Cheat sheets ... could you read this and understand?

[lopxtc]

So Im trying to develop cheat sheets for myself of songs that I want to learn and play at Jam nights. Since bringing the sheet music (with tabs) isnt easy since it takes up a lot of space and flipping pages and playing is tough, Ive thought of doing cheat sheets ...

Here is the first one Ive come up with, do you think this is understandable?

Attaching as an image from a screen shot, hope its big enough to be seen. I think you can click on it to make it bigger ...

Aaron

[jnuts1]

to me those are hard to read when i am playing. i have had many bands give these to me & they definitly help when learning the tune.
BUT on the fly those are a disaster for me since they don't really tell me how many bars there are until the singer starts singing again.

i write out all the changes on staff paper & make a couple notes like CHORUS or VERSE & the number of X's they are played i do it in bold sharpie so i can read it in dark lighting.

VERSE
| A | B | C | D |
CHORUS
| E | F | G | A |
VERSE 2X
CHORUS
REAKDOWN
| B | C | D | E |
CHORUS 4X

[BassChuck]

I know the tune so it wouldn't be a problem. On the fly, if I was given a minute or two to look it over before the downbeat I'd be OK... but then I know the tune. Music I was unfamiliar with could be a problem... depends.

[kraigo]

It'll be a lot easier for you if you use a fixed pitch font such as Courier. A fixed pitch font means that all of the characters such as 'W' and 'l' are the same width.

The beauty of using a fixed pitch font is that if you change the font size the chords will stay aligned over the lyrics.

KO

[Tenma4]

Looks totally understandable to me. That's what I use for leading my church band, that way I have a reference for lyrics with cues to where I'm at in the song. (I also do lead vocals...and I'm the most likely to mix up lyrics.) I keep a binder of the sheet music handy for band practices until everyone learns their parts. Then at least the guitarists and I use cheat sheets for safety's sake.

lopxtc, are you still rockin' the Schecter? Holler at me some time.

[Tenma4]

Originally Posted by kraigo

It'll be a lot easier for you if you use a fixed pitch font such as Courier. A fixed pitch font means that all of the characters such as 'W' and 'l' are the same width.

The beauty of using a fixed pitch font is that if you change the font size the chords will stay aligned over the lyrics.

KO

That's an excellent suggestion. I used to use Courier by default. I've gotten away from it. This should solve a problem for me. Thanks for contributing to the genius that is TalkBass.

[WillieJ]

jnuts1 has a point with measure indications.
I, too have seen sheets just as OP provided. They work fine for me. I've learned and played songs first time off them in a rehearsal situation, even with folks I've never jammed w/before. But they are flawed in that I can't count w/them.
For my own cheat sheets, I use a system very similar to jnuts1.
A suggestion - either break up the sheet you going now with horizontal lines indicating where measures occur, or (I have also seen) folks use back slashes to indicate number of measures. That can work also.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by jnuts1

to me those are hard to read when i am playing. i have had many bands give these to me & they definitly help when learning the tune.
BUT on the fly those are a disaster for me since they don't really tell me how many bars there are until the singer starts singing again.

i write out all the changes on staff paper & make a couple notes like CHORUS or VERSE & the number of X's they are played i do it in bold sharpie so i can read it in dark lighting.

VERSE
| A | B | C | D |
CHORUS
| E | F | G | A |
VERSE 2X
CHORUS
REAKDOWN
| B | C | D | E |
CHORUS 4X

Mine is similar to this as well. There are many ways to make a cheat sheet. Whatever works for you though.

[lopxtc]

Originally Posted by Tenma4

lopxtc, are you still rockin' the Schecter? Holler at me some time.

Nah its gone ... the five string just didnt fit me when I decided that I wanted to concentrate on just playing blues.

Aaron

[Bassamatic]

This is almost the same as I use. My difference -
1. I do not use 2 columns - just one and spread 2 phrases across the page so you are only reading down the page normally as you go.
2. I use the "/" after the chord name to indicate how many bars, i.e. A7 / / = 2 bars of A7. No slash means it is less than a full bar.
3. I put the Chords in BOLD so they stand out more. If there is room, I make the chord names 1 size larger than the text.
4. I put the name of the song on the FAR RIGHT side of the page - makes it MUCH easier to find when you are leafing through the notebook.
5. ! = 1 strong beat. A ! ! ! ! means 4 strong beats of A (usually 1/4 notes)
6. ~ = hold and fade. A~ = 1 beat of A, hold for the bar or longer.

I have a friend that writes them out in spreadsheet format with one box for each bar. He uses the dual line ability with the chords on the top and words on the bottom. This makes it REALLY clear.

[EADG mx]

It's legible but it could be cleaned up. Personally I thought it was too detailed.

[elgecko]

Originally Posted by EADG mx

Personally I thought it was too detailed.

I agree. I'd go with something like "12 bar blues in E, breaks on the verse". I might even add "turnaround = B7 - A7 - E7 - E7"

[BigOldHarry]

Originally Posted by jnuts1

to me those are hard to read when i am playing. i have had many bands give these to me & they definitly help when learning the tune.
BUT on the fly those are a disaster for me since they don't really tell me how many bars there are until the singer starts singing again.

i write out all the changes on staff paper & make a couple notes like CHORUS or VERSE & the number of X's they are played i do it in bold sharpie so i can read it in dark lighting.

VERSE
| A | B | C | D |
CHORUS
| E | F | G | A |
VERSE 2X
CHORUS
REAKDOWN
| B | C | D | E |
CHORUS 4X

Yup, pretty much what I do... For simple stuff, I just have big felt lettering (my eyes suck) - something like...

Mustang Sally
Verse:
D (I/V)x4
G (I/V)x4
D (I/V)x4
Ax2 Gx2 <break>

Of course, this is a very simple example - they day I have to read a lead sheet for mustang sally is the day they put me in a home...

[agreatheight]

Originally Posted by kraigo

It'll be a lot easier for you if you use a fixed pitch font such as Courier. A fixed pitch font means that all of the characters such as 'W' and 'l' are the same width.

The beauty of using a fixed pitch font is that if you change the font size the chords will stay aligned over the lyrics.

KO

The more widely used term is monospaced .

[Bluesbreaker5]

I'd go with something not as detailed too....unless you're singing backups and need the lyrics.

BTW......GREAT SONG!

Once I'm fairly familiar with a setlist, I just keep a list of the songs, what key they are playing in, and maybe a memory jogger like watch out for that Bb !

Where the verse, bridge, chorus aren't anything alike I'd put, for example:

Verse: C - A - B - F#
Bridge: A - E - G
Chorus: D - E - F

(Hey, I might've just written a masterpiece!..... naaw...)

[tobie]

Originally Posted by Tenma4

That's what I use for leading my church band

This seems to be the norm for church bands (sheet music does not work for amateurs like myself!)

As far as the exact time for a chord change goes: just listen closely to what the leading musician (mostly keyboard / guitar) does - or watch their hands. Hearing the song beforehand goes far in knowing when a chord change is on its way.

[Jefenator]

I could "deal" with your sheet - seen lots like that. But IMHO that system is not very smooth to follow.

I do what I call a Sharpie Sheet™. Writing big with a sharpie marker, you can see the chords from a few feet away on a dimly lit stage. I often print lyrics, then do my thing below.

Sometimes I write a bit of rhythmic notation so readers & quasi-readers can nail critical accents. In this case, the word "BREAK" gets the point across.

Rather than write out multiple verses and choruses, I often write just the first ones, then say "V" and "Ch" to repeat them. (In this case, it's pretty obvious you just repeat everything & do the "rit" and "birdseye" the last time.)

[iamthebassplayr]

That is what we are usually given at Church, but it looks a little bit more organized than that. But as far as timing.. I don't know.. I've pretty much always been able to hear when things should change.

[zachbass02]

why not use the Nashville Number System? it's simple, easy to follow, and a whole lot easier to transpose on the fly should the singer/band leader decide to change on a whim.

[Demon_Hunter]

Originally Posted by zachbass02

why not use the Nashville Number System? it's simple, easy to follow, and a whole lot easier to transpose on the fly should the singer/band leader decide to change on a whim.

Like this.
See attachment.