I need a good prod in the behind...

bassinator89 · #1 02-19-2008, 11:00 PM

I've been playing bass for probably 4 or 5 years now, on and off. I can learn songs from tabs, I can jam for the most parts, I know all the musical notes(not by memory on the fretboard tough), I know minor, major, and blues scale positions and I would say I can ear out a good tune on my bass by improv. My biggest problem though, is learning to read music. I beleive this is a BIG key in the door to grasping theory. I really don't know how to motivate myself to do this, I have been in my mel bay book before, and pretty much read decently, even enough to play some stuff from my real book, but last time I put my bass down in flew out of my head. I can't even find the beginner mel bay book anyone(any suggestions on websites for free to learn?)

I guess in summary, my big question is how the hell can I get motivated to just learn to read?! It just seems like such a daunting task to me...

lonestarwings · #2 02-19-2008, 11:29 PM

Have you used the one-e-and-a counting method? I've been reading for about 15 years and I still use it on every song I look at.

Eighth notes = 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Triplets = Tri-pull-it, Tri-pull-it, Tri-pull-it, Tri-pull-it
Sixteenths = One-e-and-a, Two-e-and-a, Three-e-and-a, Four-e-and-a

County everything out that way before you play it to get the rhytms....in most songs it's easy to memorize the rhythm after you count through each measure this way a few times, then it's just a matter of looking at the notes for the right pitch to play. Learning the notes on bass clef is just like tab...you just have to convert each note into a fret on each string. The rhythms are the real strong point of standard notation, once you master those the pitch should come naturally with time I think.

El Bajo · #3 02-20-2008, 02:07 AM

Heres how I learned. Put the bass down. Find lined paper (or draw teh stave). Sit in front of the TV, write out endless lines of notes on the staves, dosent matter what it looks like and forget sharps and flats. Then, go back and write all the notes in after over the top. Just do this for a couple of days until you kind of start getting used to what note goes on what line.
Now go to you bass. an in C try and play the notes, SLOWLY. After a couple of days (or weeks) you should be able to read notes from a stave. Now go and find a song and try and play it!!!

hunta · #4 02-20-2008, 07:14 AM

I strongly recommend finding a bass teacher and starting to take lessons. Particularly when you're starting out reading, it's very helpful to have someone there (or available) that can correct your mistakes and make sure you're establishing good habits. I'm sure you can learn the notes on your own but being able to play all the rhythms accurately is very hard to learn without a teacher. Having a teacher can also help give you that prod in the behind when you start slacking, and a really good teacher will just make you want to practice all the time because he/she can inspire you!

Bassist4Life · #5 02-20-2008, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassinator89

I guess in summary, my big question is how the hell can I get motivated to just learn to read?! It just seems like such a daunting task to me...

Judging from your post, you're already motivated to learn. Now you just need a good plan of attack. Also, it's motivating to be able to track your progress and assess yourself. There's a wonderful website for learning music theory:

http://www.musictheory.net

I wish this website was around back when I started learning theory. It takes you step-by-step through the basics of note reading, rhythm reading, and ear training. IMO, the website takes you to some relatively advanced topics. Give it a try.

Joe

BassChuck · #6 02-20-2008, 08:52 AM

Learning to read (know) what the notes and rhythms are is the first step. The real work comes in being able to put that knowledge into action. Once you feel you have a handle on looking at the notation and then making it happen on the bass, get with musicians who are reading. Playing duets, small and large ensemble... whatever it is. Reading music with other musicians is the way to really get your reading chops in order.

BTW.... reading notation is THE way to get into music theory.

bassinator89 · #7 02-20-2008, 02:56 PM

Thanks for the dvice guys. I just started some basing reading exercises at cyberfretbass, I'm on the 3rd string now. It seems like its coming back to me though, it doesn't seem as hard, or maybe I've just reached a level where it won't be so hard. Either way, once I get through the 4 strings I'll pull my real book and see whats good.

alexit · #8 02-20-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassinator89

I guess in summary, my big question is how the hell can I get motivated to just learn to read?! It just seems like such a daunting task to me...

It's only going to happen if you're actually interested in the music you're reading. Standing in the Shadows of Motown (an EXCELLENT book on Jamerson stuff) gave me a reason to read. I had to play through a few basic "beginner book" play-along riffs, but it only took me about a week 2hrs a day until I could pick my way through some very un-basic stuff.

I think there's a reason Ed Friedland's hal leonard basic method books are at the top of the shelf in almost every music store:they're a simple and fast way to learn how to read. If you've been playing for a while and have the technique developed you can just fly through.