Detail 01
Bb edition
Transposed up a whole step so Bb horns sound in the right key. Wrong book if your instrument is in C or Eb.
Product detailSKU #1279141555781
Hal LeonardThe Bb Real Christmas Book
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Christmas fake book transposed for Bb instruments. Lead sheets with melody and chord symbols, aimed at players sitting in on holiday gigs.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Trumpet or tenor sax players covering December restaurant and party gigs
- Jazz combos needing a shared book of holiday changes
- Clarinet players who read chord symbols and improvise
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Concert-pitch players like piano, guitar, flute or trombone
- Anyone wanting full written-out piano or ensemble arrangements
- Players who cannot read chord symbols and fill in their own part
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Real Book format
One page per tune: melody line and chord symbols only. You supply the voicings, feel and solos.
Detail 03
Christmas repertoire
Seasonal material. It sits unused most of the year and earns its cost across a few December dates.
Detail 04
$35, versus $10 for a method book
Priced as a working gig book. It is the reference you bring to the stand, not a practice tool.
Detail 05
Single-line horn edition
Written for one player reading one line. A rhythm section needs their own copies in their own keys.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Bb edition only — bandmates on other instruments need matching editions in their keys
- 02No accompaniment, no audio, no play-along recordings
- 03Print book on a stand; check if you would rather have a tablet version
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01What does the Bb mean?
It is transposed for Bb instruments — trumpet, cornet, tenor and soprano sax, clarinet. Playing it on a concert-pitch instrument puts you a step off from the band.
02Are there full arrangements or just chords?
Lead sheets: the melody and chord symbols. There are no written accompaniment parts, intros, or endings — the band works those out.
03Can my piano player use this?
Not this copy. Piano reads concert pitch and needs the C edition.
04Do I need to know how to improvise?
Helps a lot. You can read the melody straight, but the format assumes you fill in solos and backgrounds yourself.
