Fake Books

ThomasG · #1 11-25-2008, 04:15 PM

As bass player, do you have any advice on Fake Books. What ones do musicians use in town, as a bassists is it better to get the Treble Clef version etc. Also, should I focus on reading in treble clef also ? Thanks.

EADG mx · #2 11-25-2008, 04:46 PM

I'm going to assume you mean jazz specifically.

6th ed is the most popular these days but it's missing a lot of great tunes. Lots of people swear by 5th ed (myself included) for this reason.

as a bassist it wouldn't hurt to be able to read treble clef because it would open up your options, but I've never found it necessary. It's still possible to read off of the chord changes on a treble clef sheet, you just wont be able to read the melody.

MD · #3 11-25-2008, 07:21 PM

My 5th Ed. gets the most use. I own six, including The New RB 1-3, RB I (5th & 6th) and RB II.
I usually opt for a bass clef book if given a choice.

HaVIC5 · #4 11-25-2008, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EADG mx

I'm going to assume you mean jazz specifically.

6th ed is the most popular these days but it's missing a lot of great tunes. Lots of people swear by 5th ed (myself included) for this reason.

as a bassist it wouldn't hurt to be able to read treble clef because it would open up your options, but I've never found it necessary. It's still possible to read off of the chord changes on a treble clef sheet, you just wont be able to read the melody.

It's missing about four regularly played tunes. Just memorize them and get the sixth edition. The changes are far better in the sixth, and its becoming the standard anyway because its impossible these days to find a new fifth edition. I don't see why people get in a tizzy about the sixth edition not having green dolphin street or days of wine and roses - those are tunes you should memorize anyway.

EADG mx · #5 11-25-2008, 09:09 PM

I'm not encouraging anyone to seek out a 5th ed.

6th is the standard and what your peers will be using. The choice is obvious here. I just happen to prefer the tune selection in the 5th.

Michael Case · #6 11-25-2008, 11:04 PM

I'd say sixth addition and then find the CD rom with 11 fake books on it. That way when you need tunes not found in the 6th edition you can print them from the fifth. I have treble clef versions, it made reading melodies in it difficult at first, but now my treble clef reading is almost as goos as bass clef. I'd say challenge yourself and go treble clef.

Michael Case · #7 11-25-2008, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

I don't see why people get in a tizzy about the sixth edition not having green dolphin street or days of wine and roses - those are tunes you should memorize anyway.

What do you mean it doesn't have Green Dolphin Street!?!

Bluesy Soul · #8 11-25-2008, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

...I don't see why people get in a tizzy about the sixth edition not having green dolphin street or days of wine and roses - those are tunes you should memorize anyway.

Wouldn't it be a lot easier to memorize them if they were in the book? I'm not advocating the 5th edition over the 6th ed. either, but I do think it would be extremely helpful to go to two volumes and have fewer deletions or compile a separate volume of deletions. The decisions regarding songs to include and songs to delete are arbitrary and subjective by definition, and there are some of us who would happily pay to have all the information and make those decisions for ourselves (and our audiences).

Bluesy Soul

Michael Case · #9 11-26-2008, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesy Soul

Wouldn't it be a lot easier to memorize them if they were in the book? I'm not advocating the 5th edition over the 6th ed. either, but I do think it would be extremely helpful to go to two volumes and have fewer deletions or compile a separate volume of deletions. The decisions regarding songs to include and songs to delete are arbitrary and subjective by definition, and there are some of us who would happily pay to have all the information and make those decisions for ourselves (and our audiences).

Bluesy Soul

Copyrights, the original Real Books were just a collection of transcriptions by Berklee students and were illegal. The sixth edition is a legal version put out by Hal Leonard and I guess they couldn't get the licensing for some songs.

Ed Fuqua · #10 11-26-2008, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesy Soul

Wouldn't it be a lot easier to memorize them if they were in the book?

No, it would be easier to remember them if you used your ear. And got yelled at by some crusty old piano mother****er for playing the wrong changes and not swinging....

nickmo007 · #11 11-26-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

No, it would be easier to remember them if you used your ear. And got yelled at by some crusty old piano mother****er for playing the wrong changes and not swinging....

I agree, I think people learn the most tunes aurally in the context of playing with other musicians. If I look at a chart, I don't commit the song to my memory and repertoire. I think it is good to ween your self off the chart ASAP. If you are playing a wallpaper gig, it is a good time to learn songs on the fly, picking it up by ear as quickly as you can. Don't bring the fakebook.

Michael Case · #12 11-26-2008, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

And got yelled at by some crusty old piano mother****er for playing the wrong changes and not swinging....

Ahh memories.

StyleOverShow · #13 11-26-2008, 11:08 AM

I came from the treble clef and so my struggle was to learn the bass. Luckily the first fake book I bought was the 5th edition and I been on gigs lately where the beginning bars are weird because someone has a different edition.

I've also invested in a DVD with literally hundreds of tunes from old books, some of the European, which often require transposing from "C" or "F". I was trained to think of chords as I-II-III, etc. so when sight transposing I use this technique. I mess up but who doesn't when sight transposing.

Just read everything you can, practice it daily.

DocBop · #14 11-26-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

No, it would be easier to remember them if you used your ear. And got yelled at by some crusty old piano mother****er for playing the wrong changes and not swinging....

Especially since the piano mofo is throwing in sub's and re-harmonizing all over the place, good ears are your only source of the changes.

You'll find great bass and piano players that just don't click when they play together. They just don't have a good feel for how each other approach harmony and have trouble anticipating the chords the other is going to choose. That why when you look at great Jazz groups guys who learn each others styles stick together for long time.

Bottom line your ear is your best fake book.