2 comments about Ben Folds Five - Keyboard Signature Licks.

1. First, a warning: the songs in this book are NOT COMPLETELY TRANSCRIBED. Looking for the bridge to "Eddie Walker?" Not in the book; better be able to learn it from ear.

   That being said, what is in the book is of high quality. The transcriptions are dead on, and the CD helps get you through the tougher passages like the end of "Philosophy" and the piano solo from "Song For the Dumped." The song selection, while questionable at times ("Mess" but no "Army?" "Evaporated" but no "One Angry Dwarf?" C'mon!), is overall quite good and will satisfy most Ben Folds Five.

   But if you're HARD CORE into BFF, you may be better off with album folios, which have complete transcriptions. Still, this is a great book and will occupy hours of piano time. Play like Ben. Impress your friends. Have fun.




2. The Signature Licks features songs from all the studio-recorded Ben Folds Five albums, as well as a number which appear on Naked Baby Photos. The contents represent the material well, encompassing the range of musical styles the band has used but focusing on songs in which the piano is the dominant musical elemets. Inevitably, there are omissions, even of songs which showcase Folds' pianistic talents to the full, and as such would merit inclusion, ('Uncle Walter' from the self-titled 'Ben Folds Five', for example).
   
   As its title suggests, the book is more than just a transcription of the piano scores; the major sections of each song are prefaced by commentary outlining musical influences, explanations of lyrical intentions, and technical details regarding performance, including useful and illuminating quotes from Folds. The transcriptions appear to be accurate to the letter, apart from of sections which cannot be easily nor indeed usefully transcribed, such as the end of Philosophy, when Folds is 'striking large clusters of notes'. In suggesting how to play this section, the book suggests 'the palm or side of the hand..an elbow or both elbows. Some pianists have been known to even sit on the keyboard! Hey, whatever works...'
   
   The cd which comes with the book contains recordings of all the material in the book, as 'Full Band' with piano, drums and bass guitar, usefully split across the stereo channels with piano on the right, and drums and bass on the left channel, permitting 'band-style' accompaniment to the piano parts. There are also piano-only slow tempo recordings of notable parts.
   
   Presumably because the book aims to give exposure to techniques and the style of playing, many of the songs do not contain full transcriptions, often merely the first verse, chorus and coda, despite the fact that the piano parts differ substantially in later verses of the song. As such, transcriptions are incomplete at best. One is left wondering quite what the point of learning to play half a song to performance standard is when the rest of the song remains an unexplained mystery. Perhaps you're supposed to work it out for yourself at this stage, which is possible to a degree, but undermines the point of the book, which is to explain these things for you. The separately released piano scores of the individual albums contain the full songs, but this book can only take you the first stage of the way to being able to perform these songs.
   
   That said, the book excels in achieving this less ambitious aim, with useful explanations and crystal-clear transcription. Many of the songs featured are surprisingly playable, indicating that their attractions are often more the result of the enthusiasm of performance than technical complexity, and in encouraging the irreverent attitude to the instrument which Folds embodies, this book is a great aid to those wishing to emulate his unique style.

3 comments about Ben Folds Five and Selections from Naked Baby Photos.

1. The keyboard parts in this book are fairly simple and unchallenging with the exception of Philosophy. If you are looking for a book that has a lot of good licks but less boring background stuff that you can play by ear, get the Signiture Keyboard licks book and whatever and ever amen. If you have the Signiture Keyboard book, you have realized that the most essential and challenging part of the song Philosophy is missing, and this is why I purchased this album book. I am happy with paying the price for it because playing Philosophy straight through is really a rush. The price is well worth it if you don't mind the extra hundred or so pages thrown in with philosophy. If you are looking for good tab and the full parts, this book is almost note for note.



2. The keyboard parts in this book are fairly simple and unchallenging with the exception of Philosophy. If you are looking for a book that has a lot of good licks but less boring background stuff that you can play by ear, get the Signiture Keyboard licks book and whatever and ever amen. If you have the Signiture Keyboard book, you have realized that the most essential and challenging part of the song Philosophy is missing in the Signiture keyboard licks book, and this is why I purchased this album book. I am happy with paying the price for it because playing Philosophy straight through is really a rush. The price is well worth it if you don't mind having a book that will only have a few fun song in it. Also, if you are looking for good tab and the full score, this book is almost note for note.



3. The transcriptions here are almost note-for-note with the album, for every song. While the previous reviewer is correct when he says that the most challenging (and fun) song to play is Philosophy, he seems to have missed the point of a transcribed score, which is to offer a dead-on transcription of what Ben Folds and company play on the record.
   
   Don't judge an apple by the standards of an orange. While the keyboard part might in turn be a little simpler than some talentless hack's mashed up attempt to meld bass, guitar, piano and drum part into a song for one performer, it is truer to Ben Folds than any more 'complicated' version might be. I want to know what Ben Folds plays, not somebody's interpretation. If I wanted someone's poor interpretation, I'll write it out myself, thanks.
   
   This isn't to say that if you aren't accompanied by a full band you're SOL. The lay-out also makes it fairly easy to say 'Okay, I have a couple measures of rest here, but the guitar's going crazy, let's play that line instead' and proceed to rock out.
   
   And I for one hate it when the melody line of the vocal is written into the piano score. Frankly, if the song was meant to be vocal and piano accompaniment, let's keep it that way.
   
   This book is fantastic and does exactly what it set-out to do: Transcribe note-for-note a wonderful, amazing album.

2 comments about Supersunnyspeedgraphic, The LP (Piano Transcriptions/Vocal) (Pvg).

1. I was really happy with the book which is in great condition, but it was a waste of money paying for faster shipping - the estimated time wasn't even close! Try adding on another 3 weeks!



2. I was 100% satisfied with the product, i received it faster than i expected and in perfect condition.

2 comments about Ben Folds Five - The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner.

1. The transcriptions here are almost note-for-note with the album, for every song. While this can mean that if you're looking for a pseudo-version that doesn't require you to sing, you'll be disappointed, it also means that you're free to get creative and play parts which otherwise might not have been included (Enjoy that guitar riff and want to play it on the piano? Never fear, it's right there in front of you)
   
   While the keyboard part might in turn be a little simpler than some "interpretation"/attempt to meld bass, guitar, piano and drum part into a song for one performer, it is truer to Ben Folds and company.
   
   While some songs will make a lone keyboardist wish for a drummer, bassist and back-up vocalists on-call (Regrets, Red Neck Past), certain songs are just a joy to play, ("Army," "Magic," and "Lullabye" are my favorites).
   
   This book is fantastic and does exactly what it set-out to do: Transcribe note-for-note a wonderful, amazing album.



2. I would personally prefer just the piano transcription as sheet music. This book is written out as a musical score (as advertised) with each instrument, so one song takes many pages.

4 comments about Ben Folds - Songs for Silverman (Pvg).

1. After the disappointing transcriptions for Rocking the Suburbs, with vocal lines written into the piano score, this Ben Folds edition is exactly what I was hoping for. Although it would be nice to have the other instruments represented here, as in the Ben Folds Five transcriptions, the piano part is here in it's entirety, including all of Ben's piano solos with LH comping voicings. Even the irritating, endless repeats and Codas are missing as the songs read straight though without having to turn back several pages at a time.
   
   It's nice to see a publisher like Hal Leonard listen to the fans and give them one they want. This book comes highly recommended.



2. This is a very well done book, especially considering the price here on Amazon. It's much better than the RTS transcription in that it's not plagued with the repeats that have you turning pages more than playing music. My only complaint is that it's piano only. I would have gladly paid more for a book like the old BFF books that contained the drums and bass transcriptions as well. Still, this is a must have for any Ben Folds wannabe.



3. This is a good book, with all the songs being very thorough, and long. It's just hard not being able to play the 'main' line, as well as the 'main' background notes, like the ones you hear in the songs. You'll need 3 hands if you want to play the song in its entirety. Still a good book, with all the songs being at least 5 pages long.



4. Ordered this item for a gift...it was just what I was looking for. Thank
   you for quick service.

5 comments about Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen.

1. i gave this as a present for someone who loves ben folds, and just started learning to play piano. one of his goals was to be able to play ben folds some day, but since i gave it to him, it's the only book he's been using. he's still very much in the beginning stages, but he's figured out a line or two, and is looking foward to playing the rest. he was very satisfied, despite his lack of complete skill at the time. i think it's a good book for any fan. it'll motivate them to learn more.



2. For an avid piano player, this book still provides many challenges in reading and playing. The inclusion of the guitar/bass/drum/other lines, with a separate vocal line (some books like to hide this in the piano) make for an accurate and interesting play. Many of BFF's best hits are in this book. I would recomend it to anyone who is a fan and has a good number of years of piano behind them.



3. Very detailed transcriptions - everything is separated nicely, without the nasty combination of vocal and piano lines you get in some books. Highly recommended.



4. You can't argue with the brilliance of Ben Folds. And I appreciate what this book is trying to do. It's much like the score to the Beatles' works-- all parts-- piano, drums, bass-- are transcribed.
   
   My beef is that as a pianist I was much more interested in seeing the piano transcriptions. The bass and drum transcriptions add nothing to my enjoyment. But because they're on the same page, everything is printed very small and you have to turn pages frequently.
   
   Also frustrating: The multiple codas and del signo notations. In other words, you're playing along, squinting to read, and there's a D.S., telling you to go back to the sign and then play to the first coda. Then you have to find the first coda. Then you have to find the second sign. Etc, etc.
   
   Bottom line: I've used the book as a reference. it's helpful to understand his chord voicings and licks, but if you want to play through the piece from start to finish, this isn't the right book for you.



5. Got this mainly for the piano parts, but this book also contains VERY accurate transcriptions of the bass guitar, drums, cello, clavichord, clarinet, etc. If you hear it on the CD, it is transcribed in the book. My band recorded a couple of the songs from this book, and apart from Ben's voice, it is almost indistinguishable from the CD. Would definitely recommend this book to Ben Folds fans!

3 comments about Ben Folds - Rockin' the Suburbs: Piano/Vocal Transcriptions.

1. Accurate transcription of piano music as played in Rockin the Suburbs CD. Keep in mind that this is not a transcription of a live performance, and so songs such as "Rockin the Suburbs" might be a little sparse on notes since little piano is used on the CD. Songs with less accompanyment by other instruments, such as "The Luckiest" sound more complete when played only with a piano.



2. Folks looking for the same full-instrument transcribed scores as the previous scores Hal Leonard released are going to be a little disappointed. When the previous reviewer says the piano parts get a little sparse, he means it, and unfortunately unlike in the previous books, you can't turn to the lines of other instruments for fill-inspiration. This also means it's a heck-of-a-lot easier to play than the other books (maybe this is a good thing for you?)
   
   Still, it's Ben Folds, who pwnz all things piano and the piano ballads (Luckiest, Fred Jones Pt. 2) are sure to please.



3. Purchased as a gift...was just what I was looking for. Thank you for
   quick service.