# How to read lyrics on your phone in stage view

> Make lyrics readable during a gig or service with large type, screen awake, chords you can hide, and a setlist you can move through.

Source: https://lyricslibrary.app/blog/stage-view-lyrics-on-phone

Reading lyrics from a phone only works if the phone behaves like a stand copy. Tiny text, a sleeping screen, and a search box between songs will break your focus.

Stage view in Lyrics Library is for the moment you are actually performing: large words, optional chords, auto-scroll if you use it, and the setlist in order.

## Load the chart before the moment

Open the song or setlist before you walk on. If the venue has weak signal, open it on Wi‑Fi earlier so the chart is already on the device.

This matters most for a service, rehearsal, or gig with no dead air. You do not want the first useful action on stage to be “search for the second song.”

## Make the words big enough

The right size is bigger than you think. You should be able to glance at the first words of the next line without bending toward the phone. If you are squinting, the audience can see it.

A good stage chart uses:

- Short lyric lines
- Clear section breaks
- Enough contrast
- No wall of text

If the chart itself is messy, fix that first. See [how to add guitar chords to lyrics without breaking the words](/blog/add-guitar-chords-to-lyrics).

[Download Lyrics Library free](/#download) if you want a phone view made for performance instead of a notes app.

## Decide whether chords need to show

If you are playing guitar, keep chords visible. If you are only cueing lyrics, hide them and let the words breathe. The best stage chart is the one that gives you exactly what you need for that moment.

For guitarists, chord placement matters. A `D` floating at the start of a line is not as helpful as a chord on the word where your hand changes.

## Use a setlist, not search

Stage view is strongest when it starts from a [setlist](/blog/build-a-setlist-for-tonight). The next song should already be next. Swipe or move through the order instead of returning to the whole library.

Folders are for the catalog. Setlists are for the night. If you need help separating those, read [folders vs setlists](/blog/organize-songs-folders-setlists).

## Keep the screen awake

A sleeping phone during a quiet verse is not poetic. It is just annoying. Stage-oriented reading should keep the screen ready while you are using it.

Still, charge the device. Stage view cannot fix a battery at 3 percent.

## Practice with the same setup

Do not discover auto-scroll speed during the first song. Try it at rehearsal. If you prefer manual swipes, use that. If you use a keyboard or tablet stand, test the distance.

The point is not to stare at a device all night. The point is to trust the chart enough to look up.