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ChordPro is a plain-text file format for writing lyrics with chords, plus a reference implementation that turns those files into formatted lead sheets and songbooks. You write songs in any text editor using simple bracket notation, then render them to PDF or another output. It suits guitarists and other musicians who want clean, printable chord charts without a full notation program. The format and the reference implementation are free products, though the project asks for donations to cover hosting costs.

What a ChordPro File Is

A ChordPro file is a text file — the site notes that "any text editor can be used to create and maintain them." The format was developed in 1992 by Martin Leclerc and Mario Dorion, who built a tool called chord to process files they called chord files. Users and tools later adopted the name "chordpro" for the files, and that name stuck.

The core idea: lyrics are typed as normal text, and chords are placed inline where they should appear above the words. Because it is plain text, files are portable, diff-friendly, and readable without special software.

Basic Syntax

Chords in brackets

Put a chord in square brackets immediately before the syllable it belongs to:

[C]This is the [G]way we [Am]write a [F]song

When rendered, each chord sits above the point in the lyric where it was placed. This is the single most important rule to learn.

Directive lines

Lines that start with a curly brace are directives — instructions to the renderer rather than content to display. Typical uses include song metadata and formatting control. For example, a title directive marks the song title, and comment directives add notes that are not part of the lyric line.

The exact set of directives is large; the reference implementation's documentation is the authoritative list, and the site describes the format as "simple by nature" while the reference implementation itself "has very powerful features."

Rendering to Lead Sheets and Songbooks

The workflow is: write or edit the text file, then run it through a ChordPro processor to produce output. The official site highlights "powerful PDF creation" and the ability to "turn your ChordPro formatted songs into beautiful looking songbooks."

A practical sequence:

1. Create the song as a plain-text file with a .cho, .crd, or .chordpro-style extension (the site lists chopro, cho, and crd among its keywords).
2. Add chord brackets and any directives you need.
3. Process the file with the reference implementation or another compatible tool.
4. Check the rendered output — chord placement above lyrics is the thing most likely to need adjustment.
5. For a songbook, combine multiple song files and render them together.

The site does not publish a step-by-step command reference in the material available here, so consult the reference implementation's own documentation for exact invocation and options.

Beyond Basic Chords

ChordPro is not limited to simple C-F-G charts on a standard-tuned six-string guitar. The site lists several extended capabilities:

Although the format was "initially intended for guitarists," the site states it "can be used for all kinds of musical purposes," and it "became a popular way to write lead sheets" with many tools adopting the format.

Where to Get It and Who Maintains It

Since 2015, a small team of volunteer users has maintained the ChordPro standard, taking over from Leclerc and Dorion. That team developed a new reference implementation with added features and "an easy to use graphical application."

Everything is Open Source, and the project welcomes contributions via GitHub. The standard and reference implementation are free products — the site describes them as "free as in speech" — but it also notes that websites, storage, and bandwidth cost money and invites donations through PayPal or a "buy a coffee" option.

When to Use ChordPro

Choose it if you want:

• Chord-and-lyric lead sheets you can write in any text editor
• A format many existing tools already read
• PDF output and multi-song songbooks from the same source files
• Extras like alternate tunings, note-naming systems, and embedded score fragments

It is less suited to full standard notation or audio production — for those, use a dedicated notation or DAW tool. For text-based chord charts that print cleanly, ChordPro is a well-established, widely supported choice.

iHeart is a free streaming platform that combines live radio stations, customizable artist stations, playlists, and podcasts in one place. You can start listening without paying by opening iheart.com in a browser or using the iHeart app, then searching for a station, artist, song, or podcast. A subscription is only relevant for certain premium features; the core listening experience described on iHeart's site is available for free.

What you can listen to on iHeart

iHeart organizes its content into a few main types, and knowing the difference helps you find what you want faster.

The key distinction is live versus on-demand. Live radio plays whatever is broadcasting right now, so you can't skip tracks. Artist stations and playlists behave more like on-demand listening, where you control the starting point.

How to start listening for free

You can begin on either the web or the app. The steps are similar.

1. Open the platform. Go to iheart.com in a browser, or install the iHeart app on your phone or tablet.
2. Search or browse. Use the search function to enter a station name, artist, song, or podcast. Alternatively, browse categories to see what's available.
3. Select what you want to hear. Choosing a live station starts playback immediately. Choosing an artist creates or opens a station built around that artist.
4. Press play and adjust. Use the player controls to pause, change volume, or move between stations. On live radio, expect no track skipping; on artist stations, you have more control over what plays next.
5. Save what you like. Favoriting a station or artist makes it easier to return to later without searching again.

Expected result: audio begins playing shortly after you select content, and your favorites appear in your account for quick access next time.

Creating your own stations and playlists

• Artist stations: Start from an artist you like, and the station plays music in that style. This is the fastest way to get continuous music without building a list yourself.
• Playlists: Add individual songs to a playlist when you want a specific set of tracks rather than a continuous stream. This suits workouts, commutes, or a fixed party set.
• Tip: Use artist stations for discovery and playlists for control. If a station drifts away from what you want, switch to a playlist instead of fighting the stream.

What's free versus what needs a subscription

iHeart's own description states that its music, podcasts, and radio stations are available for free, and that you can listen to thousands of live stations or create your own artist stations and playlists. The site also references a subscription, which indicates that some features sit behind a paid tier.

Because the exact free-versus-paid split isn't fully detailed in the available information, treat it this way:

• Assume free: live radio stations, artist stations, playlists, podcasts, and general music/news browsing, based on iHeart's stated offering.
• Check before assuming: any feature labeled as premium, ad-free, or subscription-only. If a paywall appears, that specific feature requires payment.
• Don't assume: that a subscription is required to listen at all, or that everything is free. Verify at the point where you're asked to sign up or pay.

Common snags and how to handle them

• A station won't play. Live stations can be unavailable due to regional restrictions or temporary outages. Try another station to confirm whether the issue is the station or your connection.
• You can't skip a track. That's expected on live radio. Switch to an artist station or playlist if you want control.
• Search returns too many results. Add the type of content to your search, such as the artist name plus "station," or search podcasts separately from music.
• You lose your favorites. Sign in to an account so saved stations and playlists persist across sessions and devices.

Quick decision guide

• Want background music with no effort? Open an artist station.
• Want a specific set of songs? Build a playlist.
• Want a live show or local broadcast? Pick a live radio station.
• Want talk or storytelling? Go to podcasts.
• Want to avoid paying? Stick to the free listening options above and check any prompt before entering payment details.

ChordPro is a plain-text format for writing lyrics with chords, and you use it by typing bracketed chords inline with lyrics plus directive lines for metadata, then rendering that text into a formatted lead sheet or PDF. It suits anyone who wants chord charts that stay readable as plain text and print cleanly — guitarists first, but the format works for any instrument or notation style. The name "chordii" is a legacy alias: the original 1992 tool was called chord, its files were "chord files", and users eventually called them "chordpro" files, which is the name that stuck.

The core idea

A ChordPro file is a text file. Any text editor can create and maintain one, so you are never locked into a proprietary app just to store your songs. The format separates two things:

• Lyrics with inline chords — written on the same line, chords wrapped in square brackets at the exact point they change.
• Directives — lines starting with a curly brace that describe the song or control layout.

When rendered, the tool pulls the chords out of the brackets and places them above the lyrics at the right syllable.

Basic syntax

Chords inline with lyrics

Put the chord in brackets immediately before the word or syllable where it lands:

[C]Twinkle, twinkle, [F]little [C]star
[F]How I [C]wonder [G7]what you [C]are

The bracket itself does not appear in the output — it marks the position. A chord with no following lyric (an instrumental hit, for example) can sit in its own brackets.

Directives for title, artist, and layout

Directives are single lines beginning with {:

{title: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star}
{artist: Traditional}
{key: C}

Common directives cover the song title, the artist, the key, and layout behaviour. Because directives are line-based, a stray or misspelled directive is the usual cause of a chart that renders oddly.

What the reference implementation can do

The official ChordPro site describes the reference implementation as simple in nature but powerful in features. Beyond basic lyric-and-chord output, it supports:

So the same source file can produce a plain chord chart or a richer score, depending on what you include.

A practical workflow

1. Write the song in any text editor. Save it as a plain text file. Keep chords in brackets and metadata in directives.
2. Render it with the ChordPro reference tool or a compatible app. The reference implementation includes a graphical application, and because ChordPro became a popular standard, many other tools read the same format.
3. Check the output and adjust. If a chord sits on the wrong syllable, move its bracket; if a heading is missing, check the directive line.
4. Build a songbook. Once several songs render correctly, combine them into a printed songbook through the PDF creation feature.

Common pitfalls

• Misplaced brackets. A chord lands where its bracket sits, so [C]Twin and Tw[C]in produce different results. Move the bracket, not the chord name.
• Broken directive lines. Directives must start the line and be well-formed. A malformed directive can silently drop metadata or disrupt layout.
• Assuming one tool. ChordPro is a format, not a single program. If one app renders something unexpectedly, the same file may behave differently in the reference implementation — test there first.
• Forgetting it is plain text. There is no hidden formatting to preserve; if the file looks right as text, the structure is usually right.

Getting started

The ChordPro project is open source, and the standard and reference implementation are free products — the site asks only that users consider a donation toward hosting and bandwidth. Contributions are welcome on GitHub. If you already write chord charts by hand, converting one song to ChordPro syntax is the fastest way to see whether the format fits how you work.