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What are the differences between the versions of the Real Book?
In what respect are they going to help the beginner jazz guitar learners? Are these books for the beginners? Or should they get these books later on in intermediate stage?
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01-30-2026 06:00 PM
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Bb version and concert version of anything will be the same thing written for different instruments. This refers to the instruments intended to read it.
Originally Posted by GBRow
For a lot of reasons, the named note “C” will sound different on different instruments.
A C or concert instrument will sound a C when they play their C — piano, guitar, other strings.
A Bb instrument will sound a piano’s (or concert) Bb when they play their C — clarinet, trumpet, tenor and soprano saxophone.
An Eb instrument will sound a pianos Eb when they play their C — alto sax
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So you want the C or concert version of anything you’re interested in playing. Guitar also reads up an octave so sometimes you’ll read something and it’ll sound weird and low, in which case move it up an octave
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With regards to "help the beginner jazz guitar learner": A lot depends on how one intends to use the material. E.g. if one is playing with another guitarist, (especially another beginner \ mid-level one), both should use the same source material for a song. If one wishes to play the song in a similar manner to something they heard on a recording one should try to find a transcription of the recording (or at least lead-sheet). If one just wishes to learn the song, I recommend getting multiple sources. While a lot of the chords used will be same, there will be differences. Thus, one can create their own lead-sheet by the taking chords from different versions to get what sounds most pleasing to them. Originally Posted by GBRow
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I have a "pocket size" Bb edition for my trumpet playing. It doesn't have quite as many tunes in it. For guitar, as others have said, you don't need it, you need the C edition. Any more, it seems like tablets are what people are using, and I've seen versions (iReal?) that will transpose the changes.
I'm still on the fence about all that, I try to stay old school and memorize tunes, and I don't use a tablet, but maybe it's time to get with the times...
There's probably a thread here about tablets and Real Book apps.
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Thanks for your info. I was going to get the C instrument version, but found B flat version A5 size with a MP3 backing track tunes USB drive in good price on eBay. So ended up buying it. For £14 including delivery, it was the cheapest Real Book in the whole world. I will hunt for the C instrument version for good price through time, as I am not in any rush getting these books, and have plenty of other books to work with.
I am practicing and playing guitar all by myself for my own pleasure, hence I don't need to worry about playing together with others for now.
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The Real Book B flat arrived today, and it was not A5 format. It is A4 format which is large size. I was pleasantly surprised with the size of the book. The included backing track in the USB drive is total 240 songs, and sound excellent.
I compared this B flat version with C instrument version (online), and the contents are exactly same. But the chords on each song is different - the B flat version is 1 step higher in all the chords. This seems straight forward for converting between the two books, if needed.
The notes and keys of each songs are also different on the staffs between the two versions of the Real Books. This could be good study material for converting the notes between the two keys for the same songs, which will help for playing songs in all different keys.
I went and ordered a C instrument version in A5 size, which is the lowest price in the series - perhaps due to the smaller format size? The 2x Real Books look good study material for the jazz standards practice.
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That is because the Bb edition is not for guitar, it is for Bb transposing instruments (e.g. trumpet, tenor sax) as pamos explained above. Originally Posted by GBRow
When you finger and blow a C on those instruments, it actually sounds a whole tone lower (i.e. Bb). So all their music has to be written a whole tone up from the required sounding pitch.
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I see. I practiced clarinet in the high school band long long time ago. We used to practice mostly the march tunes. Wish I continued the practicing at least 3 years till the graduation. I came out from the band just after 6 months because we were moving to different country at the time due to my father's work.
Anyhow, I tried playing The Girl From Ipanema in The Real Book b flat, and it starts with Gmaj7 chord in the Key of G, and it was easy to play and sounded OK on my guitar. I will try playing the same songs in the C version when it arrives. All good fun.
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Looking with suspicion at my comrades in the horn section, I've always wondered why? What caused your minds to call a C, a Bflat? This would make a good music theory conspiracy! Would it not? It occurred long before the Russians started using their microwave weapons on our embassies. Maybe aliens.
Reeds and strings are vibrating the same air for christ sake!
Alas, it has to do with making it easier for horn players so that they don't have to change fingerings or instrument.Last edited by skykomishone; 02-02-2026 at 02:42 PM.
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I think it’s also why when you get into jazz, you have to learn lots of things in weird keys like Bb and Eb.
It’s funny actually, now I find it kind of strange to play things in E or A.
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I couldn't find the other songs I was going to practice in the Real Book volume 1.
They are,
Fly To The Moon
Summer Time
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
In which volume / book could I find these songs?
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My brother... old school/memorize. Use sheets to learn of course, but then internalize/absorb/memorize. When I see musicians who do that, they get an extra notch of respect (above those who read while performing) from me. I realize some gigs are actually "reading gigs" and that's fine. But when I go out to see live music, like a trio or a band, I really dislike seeing them reading. Just my $0.02. I realize we are a dying breed. Originally Posted by JGinNJ
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Are you talking about the Hal Leonard Real Books? (I have 3 vols. of these). Originally Posted by GBRow
There are also other fakebooks online which will have these tunes, e.g. this one:
https://www.stat.rice.edu/~dobelman/...zStandards.pdf
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Yes, my copy is HAL LEONARD volume 1.
Thank you for the link. That PDF version seems to have every songs I was looking for for now.
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The call a Bb a C. Originally Posted by skykomishone
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There are loads of realbook downloads on the web. All keys and volumes.
You can print the ones you want to work on.
Partitions gratuites. Real Book - Volume 1, 2, 3(C, Eb, Bb)
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Great stuff. It is very nice to have them on the computer or ipad screen as well as in the paper book format. Originally Posted by Sigmund451
Many thanks for the link. Downloaded them all, and they are in my computer now.
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The Real Book in C pocket edition arrived. It is a real small book in A5 size, and was wondering if it is worth it. It is hard to read the content listing all the songs. The actual notes in the charts are ok to read.
I tried playing a few songs from both in C and B flat books. It looks if I tune one of my guitars to B flat for C ( half step lower), then both will sound exactly same.
The content of the books are not the same. Some are missing from the other, and some songs which are not in C are in B flat version, and vice versa. Both C and B flat books don't have "Autumn Leaves", "Summer Time", "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", "Fly To The Moon", which are very popular and familiar to most folks.
But the C book has some Latin songs such as "Besame Mucho", which are not in the B flat book. This is strange because both books are titled as "SIXTH EDITION".
For chords and notes, it is just half step lowered on all the songs on C version, or half step sharped on the B flat version.
The smaller A5 Real Book C in A5 size is definitely handy to take around in a bag, but not definitely small enough to fit into any pockets despite its title of the book, unless your clothes have extra large deep and wide pockets.
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You are correct that some songs are missing from the Bb 6th edition, but not Autumn Leaves (pg 39).
The key difference is a WHOLE step, not a half step. For guitar, I would not waste my time with the Bb book. It is goo practice to play in different keys, though. An example is "Like Someone in Love", the Coltrane RealBook version is in Eb (F for Bb instruments, nice & easy), but other fake books have it in C, which lays nicely on guitar for chord melody.
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Yes, you are correct. Autumn Leaves is in p.39 of Bb book. You are also correct it is a WHOLE step. Thank you for clarifying on that too. Originally Posted by JGinNJ
I still like the Bb book, because it is huge size ideal for home use, and when played the songs in the book, it sounds nice and accurate. Of course it is not the same key as the standard guitar keys. But for sight reading practice, it is OK.
And having the pocket edition of C Real Book compliments any differences on the Bb book.
And having the other volumes of The Real Book in PDF downloaded into computer made the practice resource plentiful, which will give years of playing and practicing material. I feel I have enough of them for now.
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You know you can just get a full size C book too?
I really don’t think this is a practical solution. It’s a useful skill to be able to read and transpose at sight, but if you’re using music for your own performance and to play with others, you should be using the correct transposition. Not sure if there’s any particular reason you’re going down this road.
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I got the Bb book, because it was cheap. But when it arrived, it was good full size with the MP3 files, which was good value. For practicing the songs, it plays in different key, but it doesn't seem to matter too much. The songs sound good to me, and I am not really expecting to play with others ever. I am just playing for me for my own pleasure. And only thing I am aiming for is just getting better in playing whatever music I see in the chart book or hear, to be able to play along with them and make good sound. Originally Posted by pamosmusic
If ever, opportunities comes to me playing with other people, then I am sure things can get arranged tuning to each others' instruments, and doing plenty of rehearsals.
And at the end of the day, I also have the C version of the book albeit in pocket format - it is usable even in the smaller prints.
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the backing track to ipanema for example will still play in F, even if your Bb book has it in G. you are aware of that, i hope? Originally Posted by GBRow
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Good point. Yes, I am aware of it. It seems all songs in the backing tracks are like that. I tried "ALL BLUES", and it was playing G7 in the C Real Book rather than A7 in Bb Real Book. Originally Posted by djg
So, all the backing tracks seem to be playing in the key of the the C Real Book. But it is included in the Bb Real Book. I couldn't find any C Real Book with the backing track for sale. Hence buying them both was a good idea, if backing tracks are also needed. Must admit they are excellent backing tracks.Last edited by GBRow; 02-07-2026 at 09:23 PM.
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