Songsterr Tab Downloader

A Python tool to download Guitar Pro tabs from Songsterr as JSON files.

Features

• Download all instrument tracks from any Songsterr song
• Generate PDF tablature files (optional)
• Automatic track naming (guitar, bass, drums, etc.)
• Organized output with metadata
• Headless browser mode (no GUI needed)
• Anti-detection measures to avoid blocking

Installation

Prerequisites

• Python 3.8 or higher
• Google Chrome browser installed

Setup

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/songsterr-downloader.git
   cd songsterr-downloader

2. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

   Or install manually:

   pip install selenium webdriver-manager requests

Usage

Basic Usage

Download a song by providing its Songsterr URL:

python songsterr_downloader.py "https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/metallica-enter-sandman-tab-s27"

Specify Output Directory

python songsterr_downloader.py "https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/metallica-enter-sandman-tab-s27" -o ./my_tabs

Show Browser Window (Debugging)

python songsterr_downloader.py "https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/metallica-enter-sandman-tab-s27" --no-headless

Verbose Mode

python songsterr_downloader.py "https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/metallica-enter-sandman-tab-s27" -v

Generate PDF Tabs

python songsterr_downloader.py "https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/metallica-enter-sandman-tab-s27" --pdf

Command Line Options

Option	Description
url	Songsterr song URL (required)
-o, --output	Output directory (default: ./<artist>_<song>/)
--pdf	Generate PDF tablature files
--no-headless	Show browser window
-v, --verbose	Enable verbose debug output
-h, --help	Show help message

Output

The downloader creates a folder with the following structure:

artist_song/
├── metadata.json           # Song info, track list, download timestamp
├── 00_lead_guitar.json     # Track 0 data
├── 01_rhythm_guitar.json   # Track 1 data
├── 02_bass.json            # Track 2 data
└── 03_drums.json           # Track 3 data

Track JSON Format

Each track file contains the full tablature data in JSON format, including:

• Note positions and frets
• Timing information
• Effects (bends, slides, hammer-ons, etc.)
• Tempo and time signature changes

Metadata JSON

{
  "url": "https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/...",
  "song_info": {
    "title": "Enter Sandman",
    "artist": "Metallica",
    "song_id": 27,
    "revision_id": 12345,
    "tracks": [...]
  },
  "downloaded_at": "2024-01-15 14:30:00",
  "files": ["00_lead_guitar.json", "01_rhythm_guitar.json", ...]
}

How It Works

1. Browser Automation: Uses Selenium WebDriver to load the Songsterr page
2. Network Capture: Monitors network requests to capture CloudFront CDN URLs
3. Data Extraction: Extracts song metadata from the page's state script
4. Download: Fetches all track JSON files from the CDN
5. Organization: Saves files with proper naming and metadata

Troubleshooting

Chrome Not Found

Make sure Google Chrome is installed. The webdriver-manager package will automatically download the correct ChromeDriver.

Network Timeout

If downloads are slow or failing, try running with --no-headless to see what's happening in the browser.

No Tracks Found

Some songs may not have all tracks available. Check the metadata.json for available track information.

Anti-Bot Detection

If you encounter blocking, wait a few minutes before retrying. The script includes anti-detection measures, but excessive usage may trigger rate limiting.

Legal Notice

This tool is for personal use only. Please respect Songsterr's Terms of Service and the rights of music publishers. Downloaded tabs should only be used for personal practice and learning.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Acknowledgments

• Songsterr for providing an amazing tab resource
• Selenium for browser automation
• webdriver-manager for ChromeDriver management