Finding a reliable fake book for piano can streamline practice, repertoire building, and performance preparation. The following selections focus on beginner to intermediate players, offering melody lines, chords, and easy-to-follow arrangements. Each entry below highlights core features to help you compare at a glance and choose the right book for lessons, self-study, or classroom use.
| Product | Brand | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Ultimate Fake Book (for C Instruments) | Hal Leonard | Contains classic songs like All the Things You Are and Blue Skies; suitable for C instruments. |
| Scott The Piano Guy’s Favorite Piano Fake Book | Hal Leonard | Easy piano songbook with melody and chords; popular standards for adults. |
| Scott Houston – The Piano Guy’s Favorite Piano Fake Book Vol.2 | Hal Leonard | Over 90 easy piano arrangements with chords and lyrics; 240 pages. |
| Your First Fake Book – C Edition | Hal Leonard | Beginner-friendly with large notation and simplified chords; 176 pages. |
| The Easy Hymn Fake Book | Hal Leonard | Over 150 hymns in key of C; beginner worship music with chords and melody. |
The Ultimate Fake Book (for C Instruments)
The Ultimate Fake Book (for C Instruments) by Hal Leonard is a comprehensive collection designed for C instruments, featuring well-known songs such as All the Things You Are and Blue Skies. It provides melody lines with chords, making it versatile for solo practice and ensemble play. The book is widely used in classrooms and studios for building chord knowledge and arranging simple accompaniments for piano.
Scott The Piano Guy’s Favorite Piano Fake Book
This edition by Scott The Piano Guy offers easy piano song arrangements with melody and chords, highlighting 74 popular songs for adult beginners and hobbyists. It includes standards like All the Things You Are and Blueberry Hill, providing approachable pieces that help learners develop chord practice and phrasing in a relaxed format.
Scott Houston – The Piano Guy’s Favorite Piano Fake Book Vol.2
The Piano Guy’s Favorite Piano Fake Book Vol.2 by Hal Leonard expands on the first volume with more than 90 easy piano arrangements, including melody, lyrics, and chords. With 240 pages of content, it offers a broad selection of songs suitable for beginners and progressing players seeking familiar tunes and straightforward accompaniment options.
Your First Fake Book – C Edition
The First Fake Book in C Edition is designed for beginner piano players, featuring large notation and simplified chords with a set of 100 easy songs. The C edition focuses on standard instrumentation for piano and voice, offering approachable solutions for early learners to practice melody and harmony together in a familiar key.
The Easy Hymn Fake Book
The Easy Hymn Fake Book collects over 150 hymns in the key of C, designed for beginner worship and church piano. It includes standard notation and chord cues, enabling players to accompany congregations or lead hymn ensembles with simpler, consistent arrangements.
The Real Pop Book Volume 1
The Real Pop Book Volume 1 (C Instruments) features 200+ popular songs with melody, lyrics, and chords suitable for piano, guitar, and voice. This edition is popular for its broad range of modern to classic pop tunes, providing flexible options for student recitals and casual practice sessions alike.
Buying Guide — Key Purchase Considerations
When selecting a piano fake book, consider your skill level, repertoire goals, and how you plan to use the book. The following factors help compare options:
- Instrumentation and key: Look for C edition or instrument-specific notes if you want easy reading in the piano range without transposition.
- Notation and chords: Decide whether you need melody-only lines or full chords with lyrics for practice and performance.
- Song variety and difficulty: Choose volumes that balance familiar standards with gradually challenging pieces to support progress.
- Song density and page count: Higher page counts offer breadth, but ensure the layout is readable and beginner-friendly.
- Format and durability: Consider spiral-bound or comb-bound editions for easy page turning during practice or lessons.
- Educational value: Some books emphasize chord practice, rhythm styles, or hymn accompaniments, which can complement lessons.
For instructors and students, combining a core beginner-friendly fake book with occasional performance favorites can create a well-rounded practice plan. Pay attention to the tension between accessibility for beginners and the desire for a broad catalog of tunes to sustain engagement over time. In addition, verify whether the book includes keys that suit your vocal range if you plan to sing along or teach singing accompaniment.