The Ultimate Guide to Playing from a Fake Book: Tips and Tricks from the Just Standards Real Book Bb Pdf
Just Standards Real Book Bb Pdf: A Comprehensive Guide for Jazz Musicians
If you are a jazz musician who plays a Bb instrument, such as trumpet, clarinet, or tenor saxophone, you probably know how important it is to have a good collection of songs to play and practice. But finding accurate and reliable sheet music for jazz standards can be challenging, especially if you want to play them in different keys or with different chord changes. That's why you need the Just Standards Real Book Bb Pdf, a fake book that contains 250 classic songs from show tunes to jazz standards, that are the core required repertoire for musicians all over the world. In this article, we will explain what the Just Standards Real Book is, what are its features, how to use it effectively, and what are some of the songs included in it. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of this amazing resource and how it can help you improve your jazz skills.
Just Standards Real Book Bb Pdfl
What are the features of the Just Standards Real Book?
The Just Standards Real Book is not just another fake book. It is a carefully curated and edited collection of songs that have been arranged with accuracy and usability in mind. Production teams in both the U.S. and U.K. took great care to ensure that each arrangement remained true to the composers' intention and consulted original composer sources whenever possible. Plus, useful and important chord substitutions are indicated for each arrangement, allowing the user to pick from the original chords or the more popular jazz versions. This way, you can customize your playing according to your preference and skill level.
Another feature of the Just Standards Real Book is its extensive cross-references and appendices. The book includes a complete composer index, a complete discography of suggested recorded versions for each song, a section on how to play from a fake book, chord theory reference pages, and a section on how to create interesting chord substitutions. These additional resources can help you learn more about the songs, their composers, their recordings, and their harmonic possibilities.
How to use the Just Standards Real Book effectively?
Now that you know what the Just Standards Real Book is and what it offers, you might be wondering how to use it effectively. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of this fake book:
How to read from a fake book and interpret chord symbols: A fake book is a simplified version of sheet music that only shows the melody line and the chord symbols above it. This means that you have to fill in the rest of the details yourself, such as rhythm, harmony, style, etc. To do this, you need to know how to read and interpret chord symbols correctly. Chord symbols are abbreviations that tell you what notes to play in each chord. For example, Cmaj7 means that you play a C major seventh chord, which consists of the notes C, E, G, and B. The Just Standards Real Book has a section on how to play from a fake book that explains the basics of chord symbols and how to use them. You can also refer to the chord theory reference pages for more information on chord construction and function.
How to practice and improvise over the songs: One of the main benefits of using a fake book is that it allows you to practice and improvise over the songs without relying on a backing track or a band. This way, you can develop your ear, your technique, and your creativity. To practice and improvise over the songs, you need to know the melody, the chords, and the form of each song. The melody is the main theme of the song that you can play or sing along with. The chords are the harmonic framework that supports the melody and creates tension and resolution. The form is the structure of the song that tells you how many sections it has, how long they are, and how they repeat. For example, a common form in jazz is AABA, which means that the song has four sections, each one eight bars long, and the first and the last sections are the same. Once you know these elements, you can practice playing the melody, comping (playing chords) behind the melody, and improvising over the chords using scales, arpeggios, patterns, motifs, etc.
How to find recorded versions and listen to different interpretations: Another benefit of using a fake book is that it exposes you to a wide variety of songs from different genres, composers, and eras. This can help you expand your musical vocabulary and taste. But to really appreciate and learn from these songs, you need to listen to recorded versions and hear how different musicians have interpreted them. The Just Standards Real Book provides a complete discography of suggested recorded versions for each song, so you can easily find and listen to them. You can also search online for other versions and compare them. Pay attention to how different musicians play the melody, the chords, the rhythm, the style, etc. Try to emulate their sound, their phrasing, their articulation, their expression, etc. You can also try to transcribe (write down) some of their solos or licks (short musical phrases) and analyze them.
What are some of the songs included in the Just Standards Real Book?
The Just Standards Real Book contains 250 classic songs from show tunes to jazz standards. These songs cover a wide range of genres, such as Broadway musicals, Hollywood movies, pop music, blues, swing, bebop, bossa nova, etc. They also feature some of the most famous composers in music history, such as George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Antonio Carlos Jobim, etc. Here is a table with some examples of songs by genre, composer, and key:
Genre Song Composer Key ----- ---- -------- --- Broadway musical All The Things You Are Jerome Kern Ab Hollywood movie As Time Goes By Herman Hupfeld Eb Pop music Bridge Over Troubled Water Paul Simon G Blues C Jam Blues Duke Ellington C Swing Don't Get Around Much Anymore Duke Ellington C Bebop Donna Lee Charlie Parker Ab Bossa nova Girl From Ipanema Antonio Carlos Jobim F Each song in the Just Standards Real Book has a brief description and some history behind it. For example:
All The Things You Are: This is one of the most popular jazz standards of all time. It was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II for the 1939 musical Very Warm For May. It has a complex harmonic structure that modulates through four different keys in its 36-bar form. It has been recorded by many jazz legends, such as Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Evans, etc.
As Time Goes By: This is one of the most iconic songs from Hollywood history. It was written by Herman Hupfeld in 1931 for the Broadway musical Everybody's Welcome. It became famous when it was featured in the 1942 movie Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. It has a simple 32-bar form that alternates between major and minor chords. It has been recorded by many singers and instrumentalists, such as Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Dooley Wilson (who played it in the movie), etc.
the 20th century. It was written by Paul Simon and recorded by Simon & Garfunkel for their fifth and final studio album of the same name in 1970. It won five Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year. It has a gospel-inspired melody and lyrics that express a message of comfort and support. It has been covered by many artists, such as Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, etc.
C Jam Blues: This is one of the simplest and most fun jazz standards to play. It was written by Duke Ellington and recorded by his orchestra in 1942. It has a 12-bar blues form and only one chord: C7. The melody consists of only two notes: C and G. The challenge and the joy of playing this song is to improvise over the chord using different rhythms, articulations, dynamics, etc. It has been recorded by many jazz musicians, such as Oscar Peterson, Charlie Parker, Dave Brubeck, etc.
Don't Get Around Much Anymore: This is one of the most popular swing standards of all time. It was written by Duke Ellington and Bob Russell in 1940. It was originally an instrumental tune called "Never No Lament", but later Russell added lyrics and changed the title to "Don't Get Around Much Anymore". It has a 32-bar AABA form and a catchy melody that alternates between major and minor chords. It has been recorded by many singers and instrumentalists, such as Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, etc.
Donna Lee: This is one of the most challenging and exciting bebop standards to play. It was written by Charlie Parker and Miles Davis in 1947. It has a 32-bar AABA form and a fast tempo. The melody is based on the chord changes of "Indiana", a popular song from 1917. The melody is full of complex rhythms, syncopations, chromaticism, and arpeggios. It requires a high level of technical skill and musical knowledge to play it well. It has been recorded by many jazz legends, such as Jaco Pastorius, Cannonball Adderley, Clifford Brown, etc.
Girl From Ipanema: This is one of the most famous bossa nova standards of all time. It was written by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes in 1962. It was inspired by a real girl named Heloisa Pinheiro who used to walk by a bar where the composers frequented in Rio de Janeiro. It has a 36-bar form that consists of two sections: A (16 bars) and B (20 bars). The melody is smooth and lyrical, while the harmony is rich and sophisticated. It has been recorded by many artists, such as Stan Getz, Astrud Gilberto, Frank Sinatra, etc.
These are just some examples of the songs included in the Just Standards Real Book. There are many more songs to discover and enjoy in this fake book.
Conclusion
The Just Standards Real Book Bb Pdf is a comprehensive guide for jazz musicians who play Bb instruments. It contains 250 classic songs from show tunes to jazz standards that are the core required repertoire for musicians all over the world. It also provides accurate and usable arrangements with original composer sources and useful chord substitutions for each song. Moreover, it offers extensive cross-references and appendices that can help you learn more about the songs, their composers, their recordings, and their harmonic possibilities. By using this fake book effectively, you can practice and improvise over the songs without relying on a backing track or a band. You can also listen to recorded versions and hear how different musicians have interpreted them. You can also expand your musical vocabulary and taste by exploring different genres, composers, and eras.
If you are interested in getting this fake book, you can find it online or in your local music store . You can also download a free sample of it here. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced jazz musician, you will find this fake book useful and enjoyable.
FAQs
Q: What is a Bb instrument?
A: A Bb instrument is an instrument that sounds a major second lower than the written pitch. For example, when a Bb trumpet plays a C note, it sounds like a Bb note. Some common Bb instruments are trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, etc.
Q: What is the difference between the Just Standards Real Book and the Real Book?
A: The Real Book is another popular fake book that contains jazz standards and other songs. However, the Real Book has some drawbacks, such as inaccurate or outdated arrangements, missing or wrong chord changes, typos and errors, etc. The Just Standards Real Book is a newer and improved fake book that fixes these issues and provides more features and resources.
Q: How can I transpose the songs in the Just Standards Real Book to other keys?
A: There are two ways to transpose the songs in the Just Standards Real Book to other keys. One way is to use a transposition chart that shows you how to move each note up or down by a certain number of steps. For example, if you want to transpose a song from C to Eb, you have to move each note up by three steps. Another way is to use a transposition app or software that can do the transposition for you automatically. You can find some examples of transposition apps and software here.
Q: How can I find more songs to play and practice?
A: There are many ways to find more songs to play and practice. One way is to listen to jazz radio stations, podcasts, playlists, etc. and take note of the songs that you like or want to learn. Another way is to join a jazz community online or offline and ask for recommendations or suggestions from other jazz musicians. You can also browse through other fake books or sheet music collections and look for songs that interest you.
Q: How can I improve my jazz skills?
A: There are many ways to improve your jazz skills. One way is to practice regularly and consistently using a metronome, a tuner, a recorder, etc. Another way is to study jazz theory and harmony and apply them to your playing. You can also learn from jazz masters by listening to their recordings, watching their videos, reading their books, etc. You can also take jazz lessons online or offline from qualified teachers or mentors.
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