Reading lead sheets

Key idea A lead sheet shows only the melody and chord symbols. The right hand plays the tune and the left hand builds an accompaniment from the symbols, starting with the simplest option: just the root.

Fake books, song sites, and pop sheets often look like this. You do not need to read two staves, just the tune and what each chord contains.

Reading chord symbols

• C: C major (C E G)
• Cm: C minor (C E♭ G)
• C7: C dominant seventh, adds B♭ (C E G B♭)
• Cmaj7: C major seventh, adds B (C E G B)
• Csus4: F replaces E (C F G)
• C/E: a C chord with E in the bass

Three left-hand patterns

1. Root: play the chord's root and hold it for the bar.
2. Root and fifth: play root and fifth together (C + G).
3. Broken: root, fifth, octave, fifth (C G C G), one per beat.