Charts for the "real world"?

[lotusland9663]

Hi TBers,

I'm working to improve my reading. I have the usual instruction and practice books to work with. I was wondering if there is a resource where I can access/purchase charts for songs, shows, musicals etc. to get practice reading for real life gigging situations? Thanks in advance for any assistance.
Mick

[WJGreer]

Originally Posted by lotusland9663

Hi TBers,

I'm working to improve my reading. I have the usual instruction and practice books to work with. I was wondering if there is a resource where I can access/purchase charts for songs, shows, musicals etc. to get practice reading for real life gigging situations? Thanks in advance for any assistance.
Mick

Mick,

If your interests include jazz, I recommend that you acquire a copy of the Real Book.

The Real Book is a collection of lead sheets for a few hundred of the most popular jazz songs ever. Every gigging jazz musician either has one in his bag or did at one point. You can use it to learn melodies and chord changes, and more importantly to understand the relationship each of those has with the other.

When I was a student, Real Books were illegal because the publisher had not addressed the copyright requirements for such a collection. To acquire them, we actually had to operate in something of a black market. These days, they appear to have addressed that issue, and you can get a copy for $20 from Amazon, and even get one on a Kindle or iPad.

[MalcolmAmos]

Make sure your book is written for bass. Music written for piano is everywhere, however may have ledger notes lower than your 4 string E.

I just paid $25 for the Grand Ole Opry Song Book. Most everything I've been able to find has been fake chord or lead sheet - no bass clef. This had the bass clef shown. I was elated - snatched it up and proceeded to the check out stand. When I got home and started playing from it. Yep not written for bass so the bass clef goes way below my E on a lot of the songs. Should have known better.

If I was smart enough this normally would not be a problem, let's just say between us, it is for me.

Be aware there are Real Books and then there are Real Books for bass. You want the ones written for bass.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...l_60tz6t8mba_b

[recreate.me]

I third the real book they are all over the internet. It's jazz for bass, I'd that doesn't have real world applications I don't know what does.

[Mirios]

I fourth the real book in bass clef.
Amazon.com: The Real Book -Bass Clef; Sixth Edition (Fake Book) (9780634060762): Hal Leonard Corp.: Books

[Pollinator95]

Originally Posted by recreate.me

I third the real book they are all over the internet. It's jazz for bass, I'd that doesn't have real world applications I don't know what does.

Originally Posted by Mirios

I fourth the real book in bass clef.
Amazon.com: The Real Book -Bass Clef; Sixth Edition (Fake Book) (9780634060762): Hal Leonard Corp.: Books

WINNING!!

[Beginner Bass]

Originally Posted by Mirios

I fourth the real book in bass clef.
Amazon.com: The Real Book -Bass Clef; Sixth Edition (Fake Book) (9780634060762): Hal Leonard Corp.: Books

Fifth.

[skwee]

Glad to hear you want to improve your reading. You have to do it daily if you want to really nail it. (This coming from someone who has seen his sight reading skills diminish because I'm not forced to read everyday at my singing job). Resolve to read every day.

[lotusland9663]

Thanks guys - I have the Real Book and have ordered the Bass Clef Real book. I guess what I'm looking for is more popular music based - music you'd be required to read if you were playing a party gig or a musical or a TV show - any ideas??

[smeet]

I would like this too. I'm playing in a production of "Rent" right now and the real-world reading practice is really helping me. I would love to get hold of the bass books for a bunch of shows like this to read through, but I can't find them anywhere.

[Stumbo]

Free Transcriptions for Study/Sight Reading

[smeet]

Thanks stumbo.

But I'm also interested in getting the show books just to know the music ahead of time if I get the bass chair in a show. Any ideas about where I could some of those?

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Free Transcriptions for Study/Sight Reading

The site has nothing in it.... says the domain is for sale.

[Phil Smith]

Originally Posted by smeet

Thanks stumbo.

But I'm also interested in getting the show books just to know the music ahead of time if I get the bass chair in a show. Any ideas about where I could some of those?

A recording of the show is also something you should be trying to get your hands on. Some music looks easy to play until to turn the tempo up.

[arcellus]

When I was in high school my parents bought me a fake book called "This Is The World's Greatest Fake Book" or something similar. It had a ton of tunes in it that I had no interest in playing at the time, but would totally come in handy if you're playing in show bands, corporate parties, etc.

[arcellus]

btw, I'm NOT talking about the Sher book by the same name (World's Greatest Fake Book). I don't remember the publisher but it was most definitely a different book, hopefully you can find a copy.

Also, you mentioned wanting to improve your reading. Besides general sight-reading practice, one of the best ways I've found to improve reading chops is to write music. The process of "reverse-engineering" seems to really help in the reading department. Pick a tune you're interested in learning and transcribe it, note-for-note. I guarantee your reading will improve very quickly.

[smeet]

Originally Posted by Phil Smith

A recording of the show is also something you should be trying to get your hands on. Some music looks easy to play until to turn the tempo up.

That's a good point.
But I want to avoid learning shows by ear, so my reading gets stronger.

arcellus, you are spot on with the transcription comment. But a big part of learning to read is being able to deal with the idiosyncrasies of somebody else's notation. My reading is already pretty good, but I would love to be able to sit down and play a complex piece of music (with all the crazy time and key signature games that shows play) and have the feel and groove the first time I see it. That's my goal.

[arcellus]

[quote=smeet;10599006]a big part of learning to read is being able to deal with the idiosyncrasies of somebody else's notation.QUOTE]

Very true. When I write charts, I try to put myself in the player's place, and imagine I'm trying to play the tune never having heard it. Feels, form, tempo, everything should be obvious. Unfortunately many engravers aren't so courteous.

[smeet]

Originally Posted by arcellus

Very true. When I write charts, I try to put myself in the player's place, and imagine I'm trying to play the tune never having heard it. Feels, form, tempo, everything should be obvious. Unfortunately many engravers aren't so courteous.

Yes!!! At the very least, they could try to put the beginning of new sections at the start of a line, or use a double bar or something. The show book for rent just tends to run phrases together, and has major changes happening in the middle of a solid chunk of rests. And the page turns...

[arcellus]

How big of a deal is it to you to have new sections (verse, chorus, etc) happen at the beginning of a line? I always use double bars and name the new sections with all caps, but wonder if they need to be even more obvious.

Another thing I've noticed - in vamp sections, when something happens more than twice inside repeat signs, it's nice to have the "3x" at the end of the section, rather than the beginning. Lots of people do it the other way around, but those markings are easy to miss that way.