The term refers to collections of lead sheetssimplified musical notation containing only the melody line, chord symbols, and sometimes lyricsthat are considered authentic and reliable within musical communities. These compilations allow musicians to quickly learn and perform a wide range of songs across genres, relying on improvisation and established harmonic practices to fill in the arrangement. An example would be a professionally published collection of jazz standards featuring accurate melodies and chord changes used by working musicians.
Such resources are vital for working musicians, offering a practical and efficient way to expand their repertoire and participate in impromptu jam sessions or gigs. Their importance stems from providing a common musical language and reducing reliance on full, pre-arranged scores. Historically, they emerged as a response to the need for accessible musical information in performance settings, evolving from handwritten charts to professionally typeset publications. The benefit lies in fostering musical collaboration and enabling stylistic interpretation.
