# Vocal vs. Syllable

I have been through a lot of ChordPro files as you can imagine. In regards to where the chords a placed in a text I noticed two approaches:

1. The syllable approach
2. The vocal approach

## The Syllable Approach

In this approach, the chord is placed before (above) the syllable it is supposed to played to. Here is an example:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
[Em] I've been to [C] Hollywood, [D] I've been to [G] Redwood [Em]
I crossed the [C] ocean for a [D] heart of [G] gold
[Em] I've been in [C] my mind. [D] it's such a [G] fine line
```

{% endcode %}

Which will render to:

![](/files/S0Hmc2GGEirSAzAJEoGi)

## The Vocal Approach

In this approach, the chord is placed before (above) the vocal it is supposed to played to. Here is the same example in that approach (notice that the ‘G’ in ‘Redwood’ is assigned to the ‘e’ now instead of the ‘R’):

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
[Em] I've been to H[C]ollywood, [D] I've been to R[G]edwood [Em]
I crossed the [C]ocean for a h[D]eart of g[G]old
[Em] I've been in m[C]y mind. [D] it's such a f[G]ine line
```

{% endcode %}

Which will render to:

![](/files/JRKxBnBeJQY5qqcoWIJI)

## My Preference

I personally always used the vocal approach, even years ago when there was no ChordPro and I hammered down the song texts with a type writer on real paper. I guess it was always more intuitive to me.


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