If you have ever performed any kind of Google search for "the Beatles songbooks", you may be unsure as to which of the dozens various sheet music products to order. At this time there really are pretty sizable sheet music products—including collections of related songs; single tracks reproduced on just a small number of pages, chord books, electric guitar tabs…in addition to a myriad of other choices. Before getting weighed down in all the options, take just a second and realize that the exact type of The Beatles songbook you're looking for is offered somewhere. The Beatles are one of the best-selling rock-n-roll acts of all time, and their songs have quite likely been scored and prepared in precisely the method you prefer. You just need to locate the songbook that will be right for you.
Types of Notation
Sheet music-A type of music notation that's printed on unbound pieces of paper; sometimes called lead sheets... For example, a four page lead sheet for the Beatles song "We Can Work It Out".
Multi-song collections (also called songbooks)-A number of tunes packaged as a single product, frequently grouped by artist/songwriter and/or album. For instance, bass parts for every Beatles track on the Beatles Help! CD.
Guitar tablature--A method of notating guitar parts to indicate the way a selected Beatles tune should be performed using letters, symbols, or other visual cues instead of standard music notation. For example, guitar tab usually includes a diagram of the six guitar strings with finger positions indicated by numerals corresponding to the proper frets. Guitar players typically prefer this style of music notation, because it's significantly easier to learn to read than standard scoring.
Chord books-A means of conveying electric or acoustic guitar parts for musicians who just want to strum along with the chords of the track. Frequently Beatles chord books are less precise than tablature, but considerably more accessible to a beginning guitar player.
Think about how you'll be performing
Additionally, you should carefully consider the manner in which you plan on using the songbooks. Do you intend to memorize the song? In that case, you should probably consider purchasing a bigger (more accurate) book of Beatles songs which can rest on your music stand in your practice space while you memorize each note of the Beatles guitar parts. The book I recommend for this is The Complete Beatles Scores. It's a hefty 3-inch thick hard cover book which includes every single Beatles song, with each musical instrument fully scored, including guitar tabs. It is great for figuring out every note of a Beatles song as it was played, because it includes exact notation and tabs of each part. However, it’s much too large to consider taking to a performance, so if you are not planning on memorizing the piece, you may want to pick a different alternative.
Will you be playing and singing the song with the notation in front of you? If so, a single song of tablature is the right choice. Don't purchase a songbook because it may close up on you while you are performing. Instead, purchase the notation for just a particular Beatles song.
Are you considering playing the Beatles song by yourself, or as part of a group? If you're playing with a group, you'll want to buy the kind of notation that is really exact...like the previously mentioned The Complete Beatles Scores. If you're playing by yourself, you would probably want to purchase a reduction for piano...or even a guitar arrangement instead.
Finally, whether you call yourself a beginner or a songwriter and you hope to get a good understanding of the songs or even a high-level view of how the Beatles put their chords together to make progressions, without a doubt, you should buy a Beatles chord book. While they can be a bit inexact for the gigging guitarist, they may enable you to get some quick insights on how the Beatles constructed their songs…and they let even the beginning guitarist strum along.
It's Time!
Whatever your situation, do not wait! Pick up some kind of Beatles sheet music today. Playing the Beatles songs on your instrument of choice is just too much fun to miss out on! You'll be performing like these guys before you know it:
If this article doesn't answer all your questions about the Beatles songbooks, don't worry....just check out http://www.thebeatlessheetmusic.com/ to find the most appropriate sheet music for your musical needs.
Brian Hartzog is an indie artist and songwriter whose original funk and roll is a mixture of the sounds of the Beatles and Prince. Brian Hartzog is an indie artist and songwriter whose original funk and roll is a mixture of the sounds of the Beatles and Prince.
If this article doesn't answer all your questions about the Beatles songbooks, don't worry....just check out http://www.thebeatlessheetmusic.com/ to find the most appropriate sheet music for your musical needs.
Brian Hartzog is an indie artist and songwriter whose original funk and roll is a mixture of the sounds of the Beatles and Prince. Brian Hartzog is an indie artist and songwriter whose original funk and roll is a mixture of the sounds of the Beatles and Prince.
