CifraClub Simplifier

A web application that cleans and simplifies guitar tabs for focused practice sessions, featuring a hands-free autoscroll mode.

As a musician, I often found myself wanting to quickly practice a song without getting bogged down by complex tablature for solos or intricate riffs. While sites like CifraClub are incredible resources, I needed a way to distill the content down to its core: the chords and the lyrics.

This led me to create the CifraClub Simplifier, a web application built to solve this exact problem.

The tool allows a user to paste any guitar tab URL from CifraClub, and it intelligently scrapes the page, removes all tablature, and presents a clean, readable version of the song. This creates a distraction-free view perfect for learning, practicing, or a casual sing-along.

Key Features

To make the tool as useful as possible, I included several key features:

  • Intelligent Tab Removal: The core of the application is a Python script using Beautiful Soup that specifically targets and removes <span> tags containing tablature, leaving the chord and lyric structure intact.
  • Hands-Free Autoscroll: For uninterrupted practice, I implemented an autoscroll feature using vanilla JavaScript. This allows musicians to play through an entire song without ever needing to touch their mouse or screen.
  • Adjustable Speed Control: Every player has their own tempo. A simple slider allows the user to precisely control the scrolling speed, making it suitable for both slow practice and upbeat performances.
  • Fully Responsive UI: The interface was designed to be clean and functional on any device, ensuring a seamless experience whether you’re practicing with a laptop or a phone on a music stand.

The Technical Details

The application is powered by a Python Flask backend that handles the web scraping logic. The frontend is built with simple, efficient HTML, CSS, and vanilla JavaScript. For public access, the app is deployed on Render’s free tier and integrated with my personal domain.

This project was a fantastic exercise in combining backend logic with a user-focused frontend. It solved a personal problem and gave me valuable experience in web scraping, application deployment, and creating practical tools.

Running the app