At that recent jazz show you saw, were the players reading charts? Did you notice? And if you did, did you sneak a closer look?
Different gigs call for different preparation
Some accompanists have incredible ears and can play any standard song from memory; all you need to do is call a tune and name your key. Most great players are skilled readers too. If you want to get your creative ideas into a tune, or want some familiar sounds to help you feel confident, then you probably need to bring some charts.
Time to go shopping! Remember that respecting copyright is good karma. Don’t just photocopy your friend’s photocopied chart. Go out and purchase that book of songs.
It’s pretty easy to find sheet music for all the songs you love. However, you want to invest in a version that fits your needs. Jazz vocalists usually need lead sheets in a comfortable key with the original melody and decent chord symbols. Learners, you may not be ready to evaluate the key, melody, and chords on your own. However, determining who will be using your score may help you decide what to prioritize when purchasing sheet music.
Who is going to read the score and why?
You
- to learn the song
Your Voice Teacher
- to help you learn the song
- to help choose the right key
- for rehearsal accompaniment
The Piano Accompanist
- for rehearsal and performance
- for un-rehearsed performances (sight reading)
- a player who prefers improvising accompaniment from chord symbols
- a player who prefers written notes
The Band
- a rhythm section which may include piano, guitar, bass, and drums
- for rehearsal and performance
- for un-rehearsed performances (sight reading)
The Best Place for Jazz Vocalists to Buy Charts
Mim’s Favourite
Sher Music Co. offers lead sheets with the most accurate melodies and chord symbols. Vocalists can feel confident using charts by this publisher.
The Digital Standards Real Book. Vocalists can download individual songs in the preferred key. If you download the whole book, all songs will be in their original key and there is no option to transpose them.
The Standards Real Book, and The New Real Book (Volumes 1, 2, and 3). These are print books that can be bought online and at local music retailers. The “C Version” (not Bb or Eb Versions) is intended for vocalists. Songs are in the original keys, and while they may not be the right key for your voice, they are still excellent for learning the song. You will have to work with players who can transpose, or make your own transposed version.
Other Options for Buying Sheet Music
Sheet Music Direct offers a huge library of downloadable songs and is fairly easy to navigate. You can filter the different formats to find lead sheets, but they aren’t always labelled so you’ll have to do some hunting. Look for their “interactive” scores which are transposable either up or down to your preferred key. The lead sheets usually have good original melodies, but the chord symbols aren’t as reliable as Sher Music Co.
Singer’s Jazz Anthology is a series of books published by Hal Leonard that can be found online and at local music retailers. They are available as a download or print book, they come with backing tracks, and there are “high voice” and “low voice” versions. They have sheet music only (not lead sheets) however the songs contain accurate original melodies, the chord symbols are appropriate for jazz accompanists, and the written piano parts are nice jazz arrangements.
Where Do You Get Your Music, Mim?
Honestly, I have so many sources. I have a huge library of sheet music and fake books I’ve collected over the years. When I make my own charts, I reference sheet music for the composer’s original melody and chord structure and I look at fake books for jazzier chord symbols. Then I listen to recordings to hear how the jazz masters did it and choose what I like best.
Where Can I Buy Custom Sheet Music?
Oh, hey! That’s a service I offer. If you’re having trouble finding a chart that suits your unique needs, contact me for a quote.