The Ultimate Fake Book for Those Who Fancy Improvising
There is nothing fake about a Fake book! In fact it is a real book with lots of songs.
It is basically a collection of leadsheets sold in a book format.
Unlike a sheet music which prints the notes for both the hands (treble as well as bass clef), fakebooks provides the melody, lyrics and chords for a song.
So in that sense, fakebooks are ideal for improvisers!
Normally, these songs are grouped on some common theme such as an artist or style of music or hit songs from any year. Buying a fake book is economical as well, as compared to buying sheets for individual songs.
How to Use a Fake Book
A fakebook provides only the outline of the song and then you need to improvise and harmonize 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 clef. 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.
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.
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.
The Best Fake Books for Playing the Piano
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.
Find More Fake Books Here
[Back to Printed Music from best fakebooks]
[Back to Home page from Fake Book]
