Symbolism used in G-sheets 
             
     
Symbol Meaning  
     

Header                   xxxxx

The header contains the song title, the initial declarations (number of intervals per measure and suggested CAPO position), the original author (when known) and  the Youtube key for the lyrics, or the composition number for the lyrics, for example, 10415 is from: http://www.spiritandsong.com/compositions/10415

Following the header, or elsewhere in the sheet, there may be graphs of the less familiar chords used in this composition.

 

  
|4|     †2|

Declaration within the song header:
This song has measures of 4 intervals, but occasionally has 2 interval measures, as identified in context.

  
 

 
|3|     ‡6|

Declaration within the song header:
This song has measures of 3 intervals, but occasionally has 6-interval measures, as identified in context.

  
 

 

|

Example:
          | C              G        |
          One two three four

Measure separator (beginning and end of a measure):


This is a complete measure. In a song with 4-interval measures, the C chord is played for two intervals and the G chord is played for the second two intervals.

 
     
Example:
             | A _ G _ A  |
           One two three

In some occasions the original timing is overridden by an exceptional "triplet". Three chords are tied with underline symbols. On the left is an example of a triplet to be played in a 4-interval measure.

  
 

 

†  ‡


Example:
          † C      G  |
          One two

Alternative beginning of a measure symbols, in context:

This is a complete measure. In a song with 4-interval measures, this exceptional measure has only two intervals.

  
 

 
é             û

Beginning and end of the introduction (Prelude)

  
 

 
Chords, e.g.:   Em7/D

Em  to be played for the full measure.

  
 

 
=

Indication of a beat (interval) where the previous chord (or rest) is still to be held.

  
 

 
A chord within ( ), such as: (Dm)

This chord is already being played.
Used at the beginning of a refrain, verse or new line, just as a reminder.

  
Examples:   | Em       |

Em  to be played for the full measure.

 
 

 
  | Em    Am      |

(In a song with 4-interval measures): Both the Em and the Am are played for 2 intervals each.

 
 

 
| G   =  C  |

(In a song with 3-interval measures): The G is played for 2 intervals, then C is played for one interval.

  
 

 
| G    | = = C = | =    |

(In a song with 4-interval measures): The G is played for a full measure, then continued for 2 more intervals, then the C is played for two intervals, then the C is continued for another full measure.

  
 

 
>

The measure is not finished.
It continues in the following line or at the beginning of the next measure to be played (the refrain, or the next verse).

  
 

 

underlined text

This phrase has to be repeated for the ending.

  
 

 

  

An indefinitely-sustained chord or rest: A halt in tempo.

  
 

 

  
x

Do not play a string:

  
 

 

o

Play a string open.

  
(Example: oA)

Play the A chord including the lowest open string (or A/E).

  
 

 
(Example: xC)

Do not play the lowest string when playing this chord.

  
 

 
(Example: xxA)

Do not play the two lowest strings when playing this chord.

  
 

 
(Example:  oo11 )

Play the highest four strings: two of them open (the D and the G strings) and two of them in the first fret (the C and F notes).

  
 

 
 

When some chords are not very familiar, they are substituted with an explicit description of the fingers in the frets, according to the following symbols:

  
 

 

Example:   5oooo

 

    =       In place of:   Em7/D