Song Structure

SongStructureItem

SongStructureItem is the basic configuration element to build the playable song structure of a chord‑and‑lyrics sheet. It represents one step in the arrangement, such as a verse, chorus, or modulation, and defines how that step is displayed and performed in the SongViewer and StageView.

Overview

A SongStructureItem belongs to a song’s overall SongStructure, which is an ordered list of arrangement and capo or transpose steps. Each item either points to a named song section (for example, a verse or chorus) or applies a musical change such as a capo position or transposition. The ordered sequence of items determines how the song progresses during performance, including repeats and key changes.

Arrangement elements

Clear structure makes songs easier to read and easier to reuse.

Typical sections include:

• Verse 1, Verse 2, Verse 3
• Chorus
• Bridge
• Intro, Interlude, Instrumental, Outro

Use simple, consistent labels and spacing:

• Add a label line such as Verse 1 or Chorus before the relevant lines.
• Separate sections with a blank line to make them visually distinct.
• Keep naming consistent (for example always Verse 1, not sometimes Verse I and sometimes Verse 1).

Well‑structured sections make it much easier to:

• Rearrange songs in different setlists.
• Build arrangements that reference “Verse 1” or “Chorus” explicitly.
• Quickly see where you are during rehearsal or performance.

Users may also define arbitrary custom section names in the SongEditor; any such label can be used as a sectionName in the SongStructure. By adding the same section multiple times, performers can represent repeats without duplicating lyrics or chords.

Capo and transpose

Besides section jumps, SongStructureItem can model musical transformations. Dedicated items may specify capo positions or transposition steps that are applied when playback or navigation reaches that point in the structure. The resulting capo or key change is reflected in the SongViewer and, if enabled, the StageView, so the musician continues to play according to what is currently visible, while the underlying song text remains unchanged.

Editing and ordering

SongStructureItem entries are created and edited in the SongStructure menu of the JustChords SongEditor. Within this interface, items can be inserted, removed, or reordered to match the desired arrangement. Songparts can be moved up or down in the list, which allows users to experiment with different orders of verses, choruses, bridges, and other sections, or to mirror a specific live arrangement used by a band.

Fields

A SongStructureItem typically comprises the following fields, which govern both functionality and display:

sectionName – Name of the song section referenced by the item, such as “Verse”, “Chorus”, “Intro”, or any user‑defined label present in the song text.

type – Functional type of the item, usually distinguishing between a section entry (navigating to a named section) and a transpose or modulation step.

transpose – Number of semitone steps by which chords should be transposed when this item is reached, affecting how subsequent sections are rendered.

instructionBefore – Optional textual instruction shown before the section, for example performance cues like “build”, “instrumental only”, or “repeat softly”.

instructionAfter – Optional instruction displayed after the section, such as “go to Tag” or “end on I chord”.

showChords – Boolean switch indicating whether chords should be displayed for the item; when disabled, only lyrics or instructions are shown.

showLyricsType – Mode controlling how lyrics are displayed, such as showing all lyrics, hiding them entirely, or showing only an entry line for compact layouts.