pocket changes question.

[mr mastodon]

i've been thinking about getting some pocket changes in addition to the digital real books i have. as nice as the vast library of real books is, they're not practical in a gig sense so the head of our jazz dept said i needed to get pocket changes.

anyway. point is. i was wondering: i understand the pocket changes have no melodies, just chord progressions. before i drop money on them though, i was wondering if the tunes are written in their most common keys or if they're written out as roman numerals.

thanks.

[Jack Clark]

I've been interested, too. I notice that they say "Concert" on the cover, which suggests to me that the changes must be in a real concert key, presumably the original one, I would think. Not much to go on. Maybe better to wait for someone who owns these books.

[colcifer]

There's a transpose function to change it to any key. The idea is to make it universal for all instruments or for jams. The guy who made it is on here...

[doberman]

i think he is referring to the small book, not the digital real books. i don't own it, so i am not 100% sure, but i think its common keys, not roman numerals. anyway, why not just ask the head of the department that recommended it?

[Ed Fuqua]

it's based on the 'illegal" Real Books, so it's in the same keys as the Real Book. ie NIGHT AND DAY in C, not Eb etc.

And it has chord changes, not roman numerals.

[FMartin]

You need to be sure you're going to be able to read those pocket changes from your playing position... Maybe it's me, caught between mild astygmatism and my newly acquired presbyopia, but I had a hard time trying to read from that little book on stage, with not too generous lightning.

They're good to carry around on a gigbab pocket, though.

[PJSShearer]

Originally Posted by Jack Clark

I've been interested, too. I notice that they say "Concert" on the cover, which suggests to me that the changes must be in a real concert key, presumably the original one, I would think. Not much to go on. Maybe better to wait for someone who owns these books.

When it says Concert (I assume) it means its in "C" rather than "Bb" or "Eb" transposing versions they produce for the "blowers" out there.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

These books were created by Mike Tracy and Glenn Fisher, a couple of Louisville scene guys. They are usually in the keys that are common for the tunes as they are played in this area, which *for the most part* are the more common keys. The newer versions have bigger print, which I find useful as I get older and the world gets fuzzier.

[Jack Clark]

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

When it says Concert (I assume) it means its in "C" rather than "Bb" or "Eb" transposing versions they produce for the "blowers" out there.

Yeah, I know. But that's why they wouldn't likely be in Roman numerals, which was the OP's original question.

[Jack Clark]

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

These books were created by Mike Tracy and Glenn Fisher, a couple of Louisville scene guys. They are usually in the keys that are common for the tunes as they are played in this area, which *for the most part* are the more common keys. The newer versions have bigger print, which I find useful as I get older and the world gets fuzzier.

I always check "Body and Soul" first. If it's in Db, then I figure the changes are probably pretty true to original keys.

[Ed Fuqua]

Actually you should check out either STOMPIN AT THE SAVOY or (crap, jazzheimers, that minor blues by Trane, you know, starts with that bass thing) if THOSE are in Db not C then it's prolly OK.

[Blake Bass]

Pocket Changes don't have roman numerals..the chord changes are written out.

[Gornick]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Actually you should check out either STOMPIN AT THE SAVOY or (crap, jazzheimers, that minor blues by Trane, you know, starts with that bass thing) if THOSE are in Db not C then it's prolly OK.

Ed, I think you mean Equinox... Blue Trane is good to look at since it's not a minor blues as in some books. When looking at chart collections I usually look at the 2nd and 4th A section resolution chords for 'Round Midnight, which should be Eb major, to see how much they did their homework. Little B's poem is going to be my new one to look for after having worked on it last month!

[jweiss]

This may not be what you are looking for since I think they're just smaller versions of the full-sized legal books (i.e., I think it has both melody and changes), but Hal Leonard now sells "mini editions" of their 3 legal verisons of the Real Books:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1423424514/?tag=dscsite1-20

They are 5.5 x 8.5".

[mr mastodon]

cool. thanks guys. i'm looking at these, particularly just the first edition for now:



i need to get better at transposing on the spot since a lot of gig opportunities i have coming up this summer are with singers.

[relacey]

I bought both volumes through Aebersold a couple of years ago.

[Jack Clark]

The Hal Leonard mini real books are a bit larger. But do they also have melody lines, too? If so, are there bass clef versions?

[longfinger]

Originally Posted by mr mastodon

cool. thanks guys. i'm looking at these, particularly just the first edition for now:



i need to get better at transposing on the spot since a lot of gig opportunities i have coming up this summer are with singers.

If you're working gigs with singers, it really helps to know the melodies and lyrics of the songs. Would it not be better to just use your digital fakebooks, and print out in advance the popular songs you know you'll do, and then learn them?

If you need quick transposed fake sheets here is a great site..

www.wikifonia.org

It's up to you, but I would not pay too much money for a book of just chord changes, with no melodies, no lyrics, and no publishing information. Less than $10 is fine, but not $25 or similar.

[mr mastodon]

that's a good point. thanks for the tip!