That Certain Feeling: Lead Sheet

This lead sheet collection gives guitarists access to over 100 Gershwin songs in a format built for real-world playing, improvisation, and arrangement. The breadth here is remarkable—you're not picking through scattered fake books but working with a curated, estate-approved resource that respects the integrity of the material. For jazz programs, combo rehearsals, and serious study, this becomes your go-to reference.

Gershwin's melodies have a buoyant, sophisticated charm that sits comfortably over blues-influenced harmonies. These songs breathe with rhythmic life and harmonic color; they reward both straight-ahead playing and creative reharmonization. There's a sense of elegance and accessibility woven through the material—you can play it simply or dig into its depths.

Jazz guitarists, compers, and soloists seeking a substantial and reliable collection of standards. Music students preparing for jazz performance and improvisation will find these songs essential to their vocabulary. Teachers and directors building jazz curriculum or repertoire for combos and ensemble performances benefit from having 100+ arrangements in one organized resource.

• Study the harmonic movement across several songs to internalize Gershwin's characteristic progressions and voice-leading patterns; this deepens your ability to comp confidently and anticipate chord changes.
• Use the lead sheet melody as a starting point for reharmonization and improvisation rather than as a fixed line; the genius of these songs lies in their flexibility.
• Pay attention to lyrical phrasing even when playing instrumental versions; Gershwin's melodies are deeply connected to the words, and honoring that contour makes your playing more musical.
• Transpose frequently to practice in different keys and to suit various ensemble contexts; lead sheets are tools for adaptation, not fixed documents.

Build a jazz ensemble concert around Gershwin standards, pairing guitar comping with horn solos to showcase the full range of these songs. Use the collection as a practice library for jazz guitar students working on improvisation, chord melody, and comp techniques across a semester. Reference specific songs during rehearsals to establish harmonic language and phrasing standards for your ensemble's approach to jazz repertoire.

• Jazz comping over sophisticated harmonic changes
• Melody and chord relationship recognition
• Transposition and key modulation across multiple contexts
• Improvisation and solo building over standard progressions
• Recognition of jazz harmony and voice-leading patterns
• Reading and interpreting lead sheet notation