Fretboard Distillery

Transpose any song · Keep the shapes you love · Let the capo do the math

v2.1
Features
Paste or Open a Song
Paste chord/lyric text, open a file (.txt, .docx, .cho, .fba), or try the demo. Chords go on the line above lyrics.
Transpose with Shapes + Capo
Pick the Sounding Key the audience hears, then the Shape Key your fingers play. Capo auto-calculates. Or nudge capo manually.
♯ Nashville Numbers
Toggle to replace chords with scale-degree numbers (1, 4, 5⁻, etc.). Numbers stay the same in every key. Full NNS reference table in the ☰ menu.
✎ Edit Chord Positions
Click the button, click any chord, then arrow keys or Space/Backspace to slide it over the correct syllable.
Chord Diagrams & Simplified Voicings
Each chord shows a fretboard diagram. Common chords include a simpler alternative that's easier to play.
☰ Sparse Chart
A compact roadmap showing just section names and chord progressions — no lyrics. Available in Performance Mode and Print Preview. Use 📋 Copy to paste it into any document.
💾 Save & Reopen
Save as .fba — stores song, settings, and position edits. Name your file and reopen from the Open File tab.
🖨 Smart Print Preview
Auto-fits to fewest pages. Choose 1 or 2 columns, font size (9–12pt), spacing. Options for chord diagrams and sparse chart mode.
▶ Performance Mode
Fullscreen chord sheet with auto-scroll (15-sec countdown to get ready), adjustable speed, optional metronome with BPM control, sparse chart toggle, and copy to clipboard.
How To Use
Getting Started
1. Paste your chord sheet into the input area, or open a file (.txt, .docx, .cho).
2. Click Parse & Load Song.
3. Pick your favorite chord shapes under Play Shapes In.
4. Adjust the Sounding Key to match the song — the capo calculates for you.
5. Fine-tune chord positions with ✎ Edit Positions if needed.
6. Save your work with 💾 Save .fba or print with 🖨 Print.
Performance Mode
1. Load and set up your song first.
2. Click the button (or find it in the ☰ menu).
3. Adjust scroll speed with the +/− buttons before you start.
4. Hit ▶ Play — a 15-second countdown gives you time to grab your guitar.
5. Turn on the Metronome toggle and set your BPM if you want a click track.
6. Hit ⏸ Pause anytime, or ✕ Exit to return.
Nashville Number System
Highlighted columns (1, 4, 5, 6m) are the most common chord combinations in popular music. Minor chords are marked with "m".
Performance Mode
Speed: 0.1
72 BPM
10
Get ready...
Song Input
Chords on the line above lyrics. Sections: [Verse] [Chorus]. Metadata: Key: G Capo: 2 Title: Song Name
No file selected
Supported: .txt .cho (ChordPro) .docx (Word) .fba (Fretboard Distillery native)
Most tab sites block direct browser fetches (CORS). Copy/paste usually works better.
Chord Sheet
✎ Editing Chord Positions
Click on any chord you want to move, then nudge it into place:
or Space / Backspace to slide left and right  ·  Tab to jump to the next chord  ·  Esc to deselect
Chords & Voicings
1 page