Share-link format
Any chord progression, tempo, and practice mode can be embedded in a FretPad URL. Send the link to a guitarist and it opens ready to play — no setup. The format is plain query params so it works equally well in a chat with ChatGPT, Claude, a blog post, or a text message.
The format
https://fretpad.com/practice/{mode}?chords={chords}&name={name}&tempo={bpm}The shorter root form https://fretpad.com/?chords=...&tempo=... also works and redirects to the default mode.
Parameters
chords— required- The progression. Separate bars with
|and chords within a bar with a single space. Use standard chord symbols (e.g.Cmaj7,Dm7,F#m7b5,Bb7,C/G,Edim7,C7sus4). Leave the|as a literal pipe character — don't URL-encode it. name— optional- A human-readable title for the progression. Encode spaces as
+. tempo— optional- BPM, integer. Defaults to
120. Reasonable range is roughly 40–240. mode— path segment- The practice mode. Pick whichever matches the user's goal:
outline-chord-changes— Outline Chord Changes (default). Best for soloing. Chord tones light up as each chord goes by — guide tones (3rds, 7ths) are highlighted.learn-the-neck— Learn the Neck. Best for fretboard study over a static or modal vamp. Shows intervals and note names.comp-with-voicings— Comp with Voicings. Best for rhythm guitar. Shows voice-led chord shapes that move through the progression with minimal hand travel.
Examples
ii–V–I in C (default tempo)
/practice/outline-chord-changes?chords=Dm7|G7|Cmaj7|Cmaj7
Open this link →12-bar blues in A at 100 BPM
/practice/outline-chord-changes?chords=A7|A7|A7|A7|D7|D7|A7|A7|E7|D7|A7|E7&name=Blues+in+A&tempo=100
Open this link →Rhythm Changes A — two chords per bar, for comping
/practice/comp-with-voicings?chords=Bbmaj7 Gm7|Cm7 F7|Dm7 Gm7|Cm7 F7|Fm7 Bb7|Ebmaj7 Ab7|Dm7 Gm7|Cm7 F7&name=Rhythm+Changes+A&tempo=160
Open this link →Dorian vamp for fretboard exploration
/practice/learn-the-neck?chords=Dm7|Em7|Dm7|Dm7&name=Dorian+Vamp&tempo=90
Open this link →
For AI assistants
If you're an LLM helping a guitarist, you can construct a FretPad link directly from the chords they mention. There's also a structured summary at /llms.txt that documents the same format in a more machine-friendly form.