Curation Process: Cheat Sheet

This is a checklist for our curation team:

What do I need to check in each ChordPro file?

  • Is the Filename correct? (FilkName__Title.pro) (2 underscores)
    • Filk name:
      • name of the submitter
      • for combinations of legal name + pseudonym: pseudonym only
    • Title in filename: no special characters except: - +( ) (umlauts and ß are okay)
    • for corrections/updates: __V2 (etc) before .pro (again with 2 underscores)
  • Registration of all lyricists present? (composers’ registration is not necessary)
    • must be in the archive => if necessary, first check & approve registration, THEN process submission!
  • Header:
    • {title:} or {t:}
    • {artist:} or {a:} (not{subtitle:} or{st:}!)
      • multiple artists separated by + (with spaces around the +)
      • for derivatives: incl. most well-known performer
  • Preamble:
    • Credits:
      • Authorship of lyrics and music clearly stated as comment(s) here?
      • If year stated in comment: {meta:year:} present and matching?
      • {meta:filkers:} stated and complete?
      • For derivatives:
        • Authorship clearly stated in credits?
        • if applicable, {meta:nonfilkers:} stated?
        • {meta:original_song:} stated? (song title only!)
        • Appropriate tag set (in the footer)?
    • Context:
      • Author’s comment, if present, not excessive and in the right place? (after credits, with 1 blank line before it)
    • Capo:
      • If specified, it should be at the end of the preamble, with blank line before it. (= before the 2 blank lines that separate preamble and song text)
    • 2 blank lines between preamble and song text

Overall, the preamble should look like this:

{c:Lyrics: Artist, Date or Year}  <= combine Lyrics & Music in one line if identical
{c:Music: Artist, Date or Year}  <= if applicable {c:Original lyrics & music: Artist, "Title"}
{meta:year: YYYY}  <= if known
{meta:filkers: Filker1,Filker2}  <= list of all participating filkers (use filk names)
{meta:nonfilkers: Artist1,Artist2}  <= list of all participating non-filkers (only if needed for derivatives. Composer + well-known performers/bands)
{meta:original_song:Title}  <= only for derivatives, title only

{c:This song was inspired by...}  <= optional

{c:Capo 3}  <= optional
  • Actual song text:
    • All Chorus blocks, if present, correctly formatted?
      • {c:Chorus:} or {c:Refrain:} before, then
      • {soc} or {start_of_chorus} before, and
      • {eoc} or {end_of_chorus} after
    • All chorus instances complete, (= repeat chorusses are not just the headers)
    • Bridge, if present, correctly formatted?
      • {c:Bridge:} before, then
      • {sob} or {start_of_bridge} before, and
      • {eob} or {end_of_bridge} after
    • Chords:
      • Chords throughout the entire song text? (not just 1st verse + 1st chorus)
      • Chords BEFORE syllables, not in the middle?
      • English notation used? (B instead of H, Bb instead of B. If you’re unsure whether a B should perhaps be a Bb: feel free to ask the team quickly.)
    • 2 blank lines between text and footer
  • Footer:
    • Block 1 (Additional info to learn the song) <= if present
      • Album (if stated): human-readable comment(s)?
      • Recording & Sheet Music (if stated): first comment line, then link unformatted on next line?
    • Block 2 (License & Source)
      • Blank line before the License & Source block?
      • License stated? => otherwise set standard license ({c:License (Lyrics): Filksongbook Minimal License V1.0, http://filksongbook.com/info/minimal-license-1-0})
    • Block 3 (Tags):
      • Blank line before the Tags block?
      • Preferably only supported tags?
        • if our format is used: ONLY supported tags!
      • Only 1 tag per line
      • All tags plausible/sensible? (otherwise feel free to ask the submitter! It may be a mistake!)
    • Any other invisible directives (e.g., {define:}, {key:}, {time:}) at the very end, with a blank line before them

Overall, the footer should look like this, with all entries in block 1 (and thereby the whole block) being optional:

{c:Album: "Album title" by Artist}  <= optional, if at least 1 exists
{c:Recording:}  <= optional
https://www.myname.bandcamp.com/trackname  <= optional
{c:Sheet music:}  <= optional
https://www.filksongbook.com/sheet_music/filename.pdf  <= optional

{c:License (Lyrics): Filksongbook Minimal License V1.0, http://filksongbook.com/info/minimal-license-1-0}  <= or whatever
{c:Source: www.filksongbook.com}
{meta:date_added:YYYY-MM-DD}

{tag:theme:history}  <= or whatever, see "supported tags", 1 tag per line!

You’re welcome to correct small, obvious things yourself. (Classic typos & oversights etc.)

If it becomes too much, or if it is unclear what is intended: please write to the submitter and ask for correction/clarification.

If you make corrections, please send the corrected file to the submitter and ask if they approve of the updated file.