Started July 2024.
A collection of "open source" fake book indexes which I've created as JSON based on various lists I've found and have been able to scrape.
I've created these as I couldn't find an "open" fake book indexes -- theres some that are PDF that can't be converted to other formats. There's others that are in a proprietary binary format. And there's web sites that have searchable indexes, but you can't use them offline or convert them to other formats.
Do not ask me where you can find these books online. Some are in the public domain, and others aren't. Check your favorite book seller. If they have it, buy it there. If not, I can't help you out, so please don't ask.
Sure! Just use the github search box! For example to search for "Blue Bossa", enter repo:milnak/FakeBookIndex "Blue Bossa"
I accept pull requests, which is why this is "open source". Please send any corrections! If you're not sure how to do a github pull request, no problem. Send me a message and I'll fix it up.
The JSON files have a simple "Page", "Title", "Composer" schema. That seems good enough for me, at least for now.
There's loads of tools that can convert JSON to almost any format you like. For example, one could convert the JSON to a CSV:
Windows:
Get-Content '.\Spaces 2.json' | ConvertFrom-Json | ConvertTo-Csv -UseQuotes AlwaysLinux:
cat 'Spaces 2.json' | jq --raw-output '["Page","Title","Composer"],(.[] | [.Page, .Title, .Composer]) | @csv'Note: Many of these books don't have indices here yet. If you can create one, please contribute!
These descriptions are adapted from Seventh String. I highly recommend their Transcribe! software.
The Chuck Sher series have chords and melody, and lyrics where relevant.
New Real Book Vol 1, 2 & 3: A mix of standards, jazz classics, pop fusion & latin.
The Standards Real Book: Standards only and has hardly any duplicate material from the New Real Books.
The Latin Real Book: Latin only.
The European Real Book: Features European composers.
The All Jazz Real Book: Classic, contemporary and latin jazz and comes with a CD of 37 melodies.
The World's Greatest Fake Book: Jazz classics, pop fusion & latin.
Jazz Arrangements of Public Domain Songs: Arrangements by Chuck Israels.
The Jazz Songbook Series: Collection of 20 digital-only books, each containing 20 tunes from one composer.
The Real Easy Book Volumes 1, 2, 3: Vol 1 has 41 easy but classic jazz tunes for beginning improvisers. Vol 2 has 101 tunes for intermediate improvisers. Volume 3 has 63 tunes covering eight eras of jazz, and includes historical and educational material. Sample piano voicings, guitar chord diagrams and sample bass lines are included with each tune.
This is the famous play-along series. Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Each volume consists of book plus CD (or optionally cassette for some of the earlier volumes) with C Concert, Bb, Eb and Bass Clef versions provided. They contain a mix of standards, jazz classics, latin, and instructional material. This index is complete up to Volume 128.
[Hal Leonard] Real Book Vol 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6: These are legal editions of the classic illegal "Real Books". They look very like the old versions and have almost identical contents, except that errors have been corrected. Chords and melody are given. Material is jazz classics & standards.
Real Vocal Book Vol 1, 2, 3, 4: These are legal editions of the classic illegal "Real Books". They look very like the old versions and have almost identical contents, except that errors have been corrected. Chords and melody are given. Material is jazz classics & standards.
Jazz Play-Along Series: Play-alongs with book and CD, for use with all Bb, Eb, and C instruments. Each tune is recorded in separate "study" and "performance" versions. The "study" versions have split-tracks so bass or piano part can be removed. They contain a mix of standards, jazz classics, latin, and other material. This index has Volumes 1 - 124 then 126, 127, 132, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, (150), 151, 157. The gaps in the numbering are volumes not yet released.
The Definitive Jazz Collection: This is available for various instruments. C concert Piano edition has piano, vocal and guitar parts. Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet/Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, Trombone all have chords and melody. The material is a mix of standards and jazz classics.
R&B Fake Book - 2nd Edition: Melody lines, lyrics and chords for 375 R&B classics.
The Blues Fake Book: 400 songs spanning the entire history of the genre. Every major blues artist is well-represented, including Howlin' Wolf, Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Billie Holiday, Leadbelly, Alberta Hunter, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Witherspoon, Bessie Smith, Sonny Boy Williamson, and scores of others.
Torch Songs: 59 sultry jazz and big band melancholy masterpieces.
The Big Book Of Torch Songs: 75 heart-on-the-sleeve standards.
Torch Songs In Sultry Keys: 35 Standards in low keys for women singers.
Belter's Hot Standards: 42 timeless standards, transposed down into a comfortable belting range for women singers.
Budget Books - Jazz Standards: Value-priced collection of over 80 jazz classics.
The Ultimate Jazz Fake Book - Herb Wong: Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Jazz classics and Standards.
The Real Jazz Standards Fake Book: Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Jazz classics and Standards.
The Real Little Ultimate Jazz Fake Book: Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Jazz classics and Standards.
The Real Jazz Classics Fake Book: Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Jazz classics and Standards.
The Real Jazz Fake Book: Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Jazz classics and Standards.
Jazz of the 60s and Beyond: Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Jazz classics and Standards.
Thelonius Monk Fake Book: 70 of his most familiar pieces, as well as a number of obscure and unrecorded tunes. Includes counterlines and ensemble parts for many pieces, as well as bass-lines and piano voicings where applicable. Also includes a biography, and a discography of the compositions in the book.
Real Chord Changes For 54 Standards - Champ Champagne: Chords and melody are given. Alternative substitute chords are also given. Material is standards.
Real Chord Changes & Substitutions (A-F) - Champ Champagne: Chords and melody are given. Alternative substitute chords are also given. Material is standards.
Real Chord Changes & Substitutions (G-K) - Champ Champagne: Chords and melody are given. Alternative substitute chords are also given. Material is standards.
Real Chord Changes & Substitutions (L-Q) - Champ Champagne: Chords and melody are given. Alternative substitute chords are also given. Material is standards.
Real Chord Changes & Substitutions (R-Z) - Champ Champagne: Chords and melody are given. Alternative substitute chords are also given. Material is standards.
Real Chord Changes and Substitutions - Christmas Favorite: Christmas Favorites
Pat Metheny Songbook: Music by Pat Metheny and joint compositions with Lyle Mays and with others. Chords and melody are given, with lyrics where relevant.
The Music Of John Coltrane: Just as the titles say. Chords and melody are given, with lyrics where relevant.
The Trane Book: Just as the titles say. Chords and melody are given, with lyrics where relevant.
Charles Mingus - More Than A Fake Book: Just as the titles say. Chords and melody are given, with lyrics where relevant.
The Kenny Barron Collection: Just as the titles say. Chords and melody are given, with lyrics where relevant.
Abbey Lincoln Songbook: Just as the titles say. Chords and melody are given, with lyrics where relevant.
Ragtime & Early Jazz - 1900-1935 - Jazz Bible Series: Just as the titles say. Chords and melody are given, with lyrics where relevant.
The Swing Era - 1936-1947 - Jazz Bible Series: Just as the titles say. Chords and melody are given, with lyrics where relevant.
Jazz of the '50s - Jazz Bible Series: Just as the titles say. Chords and melody are given, with lyrics where relevant.
Bill Evans Fake Book: 60 original compositions transcribed. Counterlines, codas, chord extensions and chord changes for improvisation are included.
The Big Book of Jazz - 2nd Edition: Click here to see The Big Book of Jazz - 2nd Edition on the Hal Leonard site.
Frank Sinatra Anthology: Click here to see The Frank Sinatra Anthology on the Hal Leonard site.
Frank Sinatra Anthology - Volume 2: Click here to see The Frank Sinatra Anthology Volume 2 on the Hal Leonard site.
Irving Berlin Fake Book: Click here to see The Irving Berlin Fake Book on the Hal Leonard site.
Norah Jones - Come Away with Me: Click here to see Norah Jones - Come Away with Me on the Hal Leonard site.
Latin Fake Book: Click here to see the Latin Fake Book on the Hal Leonard site.
The Real Dixieland Book: Click here to see the Real Dixieland Book on the Hal Leonard site.
The New Broadway Fake Book: Click here to see the New Broadway Fake Book on the Hal Leonard site.
The Latin Fakebook: Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Contains a wide range of latin material.
Just Standards Real Book: 250 tunes. Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Both the original chord progressions and suggested chord substitutions are given. Unlike many fake books, the verse is usually given as well as the chorus. Material is standards.
Just Jazz Real Book: 250 tunes. Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Both the original chord progressions and suggested chord substitutions are given. Material is jazz.
Real Jazz Book: 173 tunes. Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Material is standards and jazz classics.
Professional Chord Changes and Substitutions: Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Alternative substitute chords are also given. Material is standards.
All The Right Changes: Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Alternative substitute chords are also given. Material is standards.
100 Jazz & Blues Greats: Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. The chords are generally based on the original song sheets rather than "jazz" versions. Material is jazz classics & standards.
The Jazz Sourcebook 2: Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Piano arrangements. Material is jazz classics & standards.
The Real Book Of Jazz: The publisher describes these as "instant no-frills arrangements". Each song consists of melody line, chord symbols and lyrics (where appropriate).
The Real Book Of Blues: The publisher describes these as "instant no-frills arrangements". Each song consists of melody line, chord symbols and lyrics (where appropriate).
101 Latin Hits For Buskers: Just as the title says. Mostly songs, with lyrics. Chords and melody are given.
Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Alternative substitute chords are also given. Material is standards.
This book has Bb and Eb transposing treble clef only - not concert pitch. Chords and melody are given, no lyrics. Material is jazz classics & standards.
Chords and melody are given, and lyrics where relevant. Alternative substitute chords are also given. Material is standards. 100 tunes in each book.
This contains chords only. Material is jazz classics & standards.
These pocket-sized books contain chords only. About 400 tunes in each book. Material is jazz classics & standards.
100 jazz tunes from early to contemporary. This is intended for use with the Associated Board Jazz exam grades. Has an unusually varied selection.
The famous collection of Parker transcriptions. Melodies and transcribed solos are given, with fairly basic chords.
Straight Ahead Jazz Fakebook: 68 tunes (with melody, chord changes, and subsidiary lines) taken from, or in the tradition of, the hard bop Blue Note recordings of the 1950s and 1960s.
Bebop Pianists: Music from the Bop era written by or associated with piano players of the time. Chords and melody are given.
These are available from Really Good Music Inc.
A series of 10 songbooks published by Readers Digest.
"This important collection features 101 compositions from a remarkable range of acknowledged titans, young visionaries and unsung heroes in jazz: Mary Lou Williams, Alice Coltrane, esperanza spalding, Geri Allen, Maria Schneider, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Dorothy Ashby, Nubya Garcia, Nicole Mitchell and many others. The book includes a 1922 piece by the influential Lil Hardin Armstrong and songs written in 2021 by emerging artists from Carrington's Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice. New Standards also celebrates the global world of jazz, from Chilean tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana to Japanese American pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi and other international composers"--Theodore Front Musical Literature.
Chords and melody are given, but lyrics only appear in the "Vocal" book. Material is jazz classics & standards.
These books are illegal (see the note on the main search page) and also inaccurate, and we do not recommend you to buy them. The (legal) Chuck Sher series is far superior. Also Hal Leonard are now releasing legal versions of these books, see above.
Chords and melody are given, no lyrics. Material is standards.
This book is illegal (see the note on the main search page) and inaccurate, and also the compiler has no conception of how alphabetic ordering should work! We do not recommend you to buy it. The (legal) Chuck Sher series is far superior.
A freely downloadable collection of songs curated by David Berger and Chuck Israels. Part of the Aperio Open Educational Resources series. Download it here
These contain chords to many jazz standards but no melodies. They can be found here.