Sight Reading For The Bass...and beyond...

[raul]

Hi. i've been working on the Velsoky Sight Reading For The Bass book and coming along rather well. it's a nice book. but, i'm wondering why it doesn't seem to move beyond the lower register of the neck. that seems to be the central focus. why?

and, what book would be good for a beginner who is just starting to learn to read and wants to be able to sight read for the whole neck. i understand that the Velsoky book is for beginner sight readers, and it's really awesome for that, but i would like some suggestions for sight reading books that teach you how to sight read through all positions. perhaps a book geared for beginner sight readers that covers a lot of sight reading basics and beyond.

any input would be welcomed. thanks.

[DocBop]

Look for music for any bass clef instrument like trombone. Check out Chord Studies for Electric Bass by Rich Appleman from Berklee Press. Also double bass books like the Simandl method or the Simandl Etudes.

[AlphaMale]

Simandl is a very legendary double bass book. It's just amazing.
I think the reason he doesn't cover the low registers of the bass is because when people compose for instruments and they need a higher note played they'll play it on another instrument usually.

[BassChuck]

+1 for Simandl. Also check out Bille. The etudes are on par with Simandl, but IMO a bit more melodic. Also there is a book by University of Miami Florida press (you can get in on BassBooks) that is called "77 Baroque Bass Line" (or something close to that title), really old stuff, like 1700's but good solid sounding line. Oh yea, John Pattituci's 60 melodic etudes goes ALL over the neck, cool melodies in all keys and modes.

[raul]

i guess what i'm looking for is...a book that might show me, for example, the notes in each position and where they are on the fretboard and how to sight read them. for example...here are the notes in fifth position and how to read them and find them on the fretboard.

a book that shows all the notes on the bass fretboard and how to read them, in each position.

does the Simandl book show you how to sight read in this manner?

what exactly does the Simandl book teach?

[raul]

oh, another thing...is the Simandl book a good method for electric bass? is it geared towards a beginner? and, what is the title? is it the orange covered book?

[Marcury]

Simandl is one of the classic double bass teaching methods. it is quite useful for electric bass as it take you throough the positions and gives you lots of exercises, etudes and compositions to work through. It also includes a fingering system which ca be used for electric although it uses fingers 12 and 4 whereas electric players often use all four fingers, but 12 and 4 is also used on electric or you can ignore the fingering and just use the rest of the method.

It is called F. Simandl New Method for Double Bass, and it is orange.

[AlphaMale]

I've started double bass and I've been trying to self teach I need to get that book, but I can't afford it. =/

[u2Fletch]

I know you are looking for a BOOK to help you learn sightreading, but I'll throw this out anyway. I found and used a computer program called "Absolute Fretboard Trainer Pro" to help learn the notes/names. You can specify an area of the fretboard to practice and it uses a variety of drills at differing speeds to challenge you. It can even be used for ear training since it can play the notes, and then you try and match it.

Might be worth a look.

Jeff

[AlphaMale]

u2Fletch's suggestion sounds good
+1