Viewing Fake Books on e-Reader

**floatingpickup** · 04-01-2026, 03:09 PM

I’m not sure which part of the forum I should post this on but I’ll try it here, since an e-reader is technically a “gizmo”. I have hard copies of all the Jazz Fakebooks that I could find over the years. I have always been happy to pay for legal versions, so I mainly use the Sher books and the Hal Leonard Real Books. I also have digital copies of some of those Fakebooks, in pdf format. I’m not sure about the origin of those files, but I feel comfortable using them, since I own legal hard copies of the same books. A few years ago, I copied the pdf versions onto a Kobo e-reader, so I could access them while on vacation etc. I went with the Kobo at the time, because it seemed to be the e-reader that handled pdf’s best. Recently, my Kobo seems to have quit working so I need to replace it, and I am trying to decide which brand to buy this time. A Kindle seems appealing, since I already have a Kindle App on my iPad which I use to access other content from Amazon. The problem is, I am not sure if I will be able to view those older pdf copies of my Fakebooks on a Kindle. I have read that you can import pdf’s into the Kindle Paperwhite, but it is unclear if they will work without some sort of reformatting. Has anyone tried this, and can share their experience?
Thanks,
Keith

**pcjazz** · 04-01-2026, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by floatingpickup

I’m not sure which part of the forum I should post this on but I’ll try it here, since an e-reader is technically a “gizmo”. I have hard copies of all the Jazz Fakebooks that I could find over the years. I have always been happy to pay for legal versions, so I mainly use the Sher books and the Hal Leonard Real Books. I also have digital copies of some of those Fakebooks, in pdf format. I’m not sure about the origin of those files, but I feel comfortable using them, since I own legal hard copies of the same books. A few years ago, I copied the pdf versions onto a Kobo e-reader, so I could access them while on vacation etc. I went with the Kobo at the time, because it seemed to be the e-reader that handled pdf’s best. Recently, my Kobo seems to have quit working so I need to replace it, and I am trying to decide which brand to buy this time. A Kindle seems appealing, since I already have a Kindle App on my iPad which I use to access other content from Amazon. The problem is, I am not sure if I will be able to view those older pdf copies of my Fakebooks on a Kindle. I have read that you can import pdf’s into the Kindle Paperwhite, but it is unclear if they will work without some sort of reformatting. Has anyone tried this, and can share their experience?
Thanks,
Keith

Hey Keith, if you already have an iPad why not use it for this? Apps like ForScore let you import fakebook pdfs and index them for easy retrieval of individual charts, along with annotations, setlist organization etc. Works for me!

**Aiq** · 04-01-2026, 03:57 PM

iPad for me.

**Doctor Jeff** · 04-01-2026, 04:45 PM

I use an ipad, but TBH can't remember which program I use. I don't have too many songs on PDF.

I think my BIL uses ForScore for that. He does a lot of 60s music for solo guitar and piano with vocals.

**AllanAllen** · 04-01-2026, 04:47 PM

When I play out, most guys seem to be using iPads.

If I had an iPad I’d probably be looking at this forum during the bass solo.

**Unclegrumpy** · 04-01-2026, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by AllanAllen

…….If I had an iPad I’d probably be looking at this forum during the bass solo.

Nobody would blame you

**floatingpickup** · 04-01-2026, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by pcjazz

Hey Keith, if you already have an iPad why not use it for this? Apps like ForScore let you import fakebook pdfs and index them for easy retrieval of individual charts, along with annotations, setlist organization etc. Works for me!

Hi Paul:
I do use an iPad for just about everything, including reading pdf’s. Having said that, an e-reader has a few advantages for this purpose - extremely long battery life (weeks) easy to read in all sorts of lighting, small and light enough to throw in the pocket of a gig bag. For around $100, an e-reader is a nice way to carry a bunch of Fakebooks to a gig or wherever you may be headed.
Keith

**pcjazz** · 04-01-2026, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by floatingpickup

Hi Paul:
I do use an iPad for just about everything, including reading pdf’s. Having said that, an e-reader has a few advantages for this purpose - extremely long battery life (weeks) easy to read in all sorts of lighting, small and light enough to throw in the pocket of a gig bag. For around $100, an e-reader is a nice way to carry a bunch of Fakebooks to a gig or wherever you may be headed.
Keith

Fair enough, but I could never read charts on that small screen. I use a big iPad Pro, fits in my gig bag pocket or amp bag, will run about 8 hours between charges. And forScore is brilliant.

**Pivrich** · 04-01-2026, 10:04 PM

Well there is the TCL NXTPaper 14.3 for around $360. Have not seen it nor used it, but it is interesting.

**pcjazz** · 04-01-2026, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Pivrich

Well there is the TCL NXTPaper 14.3 for around $360. Have not seen it nor used it, but it is interesting.

forScore doesn’t run on Android unfortunately.

**Cunamara** · 04-02-2026, 12:17 AM

I use UnRealbook on my iPad, for the past 10-12 years. It handles individual PDFs for songs and also multipage book PDFs.

**dconeill** · 04-02-2026, 01:41 AM

The old rule of buying computers was:
1. Find the software that does what you want, and only after that:
2. Buy the computer that software runs on.

And in this case, add
3. Make sure the screen is big enough for you to use in the intended fashion