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LearnMusicTheory.net High-Yield Music Theory, Vol. 1: Music Theory Fundamentals

Section 4.6
BASIC LEAD SHEET SYMBOLS
Lead sheet
symbols for
triads

Lead sheet symbols are written above a melody and indicate the chords to
play underneath. They show the root of the chord and the chord quality.
For triads, the common chord qualities are major, minor, diminished, and
augmented.

C- or Cmin Cdim or Cminb5 or C Caug or Cmaj#5

& w
w
w

& bw
w
w

Major

Lead sheet
symbols for
seventh chords

& bbw
w
w

Minor

Diminished

C7

C^ or Cmaj7

& bw
w
w
w

&

C-7 or Cmin7

w
w
w
w

& bbw
w
w
w

Major 7th

Cmin7b5 or C7

& bbbw
w
w
w

Halfdim 7th

Minor 7th

C7 or Cdim7

& bbw
w
w
w

Diminished 7th
(B often spelled A)

A vertical slash indicates the note that should be played lowest. A

horizontal slash indicates one chord on top of another chord (often, two
different triads).

E
_
D

G7/B

w
w
w
& w
w
See also

Augmented

The symbols for seventh chords work similarly:

Mm7
("Dominant" 7th)

Vertical and
horizontal
slashes

& #w
w
w

B on bottom

#w
w
w
& #w
w
w

E major triad
D major triad

See Volume 3: Jazz and Popular Music Theory and Jazzology by Rawlins
and Bahha. For roman numerals, see 5.2 Roman Numerals.