8) Chord Symbols (Themes), Adding Chords, Auto-Spacing, Selecting Chords, Deleting Chords

9) Locking Editing

10) Cursor Toolbar

11) Separator Lines / Repeat Signs / Rhythm Slashes

12) Chord Matrix

13) Replacing Chords

14) Reposition Buttons, Repositioning Chords (Drag & Drop)

15) Section Labels

16) Themes

17) View Options: Song Info, Notepad, Clipboard, MIDI Event List

18) Song Title & Subtitle

19) Header Image

20) Original & Transposed Key

21) Transposing Songs

22) Chromatic Tuner

23) Capo

24) Backing Track

25) Play Mode

26) Pitch Tone

27) Tempo

28) Chord Diagrams

29) Chord Recognition

30) Virtual Fretboard

31) Chord Recognition (Key Signature)

32) Capo Position

33) Tuning

34) Sound

35) Diagram Format (Themes)

36) Chord Recognition

37) Virtual Keyboard

38) Chord Recognition (Key Signature)

39) Sustain Pedal

40) Sound (Instrument)

41) Import: Adding Songs, Text-Based Files, PDF Files, ChordPro, OnSong, SongbookPro, SongSheet Pro, Importing Folders, Scanning Documents (iOS), Add to Song One Action Extension, Dropbox & Google Drive

42) Printing & Exporting

43) Search Field, Searching In Play Mode

44) Library Filter

45) Play Button, Play Mode

46) Song Options: Cloning Songs & Sections, AirDrop Songs & Sets, Email Songs & Sets

47) Set Options (Rename, Reorder, Archive, Print, Export, etc.): AirDrop Songs & Sets, Email Songs & Sets

48) Sets, Setlists, Custom Set Collections, Delete Mode (Sets/Setlists)

49) Adding Songs, Delete Mode (Library)

48) Play Mode

49) Quick-Select

50) Sets, Setlists, Custom Set Collections

51) Adding Timeline Events

52) Timeline

53) Smart Scroll Chord Chart

54) Importing Audio Tracks

55) Multitrack Mixer

56) Varispeed

59) iCloud & Local Backups

60) Circle of Fifths

When iCloud is enabled your song catalog is still maintained offline on your device. The changes made on a specific device are uploaded to iCloud and synced to other devices. (See iCloud Syncing to learn more.)

Song One’s preferences/settings offer an option to disable iCloud sync.

It is recommended to keep a separate local backup of your song catalog on at least one of your devices.

Song One will replace matching songs in your song catalog with the backup versions. Songs that you have added to your song catalog after the last backup will remain unchanged. All computer devices linked to your iCloud account will be updated automatically.

If you do not want to retain the new songs when restoring a backup recreate an exact copy by:

Push the app into the background on your current device before editing your song catalog on another device:

The changes to a song are synced within 5 to 40 seconds when you:

The changes to a set are synced within 10 to 40 seconds.

The changes to the theme settings are synced within 5 to 15 seconds. Themes may be customized on multiple devices at the same time. The screen on each device will automatically refresh.

Song One’s preferences/settings offer an option to disable iCloud sync. Make sure the option is turned on to sync your devices. If you are experiencing a syncing problem try the following options:

To import a song tap/click on the button with the inward pointing arrow in the top left corner of the library panel.

A set is a collection of songs in your library. Sets for live performances list the songs in the order they are to be performed.

Song One displays all the sets of your song catalog in one list named 'Active Sets' (sets you currently use). As this list grows you may create custom set collections to limit the number of visible sets for easier access.

You can access sets that were added to the archive by…​

Custom set collections allow you to organize a large number of setlists. The menu that is used to switch between the 'Active Sets' and 'Archived Sets' (see above) is also used to manage the custom set collections.

A submenu appears:

To move an existing set to an existing custom collection:

A submenu appears with the existing custom collections:

Quick-select allows you to create setlists without using drag & drop. Quick-select can only be initiated when viewing sets, not when viewing the songs of a setlist.

Your song library view will appear in a checklist format:

A play button will appear whenever a song title is selected in the 'Library' or in the 'Setlist'.

You have the option to search and sort the songs in the library.

Use the search field of the library panel to locate specific songs. An empty search field displays the total number of songs in your catalog:

You can expand or limit the search results by specifying in which fields to search.

The library filter enables you to only show songs that fit a specific criterion. The selectable criteria are the values you have entered into the Song Info panel.

Enter a song title and subtitle to be able to identify the songs in your song catalog. (Newly added songs without a specific title will be listed as 'Untitled' in the library panel.)

By default Song One 10.0 (or later) will auto-update the song editor after you have modified the title and subtitle fields of the song info panel:

Song One can automatically identify a song’s key based on the diatonic chords of the song. (Key changes within a song are not recognized.)

You may manually type in the values of the 'Original Key' and 'Transposed Key' of a song. (Manually entered values will not affect the song’s chord symbols or its chord diagrams.)

This field shows the tuning of string instruments. You may type in up to eight pitches (separated by spaces). The song’s chord charts will be automatically updated whenever the tuning is changed.

Enter a number between 1 and 11 to specify a capo position. The song’s chord chart/symbols will be automatically updated whenever the capo position is changed.

Pitch tones may be used to guide singers in 'a capella' performances or to tune your string instrument. Song One generates pitch tone(s) from note(s) you entered into the song info section. You may enter a number between 3 and 8 immediately after the note to specify its octave. Separate multiple values using spaces (multiple pitch tones are played in succession).

Song One can automatically play an audio backing track whenever the play mode is activated. (This section provides a brief overview on backing tracks: see [Playback Via Apple’s Music Apps] and Importing Audio Tracks to learn more.)

The icon will change into an open chain link icon:

The duration is the length of a song in minutes and seconds (mm:ss). When adding a backing track the duration is entered automatically. Change it manually to adjust the scrolling speed if needed.

Enter the song’s tempo in 'BPM' ('beats per minute'). The entered value will determine the speed of the metronome.

The time signature represents the meter of a song in beats per measure.

Subdivision refers to a song’s time signature (see above) divided into smaller units. This allows you to keep accurate time when performing a song. For instance, a time signature of 2/4 is divided into eighth notes (the duration of a quarter-note halved).

Enter the copyright info and CCLI license number of the song by tapping/clicking on the three dots.

The song info pop-up shows the song’s key, capo position, time signature, tempo as well as the metronome icon. The pop-up window appears when the Play Mode is active and the song is at its beginning (scrolled to the top).

A menu will slide in from the left:

The settings include an option to print a song in the double-column format:

You have the option to customize the background of printed/exported PDFs.

You may also export and share native Song One files in the ChordPro format. Note: Not all of Song One’s formatting capabilties are supported by the ChordPro format.

You may share a PDF formatted document or export a native Song One document as a PDF file.

Song One can print/export all songs of a set with a single menu command:

AirDrop offers an option in its settings/preferences to restrict AirDrops to people listed in Apple’s 'Contacts' app.

Guitar chord diagrams show you how to play a chord on a stringed instrument. The Individual notes of a chord are indicated by dots. The character ‘x’ above a string represents a muted string while a circle in this position represents an open string.

Piano chord diagrams show you how to play a chord on a keyboard instrument. The Individual notes of a chord are indicated by dots. Song One automatically creates piano chord diagrams in the root position. (You may toggle between guitar chord diagrams and piano diagrams in the theme panel.)

Song One is able to automatically maintain a collection of chord diagrams for each song. This collection is referred to as a chord chart.

The chord chart will be placed at the current cursor position. The most commonly chosen area is at the beginning of a song below the song title.

You may change the voicing of a specific guitar chord diagram with the help of the virtual fretboard:

The virtual fretboard slides up to display the chord and indicate all possible string positions of the chord’s notes:

A chord diagram preview in the upper right corner of the screen will show the newly formatted diagram.

You may change the voicing of a specific piano chord diagram with the help of the virtual keyboard:

The virtual keyboard slides up. To customize a piano chord diagram:

Song One allows you to add up to 5 different voicings for each chord symbol per song. Adding multiple voicings requires the use of the chord chart. (See Chord Chart to learn how to add a chord chart to the song.)

Once the chord chart has been added:

A properly formatted chord symbol appears in the main (bottom) toolbar next to the guitar pick icon:

The chord matrix can be used to replace a specific chord in the lyrics:

The chord buttons of the matrix will be updated.

Song One automatically identifies chords while you use the virtual fretboard. Song One recognizes over 200 chord types and distinguishes between root positions, inversions and altered bass notes. As to string instruments the chord identification takes into account the tuning and the number of strings.

Most note combinations can form more than one chord. In the pop-up menu the first character of the chord symbol identifies the root note (see E, A, G above). If the root note is not the lowest note the chord’s inversion is indicated underneath the chord symbol.

The fretboard will automatically display and play a chord that has been tapped/clicked on (or swiped) in the song editor.

The currently selected notes are shown in blue. Positions in grey represent unselected notes, which can be used to create a different voicing of the same chord. (See the Chord Diagrams to learn more.)

A pop-up menu appears to offer a variety of popular tunings for guitar, bass, ukulele, banjo, mandolin and cavaquinho.

Additionally you may freely set the number of strings and their tuning:

A circle will appear above the virtual fretboard:

A scrollable pop-up menu with a search field at the top will appear to allow you to find and select a specific scale (e.g. search for 'Blues' scales):

The notes of the chosen scale will be displayed on the fretboard. The tonic will be highlighted in blue. See 'G' in the example below.

The capo increases the pitch of your instrument. When a capo is placed at the 3rd fret of your instrument the chord shape of an A major chord will produce the sound of a C major chord:

Option A - Adding The Virtual Capo

Song One automatically adjusts the tuning of the virtual fretboard and updates all chord diagrams of the song:

Option B - Using Key Transposition

The chord diagrams may also be updated by transposing the song.

This makes it a less desirable option to use in Song One. To use it nonetheless:

Song One automatically adjusts the fretboard’s tuning and updates the song’s chord diagrams.

Song One automatically identifies chords while you use the virtual keyboard. Song One recognizes over 200 chord types and distinguishes between root positions, inversions and altered bass notes.

Most note combinations can form more than one chord. In the pop-up menu the first character of the chord symbol identifies the root note (see C, A, G above). If the root note is not the lowest note the chord’s inversion is indicated underneath the chord symbol.

The virtual keyboard will automatically display and play a chord that has been tapped/clicked on (or swiped) in the song editor.

A circle will appear above the virtual keyboard:

A scrollable pop-up menu with a search field at the top will appear to allow you to find and select a specific scale (e.g. search for 'Blues' scales):

The notes of the chosen scale will be displayed on the keyboard. The tonic will be highlighted in blue. See 'G' in the example below.

Song One’s song editor recognizes and auto-formats chords as you type and displays them in their most commonly used format. You may choose between 'Jazz' notation or 'Pop/Rock' notation. (See Chord Symbols to learn more.)

Chords do not have to be enclosed in square brackets to be distinguished from the lyrics. Song One is able to recognize thousands of different variations of over 200 chord types with added extensions and altered bass notes.

The typed chord is automatically converted into a symbol when you enter the right bracket:

Chords do not have to be typed to be added to the lyrics. They may also be created with the Chord Matrix or auto-created from the selected notes of the Virtual Fretboard or Virtual Keyboard.

When chords are added to the lyrics Song One links the chord symbols to the corresponding words. When you edit the lyrics a linked chord will move together with its corresponding word.

The song editor can import content from a variety of sources. (Click/Tap on the appropriate link to learn more.)

One of the easiest ways to import text is to copy and paste it via your device’s clipboard:

You have two options to import the copied text:

A chord that has been added to the lyrics may be selected in four ways:

1) Tap/Click

2) Swipe

You may select a chord without changing the cursor position by swiping over it.

When a chord is selected its chord symbol is shown in the bottom toolbar next to the guitar pick icon:

3) Long Tap/Click

4) Left/Right Arrow Keys

A chord that has been added to the lyrics may be deleted in four ways:

You have the following four options to replace a chord after selecting it with a long tap/click or with the help of the left/right arrow keys:

Use Song One’s 'drag & drop' procedure to reposition a specific symbol. The 'drag & drop' procedure requires two long taps/clicks:

The second long tap/click allows you to reposition the selected symbol:

The reposition buttons fulfill two functions:

Moving a Chord to the Left

The first chord to the right of the cursor is moved to the cursor position:

Moving a Chord to the Right

The first chord to the left of the cursor is moved to the cursor position:

Use Song One’s swipe gesture to copy a chord to a desired position:

Use the cursor toolbar to add separator lines/bars, repeat signs and chords to a song.

The cursor toolbar appears.

Repeat signs (i.e. '||:', ':||') may also be added with the keyboard of your device.

When you edit songs the main toolbar displays two rounded arrow buttons (undo/redo buttons) on the left. These buttons allow you to access the history of the changes that you have made to the selected song.

A small lock icon in the top right corner of the song editor enables you to lock a native Song One document to disallow further editing.

You may zoom in and out of the document shown in the song editor.

Zooming Native Song One Documents

All native Song One documents of your song catalog are displayed at the same zoom level specified by you. The zoom level applies to both the editing and the auto-scrolling of the songs. Dynamic line breaks ensure that you can view the lyrics of a song at any size.

Zooming PDF Documents

The PDF documents of your song catalog have individual zoom levels. Each PDF document is automatically sized to fit the song editor from left to right. Manually increasing the zoom level may cut off parts of the lyrics on either side.

iOS identifies connected bluetooth page turner pedals as external keyboards and will hide the on-screen keyboard. Song One automatically displays a custom on-screen keyboard when the iOS keyboard is hidden.

A section template is a saved copy of all section labels of a song. Use the section template as a frequently used model to structure and format a new song.

A pop-up menu appears:

To apply the section template…​

Your customizations are applied to your entire song catalog and are automatically saved.

Song One comes pre-installed with a default font that offers two typefaces ('Sans Serif' & 'Serif'). The default font is used when the Focus Mode is active and when a custom font from the iOS/macOS font library has not been specified.

A pop-up window will open:

Custom fonts differ in height and width:

Song One auto-formats all recognized chord symbols and displays them in their most commonly used format. You may choose between 'Jazz' notation or 'Pop/Rock' notation.

The left margin of the lyrics is automatically adjusted whenever section labels have been added. To make the margin as small as possible you have the option to format the labels as icons. (See Section Labels to learn more.)

Identify a line as a (sub)title by adding the appropriate section label. (See Section Labels to learn more.)

Identify a line/paragraph as a chorus by adding the appropriate section label. (See Section Labels to learn more.)

A position marker is placed at the cursor location when you add the note to the lyrics. The position marker shows the number of the corresponding note field on the right:

A note field will appear to the right:

You may specify the size of the position marker by tapping/clicking on the icon to the left of the bottom toolbar.

You may specify the color of the position marker by tapping/clicking on the dot in the center of the bottom toolbar.

You may view a list of all the notes that you have added to a particular song.

To add a header image open the song editor’s side panel:

The icons of the bottom toolbar will change:

Change the annotation type as needed while you add drawings to the PDF document:

A color picker will appear to allow you to select the desired color:

The playing style is indicated by the vertical alignment of the notes (fret numbers).

Tabs consist of a combination of hyphens ('-') and numbers (0-24), which are entered into the song editor in plain text. They are auto-formatted as soon as you add a 'Tab' section label/tag. (See Section Labels/Tags to learn more.)

It is common practice to add the string tuning at the beginning of each string line. Song One expects the strings to be descending in pitch with the highest pitch at the top and the lowest pitch at the bottom. The highest pitch is usually indicated by a lower-case letter.

Identified 'Tab' sections are auto-transposed when the key of the song changes. (See Transposing Songs to learn more.) Song One adjusts the fretboard positions based on the interval value and string tuning (the notes that you have added to the left of the tab).

When smart-transpose is enabled in Song One’s app settings the 'open string' notes will be moved to lower pitched adjacent strings. Song One determines the correct fret positions by examining the string tuning (the notes that you have added to the left of the tab).

When transposing a song temporarily you may wish to avoid changing the fingering of the chords/melody to be able to return to the original key with the original tabs preserved. You have two options to do so:

When smart-transpose is not enabled transposed 'open string' notes that can no longer be displayed on the fretboard are moved two octaves higher on the same string:

This allows Song One to move the entire fretboard pattern horizontally without changing the fingering patterns. However, the chords/melody might not be playable.

Chord symbols may be added above the top line (string) of a tab. A chord symbol will adjust its position automatically when you add or remove hyphens in the top line.

There are four options to add a chord symbol to a tab:

(See Adding Chords to learn more.)

(See Chord Matrix, Virtual Keyboard or Virtual Fretboard to learn more.)

(See Cursor Toolbar to learn more.)

Advanced tabs include a set of characters that are placed immediately next to a note number. These characters stand for the techniques that are to be used when playing the notes.

Song One recognizes the following characters:

(Native Song One Documents)

The bottom toolbar will change: