Your Best Must Have Jazz Guitar Books?

[GBRow]

I'm not much of a book guy. Over the years I've had a bunch and have tended to grab a little of this and a little of that from each rather than go through them systematically. I studied briefly with a player named Alan DeMause, and he had a couple of books published by Mel Bay that had good exercises in them for relative noobs. And if no one else will say it, I will -- Chord Chemistry by Ted Greene. The pages and pages of unplayable voicings are not all that useful, but his explanation of harmony is very helpful.

I have the books by Ted Greene. I read some of them, and you are right in that his explanation in the books are very clear and in detail unlike so many other guitar books. But the chords in the diagrams in the books are mostly very difficult to remember or apply to the real music, I felt.

I thought maybe it is due to my little knowledge on the theory, and will just keep on reading and practicing. But I also feel that the books are great resource to work with, and will help a lot in learning and improving the understanding and playing.

[AllanAllen]

I think Ted Greene wrote out different chord inversions and counterpoint progressions as a hobby. Then someone published his notebooks. It doesn't seem like something you can learn in less than a lifetime.

[wolflen]

I think Ted Greene wrote out different chord inversions and counterpoint progressions as a hobby. Then someone published his notebooks. It doesn't seem like something you can learn in less than a lifetime.

Greene's main focus was teaching.He was not a performer. His one solo album was produced by much prodding by others for him to do it.

On his website dedicated students/fans work to digitize his handwritten lessons..and this has taken years to go through the massive amount of work he left.

Many of his chord structures/progressions were through experimentation..showing what is possible..though for most of us.. not possible to play.

And yes..it would take a lifetime..perhaps several.

[jazzloverfat]

The Realbook. (If you had to pick just one, this would be it -- but you have to know how to read to get the most out of it).

OK, sooo... how does one read or use the Realbook?

I can read music - started w classical after all - but i don't get how a song can be 1 page... so i dismissed the Realbooks and never really looked into how to use them. What I do instead is look for a full music sheet of a song I want to play - which is not easy especially for jazz, tho YT can help w compiling a music sheet.

[GBRow]

Great info thanks. Just placed an order for the RV's book.

The RV's book arrived. Couldn't find any used copy for cheap.
Yes, the 1st chapter is about Shell Voicing, and I am learning it with the book.
It seems actually very practical and nice concept.

The book shows a chord diagram in the progression, so reader must find the other chords by moving up and down the frets when doing exercise. I seem to be able to follow the book OK, and learning new stuff which seems very useful, so feel it was a good buy. Thanks for the recommendation.

[pamosmusic]

OK, sooo... how does one read or use the Realbook?

I can read music - started w classical after all - but i don't get how a song can be 1 page... so i dismissed the Realbooks and never really looked into how to use them. What I do instead is look for a full music sheet of a song I want to play - which is not easy especially for jazz, tho YT can help w compiling a music sheet.

Probably starts with knowing that a jazz musician doesn’t expect (or particularly want) a performance to be notated for them.

So using the real book would entail knowing how to translate general chord symbols and a rhythmically square melody into a convincing performance given context and your instrument’s role.

[GBRow]

OK, sooo... how does one read or use the Realbook?

I can read music - started w classical after all - but i don't get how a song can be 1 page... so i dismissed the Realbooks and never really looked into how to use them. What I do instead is look for a full music sheet of a song I want to play - which is not easy especially for jazz, tho YT can help w compiling a music sheet.

Had similar questions on the Real Book. But after reading up the posts on the thread, I now use it for

1) Learning the melodies of the songs while practicing reading music.
2) Once melody is fully learnt, then trying to implement some bass and harmonic notes on certain part of the song.
3) Trying to implement pleasing chord turn-arounds between the chord changes.

Above is how I am trying to use the Real Book.

[AllanAllen]

Had similar questions on the Real Book. But after reading up the posts on the thread, I now use it for

1) Learning the melodies of the songs while practicing reading music.
2) Once melody is fully learnt, then trying to implement some bass and harmonic notes on certain part of the song.
3) Trying to implement pleasing chord turn-arounds between the chord changes.

Above is how I am trying to use the Real Book.

That’ll work

[marcwhy]

If we're strictly talking about "guitar" books, I also recommend Steve Khan's "Pentatonic Khancepts" and "Contemporary Chord Khancepts" - both practical, relatively easy (on the surface), and you can get a lot of mileage out of them!

[jazzloverfat]

Probably starts with knowing that a jazz musician doesn’t expect (or particularly want) a performance to be notated for them.

So using the real book would entail knowing how to translate general chord symbols and a rhythmically square melody into a convincing performance given context and your instrument’s role.

Soo... I should already know how to do the thing I’m asking how to do.... u do realize telling me the end result doesn't explain how to get there?!

I stated my context when I asked for help - I learnt classical guitar where everything I need to play a piece is written down on the staff. And while I do realize there is a big difference in the approach to music between the two genres, I just want to play a jazz song and sound like that particular song. Otherwise, I can pick a key and make my own music, which I can to some extent while sounding musical and intentional.

Getting back to my original question, a proper music sheet off someone's YT transcription for ex, gets me playing a jazz song as I hear it on an album. Or stuff from the Wolf Marshall books. Even the Miles Davies Omni was a million times more helpful in playing So What than a 1 page sheet I once saw. I tried looking at the Real Book but I don't know how to make it work for me - I feel there is not enough info there. To give you a blunt example as to why it doesn't work for me:
Where are the rest of the notes ?
When do I play the chords?
When do I play melody?
Do I play chords each bar? How many times per bar?
Do I mix chords and single notes in a bar?
Some pages in the Real Book don't even have the right note duration (i.e. everything is quarter notes when the recording clearly is much faster).

If the Real Book is only for fancy-pants pros or for band playing, just say so - dressing up git gud as some sort of mystical wisdom doesn’t make it less of a non-answer, it just makes it condescending....

[James W]

Soo... I should already know how to do the thing I’m asking how to do.... u do realize telling me the end result doesn't explain how to get there?!

I stated my context when I asked for help - I learnt classical guitar where everything I need to play a piece is written down on the staff. And while I do realize there is a big difference in the approach to music between the two genres, I just want to play a jazz song and sound like that particular song. Otherwise, I can pick a key and make my own music, which I can to some extent while sounding musical and intentional.

Getting back to my original question, a proper music sheet off someone's YT transcription for ex, gets me playing a jazz song as I hear it on an album. Or stuff from the Wolf Marshall books. Even the Miles Davies Omni was a million times more helpful in playing So What than a 1 page sheet I once saw. I tried looking at the Real Book but I don't know how to make it work for me - I feel there is not enough info there. To give you a blunt example as to why it doesn't work for me:
Where are the rest of the notes ?
When do I play the chords?
When do I play melody?
Do I play chords each bar? How many times per bar?
Do I mix chords and single notes in a bar?
Some pages in the Real Book don't even have the right note duration (i.e. everything is quarter notes when the recording clearly is much faster).

If the Real Book is only for fancy-pants pros or for band playing, just say so - dressing up git gud as some sort of mystical wisdom doesn’t make it less of a non-answer, it just makes it condescending....

I'm not a pro and have never experienced your issues with the Real Book. Other than acknowledging its mistakes, for example the head of Donna Lee, I still think it's very useful.

To answer your questions about when you play the chords etc. the Real Book generally works best in tandem with people who listen to a recording of the tune they're working on. With streaming these days this is easier than ever. So the sooner you start using your ears to interpret and make decisions, the better. The Randy Vincent book I mentioned upthread, The Guitarist's Introduction to Jazz, will aid you in interpreting Real Book charts and of course getting lessons from a good teacher...

[Mick-7]

Soo... I should already know how to do the thing I’m asking how to do.... u do realize telling me the end result doesn't explain how to get there?!

I stated my context when I asked for help - I learnt classical guitar where everything I need to play a piece is written down on the staff. And while I do realize there is a big difference in the approach to music between the two genres, I just want to play a jazz song and sound like that particular song. Otherwise, I can pick a key and make my own music, which I can to some extent while sounding musical and intentional.

Getting back to my original question, a proper music sheet off someone's YT transcription for ex, gets me playing a jazz song as I hear it on an album. Or stuff from the Wolf Marshall books. Even the Miles Davies Omni was a million times more helpful in playing So What than a 1 page sheet I once saw. I tried looking at the Real Book but I don't know how to make it work for me - I feel there is not enough info there. To give you a blunt example as to why it doesn't work for me:
Where are the rest of the notes ?
When do I play the chords?
When do I play melody?
Do I play chords each bar? How many times per bar?
Do I mix chords and single notes in a bar?
Some pages in the Real Book don't even have the right note duration (i.e. everything is quarter notes when the recording clearly is much faster).

The Real Book lead sheets are no different than the lead sheets you'd find in other fake books or on websites such as sheet music.com, they provide the melody and chords, and perhaps the lyrics, of a song, and it's up to you to interpret it however you like, which may be quite different than what the sheet music suggests.

"And while I do realize there is a big difference in the approach to music between the two genres, I just want to play a jazz song and sound like that particular song."

That's where listening to various artists recordings of a song come in, you can listen to their interpretations and decide how you'd like to approach it.

As to your questions....

"Where are the rest of the notes?"

Not sure what that means, a lead sheet will notate the melody of a tune as conceived by the composer and/or as it is usually played.

"When do I play the chords?"

The chords that correspond to the melody notes in each measure will be written out (as chord symbols).

"When do I play melody? Do I play chords each bar? How many times per bar? Do I mix chords and single notes in a bar?"

The answer to all these questions is: it's up to you. These are not classical pieces meant to be played precisely as written, they are vehicles for improvisation.

[AndyV]

Though I've been playing several instruments for 50 years, there are ideas in here I found helpful and novel.

[AllanAllen]

Let me start off by saying, it doesn't sound like you want to play jazz, so every answer will probably seem condescending to you. Your goal isn't what our goal is. That being said, I answered your questions below. You will likely be frustrated by the answers, as I was when I didn't get it.

Where are the rest of the notes ?

In your mind/ear

When do I play the chords?

When you think it sounds good

When do I play melody?

If you mean establishing the melody, usually at the start of the tune, sometimes after an intro.
If you mean when do you chord and when do you single note, when you think it sounds good.

Do I play chords each bar? How many times per bar?

If you wish, and as much as you want

Do I mix chords and single notes in a bar?

You can.



Basically with the real book, pick a tune, and give it a whirl, is it hard and confusing at first? Absolutely. Does it get easier? Yes, with time and failure, things improve.

If you just want to read arrangements, that's cool too. It's your life and your time, you'll never get more than you have. Don't let me spend it for you.

[acoustic_archtop]

I think Ted Greene wrote out different chord inversions and counterpoint progressions as a hobby. Then someone published his notebooks. It doesn't seem like something you can learn in less than a lifetime.

Yeah, even seems like just an exercise sometimes.

[acoustic_archtop]

OK, sooo... how does one read or use the Realbook?

I can read music - started w classical after all - but i don't get how a song can be 1 page... so i dismissed the Realbooks and never really looked into how to use them. What I do instead is look for a full music sheet of a song I want to play - which is not easy especially for jazz, tho YT can help w compiling a music sheet.

It gives you the melody and the progression.

Easy peasy.

[acoustic_archtop]

Soo... I should already know how to do the thing I’m asking how to do.... u do realize telling me the end result doesn't explain how to get there?!

I stated my context when I asked for help - I learnt classical guitar where everything I need to play a piece is written down on the staff. And while I do realize there is a big difference in the approach to music between the two genres, I just want to play a jazz song and sound like that particular song. Otherwise, I can pick a key and make my own music, which I can to some extent while sounding musical and intentional.

Getting back to my original question, a proper music sheet off someone's YT transcription for ex, gets me playing a jazz song as I hear it on an album. Or stuff from the Wolf Marshall books. Even the Miles Davies Omni was a million times more helpful in playing So What than a 1 page sheet I once saw. I tried looking at the Real Book but I don't know how to make it work for me - I feel there is not enough info there. To give you a blunt example as to why it doesn't work for me:
Where are the rest of the notes ?
When do I play the chords?
When do I play melody?
Do I play chords each bar? How many times per bar?
Do I mix chords and single notes in a bar?
Some pages in the Real Book don't even have the right note duration (i.e. everything is quarter notes when the recording clearly is much faster).

If the Real Book is only for fancy-pants pros or for band playing, just say so - dressing up git gud as some sort of mystical wisdom doesn’t make it less of a non-answer, it just makes it condescending....

Do you really think there are answers to those questions? There is no answer. That's jazz.

[Stringswinger]

Playing jazz is playing what you hear. If you cannot hear it, you should not be playing it (Okay, I admit that I stole that from Joe Pass, but it is true in any case). And when soloing, one should tell a story, your story to be precise. It takes a lot of woodshedding and ear development to be able to play jazz well. There are no shortcuts, though some people are born with a gift in which playing this music comes easier than it does for others. And other people are born with a disability that will prevent them from ever being a good jazz musician. That's life and it ain't fair.

If improvisation is something that one lacks the aptitude to do well, or the commitment of time necessary to develop, one can learn and play arrangements written by others. Or one could take up golf or tennis. Being a serious musician is a calling. For those of us who paid our dues, it is arguable that the music chose us, not the other way around.

[jazzloverfat]

the Real Book generally works best in tandem with people who listen to a recording of the tune they're working on. With streaming these days this is easier than ever. So the sooner you start using your ears to interpret and make decisions, the better. The Randy Vincent book I mentioned upthread, The Guitarist's Introduction to Jazz, will aid you in interpreting Real Book charts and of course getting lessons from a good teacher...

I see... I never did ear training or transcription exercises so playing what I hear is very very difficult for me. Whenever I play w/o a music sheet I just go with gut feeling and what sounds musical to me. At first it was trial and error, but now I remember what worked and build on that.

I had good teachers... but um, well, with one exception, they don't last too long w me T_T for various reasons. So currently I steal ideas from here to figure things out on my own and play mostly alone. Every now and then I do try to jam w a friend who plays bass professionally and who's pretty versatile when it comes to genres.

"Where are the rest of the notes?"
Not sure what that means, a lead sheet will notate the melody of a tune as conceived by the composer and/or as it is usually played.

So i attached an example of what I mean of So What - one from the realbook, one from a book that has a George Benson version (it was handy, i much prefer the Grant Green version, but for this purpose it's the same thing) This is what I meant by "where are the notes". With the latter, I can play the tune and get close to what I hear on the record. With the real book page... I'm playing the theme (?) over and over and that's it? Like it's a 9 minute song, why is it only a page??

The answer to all these questions is: it's up to you. These are not classical pieces meant to be played precisely as written, they are vehicles for improvisation.

I get that classical is written in stone (tho according to what i read on this very forum some think jazz is the same lol) ... but it still somehow feels weird to make up my on stuff, especially since it won't sound like what i hear on the record and which is what i want to play.

it doesn't sound like you want to play jazz, so every answer will probably seem condescending to you. Your goal isn't what our goal is. That being said, I answered your questions below. You will likely be frustrated by the answers, as I was when I didn't get it.

If you just want to read arrangements, that's cool too. It's your life and your time, you'll never get more than you have. Don't let me spend it for you.

So this is just one of my hobbies - I love music and I try to play it for myself. I'm not looking to be a professional musician when I graduate or anything like that; my education has no formal musical training whatsoever. However, my parental units took me to concerts and opera from a young age (i could put up w classical but my first jazz concerts bored the living hell out of me) so I do have a deep appreciation and love for music. I started being curious about jazz because of random rap and hip-hop I was listening to and I wanted to know where the samples came from; listening to EDM also kinda prepared me for long instrumental songs. Then I started raiding the family CD and LP collection for proper stuff to listen to. I also happen to like guitars as objects of art (think industrial design kinda stuff). So one day I asked for a guitar and a teacher to give it a go and now I can play on my own, in a key i pick and be musical about it. Or follow a score and play something by someone. But a one page for a 9 minute tune just does my head in

So I want to play jazz songs and for example sound likeGrant Green playing So what, or the latest thing I'm trying to work through rn - Julian Lage's Nocturne using a transcription i found on YT.
Otherwise, like I said before, I pick a key and just play stuff out using a particular rhythm or feel but since I'm no musician it will never have the same artistic quality to it no matter how much entertainment i get from it.
EDIT: forgot to mention here, The Advancing Guitarist by Mick Goodrick does help a lot with this part, even though I'm not sure I get everything he's trying to tell me...
While I can add a lick or a phrase from someone when I play random stuff, I don't seem to be able to pick a song AND someone's style and play that song without a score.

By arrangements you mean a full music score? Why are you saying it is not useful to play from one?


Finally, I don't find pertinent and helpful answers condescending so thank you James, Mick and Allan for trying.

Also sorry if I derailed the thread, but I was genuinely curious how one uses the damn Realbook...

[Chonker]

I see... I never did ear training or transcription exercises so playing what I hear is very very difficult for me. Whenever I play w/o a music sheet I just go with gut feeling and what sounds musical to me. At first it was trial and error, but now I remember what worked and build on that.

I had good teachers... but um, well, with one exception, they don't last too long w me T_T for various reasons. So currently I steal ideas from here to figure things out on my own and play mostly alone. Every now and then I do try to jam w a friend who plays bass professionally and who's pretty versatile when it comes to genres.






So i attached an example of what I mean of So What - one from the realbook, one from a book that has a George Benson version (it was handy, i much prefer the Grant Green version, but for this purpose it's the same thing) This is what I meant by "where are the notes". With the latter, I can play the tune and get close to what I hear on the record. With the real book page... I'm playing the theme (?) over and over and that's it? Like it's a 9 minute song, why is it only a page??



I get that classical is written in stone (tho according to what i read on this very forum some think jazz is the same lol) ... but it still somehow feels weird to make up my on stuff, especially since it won't sound like what i hear on the record and which is what i want to play.






So this is just one of my hobbies - I love music and I try to play it for myself. I'm not looking to be a professional musician when I graduate or anything like that; my education has no formal musical training whatsoever. However, my parental units took me to concerts and opera from a young age (i could put up w classical but my first jazz concerts bored the living hell out of me) so I do have a deep appreciation and love for music. I started being curious about jazz because of random rap and hip-hop I was listening to and I wanted to know where the samples came from; listening to EDM also kinda prepared me for long instrumental songs. Then I started raiding the family CD and LP collection for proper stuff to listen to. I also happen to like guitars as objects of art (think industrial design kinda stuff). So one day I asked for a guitar and a teacher to give it a go and now I can play on my own, in a key i pick and be musical about it. Or follow a score and play something by someone. But a one page for a 9 minute tune just does my head in

So I want to play jazz songs and for example sound likeGrant Green playing So what, or the latest thing I'm trying to work through rn - Julian Lage's Nocturne using a transcription i found on YT.
Otherwise, like I said before, I pick a key and just play stuff out using a particular rhythm or feel but since I'm no musician it will never have the same artistic quality to it no matter how much entertainment i get from it.
EDIT: forgot to mention here, The Advancing Guitarist by Mick Goodrick does help a lot with this part, even though I'm not sure I get everything he's trying to tell me...
While I can add a lick or a phrase from someone when I play random stuff, I don't seem to be able to pick a song AND someone's style and play that song without a score.

By arrangements you mean a full music score? Why are you saying it is not useful to play from one?


Finally, I don't find pertinent and helpful answers condescending so thank you James, Mick and Allan for trying.

Also sorry if I derailed the thread, but I was genuinely curious how one uses the damn Realbook...

So I’m a Jazz novice myself. I’ve never played Jazz with others (and probably never will). But I have gigged and recorded in other genres. The first proper Jazz solo I ever transcribed was to “So What” and I’ll attach a video of that if I can find it.

In my humble opinion the thing about the Real Book is that you don’t really think of the music as a whole arrangement by itself. Think of it more as a frame. You build the arrangement (either solo or with other musicians) in real time using your training and imagination. You “improvise”. You literally make it up on the spot. The lead sheet is the “topic” of the conversation that you have with the other musicians and the audience.

I think that’s probably one of the defining elements of Jazz really. That interplay.

And, other than the form of the tune, melody and the chords, you really do just make the rest up. As I understand it, in a typical jam the melody (or head) gets played once or twice. Then the soloists take turns improvising on the chords. One time through the page, from beginning to end is a “chorus”. There are no hard and fast rules about how many choruses a soloist plays through. Generally it’s a few or as many as needed to say what they have to say. Then they pass it on to the next soloist.

Once everyone who wants to has taken a solo, the melody/head is played again (head out). And the song ends.

Notice on that very lead sheet you posted, on the bottom, it lays out the form for the soloists very succinctly. THATS the tune. That’s what you build your house on.

Now, believe me, learning how to do this well is a lifelong endeavor and it’s an incredible amount of work.

Nothing wrong at all with just buying prefabricated arrangements of Jazz tunes for guitar (sort of like Classical pieces) and just learning those. That’s called “Chord Melody” style playing. I have tons of those pieces I’ve bought over the years and I like playing those as well.

And believe it or not, there are some cats that can actually IMPROVISE whole chord melody arrangements on the spot. Its mind blowing.

But again, you don’t have to improvise at all. Do what you want and have fun.

[starjasmine]

Soo... I should already know how to do the thing I’m asking how to do.... u do realize telling me the end result doesn't explain how to get there?!

I stated my context when I asked for help - I learnt classical guitar where everything I need to play a piece is written down on the staff. And while I do realize there is a big difference in the approach to music between the two genres, I just want to play a jazz song and sound like that particular song.

I haven't read the whole thread but wanted to get a quick, direct answer to you that might fill in a bit of missing context. You've already hit on that bit of context without being aware of its depth: the BIG difference in approach between jazz and classical music is exemplified by the difference in a fully-notated arrangement vs. what's commonly referred to as a "lead sheet." The Real Book is a collection of lead sheets. A lead sheet is basically shorthand that allows an experienced jazz player to fake a tune they haven't played before (hence the jokey name of the Real Book - a collection of lead sheets is colloquially known as a "fake book.")

To use the Real Book or any of a number of other jazz fakebooks effectively, you need to know how to interpret the chord symbols and understand what any of the terse stylistic names (Swing, funk, bossa, samba, etc) imply so that you can play the song convincingly. Since you don't have this background, the Real Book raises as many questions for you as it answers.

That is not meant to be condescending, and I hope you didn't take it that way. FWIW, Peter (panosmusic) is a knowledgeable, helpful player and teacher who is one of the more helpful posters on this site. He wasn't trying to blow smoke.

And the tip that another poster (Allen?) gave suggesting that you listen to a recording of the tune you want to play is very practical advice. You could study all sorts of background material to build your skills - and take years doing that - or try to cop what you need for the moment by listening to a few recordings. It's a quick way to quickly familiarize yourself with the style and vocabulary that the lead sheet sketches out.

For a quick dictionary of common moveable chord grips that you can use to play Real Book lead sheets, check out the Mickey Baker book that others have mentioned.

HTH

SJ

[Mick-7]

So i attached an example of what I mean of So What - one from the realbook, one from a book that has a George Benson version (it was handy, i much prefer the Grant Green version, but for this purpose it's the same thing) This is what I meant by "where are the notes". With the latter, I can play the tune and get close to what I hear on the record. With the real book page... I'm playing the theme (?) over and over and that's it? Like it's a 9 minute song, why is it only a page??

Thanks for the clarification..... As I'm sure you're aware, jazz musicians seldom if ever (more like never) play a song's melody as written, they revise it, embellish it, change the rhythms, etc. I don't think I've ever met anyone who started out by playing jazz, most of us started out playing simpler forms of music - rock, blues, etc., copying B.B. King licks or whatever, that was how we began to "play what we hear," and sooner or later moved on to more complex things.

So that's where you should start: play variations on the melody. Some of the greatest jazz musicians never strayed too far from the melody: Satchmo, Lester Young, et. al. So What is a poor vehicle for this exercise, because it has no melody to speak of, it's a modal tune good for jamming on.

[grahambop]

Like it's a 9 minute song, why is it only a page??

The real book is only intended to show the form of the tune itself. The tune of So What is not 9 minutes long, it is only 32 bars long so that’s all the book shows. It only gives the basic melody and chord symbols because that’s all that jazz players need to play it. You need to know enough about jazz chords to interpret the chord symbols with appropriate chords on the guitar. It helps to hear the record so you know where to play the chords rhythmically.

The other 8 minutes or so you heard on the record is the musicians improvising over that 32-bar form and chord progression. (They usually repeat the tune again right at the end, after everyone has played their solos).

If you want a written arrangement of a whole performance, or some of the solos, that is called a transcription. The real book does not contain that.

Sometimes the real book refers to a specific recording, all that means is that that is the recorded version they took the tune from.

[GBRow]

No no no, please don't feel the thread is derailed. It got just more versatile and interesting like good jazz tune with exotic embellishments.

I am a total newbie who played pop music with cowboy chord for 5 months, but was getting bored with them. So, decided to learn jazz, and maybe it has been just 1 month since started working with some jazz books.

The Real Book for me is OK for getting to know the melodies of unfamiliar songs. It also helps me reading music. I use it every night trying to play one song from it for 10-15 minutes. The pocket version Real Book also works as a paperweight.

I am sure the pros and more skilled guitarists use it more usefully adding harmonies and turn around chords in the melodies. I am not at that stage now, but hoping it will come to me sometime in the future.

[GBRow]