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Real & Fake Books

Real and Fake Books are essential reference material for anyone who is serious about performing. For those who aren't familiar with them, Fake Books originally contained the basic chords and lyrics of a musical composition. In the 70s however, students attending the Berklee College of Music created unlicensed Fake Books that featured melody lines. To differentiate them from Fake Books, they called them "Real Books". By 2004, Hal Leonard started publishing licensed editions so that songwriters would receive their deserved royalties. In this section you'll find both Hal Leonard's Real Books and also a wide range of Fake Books from other respected music publishing companies like Alfred and Brentwood-Benson.

The right Real or Fake Book for you will depend on what kind of music you play. Along with Real and Fake Books for jazz, there are volumes for playing the blues, bluegrass and even learning Broadway hits and holiday favorites. Another thing to consider is the key of your instrument. For example, the Hal Leonard The Real Book Volume 2 Second Edition C Instruments is a legal edition of one of the best-selling jazz books of all time. It features over 400 songs, including "Bye Bye Blackbird", "Doxy", "Killer Joe" and "Stardust".

This catalog even consists of Fake Books by famous artists - just take a look at the Alfred Rolling Stones - Fake Book. This fantastic collection boasts 167 classic Stones songs recorded in their golden era of '63 and '71. Every song here is presented on complete, professional-style lead sheets with both instrumental riffs and figures included. As a bonus, it contains a special TAB section, a full-color ABKCO years discography and much more.

Every professional musician knows the benefits of owning Real and Fake Books. Of course, the best way to figure out which Real or Fake Book best matches your tastes and instrument of choice is by exploring each option more intently, so jump into this selection whenever you're ready. And remember, the best musicians are the most versatile ones, so don't be afraid to grab more than one volume.