Reference
Import reference
When you paste or import a song, GigCharts reads {property} directives and ChordPro-style section markers. Here's the full list — which are standard ChordPro, which are GigCharts extras, and what actually shows on the chart.
You don't need any of these to get started — paste plain chords-over-lyrics and it just works. But if your source already carries metadata or section markers, GigCharts reads them. Ready to try? Open the app and paste a song. (For what each of these renders as on the page, see the element reference.)
Song properties
Put these on their own line anywhere in a pasted song — usually at the top. Keys are case-insensitive; several accept aliases (the ChordPro spelling and a short form).
Standard ChordPro
| Property | Example | What it sets |
|---|---|---|
title also: t | {title: Hotel California} | Title |
artist | {artist: Eagles} | Artist |
subtitle also: st | {subtitle: Live at the Forum} | Subtitle |
music also: composer | {music: Don Felder} | Music / composer |
lyrics also: lyricist | {lyrics: Don Henley} | Lyrics / lyricist |
album | {album: Hotel California} | Album |
year | {year: 1977} | Year |
copyright | {copyright: © 1977} | Copyright |
key also: originalkey | {key: Am} | Original key |
capo | {capo: 2} | Capo fret |
tempo also: bpm | {tempo: 120} | Tempo (BPM) |
time also: timesig | {time: 4/4} | Time signature |
duration | {duration: 3:45} | Duration |
transpose | {transpose: 2} | Transpose (semitones) |
GigCharts extras
Recognised too, but not part of the ChordPro standard.
| Property | Example | What it sets |
|---|---|---|
style also: bb | {style: Cha Cha} | Beat / style |
genre | {genre: Pop} | Genre |
instrument also: target-instrument | {instrument: ukulele} | Target instrument |
version also: v | {version: 01} | Version |
video | {video: https://…} | Video link |
track | {track: 7} | Track number |
arranger | {arranger: …} | Arranger |
key_actual also: actual_key | {key_actual: C} | Actual (sounding) key |
Section markers
ChordPro-style section blocks become section spines, and comment directives become cue chips. Wrap the lines of a section between a start and end marker.
| Marker | Example | What it does |
|---|---|---|
{start_of_chorus} … {end_of_chorus} | {soc: Chorus} … {eoc} | A chorus section (optional label) |
{start_of_verse} … {end_of_verse} | {sov} … {eov} | A verse section |
{start_of_bridge} … {end_of_bridge} | {sob} … {eob} | A bridge section |
{start_of_part: Label} … {end_of_part} | {start_of_part: Intro} … | A labelled part section |
{chorus} | {chorus} | Chorus recall — “play the chorus again” |
{comment: text} / {c: text} | {c: watch the key change} | A cue chip carrying that note |
{comment_italic}/{ci}, {comment_box}/{cb}, {highlight} | {cb: SOLO} | Comment variants — imported as plain cue text |
{comment} / {c} (empty) | {c} | A blank line — a stanza separator |
Recognised vs shown
Being recognised isn't the same as being shown. A few directives are read on import but not (yet) drawn on the chart:
- Comment styling (
{comment_italic},{comment_box},{highlight}) collapses to a plain cue. {start_of_tab}/{start_of_grid}blocks and layout directives ({new_page},{column_break},{new_song}) are swallowed on import but not rendered.- Some metadata (arranger, copyright, year, album, track, duration) is read into the song but only appears if you switch it on in the info box.