Your instrument list defines the parts in your organization and enables Virtual Song Book to deliver the right music to the right players automatically. Setting it up well is worth a few minutes up front since it’s what makes part-based access work.
Why keywords matter
Different arrangements label the same part in different ways — one chart says “1st Alto,” another “Alto Sax 1,” another just “Alto 1.” Keywords are how the app recognizes all of those as the same instrument. Add each variation you use as a keyword, and parts are matched to the correct instrument automatically instead of by hand.
This is what powers automatic part assignment: when you upload a song, its parts are matched to your instruments by these keywords, so each musician sees only their own part — no manual sorting. The more thorough your keywords, the more reliably parts land with the right players.
1. Open your instrument settings
Go to Settings, then click the Instruments tab.
2. Add an instrument
- Click New.
- Instrument Name: enter a name for the part (e.g., “1st Alto” for all 1st alto saxophone parts).
- Keywords: add each naming variation you might see across your music (e.g., “Alto Sax 1,” “1st Alto”). Type a keyword and click the checkmark, or press Enter, to add it to the list.
- Click Add Instrument.
- Repeat for each part in your typical sheet music.
What’s next
With your instruments set up, the next step is to invite your band and assign each member their parts.