Software for charting out songs - any recommendations?

Blueingreen

I want to get more conscientious about charting songs out - I'm bad for learning songs, moving on, and by the time I want to play them again I've more than half forgotten them. 

I'm wondering about the best way of doing it.

I have Guitar Pro which is good for detailed transcription but not for quickly sketching the basics of a song out. 

Just something that will enable me to outine the structure, chords, and any additional information that might be relevant (a riff, rhythm pattern where it needs to be precise, etc).  

Options I've been considering.

Manuscript paper and pencil.  Maybe still the best/most flexible option? But I'm invariably working with a computer when working stuff out. And a computer would help with organisation, tidiness and maybe the legibility of the final product.

Word processor.  I'm familiar with Word but use a Word-less Mac for music. I've tried Libre and Googedocs on the Mac and didn't find them as intuitively Word-like as I'd hoped.  There's also the issue of how you indicate rhythms/notes etc

Apple pencil (or cheaper alternative) with a note-taking app. I know next to nothing about these but wondered if they could combine the flexibility of paper and pencil with the organisational advantages of a computer?

Any specialist software that could be adapted to this purpose?

What do other people do?

Grateful for any thoughts/suggestions.

JMS96

This is a good call. I have the same issue/requirement. Currently I print out the lyrics on a page and then hand write notes over them. It’s not ideal.

viz

Chordastic or Musescore?

Lestratcaster

I've been using Sibelius 5 for a decade to do all my teaching charts/tab. Looks neat and professional for my students.

mrkb

I use Word - It allows basic structure, bars (I use the | symbol if it isnt obvious), lyrics (blue), performance notes (usually orange).
Can also use basic tab syntax for riffs if needed. Just use a suitable equal spaced font (Courier) and narrow the page edge markers. 

mrkb

I even use it to add lyrics to pdf notation.
Just screenshot the pdf to a jpg, insert the jpeg as a full screen image behind text in word.
Then type the lyrics in and use different test sizes for the carriage returns to get the spacing correct (in example below the blue text is added in word, the notation is the image that ive extrated from a pdf)

Brad

+1 for Musescore. It’s free, easy to use and it’s free  

stratman3142

...and another vote for Musescore.

Blueingreen

Much thanks to all who replied.  I think I will give Musescore a go.  I already have it on my Mac, but have never used it.  I originally downloaded it for transcribing solos and decided Guitar Pro was more user friendly.  If I had thought about it for this I'd have probably thought it could be too steep a learning curve but maybe it's not as complicated as I thought.

stratman3142

Blueingreen said:

Much thanks to all who replied.  I think I will give Musescore a go.  I already have it on my Mac, but have never used it...

When did you download it, because it's now at version 3?

I use Guitar Pro and Musescore. I find Guitar Pro is good for the specific task of transcribing guitar solos. But Musescore is much better for general purpose charts because it can combine standard notation, rhythmic slash notation and basic slash notation in a single chart.

Roland

Three methods, depending on what I’m trying to achieve.

Musescore is good for transcribing to stave and TAB. I use this as a tool when working out and learning a complex song.

Wordprocessor for long term records. I’ve got at least 20 years worth of songs with various bands. They show song structure, chord patterns and lyrics, with fragments of Musescore transcriptions for riffs.

SetListManager for reminders whilst rehearsing. That looks like this:
 

fretmeister

I've got Staffpad with my ipad & pencil.

It's expensive and worth every penny.

Blueingreen

I must have updated it recently enough to have version 3.  It did force an update.

I just charted my first tune in Musescore (Al Green, Let's Stay Together).  I'd already done this one on a word processor so it was a case of copying something I'd already done.  I don't think it took me any longer on Musescore than it did originally.  Admittedly quite an easy chart (no standard notation, no rhythm notation, short song, some repeats), but I'm absolutely delighted with how short a time it took for a first go with the program, and it's easier to read than the wp version.  Much thanks for the suggestion.

Brad

Blueingreen said:

I must have updated it recently enough to have version 3.  It did force an update.

I just charted my first tune in Musescore (Al Green, Let's Stay Together).  I'd already done this one on a word processor so it was a case of copying something I'd already done.  I don't think it took me any longer on Musescore than it did originally.  Admittedly quite an easy chart (no standard notation, no rhythm notation, short song, some repeats), but I'm absolutely delighted with how short a time it took for a first go with the program, and it's easier to read than the wp version.  Much thanks for the suggestion.

Happy days. And the more you use it, the easier it gets. You’ll find a whole host of short cuts to speed up the process. 

Danny1969

I did use Nashville style charts for chords as its not key dependent but as my eyes have got worse I find its easer and quicker to just listen and remember the intervals and arrangement. Some stuffs easier than others mind but in general it works for me. 

slowpilgrim

didn't know manuscript paper was a thing

going to order some for writing tabs

Roland

@slowpilgrim Don’t forget that traditional manuscript paper has five lines for the stave, and TAB needs six. You can download templates and print your own https://www.justinguitar.com/modules/print-blank-tab-manuscript