For those of you with an iPhone or iTouch, we've come across a nifty little ap, the "iReal Book." Created by developer and musician, Massimo Biolcatti, the application holds 500 song charts of the most popular jazz musician's "Real Book" arsenal. Each page contains chords only (no melody, no audio), but the list is first-class, let alone exhaustive. It also features a transposition switch for Eb and Bb horn users. You can also transpose the entire tune on the fly.

The graphics use the familiar jazz font for those of you who grew up with a Real Book, and you can change the look from back characters on a white page to the reverse white on black for reading in dark environments. An iPod screen might be a little small for the bifocal crowd to use in an actual playing environment (chord sheet fits on one screen, no need to scroll), but it's still a practical tool as a gig "crib note" for reference to songs not immediately familiar. You can edit the chords, or create a new bank of new charts for yourself, too.

Price is only $7.99 for a handful of tunes that can keep you playing literally for months.

Visit iReal Book Website

View Quicktime video demo

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Posted by Ted at May 20, 2009 7:20 AM