Transcribe your songs
Upload a file, get back a chord chart with lyrics. Note-level guitar tabs (experimental) available on Pro plans.
Upload anything — rough or polished
Voice memo, scratch demo, or master. mp3, wav, or m4a — up to 20 MB.
We do the listening
Chords, lyrics, and beats — time-aligned, ready in about 90 seconds per four minutes of audio. We never store your audio and delete it immediately when transcription finishes.
Edit charts and tabs
Transpose, capo, edit, export to PDF. Your library is private to you.
Frequently asked questions
What file types can I upload to Chords.fm?
MP3, WAV, and M4A files up to 20 MB. A typical 3–5 minute song at a reasonable bitrate lands well under that.
How long does it take to get a chord chart?
About 2 minutes per 4 minutes of audio in typical cases. If it takes longer, you can safely navigate away from the page and come back later — your chart will be waiting in your library when it finishes.
Is my audio kept on your servers?
No. Chords.fm deletes the source audio file after the transcription finishes. For our experimental guitar tabs, there is a separate, off-by-default checkbox on the upload form that lets you keep the audio so we can use it to improve our guitar-tab results; if you tick it, the file is retained and you can delete it at any time from the /account page.
Do I need to own the song I'm uploading?
You need to own the recording or otherwise have the right to process it. Chords.fm is a tool for transcribing your own material or material you're authorized to transcribe — not a way to publish chord charts of other people's songs.
How accurate is Chords.fm's chord detection?
Very good on clean solo or small-group instrumentation and acoustic recordings. Rougher on dense full-band mixes, heavy distortion, or unusual jazz voicings. Pro customers can edit chords to fix anything Chords.fm got wrong.
What's the difference between a chord chart and a tab?
A chord chart shows chord names positioned over lyrics — it tells you what to play, not where to put your fingers. A guitar tab shows specific fret and string positions. Chords.fm generates chord charts today; guitar-tab mode is experimental and available to Pro customers.
Can I transpose, use a capo, or export to PDF?
Yes to transpose and capo on every plan. PDF export and chord editing are Pro features.
How is Chords.fm different from other chord sites?
Other chord sites host licensed transcriptions of published songs. Chords.fm is a tool that transcribes your own audio into a chord chart or tab — no catalog, no search, no licensing layer. Different job.
By uploading, you confirm you have the right to process the audio. Terms · Privacy