I'm thinking about lead sheets for groove based music, mostly samba. Original tunes
I want to specify exact chord voicings here and there -- without affecting the comping pattern.
That is, I'm saying to the chord instrument player, "Use your rhythms, but with my voicings".
If I write out the notes on a staff in the chart, the players will play that chord, but only exactly where it's written. That's not what I want.
I want to specify the exact harmony but to keep the rhythm up to the player.
Lead sheets aren't designed for that.
My question is what is the best way to do it?
I've tried it by putting in a chord in the bar I want, but using diamond noteheads and text saying "suggested voicing".
I've done it with some creative chord names e.g. C7sus(add10).
I've seen it done with an extra staff after the end of the tune with voicings.
Is there a standard way to do this?
Specific chord voicings in a lead sheet
Re: Specific chord voicings in a lead sheet
What you choose depends on the context; however, I would not use diamond noteheads, because those are commonly used to represent comping rhythm with no voicing information.
You may try notating with solid, stemless noteheads at the chord change and then rhythm slashes for the rest of the bar. That way the voicing is shown, but the rhythm is not indicated. You may also want to put the voicing in parentheses so that the player doesn't think you want the the voicing played specifically on that beat. You could add a small text indication "(voicing)" at the first instance to clarify.
Another text indication could be "rhythm ad lib." at the first instance. You could use "sim." later to indicate this idea continues. It's not standard, but should be clear to any player who understands English and knows how to comp.
Again, all this depends on context -- how crowded the notation already is and whether it seems clear given the other information on the page.
You may try notating with solid, stemless noteheads at the chord change and then rhythm slashes for the rest of the bar. That way the voicing is shown, but the rhythm is not indicated. You may also want to put the voicing in parentheses so that the player doesn't think you want the the voicing played specifically on that beat. You could add a small text indication "(voicing)" at the first instance to clarify.
Another text indication could be "rhythm ad lib." at the first instance. You could use "sim." later to indicate this idea continues. It's not standard, but should be clear to any player who understands English and knows how to comp.
Again, all this depends on context -- how crowded the notation already is and whether it seems clear given the other information on the page.
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Symbols of Sound - music preparation and consulting
Symbols of Sound - music preparation and consulting
Re: Specific chord voicings in a lead sheet
Thanks! Several good ideas that I hadn't thought of.
I like the idea of the voicing, stemless, in parenthesis with text the first time "suggested voicing". I'll have to see if Musescore will let me move it all the way to the left while permitting the rest of the measure to be preserved. Probably two voices, parenthesis symbols and some things invisible will work.
To distinguish between melody notes and chord voicing (this is for lead sheets) I used diamond noteheads (not that I'm defending that practice, I have come to understand that it's imperfect). But, it allowed me to show the chord and keep the melody distinct.
In one chart, where there was room, I actually wrote the notes I wanted under the staff as in "F Eb A D". After we restarted the pianist's heart ,he played exactly what I had in mind.
I like the idea of the voicing, stemless, in parenthesis with text the first time "suggested voicing". I'll have to see if Musescore will let me move it all the way to the left while permitting the rest of the measure to be preserved. Probably two voices, parenthesis symbols and some things invisible will work.
To distinguish between melody notes and chord voicing (this is for lead sheets) I used diamond noteheads (not that I'm defending that practice, I have come to understand that it's imperfect). But, it allowed me to show the chord and keep the melody distinct.
In one chart, where there was room, I actually wrote the notes I wanted under the staff as in "F Eb A D". After we restarted the pianist's heart ,he played exactly what I had in mind.