Customer Reviews

Fake Book of the World's Favorite Songs: C Edition (Fake Books)

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

 

 

The Fake Book of the World's Favorite Songs is truly a fake title. Now I'm no musicologist -- just an amateur piano player and singer -- but the problem I see with this collection is that many of the pieces in are not songs. When was the last time you heard anyone sing "Semper Fidelis" by John Philip Sousa? And although the title suggests it is singable, there are no words to Tchaikovsky's "Andante Cantabile." The Triumphal March from Verdi's "Aida" is here -- but it never had lyrics. The Pizzicato Polka is a polka, not a song. Then there are songs given -- popular ethnic songs, such as "O Solo Mio" and "La Cucaracha," but no words are given. The scope of this collection is sweeping, if not uneven: foreign and domestic, classical and folk, children's songs and pop standards. But the bottom line is that not all the pieces are singable songs but instrumental pieces, and some that are genuinely songs, no words are given. Imagine "On, Wisconsin" is here, but no words are printed. How are people going to know that the Badgers have to "fight right through that line"? A more accurate title that Hal Leonard might consider is "Fake Book of the World's Favorite Melodies." Much better from Hal Leonard is the "Real Little Ultimate Fake Book," with over 1200 songs -- and every single one of them has the lyrics printed.

This fake book is exactly as the title indicates. I actually purchased the book for a Memorial Day picnic performance and wanted a collection of patriotic songs and marches. The book is great and well bound- lays flat on the music stand with no problem and the chords and key signatures are accurate and easy to read. Excellend addition to my music library and shipping was super fast.

This book has such an excellent selection of songs, and is so easy to read that we gave it as a thank-you gift to a music school in Russia. The students had not seen a fake book before this one. It made a big hit.

Although I was reared in the age of Rock and Roll I find the songs in this book to be jewels that transcend time. Many of the songs were published long ago and can't be found in other fake books. I love the fact that the book also has many Spirituals and easy play versions of classical pieces too. I play from this book before bedtime to wind down. IMHO it is a must own fake book.

This is a lot of songs. Many of which I am familiar but do not have the music. However there are many of my favorites that are not in the book. May be copywrite problems. But the book is very useful and interesting.

This fake book is definitely a large compilation of a variety of songs but its short-coming (at least for amature guitar players) is it chooses to use chords that are more difficult than they need to be. For example: The Farmer in the Dell uses the Eflat and Bflat chords (both 4 finger chords or bar chords) when the song works just as well with G and D7 chords. However, the book does provide the fingering grids for Eflat and Bflat. Other than that, I found it to be rather comprehensive and useful. It's a keeper!

Well, it's not as good as the "Ultimate" edition... But not bad.. Some enjoyable melodies & fun stuff.. I do enjoy this one more than the "Best Ever" edition...

I'm learning to play trumpet and this is an excellent book to help me learn to sight-read. It's fun to play familiar melodies and I can tell immediately when I'm messing up. Over 700 tunes for 16 bucks- you cant go wrong. Two thumbs up.

I received my products in a timely fashion and in excellent condition...I would certainly recommend this seller to others...Thank you and may God bless and prosper you.

This is the largest collection of songs I have never heard of. I recognized such a small percent of them that I decided it would be useless. I returned it immediately.