The Real Book

When I took guitar lessons in the mid-1970s, I might have owned a fake book or a copy of The Real Book. Or just maybe photocopies of a few songs from a fake book—my recollection is not very clear.

Today I learned about the history of The Real Book, and I suddenly figured out why The Real Book is called The Real Book. Sometimes I’m slow at figuring things like this out.

Anyway, if you want to know more, about seven years ago, Adam Neely posted a YouTube video, What is the Real Book? (a jazz shibboleth), that neatly summarizes how The Real Book can both be an aid to a musician but also a hindrance. Four years ago 99% Invisible posted an article about The Real Book that covered many of the same ideas.

The Internet Archive has many copies of fake books.

And if you want a legal copy, go to the Hal Leonard website. I see digital copies of Hal Leonard’s various Real Books are available from Apple’s Books app. These books include the melodies.

A new alternative is an app such as iReal Pro, but reviewers say that the drawback of this app is that it provides only the harmony (chord charts) but not the melody (lead sheets).

I might buy a fake book just to study it, but my ability to play any of the music on my guitar is about nil. Coming from a family of musicians, I have music in my blood, but unfortunately I do not have music in my fingers.