A projection-based solution to the symplectic group state labeling problem is presented. The approach yields a nonorthogonal Gel'fand–Tsetlin basis for the irreducible representations of Sp(2n). A method for evaluating the corresponding overlap coefficients is discussed. The action of the Sp(2n) generators, in the basis obtained, is determined and some matrix element formulas are derived. The results obtained are comparable to the matrix element formulas for O(n) and U(n).