Your First Fake Book: Over 100 Songs in the Key of "C" for Keyboard, Vocal, Guitar and all "C" Instruments [Paperback]

Alexander Citron (Compiler), Hal Leonard Corp. (Creator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1998

An entry-level fake book! This book features larger-than-most fake book notation with simplified harmonies and melodies - and all songs are in the key of C. An introduction addresses basic instruction in playing from a fake book. Includes over 100 songs, including: Ain't Misbehavin' * All the Things You Are * America the Beautiful * Beauty and the Beast * Bewitched * Blueberry Hill * Can't Help Falling in Love * Don't Get Around Much Anymore * Edelweiss * Getting to Know You * Heart and Soul * It Only Takes a Moment * Leaving on a Jet Plane * Let It Be * Love Me Tender * Maria * Mood Indigo * Satin Doll * Somewhere Out There * Try to Remember * When the Saints Go Marching In * Young at Heart * and more.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Founded in 1947, Hal Leonard Corporation has become the worlds largest print music publisher, representing some of the greatest songwriters and artists of all time. We are proud to publish titles of interest to all musicians as well as music lovers, from songbooks and instructional titles to artist biographies and instrument price guides to books about the music industry and all the performing arts.

Product Details

Sample Music Notation [29kb PDF]

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793585031
• ISBN-13: 978-0793585038
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,179 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Sheet Music & Scores > Instrumentation > Keyboard
  • #31 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Sheet Music & Scores > Forms & Genres > Vocal
  • #50 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Sheet Music & Scores > Forms & Genres > Lieder & Art Songs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars some unintended "ouches", August 28, 2002

By 

Karen Sampson Hudson "Karen Sampson Hudson" (Reno, NV United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Your First Fake Book: Over 100 Songs in the Key of "C" for Keyboard, Vocal, Guitar and all "C" Instruments (Paperback)

I'm a piano teacher who has used this book extensively with my students, and we appreciate being able to play (and in many cases, sight-read) popular songs and jazz-piano standards in the key of C. The book will help to give early-intermediate students confidence and will build their repertoire.

That said, some of the chords are overly simplified and produce some real clunking harmonies. You will find yourself altering some of the basic chords in order to get the sound you want. For example, "Leavin' on a Jet Plane" features a C chord several times going against a melody F. For some students, I have to tell them to play a C only in the left hand, not the full chord. For more advanced students, we change the C chord to a D diminished, which leads into a discussion of the use of diminished chords.

With these reservations, I still highly recommend this book since you or your students will find many songs that are easily played and enjoyed.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Piano Playing, July 26, 2005

By 

Fred A. Skiotis "Stock Trader & Music Man" (Sun City, Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Your First Fake Book: Over 100 Songs in the Key of "C" for Keyboard, Vocal, Guitar and all "C" Instruments (Paperback)

For a Piano Playing Wanna Be, this book is terrific. Very much like "The Easy Fake Book", which I also have. Both books are in the key of "C" and use only ten or less different chords in each song. In order to get the most from these books, I suggest you start with Scott Houston's book, "Play Piano in a Flash". It really shows the way to great, self entertainment. At age 77, I am doing it and I know, you can too.

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It will give you the hang of faking., September 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Your First Fake Book: Over 100 Songs in the Key of "C" for Keyboard, Vocal, Guitar and all "C" Instruments (Paperback)

Your First Fake Book is great for those who want to use it as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. However, I found that in an attempt to simplify everything so the novice can play it some of the songs had some chords in them that made them sound really horrible.