what is a 'fake book'
zevik
Looking for sheet music, I came across the term 'Fake Book'. Could some one
please tell me the meaning of this term?
Thanks very much,
Z.
Howard Peirce
> Hi all,
> Looking for sheet music, I came across the term 'Fake Book'. Could some one
> please tell me the meaning of this term?
A fake book is a collection of music that consists of lead sheets. A lead sheet
consists only of the melody of a song, and chord symbols for the harmony.
Musicians who know how to read lead sheets can improvise an arrangement on the
spot just from the melody and chord symbols. This is called "faking," which is
where the books get the name.
Fake books have been around for decades, but for most of that time they have
been illegal--collected by musicians, and sold to other musicians, without
obtaining the necessary copyright permissions or paying royalties on the songs.
The most famous illegal fake book is the "Real Book," which is still widely
available--and still illegal.
Legal fake books have been around for a while (notably from Hal Leonard), but
they've universally had the reputation for horrible quality (incorrect or
missing chord changes, etc.) Lately, Chuck Sher has started publishing a series
of legal fake books, called the New Legal Real Book, that have earned a
reputation for being affordable and accurate.
HP
mwb...@my-deja.com
fake book is a book composed of either favorite songs, jazz standards,
country favorites, or even the Billbourd Top 100. I recommend that if
you see a good one get it!! And if you ever hear of someone selling
the illegal, or the "unpublished" version, as most jazzers call it,
don't hesitate to get it!
Bookman
P.S. It works great for me
In article <3784f...@news.barak.net.il>,
"zevik" <lehr...@internet-zahav.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
> Looking for sheet music, I came across the term 'Fake Book'. Could
some one
> please tell me the meaning of this term?
>
> Thanks very much,
>
> Z.
>
>
--
Michael Bookman Jr.
Univ. of North Texas
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Howard Peirce
> Oh man you'll need your fake books to get yourself quick jazz gigs. A
> fake book is a book composed of either favorite songs, jazz standards,
> country favorites, or even the Billbourd Top 100. I recommend that if
> you see a good one get it!! And if you ever hear of someone selling
> the illegal, or the "unpublished" version, as most jazzers call it,
> don't hesitate to get it!
Just to follow up on this: It's best to think of fake books as a study
tool, rather than as something to bring on the gig. At some point, if you
show up with a fake book, they'll laugh you off the stand (speaking from
experience). I know one drummer who shouts "No paper!" and throws sticks
at you.
Occasionally, you might see the pianist or bassist take a quick peek at a
lead sheet, assuming the horn player (i.e., everybody in rmmt) calls a
tune that's unfamiliar. But as a rule, the jazz trumpeter's job is to
know melodies, and lots of 'em. That's the way it's always been. You'll
need a working vocabulary of 300 to 500 tunes if you expect to make
working jazz casuals a regular part of your career.
Fake books are a practice tool, and what's more, a tool that takes second
place to learning melodies from recordings.
One other thought: Resist the temptation to buy a fake book in Bb. Buy,
borrow, steal, or copy fake books in concert pitch. When you go to learn
a tune, make it a goal to learn it in all 12 keys, or at least to
internalize it to the point that you can transpose by ear when necessary
(which is pretty often). The real practicality of fake books for
trumpeters is when you call a tune the rhythm section doesn't know, you
can hand them a lead sheet and smile.
HP
mwb...@my-deja.com
oleo, or misty? It's good to know the heads of as many tunes as you
can learn. But it's not a bad idea to bring the little pocket fake
book along for those songs you don't know, just don't tell anyone....
Bookman
In article <378BA6A9...@sdrc.com>,
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