| Are you a budding guitarist? Do you want to join a | | | | Reading chord progressions is probably one of the |
| band or start your own? Are you hesitant to take | | | | first things you learned how to do. As you follow the |
| your playing to the next level because you have no | | | | lyrics, you will notice a series of letters above the |
| idea what a guitar lead sheet is? Lead sheets can be | | | | words, which indicate the necessary chords that |
| intimidating, and your inability to read them may | | | | should be played when certain words are being sung. |
| prevent you from landing a spot in a band or it may | | | | Again, practice with a recording of something you |
| prevent other great musicians from joining yours. | | | | already know, and follow the chord progressions. |
| Notation | | | | Rhythm |
| Reading guitar lead sheets is not necessarily the | | | | Rhythm is tricky on guitar lead sheets. Sometimes it |
| same as reading standard notation. Many are | | | | is given in standard notation, and sometimes it is not |
| comprised of combinations of lyrics, tablature (tab), | | | | given at all, so you will have to use your ears to |
| and/or chord progressions. Some are detailed and | | | | follow it. More often than not, you will not see |
| overloaded with information. Some are vague and | | | | quarter notes and eighth notes to follow, and you will |
| confusing. In every genre of music, you will find | | | | have to listen to a recording or follow along with the |
| variations of guitar lead sheets that include some | | | | rest of the band to see what works. |
| things and not others, and you will have to learn to | | | | Once you have gotten familiar or comfortable playing |
| be flexible and discerning whenever you look at one. | | | | one song from a lead sheet, the mystery of guitar |
| Hopefully if you are reading this, then reading the | | | | lead sheets will cease to be so - mysterious. If you |
| lyrics will not be a problem for you and you can | | | | are concerned or challenged by lead sheets, find a |
| focus on the tab and chord progressions. | | | | song that you already know in various forms of lead |
| Understanding how to read tab is like following a | | | | sheets - one with just lyrics and chord progressions, |
| simple set of directions for a newly purchased piece | | | | one with just lyrics and tab, one with all three |
| of furniture that comes in a box and requires | | | | elements. Practice playing a familiar song and following |
| assembly. Standard tab is made of horizontal lines | | | | a long on the lead sheet. Then move on to a song |
| representing each guitar string. Quite possibly the | | | | you are less familiar with, and try again. You will find |
| best way to experiment with tab is to choose a | | | | that many guitarists use the lead sheet as a guide |
| song you already know, like Sweet Home Alabama, | | | | rather than an absolute direction, and they take |
| find a tab of it online, and try to follow along as you | | | | creative liberties with the music once they get a |
| pick it out on your guitar. | | | | general idea of what is needed. |