Chord chart
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A chord chart is a simplified text document that typically represents lyrics with ASCII chord symbols placed above the appropriate syllables of the lyrics to associate the relative timing of the chord changes to the words of a song. Musically speaking, chord charts really represent an arrangement (albeit with many elements lacking) of a song, rather than a true song in complete content. This is because a complete representation of a song is a musical composition made for the human voice, which will always include notation for pitch and timing.
Chord charts are a colloquialism of musicians who simply wish to notate chord and (usually) lyric changes. Since chord charts are textual in format, musical notes are typically never represented on a chord chart. Timing can be found on chord charts via the use of timing marks which appear as pipe symbols "|" to indicate each musical bar, and forward slashes to represent "/" individual "hits" of the appropriate chord.
[edit] History
Likely the result of an ongoing minimalist trend amongst folk, jazz, blues, rock musicians, the chord chart was a direct descendant of the fake book which had percolated the fully notated musical score into loose leaf collections of lead sheets.
