Where the arranger name goes in Guitar Pro

Guitar Pro stores the arranger name in the score information panel, which sits separate from the actual musical notation. When you open a file, this information appears in a dedicated field — not in the staff itself. The arranger credit shows up in printouts and exports if you include the score header, but it does not appear on the staff lines where the notes live.

The location depends on which version of Guitar Pro you use. In Guitar Pro 7 and 8, you access this through the File menu. In Guitar Pro 6 and earlier, the path is slightly different but the principle is the same: you are filling in metadata about the score, not editing the music itself.

Key Takeaways

  • The arranger name field is in the score information panel, accessed through File > Song Properties in Guitar Pro 7 and 8, or File > Song Information in Guitar Pro 6.
  • This field is separate from the musical staff and does not appear in the notation unless you print or export with the score header included.
  • The arranger credit will print at the top of the page only if your print settings include the header information.
  • Leaving the arranger field blank is common for original compositions; filling it in matters most when you are documenting who adapted an existing piece.

Steps for Guitar Pro 7 and 8

Open your score file in Guitar Pro 7 or 8. At the top of the window, click File, then select Song Properties. A dialog box will open with several tabs across the top: Title, Subtitle, Artist, Album, Author, Date, Copyright, and Writer.

Look for the field labeled Arranger. It sits in the same dialog as the other credits. Type the arranger's name directly into this field. If the score has multiple arrangers, you can list them separated by commas or use "and" — Guitar Pro does not enforce a specific format here. Click OK when you are done, and the information is saved to your file.

The arranger name is now part of the score metadata. When you print the score or export it as a PDF, this information will appear at the top of the page if your print settings include the header. To verify it will print, go to File > Print Preview before sending to a printer.

Steps for Guitar Pro 6 and earlier

Open your score and click File at the top. Select Song Information (not Song Properties — that term changed in version 7). A smaller dialog will appear with fields for Title, Subtitle, Artist, Album, Author, Date, and Copyright.

In Guitar Pro 6, the arranger field may not be as visually prominent as in newer versions, but it is present. Look carefully through the available fields, or scroll if the dialog has more options below the visible area. Enter the arranger name and click OK. The information saves to your file when ready.

If you cannot locate an arranger field in your version, you can add this information to the Copyright field instead, using a format like "Arranged by [Name]". This ensures the credit appears in printouts even if a dedicated arranger field is not available.

Making sure the arranger name prints

Adding the name to the metadata does not automatically mean it will appear on paper. Guitar Pro includes score information in the header only when you print with that setting enabled. Go to File > Print, and look for an option labeled Print Score Information, Print Header, or Include Header depending on your version.

Check this box before printing. If you are exporting to PDF, the same setting usually applies — look in the export dialog for a header or score information option. Without this setting enabled, the arranger name stays in the file but does not show on the page.

If you are sharing the file with others, remember that the arranger information travels with the Guitar Pro file itself, but not necessarily with a PDF export unless you include the header. If you want the credit visible to anyone who opens the PDF, printing with the header included is the way to may support it.

When to fill in the arranger field

Use the arranger field when you have adapted, transcribed, or rearranged an existing piece of music. If you wrote the original composition, you would normally leave the arranger field blank and put your name in the Author or Composer field instead. The distinction matters for crediting who created the original work versus who adapted it.

If you transcribed a published arrangement (for example, a song from a movie or a cover version), the arranger field is where you credit the person or band who created that arrangement. This is especially important if you are sharing the file publicly or using it for teaching, because it preserves the chain of credit.

Some arrangers use both fields: Author for the original composer and Arranger for themselves. This makes the source of the music clear to anyone reading the score later.

Exporting scores with arranger information

When you export your Guitar Pro file to PDF, the arranger name includes only if you enable the header in the export settings. Most export formats (PDF, MusicXML, standard notation) respect the metadata you entered, but they display it only if the export settings include score information.

If you export to audio formats like MP3 or WAV, the arranger information does not transfer — those formats do not store metadata the way notation files do. The arranger credit remains in the Guitar Pro file and in any notation-based export.

For sharing purposes, exporting to PDF with the header included is the clearest way to preserve the arranger credit in a format anyone can read. The recipient sees the name on the page itself rather than having to open the file in Guitar Pro to find it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Author and Arranger in Guitar Pro?

Author (or Composer) is the person who wrote the original music. Arranger is the person who adapted it for a different instrument, ensemble, or style. If you wrote the piece from scratch, use Author. If you adapted someone else's work, use Arranger.

Will the arranger name show up if I share the Guitar Pro file with someone else?

Yes. The arranger information is stored in the file itself, so anyone who opens it in Guitar Pro will see it in the Song Properties or Song Information dialog. They will also see it in printouts if they print with the header enabled.

Can I add multiple arranger names?

Yes. Type them separated by commas or use "and" between names — for example, "Arranged by John Smith and Jane Doe". Guitar Pro does not limit the length of this field, so you can list as many people as needed.

What if I forgot to add the arranger name before sharing the file?

You can edit it anytime. Open the file, go to File > Song Properties (or Song Information in older versions), add the arranger name, and save. The next time someone opens the file, they will see the updated information.

Does the arranger name appear in Guitar Pro's playback or only in printouts?

It appears only in printouts and exports. When you play the score back through Guitar Pro's audio engine, the arranger name does not display on screen. It is purely a credit that shows in printed or exported notation.