Best iPad Apps and Accessories for Managing Song Sheets

[8Muddypaws]

My old iPad died a couple of weeks back. When I restored a new iPad from backup I discovered that the ‘Chord’ app I’ve been using was excluded from those backups. I’ve been using Chord’ for many years but when I started using it to recreate the set lists and lead sheets that were gone I decided It’s one of the worst apps I’ve ever used. When importing a song into it you copy the whole song from a word doc and paste it into Chords import page Chord attempts to identify the nature of every line. I.e. Title, chords, lyrics, etc. If you click on the line label you can change it. If you miss the line label by half a hair the editor shuts down and you have to start completely over. After having that happen 4 times I uttered some words that got me a very stern look from Mrs Muddypaws. After that I deleted Chord. With extreme malice!

After reading some App Store reviews I installed the trial version of ‘Songbook Pro’ and I have to say I find it to be so easy that I only read one page of the online user manual and I was able to import a lead sheet an put it into performable/teachable shape in less than 20 minutes.

Every element of the song can have its own color, font, size, background and more. You can use auto scroll or a Bluetooth or midi foot-switch page turner too. The attached pic is how I configured my screen. It’s easy to change. The app is $5.99!

I’ve been invited to play some songwriter round robin type gigs this summer. Restaurants and wineries mostly. At my advanced age I need to have even my own lyrics in front of me.

 

[Larry N.]

Yep, Songbook Pro is a nice app, and it's easy to put the iPad on a mic stand, so it's handy. And, as you mention, it's super simple to use.

I'm not a musician, but it certainly is helpful to me for my singing attempts.

 

[8Muddypaws]

The more I use it the more I like it.

The page turner I ordered was easy to set up and works perfectly. I've learned how to format my songs for the app and how to edit the imported songs to fix display issues and how to change colors & fonts on the fly within the song. Very useful.

The page turner is a Lakato JSP-01.
Tom, you might find it useful. Just over $30 and well worth it.

 

[Tom]

The page turner is a Lakato JSP-01.
Tom, you might find it useful. Just over $30 and well worth it.

Thanks Russ. I often use two Android tablets with adjacent pages of a 2-page lead sheet on each. OTOH a guy who usually sits next to me in the uke band views lead sheets on his ipad, and I see him stop to turn pages. I'll suggest he try the Lakato pedal.

 

[UTTransplant]

The Lekato page turner is the one I got too. I am using Mobile Sheets as an app, and it works great on that. It also works on some Kindle song books I have. The other baritone ukulele player in the Quartzsite group just stops to turn pages on her tablet (I think it is a big Android), but the page turner makes life much easier.

 

[Roaminaround]

I’ve been using Songbook pro for over a year now. Sometimes editing is difficult depending on the source of the song file. I do love the auto scrolling feature.