User Manual

Chords

Th' chords palette be providin' tools fer changin' how chords appear in th' chord chart, savvy? This affects both transposition, appearance, an' chord diagrams, matey.

Style

Typically chord charts use alphabetic characters t' define chords. OnSong can convert alphabetic chords into numeric ones t' better suit musicians that play usin' a number system. Th' selected style be highlighted. Choose from one o' th' followin' chord styles:

  • Alphabet uses letters A-G with sharps an' flats t' indicate precisely what chord should be played. If usin' different chord localizations, this may also include an H. Default.
  • Nashville uses a decimal numberin' system which indicates th' chord number based on th' root chord o' th' key. In addition, this method uses symbols fer different chord variations.
  • Roman uses upper an' lowercase Roman numerals fer chords. Major chords be represented in uppercase while minor chords be lowercase. Symbols be also used t' indicate different modes such as a minus symbol fer minor.
  • Solfege uses do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do instead o' numbers. Symbols be used t' indicate different modes such as a minus fer minor.

Transpose

Use this slider t' transpose th' song t' any key, Arrr! Th' key o' C be placed on th' far left an' th' key o' Cb be on th' far right. Ye can use th' arrow keys t' make fine-tune adjustments t' th' key ye would like t' pick.

Th' power icon on th' right turns transposition on an' off. If turned off, an' if no capo be applied, then no transposition be performed. This will display chords just as they appear in th' Song Editor.

Capo

This slider allows ye t' apply a capo t' th' song. Slide from 0 t' 11. This will modulate th' chords o' th' song down t' maintain th' key o' th' song when a capo be applied. Ye can change th' direction o' this modulation in Settings » Display Settings » Song Formattin' » Capo » Capo Modulates

Ye can turn th' application o' th' capo on an' off usin' th' power icon on th' right side. This allows ye t' maintain a capo an' determine if ye want t' apply it or not dependin' on th' instrument ye be playin'.

Diagrams

This section o' th' chords palette be used t' toggle th' chord diagram display on an' off. Use th' slider t' adjust how many diagrams appear across th' page. Ye can select a number between 4 an' 10. Use th' power icon on th' right t' toggle th' visibility o' chord diagrams on an' off.

Ye can change how an' where chord diagram appear in Settings » Display Settings » Song Formattin' » Chord Diagrams.

Diagram Position

Th' diagram position chooser lets ye determine where diagrams be drawn on th' page. Ye can choose from:

  • None turns off chord diagrams. Default.
  • Below draws diagrams under th' song content.
  • Above draws diagrams above th' song content directly below th' title an' metadata.
  • Within draws chord diagrams in place o' chords within th' lyrics.

Instrument

This section allows ye t' select th' instrument t' use when displayin' chords. Th' selected instrument be highlighted. Choose a different instrument t' have th' chord diagrams change t' th' selected instrument.

Transposin' Instrument

If ye be playin' an instrument that does not play at concert pitch, ye can adjust th' chords that appear throughout th' song t' adjust fer those instruments. Options include:

  • Off used fer concert pitch an' most stringed or percussion instruments like piano.
  • B-flat used fer B-flat instruments such as trumpet, clarinet, bass clarinet, an' soprano an' tenor saxophones.
  • E-flat used fer E-flat tuned instruments such as soprano clarinet, or alto an' baritone saxophones.
  • F used fer F tuned instruments such as French an' English horns.
  • G used fer alto flute.

Note: Makin' changes in this palette does not affect th' song content but be applied in addition t' th' original song.

OnSong 2026 — Last Updated on December 10, 2019