Go Away, Little Girl: Lead Sheet / Fake Book

This lead sheet captures a song with immediate melodic charm and straightforward harmonic movement, making it ideal for keyboardists learning to comp over vocal standards. The tune's commercial success means students recognize it instantly, which builds their confidence and motivation when learning to support a singer or working through unfamiliar repertoire styles.

Warm and approachable, with a conversational melody that sits naturally in the voice. The song has an almost confessional quality beneath its pop polish, mixing vulnerability with the production sheen of its era.

Pianists and keyboard players strengthening their skills with lead sheets and jazz/pop notation. Vocalists who need an accompaniment part and want to learn how to read and play from a lead sheet. Ensembles studying 1970s pop idiom or building a set of classic pop standards.

• Keep the harmonic foundation light and supportive rather than busy; the melody carries the song, so leave space for the vocalist to breathe and shape phrases.
• Pay attention to the rhythmic character of any written rhythms in the accompaniment pattern to lock in with a bassist or drummer if performing with a rhythm section.
• Explore different voicings on the chord changes to find colors that complement the vocal timbre; pop standards of this era often benefit from close voicings in the upper register.

Include it in a pop or standards workshop where students explore comping and accompaniment techniques. Pair it with other hits from the same decade to build a nostalgia or "classic pop" set for a variety concert, or use it as a sight-reading exercise in a jazz piano or keyboard improvisation class.

• Reading and playing from lead sheet notation
• Comping skills and harmonic support techniques
• Accompanying vocalists with appropriate texture and space
• Recognizing and working with common chord progressions from pop and standards repertoire