How to create a Lead Sheet "part" from a full score?
Hi folks!
I just wrote my first Bossa Nova composition, and I scored out all the parts: guitar, flute, bass, drums.
But now I want to be able to also share it as a simple, one-page Lead Sheet. So, for example:
1) I obviously need the whole melody line, currently scored under the flute instrument
2) guitar: the chord symbols should be sufficient
3) bass: for the purpose of the lead sheet, the bass player can also just follow the chord symbols
4) drummer: with the exception of a few notes of where to break, no drum details should be needed
The main challenge is about indicating the FORM of the song in typical, compressed lead-sheet style. For example, in the Intro, I want to show that there's a 4-bar guitar intro, and that then the drums/bass come in for 4 bars. Then [A] begins with flute/melody. But the details aren't necessary; just the # of bars and the chord symbols.
The Parts feature in MS is awesome. But there is no one Instrument that captures what a lead sheet needs to look like. Eg, the Flute part has the melody, but nothing about the intro.
Another challenge with showing the form is that, for the Intro, I would be happy showing just slash notation, to keep it very compressed. A lead sheet should not show the guitar tablature; just the chords.
One other challenge I always have is: on what instrument do I attach the Chord Symbols? Usually I want them above the system, but I also want to hide staves that are quiet. Do the chord symbols have to be attached to an instrument? What I really want is for them to be anchored to the beat regardless of staff, and always sit above whichever staves are displayed in that system.
In the past, I've had to duplicate my entire score and hand-edit the copy into the form of a lead sheet, and maintain both copies going forward. But that's a lot of work. And meanwhile, MS has so many powerful features, I'd like to believe that maybe the "Parts" feature has a way to make a "Lead Sheet Part"??
Your expertise is appreciated!
Comments
No takers? :-)
It is a bit unclear just what you are after here. My understanding of a lead sheet would be a single staff consisting of melody and chord symbols. Slash notation where there is no melody and text as needed to tell players what is going on. In which case, add a single staff to your score. C+P the melody and chords into it. Slash notation and chords where there is no melody. Then delete all but your new staff.
In reply to It is a bit unclear just… by bobjp
> Slash notation where there is no melody
Yes, this is probably one of the biggest pieces to bridge the gap between the existing Full Score and Parts features and the Lead Sheet that I'm seeking. Otherwise, the Flute Part would be almost perfect.
> add a single staff to your score. C+P the melody and chords into it. Slash notation and chords where there is no melody
This might be the best compromise. By "staff" I assume you mean Instrument, so that everything else can be hidden/unhidden depending on whether I want the lead sheet or the score. It's still duplication; but at least it will sit inline with the main score rather than being a totally separate score. I guess I'll mute it during playback. Let me try and see how this works.