A lead sheet is a form of musical notation that specifies the essential elements of a song: the melody, lyrics and harmony. The melody is written in modern Western music notation, the lyric is written as text below the staff and the harmony is specified with chord symbols above the staff. Lead sheets are used in popular music, jazz and blues. They are also used to record songs for copyright purposes.


Lead sheets are often used by singers and professional musicians when learning a new song. They provide a quick reference guide to the song's structure and key elements such as melody, lyrics and harmony. Lead sheets can also be used by arrangers to create new arrangements of existing songs or to create original compositions.