Forum of the Saxes

retromom72 · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa

Could someone please explain the concept of a "fake book" ? I'm just not sure how or why it's different than regular sheet music or why or how it's used Embarassed

Is it not a good idea for a beginner or late bloomer to attempt to use one?
Thanks
Vicki

CMelodyMan · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 4:31 pm Post subject:

Well, basically what a fake book is is a bookcontaining information about songs, especially their lyrics, melodies, and chord progressions, an it's used by musicians as a substitute for standard sheet music or as a framework for improvisation. I think it would be good for a beginner or late bloomer, if you want to learn songs and improv, and not just exercises. What type of fake book are you looking for, jazz, pop, etc?
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JazZz · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 170

One thing you have to remember about a lot of fakebooks is that a good deal of them are written in the key of C. If you are into jazz than a lot of Aebersold fakebook's can be gotten in C, Eb (for alto), and Bb (for tenor). They are written in C so any person can took at them, however if you are playing off of it, than you must transpose it from C to whatever key your instrument is in. If you're up for it, than a fakebook is a great tool to learn with. I hope this helps!

Bleeding_Gums_Murphy · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 75

Fakebooks are cool. I still have one or two lying around somewhere. They usually have melodies and chords to songs. I've seen them in a bunch of keys (C, Eb, Bb, etc.). I have the Ultimate Jazz Fakebook written in Eb for alto.

-88- · Joined: 09 Jul 2005 Posts: 26

There have been a series of fake books, Book I, Book II, Book III that have been available under the counter for years here in the San Francisco Bay area. They are referred to locally as the Berkeley books (after Berkeley California I believe, rather than the eastern music school of Berkee). Anyway since they were illegal, and ASCAP lawyers have been a nuisance, the publishing firm of Hal Leonard, Inc. has picked them up and has begun issuing them legally.

The good news is that Book I is now published in Bb and the rest are to follow. The claim to fame of the Berkeley books are the arrangements and in some instanstances the chords are hipper arrangements of standard tunes, that have come about from working musicians. I believe they are available now legally in stores and online. Try google to find them.
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The heart plays, little else matters.

BuffaloBariSax · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 10:54 pm Post subject:

We finally got the Hal Leonard "former illegal" fakebooks, and they are awesome. Over 500 songs. We played out of them as soon as we could. I love them.

Also, I love Aebersold books. We play out of those on Friday and Saturday nights, rather than go out and party. It's kinda strange, but they're so much fun. Now we're starting to make up everything. I'll lay down some sort of bass line on my bari, the lead snare will pick it up, and then the alto and trumpet players will just play. It's cool
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