Omni Books? Bach? Real Book? Which one is right for me?

[Groovin1122]

I am working my way through Jeff Berlins packages and Mark Smiths at talkingbass courses. I have been learning a lot of theory and I am loving my developing reading skills. I want to hone them by playing good melodic/harmonic music that will help cement some of these concepts I am learning in a song-orientated application.

I have heard people talk about the Charlie Parker Omnibook, Bachs cello suites, and the Real Book. I would love to hear your opinions on these resources as well as any other resources you would recommend! I am really looking for just 1 song resource, for now, to dig into and invest in and see these music theory concepts in action. I hope to acquire more over time.

 

[brianrost]

-- The Real Books(s) cover material commonly played on jazz gigs. Some people complain about the accuracy of the notation compared to what "the real jazz guys" play on some of the tunes. Of the three, it has the broadest application.

-- The Charlie Parker Omnibook covers, um, just Charlie Parker material. It became popular enough that there have been similar volumes added since...Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, etc. If you really want to bust your reading and playing chops, the C.P.O. is a good book.

-- Bach is of course something quite different...it's not jazz! Again, it's great for developing chops. You can choose between playing it in the actual cello registers (lowest note is C, third fret on the A string) or if you play a 5 or 6 string drop it an octave and go completely nuts. The harmony is more basic because first it's solo pieces and secondly it was written long before the development of more chromatic harmony in the late 19th century.

In all cases, get some recordings so you can hear how the material is actually supposed to sound

 

[mambo4]

All choices would be good for practicing reading. The real book would have the added benefit of increasing your repertoire with songs that might actually get called at a gig, so it wins for usefulness.

 

[Groovin1122]

-- The Real Books(s) cover material commonly played on jazz gigs. Some people complain about the accuracy of the notation compared to what "the real jazz guys" play on some of the tunes. Of the three, it has the broadest application.

-- The Charlie Parker Omnibook covers, um, just Charlie Parker material. It became popular enough that there have been similar volumes added since...Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, etc. If you really want to bust your reading and playing chops, the C.P.O. is a good book.

-- Bach is of course something quite different...it's not jazz! Again, it's great for developing chops. You can choose between playing it in the actual cello registers (lowest note is C, third fret on the A string) or if you play a 5 or 6 string drop it an octave and go completely nuts. The harmony is more basic because first it's solo pieces and secondly it was written long before the development of more chromatic harmony in the late 19th century.

In all cases, get some recordings so you can hear how the material is actually supposed to sound

Of the three it sounds like the Charlie Parker Omnibook is probably what will be most useful followed up by the real book. I don't have chops yet. If anything I feel like I understand theory better in my head than on the bass in application. Is there other resources like the CPO worth looking into? Or is this one of the better places to start?

 

[brianrost]

Personally, I went with the Real Book first (back when it was still illegal and it was like making a dope deal to get one). Just a wider breadth of material.

BTW I always buy the "C" treble clef versions rather than the bass clef versions. That's because when it comes to reading melodies, you're more likely to have someone put a sheet in treble clef in front of you. As a bassist, you should be comfortable reading both clefs anyway. I go back and forth all the time.

 

[Malcolm35]

To enjoy playing I feel you have to play the music you like. I have no idea what that is so.... I went with The Real Book, plus what I could call up from the Internet. Wont help with comping harmony, however, the chord name is shown and you can use the ole follow the chords and play notes of the chord for your comping. And the standard notation is of course shown.

https://www.amazon.com/Real-Book-Ha...582508600001&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_0

Music books in lead sheet format can be had for about .50 to a dollar per song in book format. Amazon lets you look at a page or two in the "look inside" feature, and has hundreds to choose from.

Good luck.

 

[Groovin1122]

Personally, I went with the Real Book first (back when it was still illegal and it was like making a dope deal to get one). Just a wider breadth of material.

BTW I always buy the "C" treble clef versions rather than the bass clef versions. That's because when it comes to reading melodies, you're more likely to have someone put a sheet in treble clef in front of you. As a bassist, you should be comfortable reading both clefs anyway. I go back and forth all the time.

Thank you, I will consider this. I do want to be more melodic in my playing in general. I love players like Janek Gwizdala who really have a voice with their playing. But I feel like I want to really get my fundamentals down first rather than learning a slew of random licks. That's why my focus thus far has been reading/theory-based.

To enjoy playing I feel you have to play the music you like. I have no idea what that is so.... I went with The Real Book, plus what I could call up from the Internet. The real book is the tune in bass clef. Wont help with comping harmony, however, the chord name is shown and you can use the ole follow the chords and play notes of the chord for your comping. And the standard notation is of course shown.

Music books in lead sheet format can be had for about .50 to a dollar per song in book format. Amazon lets you look at a page or two in the "look inside" feature, and has hundreds to choose from.

Good luck.

I am honestly a metalhead, always have been. But when it comes to the bass I am really inspired to become the best musician I can be. Not really interested in learning to shred or djent at the moment. I really want to get my fundamentals down before venturing off into other areas... So right now I am trying to get into jazz and learning about Charlie Parker, Paul Chambers, and Ray Brown for the first time. I have never transcribed anything by ear before and don't know where to start. So I was thinking that some resources to get me going could be helpful.

 

[BassChuck]

All the above posts are good at telling what each book is, and each one does have a different slant on the challenge of reading.
That said, one of the best things to do to get reading chops in order is to get involved with a group that reads music. Community bands, big bands, church groups, whatever. Don't worry that they are playing music that 'isn't you thing'. Reading is reading. Keeping up with other musicians is the thing.

 

[Malcolm35]

I am trying to get into jazz and learning about Charlie Parker, Paul Chambers, and Ray Brown for the first time. I have never transcribed anything by ear before and don't know where to start. So I was thinking that some resources to get me going could be helpful.

A lot of the TB posters talk about playing by ear. iMO playing by ear takes a lot of playing by ear. I only got about 1/2 way there and had to rely upon some help with sheet music and chord charts. Once I knew the chords that may show up I could turn it over to my ears -- in a jam session, where close is good enough. But chord for chord or note per note my ear is suspect. Just a call it like it is........

It is not something you can do in a month or so.

Happy trails.

 

[JRA]

I am really looking for just 1 song resource, for now, to dig into and invest in and see these music theory concepts in action.

i'm with the advice above: the real book is your best choice, right now, given your stated goals. also: it's a nice resource to always have around! good luck "digging in!"

 

[Malcolm35]

A post yesterday mentioned this book https://www.amazon.com/Real-Book-II..._rd_wg=vmbcs&pf_rd_p=eba84458-d862-45eb-bb57-
06592e30f645&pf_rd_r=QD1E4EBZP81A3YRND0FR&psc=1&refRID=QD1E4EBZP81A3YRND0FR

I used it years ago and had forgotten about it. It did help.
Offered for what it is worth.

 

[bfields]

It's great that you want to expand the range of music you listen to. Diving right into reading styles you don't listen to might be difficult, though? For example, I don't think I'd have enjoyed the Omnibook till I already been listening to that kind of thing for a year or so. Without having the style ingrained in your ear, the lines may sound too weird to even be sure if you've read them correctly.

For learning to play by ear, I recommend starting with stuff that's very simple and that you know very well--stuff that you could sing accurately from memory. Like, literally just nursery rhymes at the start. See if you can figure them out just in your head, without an instrument in your hands.

 

[brianrost]

For transcription, these days computer based tools that let you loop, adjust tempo and isolate instruments from recordings make the process much easier.

Starting with simple music is best and doing it every day is important. Every time I take a few weeks or months off not transcribing it takes me a while to get back up to speed.

Don't get disappointed if it's slow at first, over time your ear improves. The more you start recognizing common ideas, like walking bass lines in jazz, the easier it is to pick out what's going on. It's surprising how simple many bass lines really are...just chord tones, just chord tones plus some scale tones...arranged into lines that are different from what you usually play.

 

[Jeremy Darrow]

Personally, I went with the Real Book first (back when it was still illegal and it was like making a dope deal to get one). Just a wider breadth of material.

BTW I always buy the "C" treble clef versions rather than the bass clef versions. That's because when it comes to reading melodies, you're more likely to have someone put a sheet in treble clef in front of you. As a bassist, you should be comfortable reading both clefs anyway. I go back and forth all the time.

2nd for learning to read treble and bass clef. Also, it’s good to have some familiarity with tenor clef. If you’re looking at good editions of Bach you’ll encounter it there.

 

[lfmn16]

-- The Real Books(s) cover material commonly played on jazz gigs. Some people complain about the accuracy of the notation compared to what "the real jazz guys" play on some of the tunes. Of the three, it has the broadest application.

Just my 2 cents, but man I get tired of the whining about the Real Book. I'm playing Cool Blues by Charlie Parker. I wanted to hear different takes on it so I listened to Grant Green, Sonny Stitt and Charlie Parker. They all played the melody a little differently. This isn't Beethoven's 9th Symphony with a cast of thousands, it's jazz. Use your ears.

 

[Groove Master]

I would suggest one of the New Real Book from Sher. Buy the treble clef and some tunes have the written bass parts. The best of both world.

 

[InhumanResource]

I am working my way through Jeff Berlins packages and Mark Smiths at talkingbass courses. I have been learning a lot of theory and I am loving my developing reading skills. I want to hone them by playing good melodic/harmonic music that will help cement some of these concepts I am learning in a song-orientated application.

I have heard people talk about the Charlie Parker Omnibook, Bachs cello suites, and the Real Book. I would love to hear your opinions on these resources as well as any other resources you would recommend! I am really looking for just 1 song resource, for now, to dig into and invest in and see these music theory concepts in action. I hope to acquire more over time.

These are all great! The only other one I would recommend is the Simandl book.

 

[Quinn Roberts]

Google search Real Book PDF

Shhhhhh

 

[DrayMiles]

Get the real book and learn a few tunes you actually like. I have all the books you mentioned, but I think you’ll improve faster if you’re playing stuff that makes you want to learn the head and the form.

 

[glocke1]

Personally, I went with the Real Book first (back when it was still illegal and it was like making a dope deal to get one). Just a wider breadth of material.

BTW I always buy the "C" treble clef versions rather than the bass clef versions. That's because when it comes to reading melodies, you're more likely to have someone put a sheet in treble clef in front of you. As a bassist, you should be comfortable reading both clefs anyway. I go back and forth all the time.

I was going to post something similar.

I've got literally dozens of bass books hear that I've bought over the past 30+ years.
At the end of the day the Real Book is the one I come back to. If you can swing it, get both the bass clef and treble clef versions and just pick one up at random when you go to use it. Being able to read both bass and treble clef is priceless.

Another good book is " reading contemporary electric bass rythyms" by Rich Appleman.

Honestly out of the dozens of books I own those two are probably the most useful for reading.