # Musical key (standalone ok)
{time: 4/4}                    # Time signature
{tempo: 120}                   # BPM
{capo: 2}                      # Capo position

Note: {meta: title ...} and {title: ...} are functionally equivalent per the ChordPro spec. We prefer {meta: ...} for consistency.

Bluegrass Songbook custom fields (using x_ prefix per ChordPro spec):

{meta: x_source classic-country}
{meta: x_source_file yourcheatingheart.html}
{meta: x_enriched 2025-12-26}
{meta: x_strum_pattern boom-chick}
{meta: x_difficulty intermediate}

Provenance metadata (added automatically by workflows):

# For new submissions (via GitHub issue):
{meta: x_source manual}
{meta: x_submitted_by github:username}
{meta: x_submitted 2025-12-26}
{meta: x_submission_issue 26}

# For corrections to existing songs:
{meta: x_corrected_by github:username}
{meta: x_corrected 2025-12-26}
{meta: x_correction_issue 24}

Version metadata (for multiple versions of the same song):

{meta: x_version_label Alternate Arrangement}
{meta: x_version_type alternate}        # alternate | cover | simplified | live
{meta: x_arrangement_by John Smith}     # Who created this arrangement
{meta: x_version_notes Different key, simplified chord voicings}
{meta: x_canonical_id originalsongid}   # Links to primary version (optional)

Environment Directives (Sections)

With labels:

{start_of_verse: Verse 1}
{start_of_verse: label="Verse 2"}
{start_of_chorus: label="Chorus\nAll sing"}  # Multi-line label

Custom sections (any name with letters/digits/underscores):

{start_of_intro}
...
{end_of_intro}

Formatting Directives

{comment: Instrumental break}     # or {c: ...} - displayed as note
{comment_italic: Softly}          # or {ci: ...}
{comment_box: Important}          # or {cb: ...}
{highlight: Key change!}
{chorus}                          # Reference to repeat last chorus

Output Control

{new_song}           # or {ns} - start new song in multi-song file
{new_page}           # or {np}
{column_break}       # or {colb}

Chord Definitions & Diagrams

{define: Asus4 base-fret 1 frets x 0 2 2 3 0}
{chord: Asus4}       # Display diagram inline

Transposition

{transpose: +2}      # Transpose up 2 semitones
{transpose: -3}      # Transpose down 3

Complete Example

# Amazing Grace - Traditional hymn
{meta: title Amazing Grace}
{meta: artist Traditional}
{meta: composer John Newton}
{key: G}
{time: 3/4}
{tempo: 80}
{meta: x_source manual}

{start_of_verse: Verse 1}
A[G]mazing [G7]grace, how [C]sweet the [G]sound
That [G]saved a [Em]wretch like [D]me
I [G]once was [G7]lost, but [C]now I'm [G]found
Was [G]blind but [D]now I [G]see
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_verse: Verse 2}
'Twas [G]grace that [G7]taught my [C]heart to [G]fear
And [G]grace my [Em]fears re[D]lieved
How [G]preci[G7]ous did that [C]grace ap[G]pear
The [G]hour I [D]first be[G]lieved
{end_of_verse}

{comment: Repeat Verse 1}

Fiddle Tune Example (with ABC)

{meta: title Salt Creek}
{meta: artist Traditional}
{key: A}
{time: 4/4}
{tempo: 120}
{meta: x_type fiddle-tune}
{meta: x_difficulty intermediate}

{start_of_abc}
X:1
T:Salt Creek
M:4/4
K:A
|: E2AB c2BA | E2AB c2Bc | d2fd c2ec | BAGB A2AB :|
|: c2ec B2dB | A2cA G2BG | FGAB c2BA | BAGB A2AB :|
{end_of_abc}

Bluegrass Songbook Conventions

This project uses these conventions:

1. Metadata pattern: Use {meta: key value} for all metadata (consistent, explicit)
2. Metadata order: title, artist, composer, key, tempo, then x_* fields
3. Custom fields: Use x_ prefix for Bluegrass Songbook extensions
4. Verse markers: Use {start_of_verse}/{end_of_verse} for clear boundaries
5. Chord positioning: Place [chord] immediately before the syllable
6. Fiddle tunes: Use {start_of_abc}/{end_of_abc} for notation
7. Comments: Use {comment: ...} for performance instructions

Common Keys in Bluegrass/Country

Validation Checklist

• {meta: title ...} and {meta: artist ...} present
• {key: ...} matches the arrangement
• {meta: composer ...} if known (not writer)
• All chords are valid (no typos)
• Verses wrapped in {start_of_verse}/{end_of_verse}
• Chord placement is before syllables, not after
• File ends with newline

Related Files

• Parser: sources/classic-country/src/parser.py
• Index builder: scripts/lib/build_index.py
• Frontend renderer: docs/js/search.js