If you're a musician who loves to play by ear, you understand the struggle of finding the right chords and melodies for your favorite songs. This is where fake books come in. Fake books are collections of lead sheets - musical scores that include the melody, lyrics, and chord symbols. They are essential tools for jazz musicians, but they are also useful for anyone who wants to play popular songs without having to read sheet music.
The only problem with fake books is that they can be hard to navigate. Most fake books are organized alphabetically by song title, which can make it difficult to find the right song if you only know the artist or the first few words of the song. This is where the Fake Book Index comes in. The Fake Book Index is a comprehensive database of fake books that allows you to search by artist, title, or even by the chords used in the song.
What is the Fake Book Index?
The Fake Book Index is a searchable database of fake books that was created by Michael Pettersen in the 1990s. Pettersen, a jazz pianist and composer, was frustrated with the lack of organization in fake books, so he created the index as a way to help himself and other musicians find the songs they were looking for.
Over the years, the Fake Book Index has grown to include thousands of fake books from all genres of music. The index is organized by artist, title, and even by the chords used in the song. This makes it easy to find the right song, even if you only know a few chords or the first few words of the song.
How to Use the Fake Book Index
Using the Fake Book Index is easy. Simply go to the website, and type in the artist, title, or chords of the song you're looking for. The index will then generate a list of fake books that include that song. You can then click on the book title to see more information about the book, including the publisher, the number of pages, and the songs included in the book.
One of the best things about the Fake Book Index is that it is completely free. You don't have to pay anything to use the index, and you don't have to create an account. You can simply use it whenever you need to find a song.
Benefits of Using the Fake Book Index
1. Saves Time
One of the biggest benefits of using the Fake Book Index is that it saves time. Instead of flipping through multiple fake books to find the right song, you can simply search for it on the index. This can save you hours of time, especially if you're a gigging musician who needs to learn songs quickly.
2. More Accurate
The Fake Book Index is also more accurate than traditional fake books. Because it is organized by artist, title, and chords, you can be sure that you're finding the right song. This is especially important if you're playing with other musicians, as you don't want to start playing a different song than the rest of the band.
3. More Options
Finally, the Fake Book Index gives you more options. Instead of being limited to the fake books you already own, you can search for new fake books that include the songs you're looking for. This can help you expand your repertoire and learn new songs.
FAQ
1. Is the Fake Book Index legal?
Yes, the Fake Book Index is completely legal. It is simply a database of fake books that are already available for purchase. The index does not host any illegal downloads of sheet music or other copyrighted material.
2. Can I download the fake books from the index?
No, the Fake Book Index does not host any downloads of fake books. Instead, it provides links to where you can purchase the books online. This ensures that the creators of the fake books are being compensated for their work.
3. Is the Fake Book Index updated regularly?
Yes, the Fake Book Index is updated regularly. New fake books are added to the index as they are released, and old fake books are removed if they are no longer available for purchase.
Conclusion
The Fake Book Index is an essential tool for any musician who uses fake books. It saves time, is more accurate, and gives you more options for learning new songs. Best of all, it is completely free to use. So if you're tired of flipping through multiple fake books to find the right song, give the Fake Book Index a try. You won't be disappointed!
| Book Title | Publisher | Number of Pages |
|---|---|---|
| The Real Book: Sixth Edition | Hal Leonard | 512 |
| The Ultimate Fake Book: Fifth Edition | Hal Leonard | 816 |
| The Easy Gospel Fake Book | Hal Leonard | 160 |
| The Ultimate Pop/Rock Fake Book: Fourth Edition | Hal Leonard | 584 |
Download the Fake Book Index and start finding the right songs for your repertoire today!
Reference
https://www.fakebookindex.org/
