sight reading difficulties

perotin · #1 04-24-2007, 01:09 AM

Hey all,
I just started playing the bass about a week ago. I played guitar when I was little, and I've picked up mandolin and trombone as well, but I never really learned to read music. Playing by ear always came so naturally that whenever I'd sit down to read off a staff I'd realize when I was about halfway through the song that I was just looking at the first bar and playing from memory. For getting together with friends and jamming on a G blues or whatever this skill is great, but playing the bass I've got some serious responsibility to know my music theory, and it's tough seeing as I haven't ever really thought about notes before. I know HOW to read off a staff, it's just that it takes too long.
Has anyone else grappled with this problem?

Otso · #2 04-24-2007, 03:03 AM

I think everyone has had that problem. The best way to improve your reading is IMO reading.

**WillPlay4Food** · #3 04-24-2007, 07:20 AM

The only way to get better with sight reading is to sight read. Get a book of sheet music sans TAB and get cracking.

There's a thread right here in this forums called 'etudes' you should check out for ideas on which sheet music book to buy and start practicing.

fcleff · #4 04-24-2007, 08:20 AM

They said it. So did my college professors. Make it a point to sight read every day. Also make it a point to read things that you have some familiarity with every day, too.

There are also books dedicated to sight reading. Get one.

DocBop · #5 04-24-2007, 10:41 AM

As everyone is just when it comes to reading you just have to sit and do it everyday. Usually reading note letter values isn't the problem for most until a lot of ledger lines. The problem is reading rhythms. You have to learn to look at the measure and "see" where the beats are. Then see the rhythmic pattern for that beat. Then hopefully know that rhythmic pattern, the same way you know the words you reading.

That is why I suggest when practicing sightreading to first set your bass down and clap the rhythms till you have them down solid. Then pick up your bass and play it adding in the pitches. Also there are books that focus on reading rhythms and really speed learning to work on rhythms. You start training your eye to look at a measure and no matter how many notes you see beat one, beat two, beat three, etc. Then see and recognize the pattern on beat one and so on.

People get frustrated trying to learn to read because they don't realize they are trying to learn three things at once. See a note and figure out its pitch value, figure out the rhythm, and where is it on the bass. Spilt those things up into pieces when learning and the learning process will go faster. Work all those out in your head, before picking up you bass to try and play it. In the beginning that process will take minutes to do before playing. As the weeks go on it will drop to seconds. You see when music is given to musicians they scan it, that is what they doing it is a subconscious process.

perotin · #6 04-24-2007, 05:56 PM

Thanks. I suppose I'll have to bite the bullet and actually WORK on something

ryco · #7 04-24-2007, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perotin

Thanks. I suppose I'll have to bite the bullet and actually WORK on something

Bingo! The more ya do it the easier it gets -- I promise! Carry on then....

fcleff · #8 04-24-2007, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perotin

Thanks. I suppose I'll have to bite the bullet and actually WORK on something

Cool username, by the way.

juhani · #9 04-26-2007, 02:26 AM

To DocBop

Can you actually suggest a book that teaches your discribed method step by step? Right now I've been struggling through Appleman's "Reading Contemporary Electric Bass Rhythms" but he really doesn't seem to have any particular method... only exercises.

DocBop · #10 04-26-2007, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juhani

To DocBop

Can you actually suggest a book that teaches your discribed method step by step? Right now I've been struggling through Appleman's "Reading Contemporary Electric Bass Rhythms" but he really doesn't seem to have any particular method... only exercises.

Sure two books, one a bass book other a drum book.

Simplified Sight-Reading for Bass by Josquin des Pres

Modern Reading Text in 4/4 by Louis Bellson and Gil Breines

Also there is a MI book by Gary Hess that is all rhythms, but I've never used that one.

VroomVroom · #11 04-26-2007, 09:07 AM

^ Those are great books. And great advice!

As Jaco said once....you either read or you don't. There isn't any middle ground.

If you can spend 10-15 minutes each practice session dedicated to reading, you will be amazed at how quickly your skills improve.

I'm not sure if you're into jazz, but almost all of the real books come in bass-clef versions. These are excellent for sight reading practice, and they also help you dig further into the tunes as well.

Another option - hook up with some big bands. Community colleges are a great source, and big bands almost always need a bass player, even if it's just for rehearsals. There's an insane big band I sub with on occasion here in the bay area, and aside from working with the incredible players, working on my reading chops is the main reason I do it. It's a great barometer to see where you're at with your reading. In my case, it's always a lesson in humility.

JimmyM · #12 04-27-2007, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perotin

Thanks. I suppose I'll have to bite the bullet and actually WORK on something

LOL...what a concept, huh? It does get easier, but it's something you really have to stay with all your bass-playing life to keep it up. It's very much a use-it-or-lose-it thing. But the good news is that sight readers get the best paying gigs, even if they're not the world's greatest bassist. I'd be willing to bet that 50% of the people on here can blow me away chops-wise, but I'm a really good sight reader and I play everything with conviction so I get a ton of calls. Doesn't hurt that I can sing, too, but that's another thread.