Build a chord-only lead sheet for any song or jazz standard: chords in measures with barlines, repeats, and sections. Transpose to any key and export a clean PDF or PNG, or open it in iReal Pro. No sign-up to build, and a free account unlocks the downloads.
Lyrics too? The Chord Sheet Maker puts the chords over the words. Browse community chord progressions for inspiration, or see all chord chart tools (chords over lyrics, finger-position diagrams).
A chord progression chart is a chord-only lead sheet. Instead of writing chords above lyrics, you lay the chords out in measures (bars) with barlines, repeat signs, and section markers like A, B, and Chorus. There are no lyrics and no melody, just the harmony and the form, which is exactly what you read from at a jam, a jazz gig, or a band rehearsal. Jazz players call the same thing a lead sheet or simply the changes; the standards in a real book are laid out this way, minus the melody line.
The editor is fully graphical: you build the chart by clicking on it, and what you see is exactly what saves and exports.
N.C., r, and r8,C7 (comma joins the rest and chord inside one beat).C/E.|: :|), and start/end barlines from the toolbar.Full guide with every sign and shortcut: Chord Progression Charts help.
Working through the standards? Most of them are 32 bars in AABA or ABAC form with a repeat or two and maybe a coda, which is exactly what this lead sheet maker is built for. Start from the AABA preset, type the changes, add 1st and 2nd endings and a D.S. al Coda, and you have a clean chart for the whole band. Because it holds chords only, you can share a standard's changes on a public page without touching anyone's lyrics or melody, and transpose it for a singer or a horn player in one click.
Building is free for everyone, and a free account adds PDF, PNG and iReal Pro downloads and saves up to 3 charts; Pro saves unlimited and unlocks re-loadable files. Because these charts hold no lyrics, you can also share them on a public page. Looking for a different format? Compare all chord chart tools, including the chords-over-lyrics sheet maker and the chord diagram maker.