LibGuides: Jazz: Sheet Music

Fake Books

Fake book: A collection of lead sheets. Each lead sheet includes just the melody, chord symbols, and lyrics (if applicable).
They're also sometimes called "real books."

Searching the Catalog for Fake Books

Find a Specific Fake Book

If you already know the name of the fake book you need, just search the title in the library catalog.

Find a Specific Tune in a Fake Book

Open the library catalog.
Search the tune name with quotation marks, plus the words fake book, for example:
- "mood indigo" fake book
- "autumn leaves" fake book
Use the location and call number to find the fake book on the shelf.

Here's a video tutorial to walk you through the process:

Fake Books in the Allen Library (selections)

Just Jazz Real Book
Call Number: M1361 J877 [Allen shelves]
Publication Date: 2001
250 jazz classics, with a composer index, suggested recordings, chord theory, chord voicings, and more.
New Standards: 101 Lead Sheets by Women Composers by Terri Lyne Carrington (Editor)
Call Number: M1361 N487 B4 [Allen shelves]
Publication Date: 2022
101 jazz compositions in a wide range of styles, by women composers across the globe from 1922 to the present.
Real Jazz Classics Fake Book
Call Number: M1361 H22 C [Allen shelves]
Publication Date: 2002
Hand-written-style engravings and alternate harmonizations for nearly 380 classic jazz hits.
Real Jazz Standards Fake Book
Call Number: M1361 H22 [Allen shelves]
Publication Date: 2001
Over 250 standards of jazz repertoire in hand-written jazz engravings.
This Is the Ultimate Fake Book
Call Number: M1361 T55 [Allen shelves]
Publication Date: 1994
Over 1200 songs in all styles, from jazz standards to Broadway blockbusters and country classics to pop chart-toppers.

Find more fake books

Search the catalog for the subject fake books, or browse the shelves. All jazz sheet music items (including fake books) have call numbers beginning M1361.

Transcriptions

Transcription: Notated version of a jazz improvisation or other piece of previously un-notated music.

Searching the Catalog for Transcriptions

Transcriptions by Instrument

Open the library catalog.
Search jazz [your instrument name] as a subject, and limit your search to Printed Music.
In the results, look for a record that says something like "Transcription of..." "Transcribed by..." to make sure you found a transcription.
Use the location and call number to find the item on the shelf.

Transcriptions by Performer

Open the library catalog.
Search the performer's name as the author, and limit your search to Printed Music.
In the results, look for a record that says something like "Transcription of..." "Transcribed by..." to make sure you found a transcription.
Use the location and call number to find the item on the shelf.

Transcriptions by Tune

Open the library catalog.
Search the tune name as keywords, and limit your search to Printed Music.
In the results, look for a record that says something like "Transcription of..." "Transcribed by..." to make sure you found a transcription.
Use the location and call number to find the item on the shelf.