how to make a lead sheet
a lead sheet is the shortest useful form of sheet music: the melody on one staff, with chord symbols written above it. if the song has words, the lyrics go under the notes. a band can play a whole tune from one page, which is why jazz groups, pop and worship bands, pit bands and anyone sitting in at a gig rely on them.
- melody on one staff, written once.
- chord symbols above it, where the harmony changes.
- lyrics below it, one syllable per note.
what is a lead sheet?
a lead sheet is a one-page score of a song: the melody on a single staff, chord symbols above it and lyrics below. jazz, pop and worship bands read from them because each player can build a part from the chords, so nobody has to write out a full arrangement first.
what goes on a lead sheet
- the title, the composer, and a style or tempo marking such as "medium swing" or "ballad, ♩ = 72".
- the clef, key signature and time signature, the same as any other score.
- the melody, written once, on a single staff.
- chord symbols above the staff, placed over the beat where each chord starts.
- lyrics under the notes, one syllable per note, with hyphens between syllables of the same word.
- the road map: repeat signs, first and second endings, D.S. and coda markings, and rehearsal letters at the start of each section so the band can say "from letter B".
a lead sheet leaves out the accompaniment and the bass line. the players build their own parts from the chord symbols.
reading chord symbols
a chord symbol names the root, then the quality and any added notes. the same few shapes cover most songs. here they are on C.
| symbol | name | notes |
|---|---|---|
| C | C major | C E G |
| Cm | C minor | C E♭ G |
| C7 | C dominant seventh | C E G B♭ |
| Cmaj7 | C major seventh | C E G B |
| Cm7 | C minor seventh | C E♭ G B♭ |
| Cm7♭5 or Cø7 | C half-diminished | C E♭ G♭ B♭ |
| C°7 | C diminished seventh | C E♭ G♭ B double-flat (sounds as A) |
| Csus4 | C suspended fourth | C F G |
| C/E | C major over E | C E G, with E as the lowest note |
the slash chord in the last row is how a lead sheet asks the bass player for a particular note without writing out a bass part.
how to write one
- pick the key the main performer wants. a lead sheet in the wrong key is the most common reason one gets rewritten.
- write the melody first, bar by bar, with the rhythm written the way it is actually performed.
- add a chord symbol only where the harmony changes. if a chord lasts four bars, write it once. many writers also repeat the current chord at the start of each new line, so a player who loses their place can find it again.
- add the lyrics, lining each syllable up under its note.
- mark the form. if the second verse is the same as the first, use a repeat with first and second endings so it only has to be written once.
- play it through, or have someone read it cold. if they stop, something on the page is unclear.
making a lead sheet in notei
notei is a notation editor that runs in the browser, with nothing to install, and you save your scores to your free notei account. it puts chord symbols above the staff and lyrics under it, and its playback uses sampled instruments so you can hear the melody against the changes. when the tune needs a part for a horn player, notei writes for transposing instruments such as B♭ trumpet and E♭ alto sax, and its transpose tool moves a passage or the whole score into a new key.
you can export the result as a PDF to print (watermarked on the free tier), or as MusicXML to open in another notation program. one limit to know about: MusicXML export writes no ties and no tempo. more on the features page.
to work out the written key for a B♭ or E♭ player before you start, use the free transposer.
common questions about lead sheets
what is the difference between a lead sheet and a chord chart?
a lead sheet writes the melody out on a staff, with chords above and lyrics below. a chord chart has only the chords and the form of the song, often with the lyrics as plain text, and suits players who already know the tune.
does a lead sheet include the bass line?
no. a lead sheet leaves out the accompaniment, bass line included. the bass player builds a part from the chord symbols, and a slash chord such as C/E asks for a particular bass note when it matters. see how to write a walking bass line.
what key should a lead sheet be in?
the key the singer or lead player wants to perform it in. transposing instruments read their own version: a B♭ trumpet or tenor sax player needs the lead sheet written a whole step higher, and the transposer converts the chords for you.
can I make a lead sheet for free in notei?
yes. chord symbols, lyrics, playback and PDF export are all on the free plan; the free PDF carries a watermark, and notei+ and full score export it clean.
sources
- Wikipedia: lead sheet
- Open Music Theory: chord symbols
- Wikipedia: chord names and symbols (popular music)
related guides: how to write a chord progression, sheet music for songwriters, how to write a walking bass line and the chord identifier. unfamiliar terms are in the music notation glossary.
this guide is part of the how to write sheet music series. notei publishes it, and notei is our product.
written and checked by the notei team. how these guides are written and corrected.