Fastest/ easiest way to learn how to read...

cire113 · #1 10-09-2010, 10:02 AM

I've been playn bass for 3 years I wanna learn how to read.. What's the fastest and easy way to do this?? I can't afford teacher.. Do I make flash cards?? What do you guys reccomend??

**251** · #2 10-09-2010, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cire113

I've been playn bass for 3 years I wanna learn how to read.. What's the fastest and easy way to do this?? I can't afford teacher.. Do I make flash cards?? What do you guys reccomend??

In a word, 'read'. Collect a steady supply of music you have never seen before, set your metronome & start playing. Play through your mistakes. Stopping is not a good habit to learn with reading. Start with beginner's pieces & move to more advanced. Trombone charts are written in Bass Clef, too. Charts that explore rhythms are really useful. I often find charts in my public library system. YRMV. I also pick random tunes from my Real Book collection.

klokker · #3 10-09-2010, 10:32 AM

If the issue is that you don't know music notation, time signatures, or even what the note is on the page, intervals etc. I'd say the fastest way might be to start off with some simple stuff on a keyboard.

Shovelbone · #4 10-09-2010, 10:37 AM

Check out the Hal Leonard Bass Guitar Method Complete Edition - Books 1,2 and 3. They all com bundled together and includes a companion CD.
Very thorough and does not rely on tab. It starts you off reading notes. You can pick it up for less the 20 bucks.

Nashrakh · #5 10-09-2010, 10:42 AM

What I use: http://www.teoria.com/exercises/read.htm

Doesn't teach you note duration, but pitch. I found pitch to be way harder to memorize anyway. Take this, invest maybe 10 minutes per day (multiple times a day would be best), then take a transcription and try to read it.

And then read some more. And even more.

fdeck · #6 10-10-2010, 03:35 PM

I suggest learning to read by reading something that is interesting music and actually improves your playing at the same time. It's just easier to get motivated that way. An example would be to work through a book on walking bass, a jazz fake book, etc.

John Bigboote · #7 10-10-2010, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shovelbone

Check out the Hal Leonard Bass Guitar Method Complete Edition - Books 1,2 and 3. They all com bundled together and includes a companion CD.
Very thorough and does not rely on tab. It starts you off reading notes. You can pick it up for less the 20 bucks.

If that's Ed Friedland's book(s), I would also recommend it. The lessons' "songs" are, frankly, a bit awful (sorry, Ed!), but it systematically leads you though the reading process, from nothing to fluency.

HTH,

-jb

**Mark Wilson** · #8 10-11-2010, 12:24 AM

Read for 10 minutes a day.
Well, it depends how determined you are to learn how to read.

Jaco always said he could learn how to read in a week if he wanted to (Which I believe he ended up dong?)

Bijoux · #9 10-11-2010, 12:46 AM

I would suggest Band-in-a-box.
It's a very, very easy user friendly software. you can type in chord progressions, and as you select the style that you want the play-a-long, you can end up with simple bass lines or very tricky ones.
The software has a very cool feature which allows you to see on the screen the sheet music that is been generate. So you can hear what is being played and correct yourself when needed.
I see many advantages of using this software.
1- you can type in whatever chords you chose.
2- you can determine the tempo.
3- you can solo instruments
4- you can see the actual music being played on the screen
5- you can practice creating your own basslines
6- you can practice improvisation with it
7- this is a very useful tool that you will always be able to use

band-in-a-box pretty much comes out with a new version of their software every year, although I still have a version from 1998 that does all the important things that I need. I personally think that is money well invested. It's not expensive either. It probably costs the same as a couple of lessons these days.
good luck.

puddin tame · #10 10-11-2010, 12:51 AM

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Simplified-S...1048205&sr=8-1

This book is great. Don't expect it to be fast or easy, though, if you really want to read at a high standard

bezalel · #11 10-11-2010, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shovelbone

Check out the Hal Leonard Bass Guitar Method Complete Edition - Books 1,2 and 3. They all com bundled together and includes a companion CD.
Very thorough and does not rely on tab. It starts you off reading notes. You can pick it up for less the 20 bucks.

+1. Got me reading fluently within a week.

whatiswhat · #12 10-11-2010, 01:19 AM

The Hal Leonard and Ed Friedland books are very helpful. What helped me learn the best was reading and playing sheet music of a few songs I already knew very well by ear. I think reading and playing music I knew and enjoyed already helped cut back on the "frustration of learning".

sedgwick1489 · #13 10-11-2010, 05:52 AM

The simple answer is to read anything and everything, over and over. It's like riding a bike. Just keep at it and you'll soon hit a breakthrough point where you'll "have it". Never stop reading though - make it part of your practice routine. It's one of the best skills I've ever learned. There is much great reading material out there, but it really doesn't matter, initially, if you're reading "Twinkle Litte Star" as long as you're reading, reading, reading.

One big advice tip I can give you is to read OUT OF TIME. Do not play with a metronome or software while learing to read the material you're working on. If you want to put it to a beat AFTER you are fluent on the material fine, but putting the music to a click or beat before it's assimilated will only frustrate you and you will be reinforcing the mistakes you make. Learn SLOW AND OUT OF TIME!

DrayMiles · #14 10-11-2010, 06:06 AM

There is no fast easy way. Your going to have to get the basics and then practice until you get better at it.

Good Luck!

RedLeg · #15 10-11-2010, 06:08 AM

http://www.practicesightreading.com/

totally awesome resource for rhythm recognition

mlove · #16 10-11-2010, 06:29 AM

I've read a booked called "learn to read music" my Howard Shanet. It does a great job of explaining what you will find on a sheet of music but it is not instrument specific.

Low Sound Love · #17 10-11-2010, 06:40 AM

studybass.com has a bass clef practice tool, and I think there's a link on victor wooten's website to a similar tool.
the ed friedland books with Hal Leonard are pretty good.

other than that: practice your ass off, each day at least 10 mins!

Mr wiggl3s · #18 10-11-2010, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Bigboote

If that's Ed Friedland's book(s), I would also recommend it. The lessons' "songs" are, frankly, a bit awful (sorry, Ed!), but it systematically leads you though the reading process, from nothing to fluency.

HTH,

-jb

It is.

It's not the greatest book, but it's pretty good and it takes baby steps towards reading.

Phil Smith · #19 10-11-2010, 01:41 PM

There is no fast/easy way to learn how to read and by reading I mean you can show up to a gig say a big band hit and play any chart put in front of even if you've never seen it. Read something everyday and play in as many reading situations as you can which will accelerate the process, but it will still take time.

azureblue · #20 10-11-2010, 02:02 PM

First, of course, you need to learn the staff, a few scales, notes, and note lengths, and the notes on the bass neck.

Then play a simple riff, for instance, a quarter note 12 bar blues in C. Then write it out. Next, find a little short riff that is simple, and write it out, and progress to more complex parts in different keys. Do things like take a simple riff and play it and write it in a different key. Then find a simple bass book, and try to read what is in it, and compare it to what you have played. Play a rhythm pattern, ignore the notes, just pick a single note to work with, then try to write it out.

This does a few things- all good:
First it is quicker to learn by doing / practical application. You'll learn faster, and it will stay with you, if what you are seeing on the page connects with sounds in your head.
Second, it will help you to learn to read in patterns. When we read a book, we don't read each letter- we read words and groups of words. When you start to see music as patterns, you will progress quicker, than if you see a series of notes.
Third, this will teach you to hear when you see- you will see a phrase on the page and you will recognize it, as, for instance, a shuffle, or a blues walk. This ability is what great composers have- they hear something in their heads and can write it down on a staff without the aid of an instrument.

I think one of the problems with reading is the disconnect between hearing, playing, and seeing. As you learn, try to keep all three connected.

If you want to learn to interpret what chord symbols are, then you can get books on chord theory. Chord theory knowledge is a must

You will need some sort of external organized education to learn to be a good reader, for sure. Midi sequences, Band in a Box, are great helps. But starting simple, and learning to write and read something you already play, will help you to keep from getting frustrated. It's a chore, but worthwhile.