Chord files are plain ascii text files with instructions for playing songs. These files are usually named with a '.CRD' file extension and often contain tablature to describe picking patterns or lead guitar.

Distributed most commonly via the alt.guitar and rec.music.maker usenet newsgroups and web sites like the On-Line Guitar Archive, chord files allow musicians to teach each other how to play music.

Files generally look something like the following:

_Rockets in my Pants_ by the Everything2 Folk
Released 2001 on their Node This! album

G D C
G D C
G D Em C
G D C   

 G           D          C
   There's a fire in my pocket baby
 G        D            C
   It was put there by dem bones

(ick)

Okay, enough of that.