# A question about chord names written on sheet music
**URL:** https://forum.troygrady.com/t/a-question-about-chord-names-written-on-sheet-music/62082
**Category:** Harmony & Theory
**Created:** [January 23, 2023, 7:00am UTC](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/a-question-about-chord-names-written-on-sheet-music/62082 "2023-01-23T07:00:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@kgk](https://forum.troygrady.com/u/kgk)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2023, 7:00am UTC](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/a-question-about-chord-names-written-on-sheet-music/62082/1 "2023-01-23T07:00:18Z")
I often see sheet music—likely intended for vocalists?—that has chords written above the staff. I find this very confusing because I can’t tell when the chord starts or stops. How should I treat something like that?
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### Author:  [@Riffdiculous](https://forum.troygrady.com/u/Riffdiculous)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2023, 8:51am UTC](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/a-question-about-chord-names-written-on-sheet-music/62082/2 "2023-01-23T08:51:02Z")
When chords are written above a melody like that, they’ll change on the corresponding note underneath. So, in that example, Bb lasts until “see”, where it changes to Gm, and D comes in on beat 3 “by”. The Gm over “the” I don’t like - I’d wait until “dawn’s”.
As far as rhythms to use for the chords, that’s up to the player.
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### Author:  [@Ruefus](https://forum.troygrady.com/u/Ruefus)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2023, 1:09pm UTC](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/a-question-about-chord-names-written-on-sheet-music/62082/3 "2023-01-23T13:09:22Z")
^ This.
Also, the chord voicing can be interpreted. In bar 2, the brevity of the Gm - D - Gm may (or may not) be doable on guitar depending on where you are on the neck. 3rd fret with a 6 string root? Nah…I’d likely just accent the root (D) on beat 3. Triads at the 7th fret with? It could work…if it sounds good.
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### Author:  [@JakeEstner](https://forum.troygrady.com/u/JakeEstner)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2023, 7:02pm UTC](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/a-question-about-chord-names-written-on-sheet-music/62082/4 "2023-01-23T19:02:12Z")
Yes, the chord will change on the beat it is written, and until a new chord symbol you stay on the last chord. Also I agree that usually that second Gm would be on “dawn” and not “the.”
It can be a little weird to see beat 1 with no chord when the last chord was changed in the middle of the preceding measure, but the logic isn’t hard to follow.
I’m not sure if the following is kosher engraving, but when I’m charting something for a student and I don’t want them to get confused, I might put the chord in again on beat 1, possibly in parentheses.
For example on “dawn’s” simply write Gm or (Gm) again over the word.
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### Author:  [@kgk](https://forum.troygrady.com/u/kgk)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2023, 9:49pm UTC](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/a-question-about-chord-names-written-on-sheet-music/62082/5 "2023-01-23T21:49:47Z")
Thanks!
Notation wise\*, one can start the first chord, switch to a new chord, but how can one stop a chord for a while?
(\* This edit was added thanks to @JakeEstner’s question, below.)
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### Author:  [@JakeEstner](https://forum.troygrady.com/u/JakeEstner)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2023, 10:26pm UTC](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/a-question-about-chord-names-written-on-sheet-music/62082/6 "2023-01-23T22:26:52Z")
Sorry, I don’t understand. Do you mean how would that be notated? In a lead sheet format like what you posted, rests in the accompaniment would not be indicated; they’d be up to the discretion of the performer.
That’s the kind of thing that would be shown in a different format. The attached image is a section from a big band chart, showing the chord and the rhythm to be used, rests included. Different format/context for notation.
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### Author:  [@kgk](https://forum.troygrady.com/u/kgk)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2023, 11:25pm UTC](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/a-question-about-chord-names-written-on-sheet-music/62082/7 "2023-01-23T23:25:25Z")
> [@JakeEstner](#):
>
> Do you mean how would that be notated?
Exactly, thank you, I edited my post to make more sense.
> [@JakeEstner](#):
>
> lead sheet format
Aha, now I know its name! [Lead sheet - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_sheet)
> [@JakeEstner](#):
>
> big band chart
I see! Thanks!