Paste or type a song with chords above the lyrics or in ChordPro [brackets], and get a neatly aligned chord sheet you can print or save as PDF. Change the key, set a capo, switch to two columns for one-page printing and add guitar, ukulele or piano chord diagrams.
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Transpose
Write chords above lyrics or inline ChordPro like [G]Hello [C]world. Headings: [Verse 1], Chorus: or {start_of_chorus}. Details: {title: …}{artist: …}{key: G}{capo: 2}{tempo: 96}{comment: …}.
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How to use the Chord Chart Maker
Enter your song: type chords on their own line above each lyric line, or put chords inline like [G]Hello [C]world.
Add headings and details: [Verse 1] or Chorus: start sections, and {title: }, {artist: }, {key: } and {capo: } fill the header.
Change the key with the Transpose buttons, or choose a capo fret to see easier shapes for the same sounding key.
Pick a layout: text size, one or two columns, chord diagrams for guitar, ukulele or piano, or lyrics only.
Export: press Print / Save PDF and choose Save as PDF in the dialog, or download the chart as TXT or ChordPro.
Two ways to write chords
Format
Example
Good for
Chords over lyrics
G C Walking down the line
Quick copying from paper or a text file; what most people already know
ChordPro (inline)
[G]Walking down the [C]line
Chords stay attached to the syllable, so text never drifts out of line when fonts change
You can mix both in one song. Press Convert to ChordPro to rewrite the editor text in ChordPro, or download a .cho file for songbook apps.
ChordPro directives supported
Directive
Short form
What it does
{title: …}
{t: …}
Song title at the top of the sheet
{artist: …} / {subtitle: …}
{st: …}
Line under the title
{key: G}, {capo: 2}, {tempo: 96}, {time: 3/4}
Shown in the header; key guides sharp/flat spelling
{start_of_chorus} … {end_of_chorus}
{soc} … {eoc}
Highlighted chorus block
{start_of_verse: Verse 2} … {end_of_verse}
{sov} … {eov}
Labelled verse
{start_of_bridge} … {end_of_bridge}
{sob} … {eob}
Bridge block
{start_of_tab} … {end_of_tab}
{sot} … {eot}
Guitar tab kept in a fixed-width font
{comment: …}
{c: …}
Performance note, such as "Repeat chorus"
{chorus}
Reminder to play the chorus again
Capo and key reference
With a capo on fret n, each shape sounds n semitones higher. Popular combinations:
Sounding key
Capo 1
Capo 2
Capo 3
Capo 4
Capo 5
A
A♭ shapes
G shapes
F♯ shapes
F shapes
E shapes
B♭
A shapes
A♭ shapes
G shapes
G♭ shapes
F shapes
B
B♭ shapes
A shapes
A♭ shapes
G shapes
F♯ shapes
E♭
D shapes
D♭ shapes
C shapes
B shapes
B♭ shapes
F
E shapes
E♭ shapes
D shapes
D♭ shapes
C shapes
The friendliest guitar shape families are C, A, G, E and D, so look for the capo position that lands on one of them.
Frequently asked questions
What is ChordPro format?
ChordPro is a plain-text format for songs in which chords are written in square brackets right before the syllable they belong to, for example [G]Amazing [C]grace. Lines in curly braces such as {title: …}, {key: G} or {start_of_chorus} add song details and sections. Many songbook and worship apps can import it.
Can I paste chords above the lyrics instead?
Yes. Put each chord line directly above its lyric line, using spaces to line chords up with the words. The tool detects lines made only of chord names and pairs them with the line below, keeping each chord over the same letter.
How does transposing work?
Every chord root and slash bass note is moved by the same number of semitones, while the chord type (m7, sus4, add9 and so on) stays the same. Sharps or flats are chosen to match the new key, for example B♭ rather than A♯ in F major; you can force sharps or flats instead.
How does the capo setting work?
A capo raises every string, so you play easier shapes while the song sounds in its real key. Choose a capo fret and the sheet shows the shapes to play: for a song in A with capo 2, you play G-family shapes. If your text already contains {capo: N}, its chords are treated as capo shapes.
How do I save the chord chart as a PDF?
Press Print / Save PDF. The browser's print dialog opens with only the chord sheet; choose Save as PDF (or Microsoft Print to PDF) as the printer. Use two columns and a smaller text size to fit a song on one page.
Which chord diagrams are included?
Common open shapes for guitar are used where they exist; other guitar chords use standard movable barre shapes, and ukulele chords are found by searching the fretboard for a playable shape. Piano diagrams show the chord tones on a keyboard. Very unusual chord symbols are still transposed but may show no diagram.
Is my song uploaded or stored online?
No. Everything runs in your browser. The text you type is saved only in this browser's local storage so it is still there next time.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.