Question about learning how to read

[Myke Myke]

Hello,

I tried searching before I posted this question because I'm sure this is asked quite a lot. But what are some suggestions in learning how to read music? I heard just get a lot of sheet music and a how to book. I just picked up the hal leanord sp book today. I took theory classes last semester in school and I know the notes on the staff I just mess up a lot on rhythms. Am I on the right track or I need to be doing something different?

P.S. I haven't been a musician for a long time, but I started playing by ear first now I'm trying to get the other things in line. And I also practice reading with a metronome.

peace,
mykemyke

[brivello]

Yeah just working with a book can help tremendously, and even more when your usuing a metronome.

If your looking for more material
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/097...rticculturf-20
this book is really good for rhythms, starts sections with rhythmic practice, and then rhythmic etude before it moves on to anything with notes.

"sight reading for the bass"

by ron velosky
denim music

is also a great book

[Myke Myke]

Thanks. Hopefully I will have reading down (just enough so I can get by) by December so I can play with the Jazz Band at my School next semester.

[Largedon]

Some of the beginner books are great, but it really just boils down to reading and reading alot. I have some bass clef jazz real books that I use to keep sharp and work on. Really just get anything you can get your hands on and just do it.

Another good technique I use is to take the music and just sing the melody to yourself before playing it. I've always figured that if I can't sing it (I dont' mean singing well, but at least the rhythms correctly) than I can't play it. With reading its more training the mind then the fingers IMO.

[Shovelbone]

Originally Posted by brivello

Yeah just working with a book can help tremendously, and even more when your usuing a metronome.

If your looking for more material
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/097...rticculturf-20
this book is really good for rhythms, starts sections with rhythmic practice, and then rhythmic etude before it moves on to anything with notes.

"sight reading for the bass"

by ron velosky
denim music

is also a great book

Does the book you recommended from Amazon have a CD with it? I have been thinking about getting that book myself.

[Largedon]

Originally Posted by Myke Myke

Thanks. Hopefully I will have reading down (just enough so I can get by) by December so I can play with the Jazz Band at my School next semester.

If you're going to be doing a lot of jazz, then also work on just playing over chord changes. With jazz just set your metronome to click on the 2 and 4 of the measure and practice over the changes. Practice walking, practice alternate patterns (pedal tones, rhythmic figures, etc) and learn the head. Its amazing how much a tune will open up for you if you learn the head. HOpe this helps and good luck making jazz band.

[Myke Myke]

Originally Posted by Largedon

Some of the beginner books are great, but it really just boils down to reading and reading alot. I have some bass clef jazz real books that I use to keep sharp and work on. Really just get anything you can get your hands on and just do it.

Another good technique I use is to take the music and just sing the melody to yourself before playing it. I've always figured that if I can't sing it (I dont' mean singing well, but at least the rhythms correctly) than I can't play it. With reading its more training the mind then the fingers IMO.

Do you think reading with other people speeds up the process?
Yeah I agree I think it is a mind thing.

[rappa29]

Transcribing is another useful exercise. Take songs you know and transfer them from the neck to the staff paper or from your ear, to the neck to the staff paper.

That also helps you relate where notes on the staff are played on the neck.

For rhythms, with a metronome, always start slow around 80 bpm and subdivide the count to help 'see' where smaller note values sit in the measure.

[Myke Myke]

Originally Posted by Largedon

If you're going to be doing a lot of jazz, then also work on just playing over chord changes. With jazz just set your metronome to click on the 2 and 4 of the measure and practice over the changes. Practice walking, practice alternate patterns (pedal tones, rhythmic figures, etc) and learn the head. Its amazing how much a tune will open up for you if you learn the head. HOpe this helps and good luck making jazz band.

Thanks... I'll probably spend about an hour a day working on reading.

[ganga]

This was really helpful for me when I started to learn how to read. I used Earmaster to train my rhythm reading (of course along with all the other eartraining) but this program is really great. If you can afford it I can really recommend it. Great tool!

http://www.earmaster.com/

[JTE]

The best thing I can offer is that you should NOT think of reading music as merely a mapof where to put your fingers. Music notation tells you how things sound, not where to put your fingers. So, learning to read by thinking "the third space is the second fret of the second string" may get you started, but it's reducing the process to a more complicated version of tab. And it ain't that. That E represented by the third space IS at the second fret. But it's also at the 7th, and the 12th, and maybe your bass has it clear up at the 17th too.

So learn the relationships between notes. When you see a note on the third space and the next note is the fourth space, learn that it's a third (major or minor depending on the key signature and/or accidentals). Then where ever you start on the neck, you'll find the next note. Learn to HEAR the music when you read it rather than thinking "E at the second fret, then open G... etc."

jte

[Myke Myke]

thats a good way to look at it. I never heard about it like that or broken down like that