OnSong File Format

Th' OnSong file format be a text file that be written in a way t' give a song musical meanin'. It typically has a .onsong file extension, although OnSong understands any type o' plain text file and can render it as an OnSong-formatted file. This format uses special characters t' attribute meanin' t' different parts o' a song.

Apps fer Editin' Plain Text

Th' first thing t' know be that an OnSong file be a plain text document. This makes it very easy t' edit on any platform with included software.

• On macOS open TextEdit from yer Applications folder. TextEdit be a general purpose word processin' program that can also edit plain text files. Be sure t' switch t' plain text by choose Make Plain Text from th' Format menu.
• On Windows open th' Notepad application from th' Start menu.

T' follow along with th' rest o' this tutorial, download this Example OnSong File and open it in yer application o' choice.

Sections

Th' first thing t' know about th' OnSong file format be that it can be divided into sections. Sections be typically used t' divide verses from th' chorus or bridge. They can also be used t' divide a verse into two separate stanzas fer lyrics projection, or t' make things easier t' read. Ye can even label sections if desired, matey.

Metadata

Metadata be information about th' song which be always contained in th' first section. Typically these be provided in name/value pairs separated by a colon, each bein' placed on its own line. Ye can also set th' title and artist o' th' song as th' first and second lines in th' file.

Chords and Lyrics

Chords be placed t' align with certain words or phrases. OnSong supports two kinds o' chord formattin': Bracketed Chords and Chords Over Lyrics.

ChordPro

While th' OnSong format does much o' what ye need in a chord chart, th' ChordPro format has a few other tricks up its sleeve, savvy? Ye can use ChordPro syntax interchangeably fer advanced options.

Formattin'

Want t' bold or highlight a line o' lyrics or highlight a word or phrase? OnSong uses special characters t' format yer chord chart fer harmony parts, or t' make things stand out.

Pages

Ye can now define separate pages in yer chord chart which can be used t' force page breaks fer printin'.