Free online GP4 to PDF converter

Recipients may not have Guitar Pro available to open a tablature file, while PDF works in standard viewers and prints as a fixed score. Converting the file also provides a shareable snapshot, but the original notation remains editable only in the GP4 file.

What the GP4 format is

GP4 is the native Guitar Pro 4 file format for guitar tablature and standard notation. It can store notes, rhythms, chord diagrams, lyrics, bends, slides, other effects, multiple tracks, tunings, tempo, and playback information.

Guitar Pro 4 created GP4 files, and newer Guitar Pro releases generally import them for editing and export. GP4 files are common in older tablature collections, lesson files, and band archives. The format is intended for interactive notation and playback rather than universal document viewing. TuxGuitar can also open many GP4 files, although notation and effect compatibility may vary.

What the PDF format is

PDF is a page-oriented document format that preserves score layout across operating systems, printers, and PDF viewers. A PDF can be shared or printed without Guitar Pro.

PDF export does not preserve the editable musical structure, playback controls, tempo data, linked tracks, or Guitar Pro-specific effects as interactive notation. Keep the original .gp4 file if the arrangement may need further editing.

How to convert GP4 to PDF

With Guitar Pro

1. Open the .gp4 file in Guitar Pro 4 or a compatible newer Guitar Pro release.
2. Check the score before exporting. Select the tracks to include, verify tuning and page orientation, and adjust the notation scale, margins, or page layout if systems are crowded.
3. Choose File → Export → PDF. Depending on the version, the command may appear as File → Export → PDF or Export as PDF.
4. Choose an output folder, enter a filename such as song.pdf, and save the file.
5. Open the PDF and check every page for clipped tablature, missing symbols, unwanted blank pages, and awkward system breaks.

If a newer Guitar Pro version cannot import the file correctly, try Guitar Pro 4 or an intermediate compatible version. Do not overwrite the original when saving it in a newer native format, because conversion can change notation or playback features.

With 101convert.com

You can convert the file for free on 101convert.com without installing software. Upload the .gp4 file, choose PDF as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting PDF when processing finishes. Inspect the downloaded pages because an automatic converter may provide fewer layout controls than Guitar Pro.

Quality and compatibility limitations

PDF export reproduces the score as pages. Long systems may split across pages, and small notation may become difficult to read; change the paper size, margins, orientation, or scale in the source application before exporting instead of enlarging the finished PDF.

Different Guitar Pro versions and compatible applications may interpret older notation, effects, fonts, or layout rules differently. A PDF preserves visible notation but cannot reproduce MIDI or audio playback, editable measures, or every application-specific effect. For archival use, store both the exported PDF and the original .gp4 file.