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Using a Songbook

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(@dave-t)
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Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 239
Topic starter  

I just received a present of the Hal Leonard Complete Beatles for voice/piano/guitar.

I'm used to playing from tab or the transcriptions on here where generally everything can be printed out on one or two pages.

Now I have this huge book where a song may be spread out over 3-4 pages and you have to flip back and forth to various spots, at least until you memorize everything.

How do you deal with the practicalities of using on one of these monsters without hiring a professional page turner?

Thanks.


   
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(@dogbite)
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Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 6348
 

I glue a long stick to my nose. then I can flip the pages w/o letting go of the guitar.

actually, I have xeroxed and spread the sheets out on a stand.
I had to get a heavier stand, becuase those songbooks are too heavy for the lght weight one I had.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=644552
http://www.soundclick.com/couleerockinvaders


   
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(@dagwood)
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Joined: 19 years ago
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I glue a long stick to my nose. then I can flip the pages w/o letting go of the guitar.

What kind of wood do you use? I personally like the texture of Balsa, but white pine adds a "woodsy" smell to the room. :)

The page turning, I think is inherent with any song book. Perhaps that's why "Easy Tab" is so popular. Once you know the song and understand the changes, its easy to read, Chords above the lyrics....however you'll need to learn the lead/melodical parts by heart.

Keep practicing those songs till you get em down, then create a cheat sheet of sorts to refresh yourself.

Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing. - Wernher Von Braun (1912-1977)


   
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(@dogbite)
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dagwood. my page turning stick is solid mahogany. I like the balsa wood idea. much lighter. :D

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=644552
http://www.soundclick.com/couleerockinvaders


   
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(@scrybe)
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are you sure balsa is better? I reckon solid mahogany would give improved tone....

I find (a) memorising the tune (b) copying the chord changes onto a single sheet, or (c) (when I had access to school/uni photocopying machines for free) photocopying the whole book onto single sheets works well. You haven't broken copyright if you only copy 1 chapter or x pages for educational purposes, so if you copy each song on a separate occasion I think you're fine. I'm a rebel, so I am gonna take the 5th amendment with regards to what I did. 8)

Ra Er Ga.

Ninjazz have SuperChops.

http://www.blipfoto.com/Scrybe


   
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(@blueline)
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Joined: 17 years ago
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I have invented a method in which each song bock is imprinted on contact lenses. Using this method, I do not have to turn pages. Although you do lose the added bonus of that having 'real mahogany' smell, you can get the contacts in many different colors.

(Warning, left and right lenses should not be mixed) Batteries sold seperate. Your results may vary. Please see a physician to see if you are healthy enough to wear Songbook Lenses. Not available in Canada. Staring at a white surface for more than 15 minutes will cause the image to burn into your retina. Please purchase the "Songbook Lenses screen savers to prevent this from happening)

Teamwork- A few harmless flakes working together can unleash an avalanche of destruction.


   
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(@clideguitar)
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Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 375
 

Yea - it's a pain. Well, I'll even do this for some of David's lessens. Usually the verse and chorus are repeats and I'll print out the rest of the lryics from somewhere else on one page.

Bob Jessie


   
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(@jesica)
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Joined: 16 years ago
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Thanks for such a useful information :")


   
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(@scrybe)
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Posts: 2241
 

My stick HAS to be American made...by Mexicans. The pages turn like buttah. make sure you get a good notation tech to set it up properly first though, sometimes the action can be too low and you miss the page you try to turn, or worse, you overturn. I know I'm not the only to suffer this embarrasing misfortune. :oops:

Ra Er Ga.

Ninjazz have SuperChops.

http://www.blipfoto.com/Scrybe


   
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(@trguitar)
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Joined: 17 years ago
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My hands are on my guitar, I use an alternate appendage to turn the pages ................. :shock:

"Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard,
grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em."
-- The Webb Wilder Credo --


   
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(@rahul)
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Joined: 18 years ago
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How do you deal with the practicalities of using on one of these monsters without hiring a professional page turner?

I never knew that there existed 'Professional Page Turners' (PPTs?)


   
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(@twistedlefty)
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This is why we have children!
Blueline for the win! very funnay.

#4491....


   
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(@clideguitar)
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My hands are on my guitar, I use an alternate appendage to turn the pages ................. :shock:

TR, I'm getting a disturbing mental image of this......

Bob Jessie


   
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(@wes-inman)
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Joined: 20 years ago
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Dave

Take a sheet of paper and write the song out by measures. So you end up with something like this:

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Intro- Am / Am7 / D7/F# / F / Am / G / D / E /

1st Verse- Am / Am7 / D7/F# / F / Am / G / D / E /

Am / Am7 / D7/F# / F / Am / G / C / E /

Bridge- A / C#m / F#m / A / Bm / Bm7 / E / E7 / X 2

2nd Verse- Repeat 1st verse progression

Repeat Bridge

Solo- same chord progression as verse

3rd Verse- Repeat 1st verse progression

Outro solo- Repeat verse progression 3 times

That may not be exact to the recording, did that from memory. But you get the idea.

This is an easy way to condense the music so that it is easy to read and memorize. :D

If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis


   
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(@dogbite)
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Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 6348
 

Wes has the right idea. many times when I have to make up a set list I jot down the chords like that.
of course, it implies that you have the song down at practice. then glancing at the chrod notes it can all fall into place; jogging the memory.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=644552
http://www.soundclick.com/couleerockinvaders


   
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