lead sheet
A simplified musical score showing only the melody, lyrics, and chord symbols of a song.
In Depth
Lead sheets reduce a composition to its essential elements, allowing musicians to interpret and arrange the material according to the performance context. A jazz combo, a rock band, and a string quartet could all work from the same lead sheet and produce completely different arrangements. Lead sheets use standard chord symbols (Cmaj7, Dm7, G7) above a single-staff melody. They are the lingua franca of popular music, session work, and jam sessions.
Nashville session musicians use a number-based chart system instead of letter names, allowing them to instantly transpose any song to any key without rewriting the chart.