GRRR!!!! Learning bass clef.....

sjleland · #1 08-01-2006, 01:29 PM

Does anybody have some sort of learning method for a person used to treble?

I've played saxophone for 6 years and I'm used to treble clef, its very frustrating interpreting a B as a D now.

I'd like to learn bass clef before I get back to school so I can be able to play bass for the jazz band, bass is starting to take over saxophone as my primary, and I'm open to any suggestions to learning bass clef in my position.

Thanks.

thebassclef · #2 08-01-2006, 01:32 PM

http://www.musictheory.net/index.html

Looks kinda interesting, been playing with it for a couple of days now.

Naveed Afzal · #3 08-01-2006, 01:36 PM

its harder when theres one clef, but if theres 2 clefs i can read treble and bass with ease.

clockworkwar · #4 08-01-2006, 01:46 PM

Its easy

create a little song thing for each bit.

the notes on the line of the cleff, and the note which appear in the gaps. So if i remember from the bottom line of the cleff it goes.

(lines) G,B,D,F,A = Green Buses Drive Fast Always
(gaps) A,C,E,G = All Cows Eat Grass

Its very easy, you just need to come up with a little thing on your own, and it will come as second nature soon. I also play trumpet so its a little confusing from the treble at the start.

sjleland · #5 08-01-2006, 02:11 PM

Thanks a lot for your suggestions!

That scale trainer thing helped me out a lot, just a few minutes and I know it 50 percent better already.

wtg203 · #6 08-01-2006, 05:44 PM

Hah, your in EXACTLY the same position I was a few years ago, sax player turned bassist for jazzband. Just try to find yourself a base (no pun intended) on the bass clef, like the bottom line is G, and go from there. Eventually you'll know the thing backwards and forwards just from using it all the time.

jumbosilverette · #7 08-01-2006, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebassclef

http://www.musictheory.net/index.html

Looks kinda interesting, been playing with it for a couple of days now.

Thanks. That looks like it will be very helpful for me.

Synplicity · #8 08-02-2006, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebassclef

http://www.musictheory.net/index.html

Looks kinda interesting, been playing with it for a couple of days now.

+1

Wow this link is great, good timing too as i was just getting started on standard notation after 6 years of avoiding it.

sinophysiker · #9 08-02-2006, 08:57 PM

after reading bassclef-only scores for two months, I find my self can't read treble clef any more...

SLaPiNFuNK · #10 08-02-2006, 09:02 PM

a GREAT book to learn with...

Chuck Rainey - The Complete Electric Bass Player

steveb98 · #11 08-02-2006, 10:47 PM

It just takes time. I played guitar for years and years before coming back to bass. I went through the same thing and I just kept practicing and eventually I read bass clef as bass clef.

whitedk57 · #12 08-07-2006, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clockworkwar

(lines) G,B,D,F,A = Green Buses Drive Fast Always
(gaps) A,C,E,G = All Cows Eat Grass

OR...

(lines) G,B,D,F,A = Good Boys Do Fine Always
(gaps) A,C,E,G = All Cows Eat Grass (No change here)

billjr · #13 08-07-2006, 11:46 AM

The sentence mnemonics are good, but I also just pick a line for my base, and go from it. The second line from the top is F. It's the line that goes through the two dots.

Of course anything you use is just an aid to use until you memorize the notes. There is no substitute for and you will eventually have the cleff memorized. If you take up other instruments, and get into different periods of music, you will find yourself running into two other cleffs, alto and tenor. It just takes time and playing to get used to them all.

Michael Eisenman · #14 08-07-2006, 11:59 AM

When I first started to read bass clef, I made up some flash cards. They helped in my spare time.

I also noticed that a note on the bass clef is the same note as the note one full step higher on the treble clef (except one octave lower). So the note on the bottom line of bass clef (G) is the same as the note on the next line up on treble clef (G). Kind of roundabout, but it worked for me. Then it was just a matter of doing it and saying the note names as I read them. Didn't take too long.

Now I'm working on the ledger lines . . .

TL5 · #15 08-07-2006, 12:06 PM

Try this little software:
NoteID by Kba Software

MagicianMan · #16 08-07-2006, 12:10 PM

Wow, sjleland, we are in the EXACT same position. I've played sax for about 5 years and I know the treble clef really well. I want to play in our school jazz band and definitely feel as if my skill level is far more then adequate but my reading abilities on the bass clef aren't good enough. I just keep practicing and believe you'll just do the same. What a coincidence.