How to Read Charts
Number charts are designed to be easy to read in performance, even when playing a brand new song you've never heard. Considering that there are often a few possible ways to chart out a song, Chordal charts try to bridge the gap between necessary details and ease of reading.
The first thing to note is the key (in the title and also listed under the title) and time signature the song is in. Most songs are in 4/4 time (music is organized in 4 beat groups), but occasionally songs are in 6/8, 12/8, 3/4, or a mix of a few meters. The tempo indicates the speed of the song in beats per minute.
One chord number represents a full measure (usually 4 beats, or the same number as the top part of the time signature).
Dots organize phrases for ease of reading, usually dividing sections into 4 measure phrases.
The intro of this song in G is 1 measure (4 beats) each of G, C, D, and G. The second half of the phrase is the same thing again.
Sometimes chords move faster than once per measure. Underlined chords indicate more than one chord in a measure. Two numbers underlined mean each chord gets two beats.
The underlined numbers here in G would be 2 beats each of C and D.
If chords move even faster than two beats each per measure, overhead dots indicate how many beats each chord gets.
In G: The 2nd line of the Verse: 1st measure-3 beats of G, 1 beat of C.
3rd measure-2 beats of D, 1 of Em, and 1 of D.
Most songs repeat sections at some point. The easiest way to show this is with the repeat sign (the thick bar with double dots). Everything within the repeat sign gets repeated only once, unless otherwise noted.
After the Turn Around (TA), the chart goes immediately back to the Verse.
Sometimes a note other than the root note of the chord is played in the bass, changing the sound of the chord (otherwise known as an inversion). This is indicated by a 'slash' chord- the chord is notated on top of the fraction and the single bass note is on the bottom. The bottom note is just a detail and represents the tone in the scale that is to be played by the bass guitar or lowest note of one's instrument. Beginners can ignore the bottom note and just read the top chord, but if it’s possible or appropriate to play both on your instrument you should.
In G: 3rd chord is a D chord over F# note. Last chord in phrase is a C, played once and held the whole measure.
A diamond around or above a chord indicates that it should be played once and held out (as a whole note). Bigger diamonds tend to indicate a more firm hold that everybody plays. Diamonds can also indicate shorter holds, like the 2 beat holds in the below example (these diamonds resemble half notes).
Smaller diamonds can appear as whole notes, or as half notes, as in the last bar shown here.
Though music almost always repeats at some point in a song, the ending of the repeated section often changes the 2nd time. This is indicated by using different endings. A 1st ending means to take the repeat like normal. The second time through the section, the 1st ending is skipped and the music jumps immediately to the 2nd ending. This makes the chart concise and easy to read.
The 2nd time through the Chorus, the 1st ending is skipped and the music jumps immediately to the 2nd ending.
A common rhythmic element in modern music is to rush a chord by an 8th note. In Chordal, this is indicated by a tied 8th note over the chord. This is sometimes referred to as a 'push' and is notated a variety of ways in number charts. This is a common rhythmic occurrence in modern pop music and usually isn't too hard to feel or hear.
The 1 chord in the 2nd half of the 1st bar is played an 1/8th note early (on the and of 2). The last chord in the example is played similarly, on the and of 4 the measure before.
Music often includes 'breaks' where a chord is played quickly and muted the rest of the bar. Quarter rests indicate the silence.
Crescendos and Decrescendos show dynamic changes in charts.
For beats or measures where nothing chord related happens (e.g. just vocals, silence, or a melodic lick), X's are used to account for the space (meaning they should still be counted).
The chorus starts off down (quiet). The first C chord is played once and muted. On the 4th bar, the music crescendos. The 2nd half is louder. There are no chords at all on the last two measures of the line. The whole chorus repeats.
Music often slows slightly at the end of the song for dramatic effect. This is indicated by a Rit. (Ritard).
Some measures have more or less beats than allotted by the time signature of the song. These instances are indicated by dots.
A fermata is rare in popular music but is used to show a hold that is out of time (i.e. the chord can be held out as long as the musicians prefer). A good example is the 'name' lyric of Happy Birthday. The rest of the song doesn't have to start in time but whenever everyone decides to go on.
Parenthesis around a chord or chords indicate that the chords are inferred but not necessarily played. This could mean that the chords are leftover from a previously held chord, inferred from a riff or lick in the song, sung by vocals, etc. Often a comment in the chart will indicate the purpose of the parentheses.
The music slows (rit.) until the first diamond. The 6m is only 2 beats (a 2/4 bar). The diamond 1 can be held as long as the player or band likes due to the fermata. The last 4, 5, 1, and 1 are inferred from either vocals, a riff, etc.
The above elements account for virtually all of the symbols in Chordal charts. There are occasionally more details in advanced charts. Advanced rhythms, melodic licks, codas, chord qualities, etc. will occasionally show up. These will be discussed in greater detail in future posts. These symbols are common in all number charts, lead sheets, and sheet music, but are not standardized across the board. Chordal charts are constantly under scrutiny and review to make sure they are easy to read and follow in practical performance settings.