Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)

Here’s a few of our favorite questions to help you get the most out of PepperHorn Music.  If your question isn’t answered here give us a shout at info@pepperhorn.com and we’ll be happy to get back to you asap.  Maybe you’ll find your question posted here if its a good one! …

Question Type:

About The Music & Pre-Purchase Questions

Q: “Why do I need charts? My guitar player scribbled something on a napkin and that worked just fine!”
Q: “What is a chart/arrangement/orchestration/lead sheet?”
Q: “What sets your charts apart from the rest?”
Q: “Is this chart a direct lift of the original recording?”
Q: I’m looking for [insert song here]. How do I get it? Do you do custom orders?
Q: “What are your standard instrumentations?”
Q: “What if my band’s lineup doesn’t line up with your standard lineup?”
Q: “Why do you use the standard lineups you do?”
Q: “I’m just about to go to work on ‘X’ Cruise Line. Do you know what instrumentation I should be buying for?”
Q: “Do you offer Master Rhythm Sheets or a simple Lead Sheet for the rhythm section? Why do I need individual rhythm parts?”
Q: “What method do you use for your drum notation?”
Q: “Do you pay money to the artists for the tunes I buy?”
Q: “What is a Performing Rights Organization and why do you pay them money?”
Q: “What music imprint/writing/composing/arranging program do you use?”
Q: “Can I get a Sibelius or Finale Score copy of the chart I’ve purchased?”
Q: “So why do I have to print off all these parts?”
Q: “How many pages are in each part?”
Q: “I’d like to get involved with PepperHorn Originals! I’ve got some great tunes! Where do I sign up?”
Q: “What is a RealLead?”
Q: “How many pages are the RealLead Editions?”
Q: “I’ve just looked at the Eb Melody Lead for ‘x’ RealLead Edition. Why aren’t the vocal parts in Concert Pitch?”
Q: “How do I know if a song is in my vocal range?”
Q: “Is this too high for my trumpet player/My trumpet player is whining that his part is too high/hard?!?”
Q: “Why is there so much on the page?!? Do I need all these dots?!?”
Q: “My Bass/Guitar/Keyboard player or Drummer don’t read music. Do you provide recordings of your tunes?”

> Ordering from the PepperHorn.Com Store

Q: How does my order ship? I can’t find any shipping options?
Q: What format are the charts provided in?
Q: “How do I know my info is safe on your site?”
Q: “Can I get a tune I’ve purchased in a different key?”
Q: “Oops! I purchased the wrong instrumentation. Can I get a refund?”
Q: “I don’t like the tune I’ve purchased! Can I get a refund?”
Q: “I’ve already purchased the 3 Horn version of [insert song name], but now I need the 6 as my band has grown. Do I need to purchase it again?”
Q: “I’ve purchased one of the full arrangements of your tunes. Do I also get the RealLead Edition?”
Q: “How many views/downloads do I get with my purchase?”
Q: “If I’ve used up my views/downloads can I get more?”

> Payment Methods

Q: What methods of payment do you accept?
Q: “So I’m gonna use this Pay-Pal-thing-ee. How long does it take to get the goods?”
Q: “Paypal?!? I don’t like no stinkin’ Paypal! – What other options do you have?”

> Printing Your Charts & Paper Choices

Q: I want to print my charts on (A4, Legal, Billboard Size Cardboard) [insert one here]. How do I do this?
Q: “Should I print my parts with a Laser or Inkjet printer? What’s the diff?”
Q: “Do you do anything to off-set all of the paper and ink used in printing your tunes?”
Q: “What kind of paper should I use?”

> Audio Files (Mp3s, Albums, PepperHorn Radio, PepperHorn Sheddin’)

Q: “What quality are your mp3s?”
Q: “Are all of your tracks from digital sources?”
Q: “Are your Play-Along tracks multi-track or click tracked?”
Q: “How will I download a full album?”

Back To The Top Of The Page …

About The Music & Pre-Purchase Questions

Q: “Why do I need charts? My guitar player scribbled something on a napkin and that worked just fine!”
A: Congrats! … but seriously; once you start adding more musicians to the equation you need to have things a bit more organized. Chord Sheets, Tabs and Lead Sheets are great for small ensembles of 2 to 4 guys where it’s just a rhythm section involved. As soon as you add a singer, and especially horns to the mix you need to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Have a look at this Blog post for an explanation of why you need charts to have a truly professional ensemble or show.

Q: “What is a chart/arrangement/orchestration/lead sheet?”
A: Always good to clear up the terms! A chart is a general reference to any sheet music for an ensemble. It is sometimes used to just mean the one part, but in general just means sheet music (or a collection of parts). Arrangement and Orchestration seem like they mean the same thing, but Arrangement is usually an original arrangement of a given tune. Orchestration is usually meant to infer that the underlying song is the same, but the instrumentation has been changed to suit a different band lineup. Lead Sheet is generally a single or double page with just the melody, lyrics (if appropriate) and chord changes for a tune. A traditional Lead Sheet just runs through the form of the song once. Our RealLead Editions build on this classic formula to provide a structured form for the tune and more information to help your band read the tune down with ease and minimum discussion beforehand.

Q: “What sets your charts apart from the rest?”
A: The writers and editors at PepperHorn Music have had many years of experience bringing professional charts to professional musicians in the Entertainment industry. That means that we’ve had years to work on our formatting, style, layout and more through conversation with those using the material day in, day out – the musicians. We have a great combo of eminently playable charts, easy legibility and customer support that means that you’ll be satisfied with your purchase, time and time again. We pride ourselves on serving Pro Musos the dots they need to get the job done!

Q: “Is this chart a direct lift of the original recording?”
A: You’ll have to have a look at the chart’s description. We have a variety of different arrangements at PepperHorn Music. Some are lifts or orchestrations (re-arranging the original tune to suit a different instrumentation) and some are original arrangements or a new take on something old. You’ll find detailed info on each item for sale in the description section of each tune. If you have any questions before buying you can always give us a shout at info@pepperhorn.com.

Q: I’m looking for [insert song here]. How do I get it? Do you do custom orders?
A: If there is something you’re looking for definitely let us know at info@pepperhorn.com. We definitely value your input so let us know what you’re looking for! We’re constantly working with artists and their publishers to expand our catalog of offerings, but we do have to work within their system. All songs on PepperHorn.com have been legally licensed from their respective copyright holders and this does involve some negotiation. Rest assured, we’re working hard to bring you the tunes you need. In the meantime, feel free to shoot us your wish lists!

Q: “What are your standard instrumentations?”
A:

• 2 Horn – Tenor Sax, Trumpet, Keys, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals & Background Vocals where applicable.
• 3 Horn – Tenor Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, Keys, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals & Background Vocals where applicable.
• 4 Horn Alto – Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, Keys, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals & Background Vocals where applicable.
• 4 Horn Bari – Tenor Sax, Bari Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, Keys, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals & Background Vocals where applicable.
• 4 Horn Trumpet II – Tenor Sax, Trumpet I, Trumpet II, Trombone, Keys, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals & Background Vocals where applicable.
• 6 Horn – Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Bari Sax, Trumpet I, Trumpet II, Trombone, Keys, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals & Background Vocals where applicable.
• 5444/Big Band – 2 Alto Saxes, 2 Tenor Saxes, Bari Sax, 5 Trumpets, 4 Trombones, Keys, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals & Background Vocals where applicable.

Q: “What if my band’s lineup doesn’t line up with your standard lineup?”
A: Wow, that’s a mouthful . We do provide optional parts for most of our charts for $1.99 a part (ie. Alto in place of Tenor for our 3 horn charts). If you’re not finding what you were looking for give us a shout at info@pepperhorn.com and we’ll do our best to get you on the good foot!

Q: “Why do you use the standard lineups you do?”
A: Because our main target market is professional ensembles in the Entertainment Industry. These are the standard lineups used on most Cruise Ships, Casino lounges and Events bands.

Q: “I’m just about to go to work on ‘X’ Cruise Line. Do you know what instrumentation I should be buying for?”
A: For sure. Give us a shout at info@pepperhorn.com and we’ll let you know what you need. If you’re intending to work with a few different lines we suggest getting a combo of instrumentations (ie. both the 3 Horn and 6 Horn lineups) so that you have maximum flexibility for different ships and Cruise Lines. If you’re looking for a combo order, give us a bell at info@pepperhorn.com and we’ll see if we can sort out a discount coupon for your purchase.

Q: “Do you offer Master Rhythm Sheets or a simple Lead Sheet for the rhythm section? Why do I need individual rhythm parts?”
A: For a professional ensemble, Lead sheets and Rhythm Masters or One-Sheets just don’t cut it. (That’s why we’ve created our line of RealLead Editions … but more on that later!). The reason is two-fold: for those of you with a regular, jobbing band you’ll want the detail and accuracy that individually notated parts give you. That way you’re nailing these tunes just like the recording or as the arranger originally intended! If you’re a Vocalist or Head Liner that’s working with different backing bands all the time you need to present your musicians with as much information as is possible to make sure that they create the sound you’re expecting, whether you’re playing Poughkeepsie or Przemysl. (The tough crowds in Przemysl demand only the best!). We’ve used our years of experience preparing arrangements and charts to find that right balance between detail and accuracy and keeping the page easy to read with as few pages per part as possible. It’s also important to make sure your band is all on the same page – by making sure that the form is the same through all parts of the band arrangement you’ll have a speedy and efficient rehearsal which means happy Musos on your gig! If you have any questions on our rhythm charts give us a shout at info@pepperhorn.com.

Q: “What method do you use for your drum notation?”
A: Boy, that’s a tough one. There really isn’t a standard for drum notation – and some of the ones that claim to be a ‘standard’ are really not that easy to read, and can lack clarity and detail needed on the pro-level gig. We’ve developed our drum key through consultation with drummers from a variety of styles to provide drum parts that are as easy to read as possible. We’re constantly improving on our system to get you just as much info as you need to cop the gig like a pro should, but not so much that it looks like a blow by blow transcription. You can find a copy of PepperHorn Music’s drum key here. (Remember to right click and choose ‘Save (Target) As’ if you’d like to download it). If you have any questions or suggestions shoot them over to info@pepperhorn.com.

Q: “Do you pay money to the artists for the tunes I buy?”
A: The short answer is Yes. PepperHorn has a mix of different relationships with the artists or composers that control the copyright to a given song. For some songs we have a direct relationship with the artists, like through our PepperHorn Originals brand. For others we have a relationship through an artist or composer’s Publishing Company, Management Company or Record Label. There are also songs that we have licensed through other publishing companies like Hal Leonard, Alfred Music, Faber Music, Music Sales or Universal Music Publishing that act as a clearing house for print rights for a Record Label or artist. If you have any specific questions about the rights to a given song please let us know. At PepperHorn Music we’re committed to protecting the artists’ intellectual property rights and making sure they get the income they deserve from their tunes. That’s why we provide legally licensed arrangements and mp3s.

Q: “What is a Performing Rights Organization and why do you pay them money?”
A: Performing Rights Organizations are non-profit agencies in a given country like BMI or ASCAP in the USA, APRA-AMCOS here in Australia, GEMA in Germany and so on. They monitor the use of music in many different vehicles (CD sales, Radio play, TV, Print Music use, etc.) and collect fees for the use of that music and distribute it back to the artists themselves. PepperHorn is a publisher member of APRA and our writers are all PRO members (Shaun’s a card carrying APRA guy himself!). We have a great relationship with APRA and some of the other international PROs that assist us with marketing MP3s and other Digital Recordings online. Some countries have stipulations in their Copyright Codes that state that a certain percentage of retail on each sale of a sound recording must be paid to the relevant performing rights organization. We are constantly in touch with APRA and the other PROs to report our MP3 sales and pay a certain percentage of your purchase directly to them. That money is then disbursed back to the artists associated with that recording or piece of music. Membership in your country’s Performing Rights Organization is a great way to assure that you receive payment for the use of your musical work if you’re a composer, arranger or recording artist. For more info on your country’s PRO have a look at their website. There’s a great list here at Wikipedia.

Q: “What music imprint/writing/composing/arranging program do you use?”
A: PepperHorn Music is proud to use and promote Sibelius Music software! We’re currently using Sibelius 6 – It’s sweet!

Q: “Can I get a Sibelius or Finale Score copy of the chart I’ve purchased?”
A: Sorry, but at this time we do not distribute our charts in Sibelius or Finale Scores for copyright reasons. If you need your tune in a different key than what is available at purchase give us a shout at info@pepperhorn.com and we’ll see what we can do.

Q: “So why do I have to print off all these parts?”
A: The answer is savings for you! The traditional print business is very expensive to operate (paying for rights, hiring writers, printing presses, paper, storage, shipping, marketing) and all of that gets passed on to you, the consumer (and most likely starving artist!). If you’ve purchased a Big Band chart from your local music store you know what we mean! . The idea behind doing direct, digital distribution is that we can cut out all those added costs and, in return lower the retail price of our products. It does mean you’ll have to kill a few trees and maybe a mile or two of Scotch tape, but it’ll keep the dosh in your pocket!

Q: “How many pages are in each part?”
A: On average most parts are one or two pages. We prefer to make most parts at least two pages as one page parts always get lost in the folder or library! (Seriously – we’re speaking from experience here! . For some longer songs we may have to go to three or four pages, but our aim is always for maximum readability for the lowest tree count! We adjust the size of the print on each individual part to try and squeeze as much into as little pages as possible and not have you in Bi-Focals.

Q: “I’d like to get involved with PepperHorn Originals! I’ve got some great tunes! Where do I sign up?”
A: Great! Have a look at the info pages for the skinny on what Originals is all about. You can give Shaun Evans a shout directly at shaun@pepperhorn.com and he’ll review your material and talk you through it. Thanks for thinking of marketing your tunes through PepperHorn!

Q: “What is a RealLead?”
A: We’ve created the RealLead Editions to fill the void between the basic Lead Sheet and a full blown arrangement or chart. The problem with Lead Sheets is that they’re just usually the head and changes, with the rest left up to you to interpret. That’s fine for a trio or quartet gig where you can talk through the run-down beforehand or call it out as you go. When you have more than a few cats on the job, (ie. adding a singer and a horn player or two) it gets more complicated. RealLead Editions are still Lead Sheets, in that they have the melody, lyrics, changes and any relevant horn or rhythm melody lines and hits. The difference is that they’re set up with a proper form so there’s no confusion where you’re going – the roadmap is all laid out for every member of the band! That way you can throw a RealLead in front of your band members and not worry about anyone getting lost or missing the tag at the end. It’s all clear in your RealLead Edition.

Q: “How many pages are the RealLead Editions?”
A: We try and keep the RealLead Editions to as few pages as possible (through all of our typographic wizardry!). Some are just one page and there are a few that hit the three page mark (Sorry; it’s a long tune!).

Q: “I’ve just looked at the Eb Melody Lead for ‘x’ RealLead Edition. Why aren’t the vocal parts in Concert Pitch?”
A: We’ve decided not to switch transposition on the vocal sections of the Eb and Bb Melody lead sheets as it would get confusing to have the melody and vocals in one pitch and changes in another (for blowing over a given section). That’s why we’ve just kept it all in the associated pitch. The lyrics are there in case the Eb or Bb player wants to pluck their vocal chords, but the melody and changes are in the key of their horn for noodling on the head and blowing over the changes.

Q: “How do I know if a song is in my vocal range?”
A: Have a look at the chart’s description in the PepperHorn Music Online Store and you’ll see the Vocal Range listed for each tune. Hit the keyboard (the one with the black and white keys!) or your choice of instrument and see how the lowest and highest tones suit your vocal range. You may also find a demo copy of a page from the arrangement to have a look at. If you have any questions just give us a shout at info@pepperhorn.com and we’d be happy to help you out.

Q: “Is this too high for my trumpet player/My trumpet player is whining that his part is too high/hard?!?”
A: The real answer is that Trumpet players are never happy unless they have something to complain about! (ha!). At PepperHorn Music we provide professional level arrangements so some players might find the range or length of blow a little trying. You’ll generally find the Trumpet range in the description of each chart, but there are some things you can try when problems arise:
The best solution is water boarding! (okay … maybe not the best solution). If that doesn’t work try a pencil. Seriously! A pencil is your best friend when you’re on a long, hard gig. We provide you with lots of info in our charts – sometimes you’ll have standard horn lines, pad sections and some sections where you’re filling in for something that’s missing (ie. if there was a big string thing going on in the 2nd verse). If your guys are finding it a hard graft then mark TACET. It’s that simple!
For range issues there’s a simple solution too – cut down the lead pipe! (Okay – not a good idea). Try writing in ’play 8vb’ or ‘down the octave’. It’s that easy! You’ll find with these simple additions of a bit of graphite to your page you’ll considerably decrease the blubbering, whining and nonsense coming from the Brass section! .

Q: “Why is there so much on the page?!? Do I need all these dots?!?”
A: YES! At PepperHorn we say ”why not give them as much info as we can on the page?” That way you always have lots of options! If it’s going to be a long night and you’re doing four, one-and-a-half hour sets then get out that handy Tacet Pencil and mark in some breathers for the horns. It’s up to you what you’d like to play or leave out! That’s the beauty of having lots of info in each arrangement to work with.

Q: “My Bass/Guitar/Keyboard player or Drummer don’t read music. Do you provide recordings of your tunes?”
A: Because the sound recording and underlying composition are two different kinds of rights we do not provide sound recordings of every arrangement. We do have demo clips available where we can and offer play along/sing along tracks for some items at a reasonable per track price under our PepperHorn Sheddin’ range of mp3s. You’ll also find recordings from our associated record labels like Jazz Crusade Records through PepperHorn Radio. Have a squiz there too for mp3s and albums from our Original Artists from the PepperHorn Originals line of tunes as well. If you’re working on a popular tune from the PepperHorn Collections line you can always try Itunes, or your pick of online music retailer.

Q: “What is the meaning of life?”
A: 42 … but you knew that already .

Back To The Top Of The Page …

Ordering from the PepperHorn.Com Store

Q: How does my order ship? I can’t find any shipping options?
A: Currently we only provide digital products, so don’t sweat it! . Your charts or mp3s will be available for access through the checkout or in your ‘Your Account’ page.

Q: What format are the charts provided in?
A: Our charts are viewable and printed from the PepperHorn Viewer which is embedded directly in your browser.  Clicking the link to view your purchased chart will open the viewer in your browser.  You’ll see a menu of controls (zoom, move, rotate, etc.) for viewing the pages, a print dialog and a help button.  For more info on how to use the PepperHorn Viewer have a look at the Print Help section in our Help and FAQ pages.

Q: “How do I know my info is safe on your site?”
A: We use industry standard SSL encryption on our site to keep your data (personal info, credit card numbers, etc.) nice and safe. If you have any questions about our security or privacy policies, drop us a line at info@pepperhorn.com.

Q: “Can I get a tune I’ve purchased in a different key?”
A: We are trying to make as many key options available at purchase as we can, but we do recognize that not all keys suit all voices. The purchases you make through the PepperHorn.com store are final, but we do aim to please . If you’re struggling with the key you’ve purchased please contact us at info@pepperhorn.com and we’ll do everything we can to help you out. Not all key changes are possible without rescoring the voices in the arrangement, which would constitute a different arrangement than the one sold to you (cue the Legal Eagles here), but we’ll try our best!

Q: “Oops! I purchased the wrong instrumentation. Can I get a refund?”
A: Sorry, but all sales are final. We hope you understand. We deal in digital files and not physical products, so we’re unable to return them after they’ve been purchased. Plus we have lots of different people in the scheme of things at PepperHorn (Artists that have licensed the works to us, Record Labels, other Publishing Companies, Performing Rights Organizations) that need to be paid on each sale so that’s why all sales are final. If you have any questions please give us a shout at info@pepperhorn.com and we’ll do what we can to help you out.

Q: “I don’t like the tune I’ve purchased! Can I get a refund?”
A: Again … sorry, but all sales are final. We try and provide you with demo audio and example pages so you can make an informed decision before ordering from us. We’re sorry the tune doesn’t fit the bill, but all sales are final. We do appreciate your input, so if there’s something not working for you please let us know! Give us a shout at info@pepperhorn.com or drop a line to the Head Hauncho, Shaun at shaun@pepperhorn.com. We aim to have satisfied clients so definitely appreciate your feedback. Constructive is preferred, but we promise not to be too upset .

Q: “I’ve already purchased the 3 Horn version of [insert song name], but now I need the 6 as my band has grown. Do I need to purchase it again?”
A: The straight up answer is, Yes. We have to pay the rights holders for each copy of an arrangement that we sell, regardless if you’ve already purchased a different version of the same tune. But if you’re back for more of the same number contact the sales guys at info@pepperhorn.com and we’ll let you know if we can offer a discount on PepperHorn’s share of the pie. It’s not a big pie, but we appreciate your repeat business! (Mmm … pie ….. ).

Q: “I’ve purchased one of the full arrangements of your tunes. Do I also get the RealLead Edition?”
A: Sorry, but the RealLeads are charts unto themselves. Some have a different form than our more elaborate arrangements so are not readily interchangeable. RealLeads are geared towards efficiency and convenience for that small group gig. The full arrangements in our different brands are fully arranged and orchestrated to make the most of your ensemble or act. Hope that answers your question. If not, drop us a line at info@pepperhorn.com!

Q: “How many views/downloads do I get with my purchase?”
A: The answer to that question depends on the product purchased and who we’ve licensed the particular piece of music from. This will differ depending on where you live and where you’re purchasing the music from. As you’ll see defined in our Terms Of Use, each purchase you make is considered a ‘license’ for that recording or piece of sheet music. The license is for a given term or for use with one particular user or ensemble.

Items directly licensed to PepperHorn Music are limited to 5 views or downloads per license. That means you can access, view, print or download the mp3 or sheet music purchase 5 times from our ‘Your Downloads’ page. Once your 5 views or downloads have been used your license has expired for that piece of music.

Products that are licensed through our partnership agreements with other record companies, artists or publishers may have different terms to their licenses. For example, sheet music licensed through our PepperHorn EU store for sale in the European Union comes with access to view or print the sheet music for 7 days. Once the license has expired you will no longer be able to view and print that piece of sheet music. Please consult the product description for details on a given product’s license term. PepperHorn Music will make every effort to clearly describe the given item’s license term. If the item lacks a specific license term in its description it is to be assumed that the standard license of 5 views/downloads will apply.

Q: “If I’ve used up my views/downloads can I get more?”
A: Once you’ve used up the term of your license you will need to purchase that item again. This is due to the restrictions of our licensing agreements with our music partners. When you view, print or download a piece of sheet music or mp3/album be sure to print off the number of copies you will require for your licensed use and back-up all mp3s or album downloads for posterity. PepperHorn Music will not be held responsible if your copies have been lost and your license has expired. You will then have to purchase the item again, so remember those back-ups!