Sheet Music - need some pointers

Akerfeldt · #1 04-02-2008, 10:52 AM

Yesterday I had my first bass lesson. It was good, I guess. I felt kinda stupid, not knowing much about playing, but I had some fun. My teacher was very nice, and liked the same kind of music I did. We spent a good 10-15 minutes talking about various bands we both enjoy.

We started the lessons by reading some sheet music, and learning a little bit of Paranoid. The main riff to be exact. Simple stuff, and that night I went home and learned the rest of the song. However, I feel like I'm lacking on the 'sheet music' part of my 'Homework'. I'd like to view the whole sheet music tab for Paranoid, because I figure it will help me understand sheet music easier (being as I already know the rest of Paranoid, and its Internet tabs...maybe I could connect the dots?)

I've been looking online, and doing a ton of searchs, but nothing comes up. Nothing free, at least. All I want is a free way to view the whole sheet of Paranoid. Are there any good sites out there? Or do I 'have' to purchase them?

Also, if this is not a good way to learn sheet music, than how do you recommend I approach it? Of course, I will ask all these questions to my teacher next week, but untill than I feel obligated to do some homework of my own. Willingly obligated. Ha, Paradox's FTW!

Thanks for any serious responses!

DocBop · #2 04-02-2008, 11:06 AM

Ween yourself off tab and work on your ear training and how to read music. Basic reading skills and a good ear you can do anything.

MonetBass · #3 04-02-2008, 11:24 AM

+1 to what DocBop said. Get away from the tabs and learn the sheet music. Learn what the notes and intervals are on the page, and then associate them with the notes on the fretboard. ALL OVER the fretboard. Then you'll start hearing the intervals, and you'll be a much better musician for it.

Akerfeldt · #4 04-02-2008, 11:25 AM

Well, thats what I wanna do. I wanna learn the sheet music. But I can't find it anywhere.

Lelander · #5 04-02-2008, 11:33 AM

There isn't the same level of wide distribution of free sheet music as there is tab. You mentioned that you had learned the whole song, one thing you could try doing is downloading PowerTab and finding finding a version of Paranoid that someone has tabbed out for that program. The bass score in PT will have standard notation in bass clef above the bass tab notation, which you can print out. Then you can read off of the standard notation while having the tab right next to it as a crutch.

Bear in mind that tablature downloaded for free online is notoriously innacurate. Always use your ears as well as your eyes.

Akerfeldt · #6 04-02-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lelander

There isn't the same level of wide distribution of free sheet music as there is tab. You mentioned that you had learned the whole song, one thing you could try doing is downloading PowerTab and finding finding a version of Paranoid that someone has tabbed out for that program. The bass score in PT will have standard notation in bass clef above the bass tab notation, which you can print out. Then you can read off of the standard notation while having the tab right next to it as a crutch.

Bear in mind that tablature downloaded for free online is notoriously innacurate. Always use your ears as well as your eyes.

Thank you, this is what I was looking for.

Its just I learned the song from internet tabs, while having only the main riff written on sheet music [by my teacher] but I wanted to see the rest of the song, written on sheet music too, so I could learn sheet music easier.

Will this program do that?

Vandelay · #7 04-02-2008, 11:38 AM

You're not likely to free sheet music online, due to copyright issues. And even in cases where you can legally purchase it, it usually doesn't contain the exact bass line -- it just contains the vocal melody line and the chords. If you're wanting to study sheet music for bass, your best option is to find a bass instructional book that you like.

Lelander · #8 04-02-2008, 11:40 AM

Yes. Your best bet is to find an arrangement of the whole song in the PowerTab format. It will probably have the guitar parts as well as the bass, but you will be able to read it either as tab or in standard notation.

Also,

+1 in regards to getting some instructional materials to help you along the way. You can even find a lot of information regarding music notation and music theory for free online that will make it so you don't have to extrapolate based on existing notation so much and should really speed the learning process. That would, I think, be something to talk to your instructor about.

Tnavis · #9 04-02-2008, 12:38 PM

Another option (and this might be a bit advanced, not sure how much you know about notation) is to write out the notation yourself. It's an excellent, excellent way to get more familiar with written notation. It's even something you and your instructor could work on in lessons.

As for tab, move away from it as soon as you can. Not only is most tab out there inaccurate (as previously mentioned) it also does very little to improve your comprehension of how bass lines fit together from a theory standpoint.