How long does it take to become a good sight reader?

[bassinplace]

Just wondering. I've been playing for about 6 months. Thanks in advance for your replies.

[anonymous02282011]

It all depends on how often you practice sight reading.

IMO, IME, I'd recommend doing at least a little bit every day as opposed to a less frequent but longer practice session. Every one is different, but stick to it! You will see a difference! : )

[quale213]

+1

That is by far the best way to go about learning to sight read, a little every day. Quickly realize how much better you are after a short time.

[SteveC]

I think it's a continuing skill. You need to work on it all the time. I don't think you can just say one day "I am now a good sight reader" and be done.

[bassinplace]

Thanks! Yep, that's my method; daily. I am picking it up little by little.

I'm just wondering how long it took someone else to get to the point where they could look at a piece of music for the first time and just play it right off the sheet.

[VroomVroom]

How long? Well, I've been playing since I was 16. I'm now 41, so....I'll let you know when I get good at it.

Seriously - it is a skill that requires continual use and new challenges. One thing for sure - as soon as you feel confident that you're good, a band leader will throw a chart on your stand that will kick your ego to the curb.

I always try to do some reading every day. I include treble clef in that as well - definitely a feather in your hat when asked, on a gig, if you can double the guitar line...and you can say, "yes." Plus, it's a great way to learn melodies and harmony lines.

[slybass3000]

Like everyone said : IT DEPENDS.

It depends mainly on how much time and effort you put in. It can go fast within months to get good at it if you want. The best is to put yourself in a situation of sight-reading like go play with a local big band if you can. For me it is the best way to learn, it goes 1-2-3-4 and everybody is playing so you have to follow and read no matter what !

SB

[PoundinThunder]

as long as a piece of string

[HaVIC5]

Eight months, three weeks and 2 days. Give or take a couple hours.

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by PoundinThunder

as long as a piece of string

beaten.

[Stumbo]

Depends on your talent and dedication.
Since sight reading is a solo endeavor, being somewhat of a loner goes a long way.

10,000 hours to be able to play in an orchestra.
To play some rock tunes, not that long.
Every hour you practice gets you closer to your goal.

Try taking a simple song that you've learned and increase the BPM next time you play it.
Keep doing that with all the songs you learn until you can do them perfectly at a much faster setting on the metronome.

[PoundinThunder]

make sure you are reading what you play, not playing from memory and looking at the paper. it helps to say the notes as you play them

[Jake of Bass]

Depends what you define as 'good'. I can sight read fairly poorly yet others think I'm not bad at it. I consider good to be reading a piece of music never heard before for the first time and playing along competently. As an aside, when I played in a production band for West Side Story it was really a humbling experience compared to what pianists can read (it's a damn hard musical score I can assure you). I ended up learning 95% and trusted my somewhat limited skills to carry me the rest of the way. I learnt a lot during those months.

Just get a book full of basslines WITHOUT tab and work on a couple exercises back and forward till you can read them well. Start slowly and if you begin to memorise the actual piece itself, move onto the next one.

Really, once you can read a few notes well it starts getting easier and easier... then you have to start reading more complex rhythms and accidentals etc and it gets harder and harder... lol

[Martin Bormann]

Well if you want to get good at sight reading, first and foremost practice. Your sight-reading ability is a muscle, the more you do it the better you'll get. That being said study tonal and jazz theory and develop your ear. Why do I say this. if you can anticipate what will probably happen next, you've just given yourself an advantage.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by SteveC

You need to work on it all the time. I don't think you can just say one day "I am now a good sight reader" and be done.

+1
Up until about 2001 I was playing in a band that performed dense thorny complex charts, plus doing a lot of musical theater gigs, recording sessions, and student projects at the local conservatory...all stuff that required extensive reading. I got pretty confident (bordering on cocky) about my sight reading skills.

But for the last 6 or 7 years I've mostly been playing in rock bands that learn tunes by ear, or in free-improvising jazz/avant-garde ensembles, and so I rarely see charts anymore. And sure enough, my sight reading has deteriorated significantly! It hasn't quite gotten to the point where I suck yet, but man, stuff I used to confidently walk up to and throw down are now requiring a 30 minute pre-gig shedding session. It's humbling.

Definitely try to do it every day...or at least do it regularly and don't stop.

And however long it takes you to become a good sight reader, it'll take you one eighth that amount of time to become a no-longer-as-good sight reader!

[bassinplace]

Thanks, all. Most helpful.