Practicing Chords from the Real Book

[Ashlee]

Hello everyone!

Okay so I was getting tired of practicing chords to nothing and in no context. SO I got a copy of the real book (5th edition) from someone I know, and there are literally HUNDREDS of songs in that book that I can practicing comping to and just playing the chords in some sort of context. (yay!!!)

My question is this:

Is there some type of backingtrack or something for these books? It would be nice if I could actually play it to the music so that I can get a better idea of what it all sounds like together.

Or am I supposed to look up that particular song, and try and find the version that's in the real book and play along with that??

Any suggestions?

Thanks! You guys are awesome! This forum has been an answer to my prayers!

[JohnW400]

I think Band in a box has something. However The RB usually has the source of the recording

Back when I got my first RB (1976) I started tracking down some of the albums cited. That got to be a bit expensive on a working college students salary.

Now a days theres You Tube where you can find a lot , if not most of the songs in the book. Here's some tunes to check out that I *think*match your level of playing (based on your posts)

Afternoon in Paris
Blusette
Tune Up
Central Park West
In your own Sweet Way (Breubeck Version)
Ceora

These are good to start with as they are full of two five ones and in different keys so you get a bit of a workout.

[Ashlee]

Ah! Thank you SO much!

[docbop]

To really work on your chord voicings play the tunes and make the top voice of the chord the melody. Most guitarist know their chords from low strings, but not the high voice.

[rabbit]

Realbook Jazz Charts

You can register here free and enjoy many benefits.

There's an option for getting the site to play the chords for you,
as well as changing keys & seeing the chart in Roman Numerals.

Might be worth a look. Best of luck.

[Paul Kinnear]

Hello,
There is an app for the I phone called ireal book. This alows a number of real books to be accessed and the chord charts to be viewed on screen. Keys can be changed as well as charts edited or new charts created. I am told the previous update will play the backup tracks.
I have a droid which currently does not play tracks but updates are expected.
There are also cds available for use with the real books.
Goodluck
Paul

[Ashlee]

Originally Posted by docbop

To really work on your chord voicings play the tunes and make the top voice of the chord the melody. Most guitarist know their chords from blow string, but not the high voice.

This is a really good tip Thank you! I am definitely going to try this out!

[Ashlee]

Thank you everyone! Unfortunately I don't have an iphone yet, but I am definitely going to check that link out thanks a lot guys!

[Ashlee]

Another Question...

In that real book link. It shows the chords in a way that you can play them in any key, (e.g. Imin7 etc)

My question is what does it mean when it says "I69" (the 69 are written smaller almost like an exponent, but i can't figure out how to type it like that.

Like i get if it says I7 or something, but I'm not familiar with this 69? Any ideas?

[Sredna]

Thats probably a major 6/9 chord. It's spelled 1-3-5-6-9. A C 6/9 chord thus contains the notes C-E-G-A-D.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

The 9/6 chord is a common variation on a major seventh chord. Instead of the notes 1 3 5 7 it is built from the notes 1 3 5 6 9.

So C9/6 is C E G A D. If that's too many notes to grab at once you can drop the 5, or even the 1, if there's a bass player:

C9/6: x32233 or x3223x

You can also have minor 9/6 chords:

Cmin9/6 x31233 or x3123x

[Ashlee]

OOOh i see, thanks that was such a simple explanation and very easy to understand. Thank you!

[Ashlee]

One more question...

Is there a certain time when this 6/9 chord will sound good to replace the maj7 chord or pretty much anytime i see a maj7 chord i can replace it with a 6/9 chord?

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I sometimes mix and match Maj7, Maj6, 6/9 chords just for something to do, but the classic reason to play a Maj6 or a 6/9 is when the root is in the melody, because the root will clash with the major seventh note. Compare and contrast:

G6: xx2433
GMaj7: xx4433
G6/9: x22233

Of course, with good voice leading, there's nothing wrong with playing the root over the major seventh, but it is unstable.

[Ashlee]

Thank you!

[Harleyboy]

Thanks for all the info, and a really great link. You folks are great!

[steev]

Thanks for the link, its a great tool to quickly change to another key.

[derek]

For free RB backing tracks, you can always got to the late Ralph Patt's site here. Good luck.

Ralph Patt's Jazz Web Page

[Reg]

I use maj.6/9 chords almost all the time instead of maj.7th, unless theres a melody conflict, usually just change lead note of voicing. Maj.7th chords almost always sound out of tune because of the 7th and how guitar players voice them... The hipper part is... it leaves a little room for stretching the harmonic feel. Not so much with min. chords, the 6th is too defining, do usually use maj.9th way too much. best Reg

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Must be something wrong with me, because I love minor 9/6 chords. This one cheats and uses two open strings:

Amin9/6: x09570

[backliner]

Hal Leonard DOES make play-a-long CD series for the sixth edition and book II of The Real Book.
They don't play the heads, it's just a rhythm section track. They expect you to read the heads apparently.
Nothing for book III yet except an interactive computor CD that is not "play along" but opens the charts on your screen.

[Reg]

Were guitarist... there's lots of stuff wrong with all of us... I dig min. 6/9 chords, I just always hear MM when I play them... Reg

[Ashlee]

Originally Posted by derek

For free RB backing tracks, you can always got to the late Ralph Patt's site here. Good luck.

Ralph Patt's Jazz Web Page

Wow, i'm super late, but thanks!

[ubiguitar]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

I sometimes mix and match Maj7, Maj6, 6/9 chords just for something to do, but the classic reason to play a Maj6 or a 6/9 is when the root is in the melody, because the root will clash with the major seventh note. Compare and contrast:

G6: xx2433
GMaj7: xx4433
G6/9: x22233

Of course, with good voice leading, there's nothing wrong with playing the root over the major seventh, but it is unstable.

This is usually known as b9 rule. Normally, only dominant chords support an explicit b9 interval without loosing their clear function.
In tonic chords b9 is really a problem and must be avoided as possible.
On the other hand keep in mind that in different types of music as modal jazz b9 could be desiderable (consider a dorian chord that has major 6 and minor 7).

Ale

www.ubiguitar.com - Tools for Guitar Players

[deciferthis]

Im in high school jazz band and we have all those voicing in our chords, but we play power chords which are basically 5th and 7th chords depending on the shape, but its a lot more easier and I am looking to get this book for some local coffee shop gigging and what not.

[Drumbler]

I go to Ralph Patt's site and take a look at his Vanilla book.

Love his site. Ralph is in his 80's. (Sent him an email once thanking him for his site but never heard back unfortunately.)

Now you could do what Ralph does yourself if you understand the process. Which is the key.

The experienced guys (gals) know this so bear with me as this is for the newbs.

When I learn a tune I simplify the changes using either Ralph ideas or maybe with my own. I defer to Ralph however in most cases. It's much easier to learn a tune this way with the vanilla changes. I'm lazy. Ha! Ha!

If you understand chord substitution you can modify these vanilla changes as you play.

I'll take a look at the Real Book too and compare that. The Real Book has substitution possibilities generally. But I don't necessarily use them. I use my own from what I like which means from my jazz chord vocabulary as it exists which has its limits.

Now for the newbs you need to get into chord substitution to understand. I cannot emphasize this enough. Chords, chords, chords.

Going right to the Real Book is fine but if you do not understand the process you are missing much.

Develop a love affair with chords. Don't spend all your time improvising over "So What".

Uh...now what was the question???

[Dad3353]

Originally Posted by Drumbler

I go to Ralph Patt's site and take a look at his Vanilla book...

I'm with Drumbler on this...
I have goodness knows how many versions of 'Misty', but the only way I can make sense of them is by referring to the Vanilla book. It's the only version I can play, for now (although I have recently acquired the 'Conti' one, in Vol VI; looking good...).
The 'roots' are in the Vanilla book, the 'Real' books are what others have already created from that (or rather from the basic composition...), but these variants are up to us to adopt or modify, or even ignore, depending on our taste and level of playing and understanding.
I've never been able to play 'as is' from a real book, but using Mickey Baker chords over Vanilla, I can work out my own. My referencing the 'Real' books only serves me by illustrating how little I know..!
(but I'm lazy, too. I consider it to be a quality...)

[bako]

Drumbler,

This would explain Ralph Patt not getting back to you.

Yahoo! Groups

[Drumbler]

Originally Posted by bako

Drumbler,

This would explain Ralph Patt not getting back to you.

Yahoo! Groups

Thanks, Bako.

Boy, that's a downer.

[pingu]

Originally Posted by derek

For free RB backing tracks, you can always got to the late Ralph Patt's site here. Good luck.

Ralph Patt's Jazz Web Page

wow lovely , great , love it , didn't know anyone had put this together
love the Vanilla concept