I wouldn't put an Ab in an E chart, because the key signature already instructs all the G notes to be sharped, unless there is a natural sign in front of it. An Ab only becomes a stumbling block. As you pointed out Eddie, the Ab takes you out of autopilot while reading. That makes the chart more difficult to read.

There may be an exception if a song temporarily goes into a flat key for an amount of time too short to bother with a new key signature.

The chart should be as easy to read as possible. If I were to make a chart for one specific person, I'd take into account his/her personal experience and needs. If I make charts for everybody, I make it as easy to read as possible, but within the limits of proper notation.

There are certain things you can do. A couple of easy examples are to align codas, segnos and repeat signs to the left-hand side of the page, so people don't have to search for them. Also, put page turns in logical places if possible to make it less disrupting for the reader to move forward.

I write fake book companions for BiaB, and I've come across examples where you have to turn the page, play two or 4 bars, then turn it back for a repeat. Why would anyone do that? I want to tell the publisher to hire a college music student to proofread the book.

The point is that a person may be sightreading the chart. Make it easy for him/her to navigate it.


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