Customer Reviews

Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen (Transcribed Score) (Transcribed Scores)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is amazing; it has perfect transcriptions for all of of their songs, and it includes all of Ben's piano solos. I was able to learn perfectly the piano solos to 'One Angry Dwarf..' and 'Song for the Dumped.' This book also has all of the transcriptions for every other instrument in all of their songs. The only annoying thing is the publishers' notation; if the notes are tied to each other, they just use the lines for the tied notes, they don't use the head of the note (my guess is to save ink, or they just thoughtt it would be easier to read). Regardless of this small annoyance, this book will help anyone learn exactly how the song was meant to be played.

You can't argue with the brilliance of Ben Folds. And I appreciate what this book is trying to do. It's much like the score to the Beatles' works-- all parts-- piano, drums, bass-- are transcribed.

My beef is that as a pianist I was much more interested in seeing the piano transcriptions. The bass and drum transcriptions add nothing to my enjoyment. But because they're on the same page, everything is printed very small and you have to turn pages frequently.

Also frustrating: The multiple codas and del signo notations. In other words, you're playing along, squinting to read, and there's a D.S., telling you to go back to the sign and then play to the first coda. Then you have to find the first coda. Then you have to find the second sign. Etc, etc.

Bottom line: I've used the book as a reference. it's helpful to understand his chord voicings and licks, but if you want to play through the piece from start to finish, this isn't the right book for you.

For an avid piano player, this book still provides many challenges in reading and playing. The inclusion of the guitar/bass/drum/other lines, with a separate vocal line (some books like to hide this in the piano) make for an accurate and interesting play. Many of BFF's best hits are in this book. I would recomend it to anyone who is a fan and has a good number of years of piano behind them.

Very detailed transcriptions - everything is separated nicely, without the nasty combination of vocal and piano lines you get in some books. Highly recommended.

Although the piano part is smaller in comparrison to other scores i own, this product served its purpose perfectly. I have now perfected most of ONE ANGRY DWARF AND 200 SOLEMN FACES. it is a great buy. and cheap too!

LOVE THIS BOOK!
I often have a difficult time getting appropriate piano tablature as so many band anthology or album books are "Easy Tab"... this book is quite accurate and brought me hours of solace after my boyfriend dumped me!

I have loved CD ever since the day I got it in college and that was at least 11 years ago...excellent piano, fun to solemn lyrics...all around great cd to sing to in the car of in the shower!

Got this mainly for the piano parts, but this book also contains VERY accurate transcriptions of the bass guitar, drums, cello, clavichord, clarinet, etc. If you hear it on the CD, it is transcribed in the book. My band recorded a couple of the songs from this book, and apart from Ben's voice, it is almost indistinguishable from the CD. Would definitely recommend this book to Ben Folds fans!

i gave this as a present for someone who loves ben folds, and just started learning to play piano. one of his goals was to be able to play ben folds some day, but since i gave it to him, it's the only book he's been using. he's still very much in the beginning stages, but he's figured out a line or two, and is looking foward to playing the rest. he was very satisfied, despite his lack of complete skill at the time. i think it's a good book for any fan. it'll motivate them to learn more.