Play along with ChordPro
Configuration Files
When browsing through the wiki entries about ChordPro's file format and the command-line options, you continually find references to the option to use a configuration file for certain things. In fact, this kind of processing is far more powerful than the command-line parameters or the graphical interface. A detailed description of the extensive possibilities of the configuration file can also be found in the wiki [6].
Typical examples of the need for an external control file include printing fingering diagrams for instruments that are not directly supported, outputting alternative fingerings, and displaying chords that ChordPro does not know and that you therefore have to specify explicitly. Listing 4 shows you an example of a wiki fingering image, marginally adapted for our purposes, which defines two variants of the B flat major chord in the low and high registers in the configuration file.
Listing 4
Adapted Wiki Fingering
// The default for "base" is 1. // Use 0 for an empty string and // -1 for a damped string. "chords" : [ { "name" : "B(low)", "base" : 1, "frets" : [ 1, 1, 3, 3, 3, 1 ], "fingers" : [ 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1 ], }, { "name" : "B(high)", "base" : 6, "frets" : [ 1, 3, 3, 2, 1, 1 ], "fingers" : [ 1, 3, 4, 2, 1, 1 ], }, ],
Conclusions
ChordPro fully lives up to its reputation as the reference software for the ChordPro markup format – no matter whether you prefer the command-line version or the GUI. The program does a really good job of the things it sets out to do and can be a good option provided that the basic functions are all you need for the time being. In general, the terminal version of ChordPro is more powerful and practical than the GUI version. The editor in particular lacks functionally, so you might prefer your favorite editor.
However, the widely used editors based on Gtksourceview (like Gedit) or KatePart (Kate) do not have syntax highlighting for the ChordPro format. At least there is a plugin for Vim [7]. But even without syntax highlighting, it is worth learning the various command-line and configuration options. This is the only way to visualize unknown chords in the printed output.
Infos
- ChordPro: https://github.com/ChordPro/chordpro
- File format specification: https://github.com/ChordPro/chordpro/wiki/ChordPro-File-Format-Specification
- MuseScore: https://musescore.org/
- LilyPond: https://lilypond.org
- Chordii: https://sourceforge.net/projects/chordii/
- Configuration file description: https://github.com/ChordPro/chordpro/wiki/ChordPro-Configuration-File
- Syntax highlighting for ChordPro in Vim: https://github.com/vim-scripts/chordpro.vim/blob/master/syntax/chordpro.vim
« Previous 1 2
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Direct Download
Read full article as PDF:
Price $2.95
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Find SysAdmin Jobs
News
-
The Next Major Release of Elementary OS has Arrived
It's been over a year since the developers of elementary OS released version 6.1 (Jólnir) but they've finally made their latest release (Horus) available with a renewed focus on the user.
-
KDE Plasma 5.27 Beta is Ready for Testing
The latest beta iteration of the KDE Plasma desktop is now available and includes some important additions and fixes.
-
Netrunner OS 23 Is Now Available
The latest version of this Linux distribution is now based on Debian Bullseye and is ready for installation and finally hits the KDE 5.20 branch of the desktop.
-
New Linux Distribution Built for Gamers
With a Gnome desktop that offers different layouts and a custom kernel, PikaOS is a great option for gamers of all types.
-
System76 Beefs Up Popular Pangolin Laptop
The darling of open-source-powered laptops and desktops will soon drop a new AMD Ryzen 7-powered version of their popular Pangolin laptop.
-
Nobara Project Is a Modified Version of Fedora with User-Friendly Fixes
If you're looking for a version of Fedora that includes third-party and proprietary packages, look no further than the Nobara Project.
-
Gnome 44 Now Has a Release Date
Gnome 44 will be officially released on March 22, 2023.
-
Nitrux 2.6 Available with Kernel 6.1 and a Major Change
The developers of Nitrux have officially released version 2.6 of their Linux distribution with plenty of new features to excite users.
-
Vanilla OS Initial Release Is Now Available
A stock GNOME experience with on-demand immutability finally sees its first production release.
-
Critical Linux Vulnerability Found to Impact SMB Servers
A Linux vulnerability with a CVSS score of 10 has been found to affect SMB servers and can lead to remote code execution.