Fake Book w/Lyrics?

[Alexis Duntov]

When you are learning tunes from a chord chart with no lyrics, how do you learn the lyrics? I'm learning "All the things you are" and I have the lyrics on one document, the chord chart on another. I've looked around online and I just see a bunch products for sale, which I'm happy to purchase if anyone has recommendations. But they look a little cheap. I'm only talking about tunes with lyrics here. I could write my own charts and write out the lyrics between the lines. How do you do it?

 

[Bass'd on a true story]

To be totally honest, I know the lyrics to like 3 standards. I don't have the presence of mind to pay attention to anyone but myself while playing jazz anyways. I have no left over neurons to spare while I'm trying to improvise even a slow walking line.

 

[Alexis Duntov]

To be totally honest, I know the lyrics to like 3 standards. I don't have the presence of mind to pay attention to anyone but myself while playing jazz anyways. I have no left over neurons to spare while I'm trying to improvise even a slow walking line.

Yeah but the lyrics help me remember the melody, and the melody is key to remembering the changes. And hopefully playing a line that is aware of the melody. Maybe referencing part of it in a solo. I'm not a very advanced Jazz player but it seems like knowing the lyrics and melody are pretty important.

 

[elgecko]

There are the Hal Leonard Real Vocal Books but I prefer listening to a good vocal recording and implanting the lyrics that way.

 

[Biggbass]

I build my own and load them into the Deep Dish Gig Book app on my iPad.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

When you are learning tunes from a chord chart with no lyrics, how do you learn the lyrics? I'm learning "All the things you are" and I have the lyrics on one document, the chord chart on another. I've looked around online and I just see a bunch products for sale, which I'm happy to purchase if anyone has recommendations. But they look a little cheap. I'm only talking about tunes with lyrics here. I could write my own charts and write out the lyrics between the lines. How do you do it?

I've used fake chord - that has the lyrics - since I started playing with others so I'm composing my bass line from listening to the melody being sung and knowing that this part (measure) is being harmonized by a certain chord. So --- my line, depending on the style of music I'm playing can/would/should contain chord tones of that chord. How many is dictated by the song. I do not play jazz - the following is what I do with Rock, Country and Praise. Most of that is dirt simple repetitive bass lines. I really do not care what story the lyrics are telling. I use them to keep me with the other guys and have an idea where the chord changes are coming. For example:

C..........................F
This song is written in C
F.................G7........ C
and has four lines per verse.
C.............................F
The chorus follows the same
Em.....F.......G7..............C
Chord progression as the verse.
​

What the lyrics say is not that important. It's where they change, over what word, is what I need to know.

I follow the lyrics and recite the words to keep up with the chord changes. I'm also a Nashville number guy. NN with no lyrics, to let me know where we are in the song, would be a chore for me. I need the lyrics to keep me with the rest of the guys. Understand everything I play has lyrics. Someone is singing those lyrics and We (every one in the band) use them to make sure we are all together.

Short answer to what I would do:
I would not write out my line, just follow the chords and lay down as many chord tones as needed... Probably a R-5-8-5 generic bass line at first and if I needed some of the 3's and 7's.... or less chord tones....... including pounding out roots to the beat, I would. The song dictates what is needed -- and most of the time I compose my bass line as I go. Letting the chords dictate the bass line needed.

 

[Stdjazz4]

The real book bass clef edition does not have lyrics but does have the melody written for you in... bass clef!!

In addition to the cords, I find it fun to take over the melody for a few bars...

 

[old spice]

There's an old (not legal) "real vocal book" available in pdf format; usually found on a CD with other old fake books. Ask local jazz musicians if they've got it. It's been widely distributed.

 

[Alexis Duntov]

There's an old (not legal) "real vocal book" available in pdf format; usually found on a CD with other old fake books. Ask local jazz musicians if they've got it. It's been widely distributed.

Thanks

 

[Alexis Duntov]

There's an old (not legal) "real vocal book" available in pdf format; usually found on a CD with other old fake books. Ask local jazz musicians if they've got it. It's been widely distributed.

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again. Here it is: Invalid Link Removed

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again. Here it is: Invalid Link Removed

Thanks for the link. I bookmarked it and checking how much it costs, if reasonable I'll order a spiral bound version.

 

[RustyAxe]

I got a CD-ROM from a guy in California that contained 42 jazz fake books in pdf format. One of which I had back in the 60's in the original printed version, and all the Real Books in C, Eb, Bb and bass. I have 'em all on my iPad now. I'll see if I can find the email exchanges and get you his contact info. I think I paid $15. No lecture about copyright and such, please. Fake books, back in the day, were always bootlegs and quietly sold under the counter.

 

[DavC]

chords over lyrics ... or lyrics on 1 side , chords on the next page ...

i'd learn the chords much faster than lyrics ...

i've sang songs for decades , and still mess up or make up my own lyrics ..!!

 

[Bassist4Eris]

This is the second-most common book I've seen at jazz jams, after the original Real Book. The "C and Vocal" edition has the words. There's no bass clef version that I'm aware of. There's a Bb version for horns, but it doesn't have the lyrics.

https://www.amazon.com/New-Real-Book-Chuck-Sher/dp/0961470143

 

[Clef_de_fa]

eff that, get the real book. Even if you don't get the version with lyrics you at least have the melody with the chords

 

[skwee]

Anywhere they sell The Real Book, you can get the vocal/C version. When I got mine they were still under the table, but now Hal Leonard publishes them legally.

When you are learning tunes from a chord chart with no lyrics, how do you learn the lyrics? I'm learning "All the things you are" and I have the lyrics on one document, the chord chart on another. I've looked around online and I just see a bunch products for sale, which I'm happy to purchase if anyone has recommendations. But they look a little cheap. I'm only talking about tunes with lyrics here. I could write my own charts and write out the lyrics between the lines. How do you do it?