Pre-Workshop Course · Part 1

Understanding Our Charts
at Wellspring

Wellspring uses several chart formats. This part teaches you how to read all of them so no matter what gets handed to you, you know exactly what to do.

The Slash Chord Rule — applies everywhere

When you see a slash chord (e.g. Bm/A or 2m/1):
Chordal instruments (piano, keys, guitar) — play the chord on the LEFT side of the slash.
Bass players — play the note on the RIGHT side of the slash.
Drummers — slash chords do not change what you play. Keep your groove.

Lesson 1 — MultiTracks Chord Chart

This is the most common chart format at Wellspring. The chord names appear above the lyrics. Read across left to right — when you see a chord name, play that chord and hold it until the next chord name appears.

The header tells you everything you need before the song starts: the key, the tempo (BPM), and the time signature. Check this first.

Praise — MultiTracks Chord Chart header

Notice the section labels (Verse, Pre-Chorus, Chorus). These mark where you are in the song and often include dynamic instructions like Soft or Full.

The chord name above a word is your cue. Play it at that word and hold it until you see the next chord name — even if several words pass in between.

Lesson 2 — MultiTracks Number Chart

Same layout as the chord chart, but chord names are replaced by numbers (1–7). The number refers to the scale degree of the current key — so the same chart works in any key.

Praise — MultiTracks Number Chart, Verse 1

The number 1 is always home — the root chord of the key. 4 and 5 are the most common supporting chords. 6m is minor and appears in most verses and bridges.

Praise — Number Chart, Chorus
A lowercase 'm' after a number means minor. So 6m = the minor chord built on the 6th degree of the scale. Your instrument packet shows you exactly what that is in every key.

Lesson 3 — Sheet Music Chord Chart

Sheet music chord charts look more formal — they have a staff with a treble clef — but you don't need to read the notes on the staff. The chord names appear above each measure, and the V-shaped symbols in the staff are just rhythm markers showing the beat.

Sheet music style chart example

Focus on the chord names above the staff and the lyrics below. Ignore the noteheads — they're placeholders for rhythm, not pitches you need to play.

If you see V symbols in the staff, they're just beat markers. Your job is to read the chord name above, not the notes in the staff.

Lesson 4 — Sheet Music Number Chart

The sheet music number chart combines the formal layout of sheet music with the number system. Numbers replace chord names above each measure. Everything else reads the same way.

One Name — Sheet Music Number Chart

This format is common for songs in 6/8 time like One Name (Jesus). The 6/8 time signature means six beats per measure, felt as two big groups of three — a flowing triplet feel.

6/8 sounds different from 4/4. Count: 1-trip-let 2-trip-let. Feel the two big beats per measure rather than counting all six individually.

Lesson 5 — Nashville Number Chart

The Nashville Number Chart is the most compact format. Each number = one full measure. Special symbols tell you how to play each measure. This is the format most used by experienced worship musicians.

Nashville Number Chart — 1000 Names

Key symbols to know:

In Nashville Number charts, one number = one measure. In 4/4 that's four beats. In 6/8 that's six beats.
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