The Best Songs Ever – Big Note Piano Songbook | 70 Timeless Classics for Beginners and Advanced Players | Easy Piano Sheet Music Collection for Musicians and Students

Hal Leonard publishes five different versions of this book. They're all called "Best Songs Ever", they all have an (almost) identical front cover page, and they all have an (almost) identical song list of over 70 songs, but they vary in difficulty from easiest ("E-Z Play Today") up to much more difficult ("Piano/Vocal/Guitar").At the top center of the front cover page, there are two or three little words which tell you which version you have, as follows, starting with the easiest version, in order of difficulty:(a) Best Songs Ever - E-Z Play Today(b) Best Songs Ever - Easy Guitar(c) Best Songs Ever - Big-Note Piano(d) Best Songs Ever - Easy Piano(e) Best Songs Ever - Piano/Vocal/GuitarAmazon has not made this very clear, and has aggregated together the reviews from several versions, so you can be looking at (e.g.) the web page for the "Easy Piano" version but be reading a review of (e.g.) the "Big-Note Piano" version. Worse still (as of Nov 2013) the "Look Inside" preview pages shown for both "E-Z Play" and "Big Note" are actually pages from the "Easy Piano" version.Accurate sample pages are available elsewhere, e.g. at sheetmusicplus.com, which also has the list of songs for each version.Here is a rough comparison of the different versions:(a) Best Songs Ever - E-Z Play Today:=============================Beginning level. Treble clef only, with single-note melody and lyrics (plus chord names for left hand). Very large print. Five treble clefs per page. Most songs fit on two facing pages (just a few are longer and require page-turns). Each note has the note's letter name printed in the circle of the note head. No key signatures, most songs are in the key of C, with a few in easy keys like F or G (with sharps or flats written by the notes whenever needed). Hardly ever uses ledger lines (except middle C). I wish it had suggestions for fingering.(b) Best Songs Ever - Easy Guitar:==========================Treble clef only, with single-note melody and lyrics (plus chord names for guitar or for piano left hand, and fret-board diagrams for guitar chords). Normal size print, up to 7 treble clefs per page. Nearly all songs fit on a single page or two facing pages. Key signatures are mostly C, F, G, D, and A. No suggestions for piano fingering. Although this book is intended for guitar, it's useful as a compact fake book (lead sheet) for chord-style piano.(c) Best Songs Ever - Big-Note Piano:============================Early intermediate level. Bass clef and treble clef. Typically at most two notes for left hand plus one note for right hand (per beat), or similar complexity (plus chord symbols and lyrics). Four grand staffs per page. Some songs fit on two facing pages, but most require a page turn. Key signatures nearly all C, F or G. Includes suggestions for fingering.(d) Best Songs Ever - Easy Piano:=========================Later intermediate level. Same comments as for "Big-Note Piano" (see above), except each song is a bit more difficult in some way. Maybe two notes at the same time in both left hand and right hand, or maybe a broken chord bass line is added, or maybe the song is moved into a key like B-flat (two flats) or D (two sharps).(e) Best Songs Ever - Piano/Vocal/Guitar:===============================Advanced level. Grand staff, plus a separate treble clef for vocal melody and lyrics (plus chord names and fret-board diagram for guitar). Often three or four notes in right hand plus two in left hand, per beat, or similar complexity. Most songs exceed two pages and need page turns. Key signatures are often E-flat (three flats) or similar, but with several in F (one flat) or C or similar.

I'm a true beginner on the piano, and I'm just learning for fun. I've never taken a lesson; I went through 75% of "Adult All-in-one Course" as my introduction, and wanted some better songs to play. I tried several other "beginner" piano books and they were too difficult for me. This is the easiest book I have found, and it has a few decent songs (I figure 5 or 6 songs I like is as much as I can hope for). I even had some of the same songs in other "beginner" books, but these arrangements were much easier. Sure, a different arrangement might be better, but that doesn't do me any good if I can't play it. I hope you can read the included song titles in the attached photos. I also included a few pages of the music, so you can judge for yourself if this book is right for you.

This book has a great selection of songs.I have noticed while deciding which book to buy that Hal Leonard has published several versions of this book under the same title with almost similar songs ranging from beginning to intermediate levels. It took me awhile to choose the one I wanted for my need. I finally opted the sixth edition Big-Note Piano as it is for advanced beginners. I have taken a few lessons but basically I am self taught and I enjoy practicing and learning on my own. It contains a lot of beautiful songs; 70 songs and I recognize a lot of of the songs as I have heard them before. I started to play a few of the songs as soon as I received the book and I absolutely love it.If you are an intermediate this version would be too easy for you.If you have a few lessons and are a least an advanced beginner this book would be at your level. It is 225 pages and I have no problem keeping the pages open.

I have been playing music since I was a little kid, many, many years ago. I took lessons on the accordion for at least 10 years, and I played the violin in my high school orchestra. So, I can read music, and I know the right hand pretty well. But, I want to be able to play some songs on my piano, and I don't want to take lessons. This book is perfect for me. The arrangements are easy, and there are some really good songs in the book. In fact, a few of the arrangements are a little too easy. Oh well. My husband is impressed when he hears me practice. One flaw, is that there is some fingering notation, but not enough for me.

I purchased this book and am able to sight-read every piece in here. I've been playing the piano for 7 years and taking lessons for 3. These pieces are great if you are new on the piano, or you are looking for a book to help teach you how to work with chords. I love how this book gives you lyrics and chords. If you wanted to, you could just play the chords and sing the lead (lyrics) of the song. This book has an AMAZING selection of songs. If you want to get this book but are worried it's too easy, get THE BEST SONGS EVER – 9TH EDITION. It is a green book. It is great if you are an intermediate-advanced pianist. It is great for working on reading music too. It has most of the same songs as this book. It's just a little bit more challenging.

I ordered the The Best Songs Ever, Big Note Piano, I got the Best Songs Ever, Piano, Vocal Guitar edition. Was not at all what I wanted. I think the people packing the items should look a little more carefully. Also, the sticker on the back said Big Note Piano even tho th front of the book did not. I was so looking forward to using this book this weekend. I hear this has happened to others as well. Hopefully the packers will take note and pay a little more attention to details

I am 54 and many of the songs in this book appeal to me. There are arrangements from the music I listed to as a teenager such as The Beatles, songs from musicals such as the Sound of Music, and many other familiar tunes. The arrangements are complicated enough to sound good but easy enough that an advanced beginner can play through them without much difficulty. An intermediate player would probably find them much too easy but probably fun anyway. I highly recommend this book.

Excellent product and worth the money

I love this book - the songs are easy to play and very well written.

Excellent song book for intermediate players.Great choice of music. Worth having and easy to read.

EXCELLENT BOOK.EASY TO PLAY PIECES FOR GRADE 2 0R 3 LEVEL.GREAT SONGS FOR SOMEONE 60 TO 70 YEARS OLD BECAUSE OF THE YEARS THEY WERE POPULAR.

Adequate and satisfactory. Item as described.