Should We Bring Back the Measure?

Maybe I’m the odd one out, but I feel like chord sheets are missing one of the most important pieces of musical information: the measure.

Most chord sheets simply place chord names above the lyrics. But they rarely tell you how those chords fit into the measures. That leaves a lot of guessing: Does this chord last two beats or four? What if I know there’s a held word like in Blowin’ in the Wind, but the chord sheet doesn’t show an extra chord at the end of the line.

I’ve been to jam sessions where everyone is doing fine until a transition. Some reach the chorus, bridge or next verse a measure too early and suddenly the group is fumbling to get back together. Because the chart doesn’t typically show measures, it’s easy for different players to enter the next line at different times, especially if they don’t already know the arrangement.

I’ve just recently read about the Nashville Number System and it made me wonder if popular chord sheets couldn’t benefit from some of their conventions. If I don’t know a song I have to mark it all up with the missing information.

Measures are like a roadmap. Am I the only one who would rather have a little more structure?