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ChordPro® is a file type that contains simple formatting language for chord charts. It allows for easy rearranging, customizing, and transposing compared to traditional chord charts. It is written in a specific way so that when it is rendered by a program like Charts by WorshipTools, it creates an easy-to-read chord chart with all your customizations.
Here's an example of the ChordPro language:
{title: Example title} {author: Example author} {key: A} {time: 4/4} {comment: Verse 1} [A]Here's the [D]first verse {comment: Verse 2} [E7]Here's the [A]second verse
There are two special element types in a ChordPro -- chords and tags.
Chords
[Bb] [Asus] [F#7]
The above are three examples of chords in ChordPro. They are enclosed in square brackets in ChordPro, but once the chord sheet is generated from the ChordPro, the chords will be displayed above the lyrics, making them easier to read.
Tags
{comment: Verse 1} {title: Example Title} {key: A}
The above are three examples of tags in ChordPro. Tags are usually written as "{tag name: tag value}," enclosed in curly brackets. Tags display differently depending on the tag name used. As such, there are only so many tags that ChordPro recognizes. (The most useful tags are curated for you in the tag input field in the bottom right of the ChordPro Editor on Charts.)
Find a list of all our supported directives here.
The screenshot below, taken directly from Charts, shows what ChordPro looks like (left) versus what it looks like after it's been rendered into a readable chord chart (right). Charts will do the rendering for you, so all you need to do is make your edits and "Save."
Make sure to check out the following articles on our website for tips on how to actually work with ChordPro using WorshipTools programs: ChordPro® in Charts and ChordPro® in Planning.
(Note that WorshipTools does not provide ChordPro files, but our Charts app is one of few programs that are capable of properly converting it into a proper chord chart. You can either write the ChordPro for your songs yourself or find existing files online.)