Lead Sheets: 4 Elements of a Lead Sheet

A lead sheet is a written form of musical communication that brings a musical piece to its essentials. While full music notation allows for precision when creating music, lead sheets allow musicians to see the basic elements of a musical piece. They serve as an aid for those who have a long performance ahead and can't count on their memory to get through it.

Lead sheets also provide creative freedom to performers, giving them space to riff and improvise as they perform while still staying on the same page as the rest of the ensemble. Especially in rhythm section-driven music, such as rock and jazz, musicians often create their own parts as they play, interpreting the basic melody on the fly. All band members use the same lead sheet, rather than playing off sheet music with individual instruments written out in precise detail, as with classical music.

Lead sheets are often referred to as "fake sheets," since musicians can "fake" their way through a song without the music. In contrast, a full score contains every note a musician needs to hit, with specific notations that indicate how they should play musical phrases.

You can buy a collection of lead sheets in a "fake book," which you can use for repeated performances. Jazz musicians may also rely on a series called The Real Book, which provides lead sheets for jazz standards. Fake books may include songs not in the public domain.

A lead sheet contains the bare essentials of a song. Here are a few other elements of a lead sheet:

• Melody: The melody shows up in a single line with musical notation on a standard musical staff.
• Harmony: Chord symbols above the staff represent this element.
• Lyrics: You can find the lyrics printed below the staff.
• Instrumental riffs: A lead sheet may sometimes include instrumental riffs that are an elemental part of the song. A guitar or bass riff that makes the song instantly recognizable—often a familiar intro to a pop song—may be written out on the lead sheet so that future musicians playing the song can get it right.

Lead sheets do not include any musical notation to indicate the accompaniment for vocal harmonies. There is no included bass line, and chord voicings aren't specified. Musicians, orchestrators, or arrangers add these elements on their own.

You can make a lead sheet with a computer program or hand. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating your own:

1. 1. Start with the vital information. You need to start with the vital information for any piece of sheet music: the clef, the key signature, and the time signature. If possible, include four bars per line when you set up your music paper to make it easier for other musicians—especially vocalists—to follow along.
2. 2. Use the treble clef. You’ll use the treble clef to write down the melody in most cases. You should be able to discern the key and time signature by listening to the music and sounding out the melody on a piano or other instrument. You can also pull the necessary information if you can access the full sheet music, which may be available online.
3. 3. Sound out the melody by ear. Use a piano or other instrument to make sure you have the right notes. Write the melody line down on music paper, or enter it into your music composition software. Keep the rhythm simple, even if you’re dealing with syncopation.
4. 4. Figure out the chords. The last step is to figure out the chords. If you already have sheet music available, you may be able to transfer them. If you’re an experienced musician, you can read the sheet music and translate the musical notation into chord symbols. If you’re figuring out the chords from listening to harmonic variations of the song, pay attention to the bass line first. Play the chords as you work your way through the song to ensure you’re finding the right chord changes.

As a musician, you may use a lead sheet to accompany others, play as part of a band, or for your own personal enjoyment. Your instrument will have a great deal to do with how you use your lead sheet. If you're a singer, you'll pay most attention to the melody line and the lyrics, letting other instrumentalists work with the chords and provide a rhythm line. Guitarists who are supporting a singer may treat a lead sheet as if it were a chord chart, moving from one chord to another and improvising with fingering or strumming.

As you get used to working with a lead sheet, you can start to vary the rhythm of the bass line or play it with different inversions of the chords. Also, experiment with chord inversions in your right hand for a different effect. If you're singing while you play, you don't have to worry about playing the melody on the piano. Instead, let your left hand play the bass notes, and use your right hand for the chords while your voice takes the melody's vocal line.

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