Frequently Asked Questions

My songs are in Word files, can I use them with SongBook?

SongBook only works with text files in tab or chordpro format. You need to save your Word file as plain text (*.txt). The SongBook editors have a command/menu to convert text files that have the chords on a separate line (called tab format) into proper chordpro format. Note that there's usually some manual adjustment needed to get the chords at the right position. Once the song is in chordpro format, chords will always display correctly, regardless of font and zoom settings, you can look them up, and you can transpose easily into different keys.
Alternatively, export your song as a PDF, which you can view in SongBook (pagewise, non editable).

How can I add bar lines or other signs next to the chords?

Just write them in square brackets like the normal chords, e.g. [|]. When transposing a song or showing the chord band, SongBook will ignore all non-chords.

Does SongBook work with pedal XY?

Yes. Almost all pedals can be configured to send Page Up/Down or Arrow Up/Down keys. SongBook supports these keys to scroll songs and optionally move to the next/previous song. SongBook for iOS/Android/Windows Tablets also support MIDI pedals. There are additional keyboard shortcuts that can be sent with programmable pedals.

How do I best link backing tracks (music files) with songs?

Copy the music (MP3) file into the SongBook folder, and insert a {musicpath: file.mp3} statement in the song. This works on all platforms. Cloud Sync will also synchronize the music files in the SongBook folder. There's an option in SongBook Android and iOS to start the linked music together with auto-scrolling. Use the standard volume controls of the platform to adjust the playback volume.

I play in a band and what to share my songs with my band members. What's the best way to do that?

Use SongBook Cloud sync. You can share one or more categories with your band members, either read-write for everyone, or read-only (only you can make changes). Move playlists into the corresponding category so all band members can see them.
If you play in multiple bands, use different categories (sub folders) per band.
SongBook supports user and instrument specific versions of many chordpro controls, so you can e.g. highlight parts of a song only for the singer, or have different capos for guitar and bass.

I bought a new Android tablet/phone, how can I reinstall my SongBook app on it?

Just download the app again from the Google Play Store. Google won't charge you twice if you use the same Google account. To copy your songs to the new device, connect the old device to a PC/laptop and copy the files via USB connection to a folder on your hard drive, then connect the new device and copy them back. Or use SongBook Cloud.

I bought a new iPhone/iPad, how can I reinstall my SongBook app on it?

Just download the app again from the Purchases section of the App Store app. Apple won't charge you twice if you use the same Apple ID. To copy your songs to the new device, connect the old device to a PC/laptop and copy the files via iTunes to your hard drive, then connect the new device and copy them back. Or use SongBook Cloud.

You seem to have two Windows apps. Which one should I use?

SongBook for Windows PCs is optimized for keyboard/mouse input and has many features for editing songs. You can try it out before you buy a license key on our site.

SongBook for Windows Tablets is optimized for touch input and displaying/performing songs. It needs to be purchased and downloaded in the Microsoft Store.

If still unsure, first try SongBook for Windows PCs and see if it fits your needs. You can use both apps on the same device (but not at the same time/with the same song directory).

SongBook iOS/Android has a built-in Internet search. Why is this missing in the desktop apps?

On iOS and Android it's difficult to work with several apps in parallel, that's why we built that functionality into the SongBook app. On Windows or Mac, you can just use your normal web browser, e.g. Chrome or Safari to search for songs, then save the song in the SongBook folder, or create a new song in SongBook and copy/paste the text from the browser into the editor.