fake book
Musician's cheat sheet
A fake book is a collection of music sheets showing only the basic elements of songs—melody line, lyrics, and chord symbols—rather than full arrangements.
Jazz and pop musicians use them to improvise performances, "faking" their way through songs with just these essentials: She pulled out a fake book and we jammed for hours.
The Real Book is the most famous example.
Accepted levels of quality
- lead sheetMinimal musical notation format
- chord changesHarmonic transitions in music
- headUppermost body part
- compingImprovised chordal accompaniment
jam session · gig · bebop · swing · soloing · walking bass · vamp · scat singing
Weighted rope for depth
- tuneMusical sequence of notes
- themeCentral recurring concept
- motifRecurring thematic element
- phrasingManner of expressing something
interpretation · embellishment · ornamentation · variation · contour · lyric · refrain · verse
Performing without accompaniment
- ad-libUnscripted speech or remark
- spontaneityActing without forethought
- riffingImprovising musical phrases
- extemporizationUnrehearsed spontaneous performance
invention · creativity · expression · jamming · groove · dynamics · cadenzas · chromaticism
Shorthand for harmony
- voicingExpressing aloud
- progressionSequential forward movement
- seventhOrdinal for seven
- majorOf chief importance
minor · diminished · augmented · suspended · inversion · transposition · harmony · intervals
standards
Accepted levels of quality
- lead sheetMinimal musical notation format
- chord changesHarmonic transitions in music
- headUppermost body part
comping · jam session · gig · bebop · swing · soloing · walking bass · vamp · scat singing · blue note
lead line
Weighted rope for depth
phrasing · interpretation · embellishment · ornamentation · variation · contour · lyric · refrain · verse · bridge
soloing
Performing without accompaniment
- ad-libUnscripted speech or remark
- spontaneityActing without forethought
- riffingImprovising musical phrases
extemporization · invention · creativity · expression · jamming · groove · dynamics · cadenzas · chromaticism · substitution
chord symbols
Shorthand for harmony
- voicingExpressing aloud
- progressionSequential forward movement
- seventhOrdinal for seven
major · minor · diminished · augmented · suspended · inversion · transposition · harmony · intervals · arpeggio