Definition

Noun: A songbook is a book that contains a collection of songs, often including the musical notation (sheet music) and lyrics. It is typically compiled for a specific purpose, such as for a particular artist, genre, musical, or educational use.

Usage

A songbook is used as a reference or performance guide. It is a singular, countable noun. * You can have a songbook. * You can publish or buy a songbook. * You can look up a song in a songbook. * You can sing from a songbook.

Examples

• The choir director handed out the songbook for the holiday concert.
• She bought a songbook containing all the greatest hits from the 1960s.
• The songbook for the musical was available in the theater lobby.
• He found the chords for his favorite folk song in an old songbook.

Advanced Usage

• Digital Songbook: While traditionally a physical book, the term can now refer to a digital collection or app containing songs and lyrics.
  • The band uses a tablet as a digital songbook during rehearsals.
• As a Metaphor: Sometimes used metaphorically to refer to a standard or canonical collection of works within a genre.
  • That album is considered part of the songbook of American jazz standards.

Variants and Related Words

• Hymnal (noun): A specific type of songbook containing hymns, used in religious services.
• Libretto (noun): The text of an opera or musical, which may include songs but focuses on the full dramatic text.
• Anthology (noun): A published collection of writings (e.g., poems, stories, or songs). A songbook is a type of anthology.
• Fake book (noun): A type of songbook used by jazz and popular musicians, containing minimal sheet music (usually just melody, lyrics, and chord symbols).

Synonyms

• Music book
• Collection of songs
• Song collection

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• The Great American Songbook: This is a canonical term referring to the body of enduring and influential popular songs and jazz standards from the early 20th century in the United States.
  • Ella Fitzgerald was a famous interpreter of the Great American Songbook.

Noun

1. a book containing a collection of songs