This directive indicates that the lines that follow define a chord grid in the style of Jazz Grilles.

Note: Grids must not be confused with chord diagrams that, unfortunately, in some parts of the documentation and implementation also are referred to as ‘chord grids’.

In a grid only chords are used, no lyrics, and the chords are arranged in a rectangular pattern for a quick view on the structure of the song. Symbols for bar lines and repeats can also be included in a grid. The chords are subject to transposition.

For example, to create a grid for ‘The House of the Rising Sun’:

{start_of_grid}
|| Am . . . | C . . . | D  . . . | F  . . . |
|  Am . . . | C . . . | E  . . . | E  . . . |
|  Am . . . | C . . . | D  . . . | F  . . . |
|  Am . . . | E . . . | Am . . . | Am . . . ||
{end_of_grid}

The result could look like:

The grid consists of a number of cells that can contain chords. The desired number of cells per line can be specified as an argument to the start_of_grid directive:

{start_of_grid cells }
{start_of_grid measures x beats }

There is no semantic difference between the two forms, just pick the one that is most convenient.

It is possible to specify room for margin notes, both left side and right side, by adding the desired number of cells as follows:

{start_of_grid left + cells + right }
{start_of_grid left + measures x beats + right }

Both margins are optional and may be omitted together with their + symbols.

If no argument is supplied to start_of_grid then the values from the preceding grid, if any, are used. If the first start_of_grid does not have an argument, a default value 1+4x4+1 is used. The specification may be followed by label text.

The grid input lines consist of space-separated tokens, which are either valid chords or special symbols. Spaces are not significant but can be used e.g. to align chords in the input lines.

Chords are put into the cells. If a cell does not need to contain a chord, the placeholder . (period) can be used to designate an empty cell. Alternatively, a slash / can be used to designate that a chord must be played here.

Between the cells bar lines can be placed. In the above example, each line contains 16 cells and the bar lines divide the cells into 4 groups (measures) of 4 cells (beats).

The following bar line symbols are valid:

| single bar line
|| double bar line
|. end bar line
|: start repeat bar line
:| stop repeat bar line
:|: combined stop/start repeat bar line

Each line should contain at least one bar line symbol. Everything before the first bar line will be put in the left margin, and everything following the last bar symbol will be put in the right margin. If the line doesn't contain a bar symbol it is printed completely in the left margin.

Other symbols that can be used:

% denotes that this measure should be played just like the previous measure. The rest of the measure must remain blank.
%% denotes that the last two measures must be repeated. The rest of this measure and the following measure must remain blank.

Example:

{start_of_grid 1+4x2+4}
A    || G7 . | % . | %% . | . . |
     | C7 . | %  . || G7 . | % . ||
     |: C7 . | %  . :|: G7 . | % . :| repeat 4 times
Coda | D7 . | Eb7 | D7 | G7 . | % . |.
{end_of_grid}

The result will be similar to:

This directive may include an optional label, to be printed in the left margin. For example:,

{start_of_grid: Intro}

Directives: end_of_grid

This directive indicates the end of the grid.

Directives: start_of_grid

Directives: end_of_grid