I am familiar with fake books, and I know the C books are for concert C instruments like piano and guitar, Bb for instruments like tenor sax and clarinet, Eb books for alto sax, and so on - not the key of the music.

As a lifelong Bb tenor sax player, I can read a C book and transpose it in my head up a full step and adjust the key signature as long as the melody isn't very complicated.

My brother-in-law is a seasoned musician, a good sight reader and I'm sure he just wants a good start in what he is requested to do and will learn more as he goes.

I've never been interested in that end of the business myself. This has nothing to do with my personal religious philosophies, it's more that I like playing for a dancing, cheering audience. Sitting around during the services and waiting for my chance to play just isn't as rewarding to my spirit. We often play 3 or 4 hours non-stop, without even taking a break. I like that.

I do appreciate your comments, and will pass them on to him to help him make better choices on how to start.

He is not planing to use Band-in-a-Box but to hire some of the 'club date' musicians he is used to playing with. They can pull off some very good arrangements on the fly by knowing what song, what key, and if necessary use a fake book. That's another end of the business I've never ventured into.

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Many years ago I played in a band here in South Florida. The organist in our band had a Sunday gig playing at a cathedral in Palm Beach, the same one the Kennedy's went to.

I'd go to mass with him and sit in the organ/choir loft.

He wasn't allowed to play any music that wasn't written by a Roman Catholic composer. He had a book of approved songs, many of which didn't have chord symbols, and he "faked" the chords as he played them. If they weren't the right chords, nobody noticed, certainly not I, as they seemed to fit the melodies perfectly. I think that is a rare talent. But I loved when he played on the big 64' pipes that rattled my chest.

After the masses were all done and the church was empty one Sunday he played some rock music on that big pipe organ. Of course the sounds were inappropriate, but the power was awesome.

Notes

Last edited by Notes Norton; 06/08/20 04:20 AM.
Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
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