Fake Books

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Broadway

Celtic & Folk

Christmas

Classical

Country

Decade Series

Easy

How to Use Fake Books

Jazz & Standards

Jewish

Latin

Lyrics Library Series

Paperback Songs Series

Praise & Worship

Real Book, The

Rock & Blues

TV / Movie / Disney

Ultimate Fake Book

Variety

History of Fake Books

Fake books are large compilations of the tunes that musicians most commonly need to know to meet the demands of their audience. The lineage of fake books go back to the bootleg song sheets of the 1930s and the Tune-Dex song reference cards of the 1940s. But the most popular of the bootleg fake books originated at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. During the 1974-75 school year, two students created a bootleg fake book they called "The Real Book", because the tried to notate the authentic chord changes and melodic lines that professional jazz musicians would really play. This was in response to the simplified and un-hip changes shown in commercial fake books up to that time.

The Real Book

With its 400 tunes enabling musicians to have a more hip and contemporary repertoire, The Real Book was an immense underground success. The problem was that the books were illegally produced and distributed, without any regard to copyright law, or royalties paid to the composers who created the musical masterpieces. In those pre-Internet days, the Real Book was distributed illegally from musician to musician, typically out of someone's car trunk, or if in the "right" music store the staff thought you were "OK", a Real Book might appear from under the counter. This practice continues today to some extent, but the music industry is addressing it from two directions. One is through a much more vigorous prosecution of illegal books and websites under the laws of the Copyright act. The second is by making a legally authorized version of The Real Book available, and today this legal Real Book is our top seller.

Today's Real Book - Legal and Improved

We are pleased to offer our customers the first legitimate and legal editions of these books ever produced, now published legally by Hal Leonard. You won't even notice the difference, other than that all of the notorious errors have been fixed: the covers and typeface look the same, the song list is nearly identical, and the price for our edition is even cheaper than the original! Every conscientious musician will appreciate that these books are now produced accurately and ethically, benefitting the songwriters that we owe for some of the greatest tunes of all time!

Try our Fake Book Directory. Learn the History of Fake Books

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The Real Book - Volume 1 - C Instruments - The Real Books are the best-selling jazz books of all time. Since the 1970s, musicians have trusted these volumes to get them through every gig, night after night. The problem is that the books were il ...

$26.95

The Real Book - Volume 1 - Bb Instruments - The Real Books are the best-selling jazz books of all time. Since the 1970s, musicians have trusted these volumes to get them through every gig, night after night. The problem is that the books were i ...

$26.95

The Real Book - Volume 1 - Eb Instruments - The Real Books are the best-selling jazz books of all time. Since the 1970s, musicians have trusted these volumes to get them through every gig, night after night. The problem is that the books were i ...

$26.95

The Real Book - Volume 1 - Bass Clef Edition - The Real Books are the best-selling jazz books of all time. Since the 1970s, musicians have trusted these volumes to get them through every gig, night after night. The problem is that the books wer ...

$26.95

The Real Book - Volume 2 - C Instruments - The Real Books are the best-selling jazz books of all time. Since the 1970s, musicians have trusted these volumes to get them through every gig, night after night. The problem is that the books were il ...

$26.95

The Real Book - Volume 2 - Bb Instruments - The Real Books are the best-selling jazz books of all time. Since the 1970s, musicians have trusted these volumes to get them through every gig, night after night. The problem is that the books were i ...

$26.95

The Real Book - Volume 2 - Eb Instruments - The Real Books are the best-selling jazz books of all time. Since the 1970s, musicians have trusted these volumes to get them through every gig, night after night. The problem is that the books were i ...

$26.95

The Real Book - Volume 2 - Bass Clef Edition - The Real Books are the best-selling jazz books of all time. Since the 1970s, musicians have trusted these volumes to get them through every gig, night after night. The problem is that the books wer ...

$26.95

The Real Book - Volume 3 - C Instruments - The Real Books are the best-selling jazz books of all time. Since the 1970s, musicians have trusted these volumes to get them through every gig, night after night. The problem is that the books were il ...

$26.95

The Real Book - Volume 3 - Bb Instruments - The Real Books are the best-selling jazz books of all time. Since the 1970s, musicians have trusted these volumes to get them through every gig, night after night. The problem is that the books were i ...

$26.95

The Real Book - Volume 3 - Eb Instruments - The Real Books are the best-selling jazz books of all time. Since the 1970s, musicians have trusted these volumes to get them through every gig, night after night. The problem is that the books were i ...

$26.95

The Real Vocal Book - Volume 1 - C Instruments - The Real Vocal Book has many of the selections from volumes 1 and 2 of the instrumental Real Books, but now with the lyrics added to the pre-existing melody line. Nearly 300 essential songs compi ...

$26.95

The Real Book - Volume I - Mini Edition C Instruments - Hal Leonard proudly presents new mini editions of its best-selling Real Books. These 5.5 x 8.5 little books pack a big jazz punch; they include all 400 fantastic songs found in the 9 x 12 ...

$25.25

The Real Book - Volume 2 - Mini Edition C Instruments - Hal Leonard proudly presents new mini editions of its bestselling Real Books. These 5.5 x 8.5 little books pack a big jazz punch; they include all 400 fantastic songs found in the 9 x 12 ...

$25.25

The Real Book - Volume III (Bass Clef Instruments) Softcover Bass Clef Edition - The Real Books are the best-selling jazz books of all time. Since the 1970s, musicians have trusted these volumes to get them through every gig, night after night ...

$26.95