G - Posted - 11/10/2022:  13:30:57

Hi Al. I have used this. As you may know, the songbook is just one tool of many in the suite. And like the other tools in the suite, it's ridiculously powerful! However, I personally find the user interface to be terrible, unfortunately. Prime example: it should not be that hard for you or anyone else to figure out how to add a song.

But to answer your question, here's one way to do it (I'm using an Android version):

1. Run smartChord
2. Click Songbook icon

There should be a list of icons at the bottom of the screen. One is a circle containing a PLUS sign (+).

3. Click that.

You will be presented with two options: (1) Empty, and (2) Internet Search.
- With Empty, you can create your own song entry by typing it in. You can use ChordPro format (not sure if you're familiar with it, but it's the way to go in my opinion. Let's you then change song key with a click, for example). But if not, you can just enter plain text any way you like.
- With Internet Search, you can enter a song name and the app will search for it online, and do all the work for you. (usually in ChordPro format too)

4. So pick you poison: Empty or Internet Search

After that it should be (I won't say obvious, for this app) uh, fairly easy to finish up.

For many years I have used an app called Chordinator+ (free, but worth the couple of dollars for the paid version) to keep my songs. You can create lists, which I guess can serve as a playlist. It does not have the power of smartChord, but to be honest, I have gone back to using it after finding smartChord - powerful as it may be - too bloody hard to use.

There's also an Apple app (fairly expensive though). I think it's called Songbook Pro. It's probably as powerful as smartChord (maybe more so), and in my opinion is between those other two apps in terms of usability. Not as easy as Chordinator+, but not NEARLY as frustrating as smartChord.