Annotate lead-sheets?

[Dave Nuttall]

Question for people who gig and use sheet music:

How do you annotate your lead-sheets/scores with regard to intro's, variations and endings used?

I'm not always successful, but my goal is to "fit" most songs on one or two pages, and I like to use MobileSheets on a MS Surface, so I often enter the melody and chords into Sibelius and then print to PDF enroute to the MobileSheets set-list.

TIA.
Dave

[Graham UK]

Dave Nuttall. Yes, myself play from lead sheets one or two A4's
Many times  I have to make my lead sheets from Midi Files usually 32 bars Verse & Chorus.
Printing with an old version of BIAB it will print on one sheet.

[Dave Nuttall]

Do you use STYLES on the keyboard?
Do you document which intro/variation(s)/ending?
Do you use registrations?

Dave Nuttall. Yes, myself play from lead sheets one or two A4's
Many times  I have to make my lead sheets from Midi Files usually 32 bars Verse & Chorus.
Printing with an old version of BIAB it will print on one sheet.

[Fred Smith]

I use registrations for every song. Now I don't have to remember anything, because the registrations do.

Also, because my sheet music is on a tablet, I use lots of pages, so I get the font size I need. The registrations take care of turning the page.

Cheers,
Fred

[frajag]

Hi Dave:
I like to annotate my PDF lead sheets. If the lead sheet is acceptable I do the annotations using a PDF Editor. Most PDF readers will allow you some editing functions. I use PDF-XChange reader (free) which gives me a typewriter function and highlights. But search around. I display my PDF sheets on a wide All in One touch screen computer - 2 sheets at a time if needed.  If I make my own sheets I use Musescore and do the annotations there. I occasionally use PowerTracks Pro Audio (PG Music $49)  to make lead sheets from a midi file. I print to PDF (CutePDF)  and make my annotations later. Hope this helps
Frank

[Colin D]

I use registrations for every song. Now I don't have to remember anything, because the registrations do.

Also, because my sheet music is on a tablet, I use lots of pages, so I get the font size I need. The registrations take care of turning the page.

Cheers,
Fred

Fred, I have tried to do that without success, it sounds better than using a pedal,

Cheers,

Colin

[Dave Nuttall]

I use registrations for every song. Now I don't have to remember anything, because the registrations do.

Thanks, Fred.
I also use a registration for every song.  Where I get myself messed up is trying to remember if the intro+verse is on button 1 or did I mean intro+verse+chorus on #1.
I set the registration to advance thru the buttons using a foot pedal...so the question is:  How to mark-up the lead sheet to know where to stomp the foot pedal.

Also, because my sheet music is on a tablet, I use lots of pages, so I get the font size I need. The registrations take care of turning the page.

I guess that means you're using an iPad?

[Dave Nuttall]

I like to annotate my PDF lead sheets. If the lead sheet is acceptable I do the annotations using a PDF Editor. Most PDF readers will allow you some editing functions. I use PDF-XChange reader (free) which gives me a typewriter function and highlights. But search around. I display my PDF sheets on a wide All in One touch screen computer - 2 sheets at a time if needed.  If I make my own sheets I use Musescore and do the annotations there. I occasionally use PowerTracks Pro Audio (PG Music $49)  to make lead sheets from a midi file. I print to PDF (CutePDF)  and make my annotations later. Hope this helps

Thanks, Frank.
Do you annotate your lead sheets to show where you change registration buttons, modulate, or change the variation, or which ending to use?

[Fred Smith]

I also use a registration for every song.  Where I get myself messed up is trying to remember if the intro+verse is on button 1 or did I mean intro+verse+chorus on #1.
I set the registration to advance thru the buttons using a foot pedal...so the question is:  How to mark-up the lead sheet to know where to stomp the foot pedal.

I guess that means you're using an iPad?

I put a mark on the sheet (in my case, a triangle, but any mark will do) telling me when to press the pedal.

And yes to the iPad.

Fred

[frajag]

"Do you annotate your lead sheets to show where you change registration buttons, modulate, or change the variation, or which ending to use?"

Here is what I do : I type the Style and Tempo, sometimes the intro (intro1, or intro 3 ). I sometimes highlight the  barlines (1.,2.) and sometimes use a symbol to remind me of some change - you have to get a bit creative.
Frank

[acparker]

I also use a registration for every song.  Where I get myself messed up is trying to remember if the intro+verse is on button 1 or did I mean intro+verse+chorus on #1.
I set the registration to advance thru the buttons using a foot pedal...so the question is:  How to mark-up the lead sheet to know where to stomp the foot pedal.

Hi Dave,

I have two suggestions that might help.  The first is to use the same pattern for each song.  I have gotten into the habit of using 1 - 7 for verses, 8 for the Refrain, 9 for the first refrain (if that is the start of the song, and therefore has an intro) and 10 for the ending.

The second is to name the registration with that info.  For example, name registration 1 Intro/Verse/Chorus.  It'll show on the Genos screen, and then you would know.

As for where to stomp the foot pedal, Sometimes it's obvious, like at the beginning of a new verse, or when I get to the Refrain.  For other pieces, I use a small green text box with a black number in it to mark the change.  I'm using Mobilesheets, by the way.  While I use it on the tablet, I have found that you *can* print out the sheet with the annotations you have made on it.

Hope this helps!

Adm

[Dave Nuttall]

Hi Dave,

I have two suggestions that might help.  The first is to use the same pattern for each song.  I have gotten into the habit of using 1 - 7 for verses, 8 for the Refrain, 9 for the first refrain (if that is the start of the song, and therefore has an intro) and 10 for the ending.

The second is to name the registration with that info.  For example, name registration 1 Intro/Verse/Chorus.  It'll show on the Genos screen, and then you would know.

As for where to stomp the foot pedal, Sometimes it's obvious, like at the beginning of a new verse, or when I get to the Refrain.  For other pieces, I use a small green text box with a black number in it to mark the change.  I'm using Mobilesheets, by the way.  While I use it on the tablet, I have found that you *can* print out the sheet with the annotations you have made on it.

Hope this helps!

Adm

Very interesting.  THANKS!