Question about "Fake Books"

[LowDown Hal]

Please help educate this nOOb.

The idea of Fake Books sounds kinda' good. If I buy one for Bass does that mean the melody has been transcribed in Bass Clef?

Thanks

[BassChuck]

Generally they would be written in treble clef unless otherwise noted. You can easily find them in bass clef. Check around eBay and other places its very common to find a large number of fake books on one DVD in PDF format. That way you can print out what you want, or take your laptop to gigs.

[LowDown Hal]

Thanks, I wasn't aware of the opportunity to get them in PDF. That's awesome.

[Valerus]

I bought one that has the book, and a DVD that have the same stuff. You can print each one out. Great format!

[AlunJWDavies]

Yes, if you get the bass book. What I found useful, however, is to actually learn how to read treble clef so that you're never stuck when you have a chart put in front of you. It really helps to be able to see the melodi and get a handle on the voicings when you're constructing walking lines. It didn't take me that long. It is tough going back and forth between the two though.
Btw, they also make pocket fake books.

[bigthemat]

the bass clef is good because it will have the actual bass line, say, in so what, or footprints

[LowDown Hal]

Originally Posted by bigthemat

the bass clef is good because it will have the actual bass line, say, in so what, or footprints

huh ?

[bigthemat]

So What, a Miles Davis tune, has an actual bass line. Footprints is a Wayne Shorter tune, again, with a specific line a la in my book. (if you are still confused, go listen). I am not sure if the treble books have the bass line written or not.

(yah, i guess I wasn't too clear with my post. I should have said the bass clef book...)

[Matthew Bryson]

Originally Posted by bigthemat

So What, a Miles Davis tune, has an actual bass line. Footprints is a Wayne Shorter tune, again, with a specific line a la in my book. (if you are still confused, go listen). I am not sure if the treble books have the bass line written or not.

(yah, i guess I wasn't too clear with my post. I should have said the bass clef book...)

The new Real Book for treble clef has the bass lines, if there is one, written in bass clef in addition to the melody which is written on treble clef.

Like the example you gave of Miles' So What.

If you got the bass version you'd have the bass line and the melody both written in bass clef.

[Steve Clark]

Aebersold is now selling downloadable versions of books as well.

[projectMalamute]

Kinda on the same subject, is the Real Book still kicking around or has the new 'legit' version pretty much superseded it?

[Chebass88]

I still have & use mine (Real Book). I recently bought The Real Book II (Second Edition), as there are a ton of tunes that are great but not in the illegit one.

Since I can read treble clef, it helps me to follow along when someone is playing melody. Sure, I read the changes, but it helps to be able to see the notes as well.

imp

[projectMalamute]

Originally Posted by Chebass88

I still have & use mine (Real Book). I recently bought The Real Book II (Second Edition), as there are a ton of tunes that are great but not in the illegit one.

Since I can read treble clef, it helps me to follow along when someone is playing melody. Sure, I read the changes, but it helps to be able to see the notes as well.

imp

How close is the Hal Leonard to the real Real Book II in terms selection of tunes, the Real Book is close but not quite the same.

[PocketGroove82]

Originally Posted by projectMalamute

Kinda on the same subject, is the Real Book still kicking around or has the new 'legit' version pretty much superseded it?

No respectable jazzer I know can tolerate the Hal 'legit' version, but the old 3rd, 4th, 5th editions are still full of mistakes so it's always best to learn it from the album and compare.

[tbone0813]

Originally Posted by Matthew Bryson

The new Real Book for treble clef has the bass lines, if there is one, written in bass clef in addition to the melody which is written on treble clef.

Like the example you gave of Miles' So What.

If you got the bass version you'd have the bass line and the melody both written in bass clef.

Can you give me the exact name of your book. I can't find anything called 'The New Real Book for Treble Clef'? Or maybe the ISBN (barcode) number? Thanks.

Also for everyone else. If I were to ask you for 1 definitive accurate 'Real' or 'Fake' book which one would you recommend?

[projectMalamute]

Originally Posted by tbone0813

Can you give me the exact name of your book. I can't find anything called 'The New Real Book for Treble Clef'? Or maybe the ISBN (barcode) number? Thanks.

Also for everyone else. If I were to ask you for 1 definitive accurate 'Real' or 'Fake' book which one would you recommend?

The New Real Book is published by Sher I think. It's got a lot of good stuff in it, including Portrait of Tracy if I recall correctly. What you want however is the Real Book, not the Hal Leonard thing but a real one. It is not especially accurate, it is however pretty much the canonical standard for a jazz musician. Ask around, I haven't had to track one down in years(in fact mine is getting pretty ratty) but I suspect they still exist. A lot of music stores will have em under the counter. An independent store is probably a better bet than Guitar Center or something.

[tkozal]

*sigh*, the jazzers I know here in NYC are using the 6th edition of the Sher book, though often with many notations and alterations, as usual your mileage may vary....

[tbone0813]

Originally Posted by tkozal

*sigh*, the jazzers I know here in NYC are using the 6th edition of the Sher book, though often with many notations and alterations, as usual your mileage may vary....

What volume is the 6th edition? I looked on the Sher website, and all I can find is the New Real Book Vol.1-3.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by tbone0813

What volume is the 6th edition? I looked on the Sher website, and all I can find is the New Real Book Vol.1-3.

Real Book has become a overloaded term for Jazz oriented fake books. Fake books date back to the 40's probably further back. So Sher New Real Books are excellent, but they are different for the Real Book that (supposedly) came out of Berklee in the 70's that there are six editions and now are legal fake books.

Many feel it is necessary in long run to have both the Real Book and the Sher New Real Books. The Sher books have more newer tunes, fusion, and a few R&B tunes in them. The Sher books are know for their accuracy.

[EADG mx]

imo don't bother with the pdf versions. Just buy the book. No printing, no loose papers - just take it anywhere and it's all in there.