Chord Symbols, Lead Sheets & Tab
Decode chord symbols, lead sheet conventions, and guitar tablature used in popular music.
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Questions Covered in This Set
10 cards to master
What are the four possible parts of a chord symbol, read left to right?
Root, quality, extension, bass note (e.g. C, m, 7, /G).
Spell C7 and explain why the label is tricky.
C–E–G–B♭ — a major triad plus a MINOR 7th. A plain '7' always means flat seven (dominant 7th).
Spell Cmaj7 vs. Cm7.
Cmaj7 = C–E–G–B; Cm7 = C–E♭–G–B♭.
What does Csus4 mean?
The third is suspended (replaced) by the 4th: C–F–G. Csus2 = C–D–G.
What does the slash in C/G tell you?
C chord with G in the bass — second inversion. C/E would be first inversion.
What three elements make up a lead sheet?
Melody on one staff, chord symbols above it, lyrics below; voicing and accompaniment rhythm are up to the player.
How long does a chord symbol last on a lead sheet?
From where it sits horizontally until the next symbol appears; one symbol at a bar's start covers the whole bar.
In guitar tab, what do the lines and numbers represent?
Six lines = six strings (thin high E on top, low E on bottom); numbers = fret numbers, 0 = open string.
What is tab's main weakness, and how do method books fix it?
It gives little or no rhythm information; method books print tab under a standard staff so the staff carries pitch and rhythm.
What do tab marks h, p, /, b, x mean?
h = hammer-on, p = pull-off, / = slide, b = bend, x = muted string (~ = vibrato).
