1. The Real Pop Book (Hal Leonard)
Best for:
Cocktail hours Jazz-influenced pop Singers who need lead sheets Gigging guitarists who want maximum flexibility
What you get:
Lead sheets: melody line + chords + lyrics Hundreds of iconic pop tunes from the 1960s–present Perfect for building a large, versatile setlist Easy to transpose on the fly Works well for: jazz-pop, chord-melody improvisation, rhythm guitar, solo gigs where you fill out harmony yourself
Why it’s essential:
The Real Pop Book functions like the jazz Real Book but for pop music. For a gigging guitarist, this means one thing: instant access to a massive repertoire, ready to adapt to any audience. That makes it priceless for weddings, wineries, restaurants, bar gigs, and corporate events.
2. Hal Leonard – 100 Most Popular Songs for Fingerpicking Guitar
Best for:
Solo wedding guitar Background music Classical-leaning fingerstyle arrangements Guitarists who DO NOT want to sing
What you get:
Full fingerstyle arrangements written out Standard notation + TAB Songs arranged to sound complete solo Consistent difficulty range (easy to intermediate) Uses stylistically accurate patterns, not “pattern-formula” filler
Why it’s essential:
This book gives you finished, polished solo arrangements. You don’t have to improvise chord-melodies or fill space. Every tune is ready to perform, which is perfect for ceremonies, dinner sets, and cocktail hours where singing isn’t required.
Which Is Better?
Neither—because they serve completely different purposes.
If you want fast repertoire and flexibility, go with:
➡️ The Real Pop Book
If you want beautiful, finished solo arrangements, go with:
➡️ 100 Most Popular Songs for Fingerpicking Guitar
Most working guitarists find the combination perfect:
Real Pop Book = build huge setlists quickly Fingerpicking 100 = polished solo guitar pieces for high-end gigs
Together, these two books will cover almost everything you need for wineries, weddings, bars, restaurants, and small events.
Mindful Explorer 