How to use a song chart?

[JKSteger]

I've read posts here that refer to an experienced players can look at a song chart and pretty much make it through a song. Are these charts the same as the ones that have lyrics with the chords above the lyrics? If so, how do I use them? Just play the chords along with the lyrics I would presume? What do I do when another guitar player is in the group playing. It's not good to both play the same "tonal area". Does one play the full chord and the other play the triad higher up the neck or does one play the chord and the other pick some type of lead fill based on the chord?

Thanks,
Jeremy

[Tim Bowen]

That's an extremely deep subject, and even the most carefully considered answers will merely scratch the surface. "Charts" can be written in any number of ways, it depends upon who's writing them, and to whom such is intended to be used by. Charts can be in traditional standard notation with first and second endings, repeat signs, codas, "DC al fine", dynamic markings, etc., etc. They can be written with rhythm slashes and with the "Nashville number" system. They can be written in such a way that they can only be understood by the person that wrote them (I've seen tons of varieties of esoteric chicken scratching "charts", and have written a few of them myself - I have some very odd shorthand methods when placing self-written charts at my feet for jobs where rehearsal couldn't happen for whatever reasons, or where prep time was limited... in these cases, the only person intended to see my "charts" was myself). I sometimes pull chord/lyric formats from the internet for teaching, and I've used this sort of lead sheet at casuals. It's not typically a format that I've seen used that much at sessions, but it happens. In pulling chord/lyric formats from the internet, it's important to note the quirks of the digital domain; they don't always "line up" properly.

It's my understanding that the "house band" at Motown Records was given bare bones charts, and their gig was to create a groove and a vibe (and ultimately, tons of mega hit records) in "the snake pit", and the vocalists/"stars" added their bits after the fact of these guys offering their inimitable chemistry to what began life as a piece of paper.

The bigger part of your query concerns that of arrangement, which is arguably a deeper subject than is that of chart writing. Math and music share some common characteristics, but unlike math, music is largely predicated by "taste" - there's no "right or wrong", and what sounds good to YOU IS good, and that, in a nutshell, epitomizes the art and spirit of "arrangement", as I see it. There are tons of ways to disperse things - capos, different chord voicings, different EQ treatments, instrumentation considerations, et al. You simply have to get down and dirty with trial and error and try various approaches and textures. I'd also suggest that you look into the approaches of musicians, acts, producers, and arrangers whose records you dig, be they Radiohead, Sam Phillips/Sun Records, T-Bone Burnett, Tom Dowd, Jimmy Page, Phil Spector, Eddie Offord, George Martin, Ken Scott, Gary Katz, Quincy Jones, Roy Thomas Baker, Don Dixon, Danny Elfman, Brendan O'Brien, Gil Evans, Buddy Buie, or whomever. After a point, you start to favor certain sounds and textures and learn to trust your gut.

[klasaine]

Here's a really well written, easy to read 'chart' ...



Here's a really bad one ...

[JKSteger]

Thanks for that input. The ones that my friend from church uses is very simple: chords written above the lyrics. They pass these out to everyone in the band and have a download link to the mp3 of the song by the original artist. The church is a member of the CCLI.
They practice on their own during the week and come together on Sunday mornings at 6:30am for practice as a band to tighten everything up for 8:30am first service. They have to learn 2 new songs each week. I have been amazed that they sound so good with only that much practice with each other but as a group they've been playing together for several years now.

I also have a book of classic rock tunes that is published from Hal Leanard. it looks like the "Good Example" of a chart, Thanks klasaine. I've just played the chords where it says to play them and the song sound great! It doesn't have the little lead runs and fills, etc but I can play the chord in the sheet and anyone would know exactly what song it is. It has the key of the song, first melody notes, etc. I guess that they are meant to be the "framework" of the song and from that point you can work on fills, riffs, etc as you like.

Thanks,
Jeremy

[jazztele]

Originally Posted by JKSteger

I guess that they are meant to be the "framework" of the song and from that point you can work on fills, riffs, etc as you like.

exactly!

[teleburst]

Originally Posted by klasaine

Here's a really well written, easy to read 'chart' ...

What does the triangle (delta?) mean?

[-Vampyre-]

major i believe

[klasaine]

Yes, Major and 'usually' maj7th.
Those are Fmaj7 and Cmaj7.
I guess it isn't that clear after all

[teleburst]

Originally Posted by -Vampyre-

major i believe

Originally Posted by klasaine

Yes, Major and 'usually' maj7th.

Thanks. That kinda jogged my memory. I remember that now.

Originally Posted by klasaine

I guess it isn't that clear after all

You gave me a chance to relearn something. Nothing wrong with that.