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How to Read Music Written in Leads

Lead music, also called fake sheet music, is easier to read than traditional music. It includes only the notes of the melody and the chords in a song, leaving the musician to improvise the rest. Reading lead music is preferred by professional musicians because they can play a song immediately without having to do a lot of practicing. Once you learn how, you can read and play both guitar and piano lead music.

Instructions

    • 1

      Look at a piece of lead sheet music or a piece of guitar sheet music and locate the words of the song and the notes of the melody, which are below the staff (five horizontal lines) as well as the different letters on top of the staff. These letters represent chords that you will play.

    • 2

      Strum your guitar strings or play your piano the first chord on the lead music sheet. For example, if it is C, strum or play C, E and G at the same time to create your chord.

    • 3

      Sing the melody or, if you are playing the piano, play the melody with your right hand. Strum or play the chord once or several times until you get to the next letter, or chord.

    • 4

      Switch to the new chord, and strum your guitar or play the chords on your piano to the beat of the music.

    • 5

      Continue this pattern until you get to the end of the song.

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