The Rolling Stones Fake Book (1963-1971): Guitar Comb Bound Comb Bound Book

This book captures a pivotal era of rock guitar in one comprehensive reference. The inclusion of actual riffs and solos in TAB format alongside lead sheets transforms it from a songbook into a playbook for understanding how iconic guitar parts function within chord changes and melody. The comb binding and lay-flat design make it genuinely useful in rehearsal and performance contexts rather than something that sits closed on a shelf.

Open this book and you step into the sound world of swaggering blues riffs, Muddy Waters grooves adapted for electric guitar, and the raw energy of a band finding its voice through covers and originals. These songs pulse with rhythmic precision and guitar-driven arrangements that feel both timeless and distinctly of their era. There's an immediacy to the writing and a clarity of purpose that makes each song feel like a lesson in how to construct compelling rock music.

Guitarists studying rock history, chord-melody concepts, and riff-based songwriting will find essential material here. Music teachers working with students interested in blues-influenced rock, 1960s music history, or learning iconic guitar solos have a reliable reference. Working musicians and session players benefit from having lead sheets and TAB in one compact, lay-flat format.

• Study the riffs before learning the full song. Many of these arrangements rely on specific guitar figures that define the arrangement, so isolating them first gives you the backbone of the tune.
• Reference the TAB section for solos you plan to perform or teach. The transcriptions capture the essential character of each solo without requiring you to transcribe by ear.
• Use the original album recordings alongside the lead sheets. Early Stones recordings have distinctive production and timing choices that sheet music alone cannot convey.
• Pay attention to how the riffs interact with the vocal melody. Several of these songs layer instrumental figures against the vocal line in ways that reveal the band's understanding of counterpoint and arrangement.

Guitarists preparing for auditions or recitals can draw from 167 songs spanning multiple styles and difficulty levels within this single era. Music history units on 1960s rock, blues-rock, and psychedelia gain authenticity when students can play from actual lead sheets rather than simplified versions. Study groups or guitar ensemble classes have a rich source of repertoire that allows players to explore different roles (melody, riff, harmony) across many arrangements.

• Reading lead sheets with instrumental figures and riff notation
• Translating TAB notation into guitar technique and timing
• Understanding blues progressions and their use in rock songwriting
• Recognizing riff-based song structure and how instrumental hooks anchor arrangements
• Interpreting chord symbols in the context of idiomatic guitar voicings
• Connecting melody, chord changes, and rhythmic feel through analysis of complete arrangements