If there’s a guitar lead line, it’s probably written out. They always include the lyrics, and they’re great for musicians because they show specific rhythms, chords, and melodies. A down side is that they are almost always more than just one page (usually 2-3+ pages), but they are better than a full piano/vocal chart that potentially could be 10+ pages.Ī lead sheet can provide the melody along with the harmonies for the singers. They include one staff with chords, lyrics, melodies, and rhythms, so musicians and singers alike can use them. If you have never played a song before, or even heard it for that matter, you can manage about 90% of it with the lead sheet. Lead sheets are the perfect all around chart.

If you have musicians who need to read notes, then this is not the chart for them. However, if you've listened to the song and are familiar with it, the chord chart is a great (usually one-page) solution for musicians, especially those who play by ear. If there are syncopated rhythms, rests, holds, etc, you have to already know those by way of listening to the song itself because the chord chart isn’t going to tell you any of that. The prerequisite for using this kind of chart is that you are already somewhat familiar with the song. You can guess your way through it by watching the lyrics, but it doesn’t give you specifics. Because it’s only chords and lyrics, it doesn’t tell you specifically when to play the chords. The sole purpose of this chart is to remind you of the chords to play. It does not contain any music notation, rhythms, staves, etc.

It contains the song lyrics with the chord symbols written above.

Chord ChartsĬhord charts are probably the most common chart that churches use today. Let's review the different kinds and their purpose. I say ‘sheet music’ because any printed music falls in this category. Chord charts or lead sheets? Every situation and musician is different.Įach kind of sheet music serves a different purpose.

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