Fake Book

[jjjoe]

I got a question how do you play from a fake book? I am kinda curious of the differences between sheet music and a fake book.

Thanks

[T-Block]

I got a question how do you play from a fake book? I am kinda curious of the differences between sheet music and a fake book.

Thanks

A fake book has the "dummied" versions of actual songs.  It is written in sheet music form, but there will most likely be just basic chords with a little melodic movement.  The idea is for people who can't play the real version to at least be able to play something that sounds close to it w/out all the technicalities.  Nothing wrong wit it, just not the real thing, LOL.

[darkwing]

Sheet music ain't the real thing either 

Fake books show the melody on the staff and the chord symbols above.  Sheet music shows everything, but is usually missing quite a bit when it comes to Gospel sheet music.

Classical musicians even argue about Classical sheet music as there are sometimes multiple manuscripts because musicians had to copy everything by hand back in the day.

[T-Block]

Sheet music ain't the real thing either 

Semantics, lol.

[513TrueMan]

I got a question how do you play from a fake book? I am kinda curious of the differences between sheet music and a fake book.

Thanks

Here is a good book that I used when I got started playing.  It shows how to play from a fake book: How To Play Popular Piano In 10 Easy Lessons (Fireside Books (Fireside)) (Paperback)
by Norman Monath.