Fake Book
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Unlike a sheet music which prints the notes for both the hands (treble as well as bass clef), this book provides the melody, lyrics and chords for a song.
Normally, these songs are grouped on some common theme such as an artist or style of music or hit songs from any year.
Outline of a song - A fakebook provides only the outline of the song and then you need to improvise and harmonise the song.
Once you are comfortable with the basics of sight reading, you will enjoy playing from a fakebook since you just have to read the treble cleff.
Once the melody sinks in, just look at the chords for directions to improvise. Of course, you need to be at a level where you know all your chords and are comfortable using them.
Improvising - As you move past the beginners level and start learning/playing difficult pieces, it is important that you start training yourself on how to use chords in different ways.
You need to practice improvising and learn chord substitutions. Also learn and memorize a few rhythmic patterns for the 3/4 and 4/4 tempo; it will spice up your playing.
In fact, improvising is fun and once you get inside it you would want to improvise almost everything. Normally classical songs are played as it is and not improvised upon so sometimes you may have to control yourself.
Used by Pianists - Most of the working pianists have a good collection of fakebooks. It is faster for them to learn a new song from such books.
Another reason they love it is because almost all the songs fit on one page. If they get any request for a song, they just go to the relevant page and just improvise on it.
The way the notes are laid on a fake book, it is even easy to transpose the song to another key. This is useful if you are accompanying a singer.
Popular Books - There are plenty of books available and what you want would depend on what you like to play. Some of the popular fake books based on content and price are listed below.
• The classical fake book, over 600 themes and melodies (Hal Leonard)
• The Real Ultimate book, over 1200 songs (Hal Leonard)
• Fakebook of the Worlds favorite songs (Hal Leonard)
• The New Real book Vol. 1-3 (Sher Music company)
Keyboard player Omnibus edition (Music sales)
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