Guitar Pro 6 (.gpx)
Introduction
Guitar Pro is a software program available on Windows and Mac OS that allows all musicians to read, write and share their tablatures. The world leader in tablature editing, Guitar Pro has been downloaded over 15 million times worldwide since 1997. https://www.guitar-pro.com/
In version 6, Guitar Pro changed to a XML based file format. The GPX file itself is a custom proprierary container format similar to Zip holding multiple files:
score.gpif- The main XML structure representing the music notation.misc.xml- An auxiliary XML file holding some display information.BinaryStylesheet- A binary file holding key-value pairs with various settings around the display of music notation (File > Stylesheet in Guitar Pro).PartConfiguration- A binary file holding information on what tracks and staves to show in single and multi-track views.LayoutConfiguration- A binary file holding information on what layout to use for displaying music sheets (e.g. zoom level)
Luckily when Guitar Pro 6 was released, the author of the format explained to the community how the encoding works.
Compatibility Level: Mature and well tested
Feature Table
Number of total supported features: 99% (100/101)
Number of relevant supported features: 98% (89/90)
Table Legend
The following table describes the support of the different features of the input format.
Columns
- Feature: The related feature. If marked with ⭐ its a new or changed feature compared to the previous version of this format (e.g. a feature added in Guitar Pro 6)
- Data Model: Whether alphaTab supports storing this information in its own data model (e.g. from other formats).
- Reading: Whether alphaTab can read this information from the file format.
- Rendering: Whether alphaTab can display the information in the music sheet when rendered (display might differ from reference software).
- Audio: Whether alphaTab can generate audio information for this feature.
- alphaTex: Whether this feature is supported when describing music notation with alphaTex.
Values
- ✅ Supported - The feature is fully supported by alphaTab.
- ⚠️ Partial - The feature is partially supported by alphaTab, hover the item to see more details.
- ❌ Not Supported - The feature is not supported by alphaTab.
- ✅ Ignored - The feature is ignored from the input format because it is considered not relevant for display or playback. This is opinionated based on the feature set in alphaTab, open a feature request if you need it.
| Feature | Data Model | Reading | Rendering | Audio | alphaTex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score Level | |||||
| Score Information | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| Lyrics (with special syntax) | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Stylesheet > Page & Score format > Page | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored |
| ⭐ Stylesheet > Page & Score format > Sizes & Spacings | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored |
| ⭐ Stylesheet > Page & Score format > Tuning (Display) | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Stylesheet > Page & Score format > Tuning (other settings) | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored |
| ⭐ Stylesheet > Page & Score format > Chord Diagrams > On Top of Score > Visible | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Stylesheet > Page & Score format > Chord Diagrams > In Score > Visible | ❌ Not Supported | ❌ Not Supported | ❌ Not Supported | ✅ Ignored | ❌ Not Supported |
| ⭐ Stylesheet > Page & Score format > Chord Diagrams (sizing) | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored |
| ⭐ Stylesheet > Systems & Staves > Staves | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored |
| ⭐ Stylesheet > Systems & Staves > Brackets | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Stylesheet > Systems & Staves > Track Name | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| Stylesheet > Header & Footer | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored |
| ⭐ Stylesheet > Texts & Styles | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored |
| ⭐ Stylesheet > Notation | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored |
| Track Level | |||||
| Name | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Short Name | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| Color | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| String Tuning | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Staves > Show/Hide Slash | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| Staves > Show/Hide Standard | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| Staves > Show/Hide Tablature | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Transposing instrument | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Capo | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Playback Information > Instrument, Volume, Pan/Balance, Mute/Solo | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| Playback Information > Midi Channels and Ports | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored |
| ⭐ Playback Information > Play settings | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored |
| ⭐ Playback Information > EQ | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored |
| ⭐ Playback Information > RSE | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Ignored |
| Bar Level | |||||
| ⭐ Clefs | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Time Signatures | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Key Signatures | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Triplet Feel | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Free Time | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Anacrusis | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Repeats | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Alternate Endings | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Directions (Jumps) | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Simile Marks | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Markers/Sections | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| Double Bar | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ System Layout | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Tempo Automations | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Volume Automations | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Pan Automations | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Beat Level | |||||
| Multiple Voices | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Chord Names | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| Chord Diagrams | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| Durations (Whole to 64th) | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Durations (Dots) | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Durations (Tuplets 2,3) | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Durations (Tuplets n:m) | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Grace Notes | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Dynamics | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Beaming Mode (Force, Break, Invert) | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| Text | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| Whammy Bars | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Vibratos | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Tap/Slap/Pop | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Fade In, Fade Out, Volume Swell | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Wah Wah | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Brush Stroke | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Pick Stroke | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Rasgueado (with patterns) | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Ottavia | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Tremolo Picking | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Fermata | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Crescendo / Decrescendo | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Slashed | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Barre | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Timer | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Display String Number | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Arpeggios | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Palm Mute (whole beat) | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Note Level | |||||
| ⭐ Accidentals | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Ignored | ✅ Supported |
| Accentuations (Normal/Heavy) | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Bends | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Tied Notes | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Rests | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Left Hand Fingering | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Right Hand Fingering | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Dead Note | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Ghost Note | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Let Ring | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Natural Harmonics | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Artificial Harmonics | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Hammer-On / Pull-Off | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Slides | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Vibratos | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Trill | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Tremolo Picking | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Palm Mute | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Staccato, Staccatissimo, Tenuto | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Legato | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Left Hand Tapping | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Show String Number | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Ornaments (mordents & turns) | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Special Tracks | |||||
| ⭐ Non Stringed Instruments (e.g. piano) | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Multiple Staves (e.g. Grand Staff) | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| ⭐ Slash notation | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
| Percussion Tracks | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |