How to Create a Lead Sheet

Create a lead sheet in music for musicians to follow chord progression and melodies without transcribing the entire selection. Lead sheets are a great resource for bands that play together on a regular basis and need to be able to put their songs together quickly. Lead sheets also allow those who do not read written music to follow the rest of the group.

Instructions

1. Write out the lyrics to the song your group is playing or singing.

2. Determine what key the instruments need to play in order to accommodate the voice ranges of all vocalists.

3. Use the piano to sing through the piece and mark the words where the chords change.

4. Play through the song again marking in the exact chords played with each specific word. It's important to note that minor chords and diminished chords need attention to really get the best sound for the song.

5. Decide on movement between words and chords, making sure that the progressions from one word to the next fits the chords.

6. Determine what chords you'll use for introductions, interludes between verses, key changes and the song's resolution. Mark those at the appropriate measures, or if you're only using a lyric lead sheet, write the chord progressions down after the words they follow.

7. Go over the song again several times making any corrections or adjustments to what you've written.

Tips & Warnings

• Lyric lead sheets are the easiest kind to make and use. If your band does not use vocalists, write the lead sheet out with chords above the melody line.