ChordPro explained: format, syntax, and converters
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Your songs, organized.
Your setlists, ready.
Bring your entire library from OnSong, SongbookPro, or any ChordPro file.
Fretlist gives it a clean home, with no lock-in, ever.
Bring your music. Leave nothing behind.
Already have a library in OnSong or SongbookPro? Import your songs and setlists in seconds. Fretlist reads ChordPro, PDF, Word, and plain text, and turns everything into clean, stage-ready chord sheets.
OnSongSongbookProChordProPDFWordPlain text
Fretlist ❤️ ChordPro
ChordPro is the open standard for chord sheets. Fretlist supports it natively: import it, edit it, export it. Your songs are always in a format every other tool understands.
song.cho
{title: Somewhere Over the Rainbow} {artist: Israel Kamakawiwoʻole} {key: C} {sov} [C]Somewhere [Em]over the [F]rainbow [C]Way up [G]high {eov}
No lock-in, ever
Your songs belong to you. Export your entire library anytime as ChordPro, PDF, Word, or plain text. If you ever leave, your music comes with you.
Every device. Always in sync.
Edit a song on your laptop at home, open it on your tablet at rehearsal, perform it on your phone on stage. Fretlist syncs everything in real time. No cables, no exports, no “which version is the latest.”
Fretlist is a cross-platform chord sheet and setlist manager for working musicians. Transpose on the fly, import from Ultimate Guitar, OnSong, PDF or ChordPro, and run your setlists offline on iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, or Windows.
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fretlist.com
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Everything you need for your music
Frets - Chord diagramsNew
Visual chord diagrams for every song. A section-aware panel in Play Mode shows only the chords for the section you're playing. Guitar and ukulele included.
Import Anything
OnSong, SongbookPro, ChordPro, PDF, Word, Ultimate Guitar, Chordie. Your library, clean and organized in seconds.
Chord Sheets
Store lyrics with chords. Transpose on the fly to any key with a single tap. Full ChordPro support included.
Setlist Management
Organize songs into setlists for gigs and rehearsals. Reorder with drag and drop.
Play Mode
Full-screen, distraction-free view for live performance. Swipe, keyboard, or Bluetooth page turner.
Works Offline
No WiFi on stage? No problem. Everything syncs to your device.
Free during Early Access
All features included. Cancel whenever you like.
Early Access
Pro
All features, free until mid-2026
Free€3/mo
Until mid-2026
- Unlimited songs & setlists
- Chord diagrams - guitar & ukulele (Frets)
- Multi-file import (OnSong, SongbookPro, ChordPro, PDF, Word)
- Play Mode
- Offline mode
- Print layouts
- Bulk export
- Share links
Coming Soon
Band
One library for the whole band
Coming Soon
Everything in Pro, plus:
- Unlimited band members
- Shared song library
- Shared setlists
- Personal player settings
- Song editing locks
- Multi-member print layouts
No credit card required · Free until mid-2026 · Early Access users get a lifetime discount
Built by a musician, for musicians
Hi, I'm Dear John, a singer-songwriter from the Netherlands.
I've spent years playing weddings, festivals, and living room concerts, always juggling messy Word docs and paper setlists. I'd lose chord sheets, forget capo positions, and waste time before every gig reorganizing everything.
So I built Fretlist, first for myself, now for you.
I use Fretlist at every gig. If something's broken or annoying, I feel it too. And if you have ideas to make it better, I'm all ears.
Dear John
Read the full storyFrequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Fretlist.
Does Fretlist show chord diagrams?
Yes. Add a
[Chords] block to any song and Fretlist renders fingering grids for every chord. Guitar and ukulele ship with a full built-in library. In Play Mode a section-aware Frets panel shows only the chords for the section you’re currently playing. See the full guide.Can I change a chord shape?
Yes, two ways. In Edit View, tapping a chord card changes the shape stored in the song (visible to anyone you share it with). In Song View, tapping a chord card changes it just for you, like a personal transpose. Your adjustment is saved per-device and never overwrites the original. Full explanation in the docs.
What is Fretlist?
Fretlist is a song and setlist manager for musicians. Store your chord sheets, build setlists, transpose keys on the fly, and perform in full-screen Play Mode, on any device, even offline.
Can I import my existing song library into Fretlist?
Yes. Fretlist supports bulk import from SongbookPro, OnSong, ChordPro files (.cho, .pro), PDF, Word, and plain text. Bring your entire library in one go: hundreds of songs at once.
Can I import songs from Ultimate Guitar?
Yes. Open the song on Ultimate Guitar in your browser, press Cmd+A or Ctrl+A to select the whole page, copy it, and paste into Fretlist’s import box. Fretlist strips Ultimate Guitar’s page chrome automatically and pulls out the title, artist, key, capo, and chord-on-line-above structure. Full step-by-step guide at fretlist.com/docs/import-from-ultimate-guitar.
What happens to duplicate songs when I import?
Fretlist automatically detects duplicate songs during import and lets you review them before they’re added to your library. You stay in control of what gets imported.
Does Fretlist support ChordPro?
Yes, fully. Import .cho and .pro files, edit ChordPro directly in the editor, and export back out. Custom directives and non-standard notation are preserved during import.
Is Fretlist really free?
Yes, Fretlist is completely free during Early Access, with all features included. Early Access users receive a lifetime discount when paid plans launch in mid-2026.
What is Play Mode?
Play Mode is a full-screen, distraction-free view designed for live performance. Play through your setlist song by song using swipe gestures, keyboard shortcuts, or a Bluetooth page turner.
Does Fretlist work offline?
Yes. Your songs and setlists sync to your device so you can perform without an internet connection. No WiFi on stage? No problem.
How does song sorting work in Fretlist?
Songs sort alphabetically, and Fretlist smartly ignores leading articles like “The” and “A”, so “The Beatles” sorts under B, not T.
Can I transpose songs to a different key?
Yes. Transpose any song on the fly using the transpose controls, perfect for adjusting to a vocalist’s range at a gig. The original stored key stays unchanged unless you edit it directly in the song editor.
Can I share songs or setlists with my band?
Yes. Share individual songs or full setlists with a link. Full band features (shared libraries, shared setlists, and multi-member management) are coming soon in the Band plan.
Is my data private and secure?
Yes. Your songs are stored securely and are only accessible by you. Export your entire library at any time as ChordPro, PDF, Word, or plain text. Fretlist never holds your data hostage.
Can I export my songs?
Yes. Export your entire library at any time as ChordPro, PDF, Word, or plain text. No lock-in. Your music is always yours.
What devices does Fretlist support?
Fretlist works on any device with a modern browser: phone, tablet, or laptop. Optimized for both desktop and mobile, so it works at rehearsal, on stage, or at home.