Simple, melodic songs for sight-reading - recommendations?

[Fathand]

Recommend me some simple, melodic songs (I've had enough riff-based stuff through playing metal, hehe) that I could work with to train my notation reading skills. Then I'll head to the library and try to find notation for them.

Preferably for bass, but guitar stuff is accepted too as I've played that damn thing for over 12 years now and I still can't read and play it either.

I'm pretty much at a beginner's level, but not a total n00b with sight-reading. ()

Just came to my mind.. Would the Beatles have some tunes in that vein?

[sedgdog]

Trombone books are excellent for sight reading practice. Start with "Introductory Melodious Etudes for Trombone" by Alan Ralph. Then move up to "Melodious Etudes for Tombone Books I, II, III. In the introductory book the Etudes are only about 8 measures long and written in many different keys, time signitures, etc... Great tools for sight reading!

All the best,
Tim

[Jack Clark]

I think using trombone music to practice reading on the bass is a great idea. I came across it myself, purely by accident. I ordered a "bass cleff" book, thinking bass, and the publisher sent me a book labeled as being for trombone. I didn't even know trombone was a C instrument. I had always assumed it was one of those Bb or Eb transposing instruments, like the trumpet family. Anyway, the trombone book works great for practicing reading notation.

[Asher S]

The Real Book, Bass Clef edition, volumes I, II, and III. That will keep you busy for months.

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by Fathand

Recommend me some simple, melodic songs (I've had enough riff-based stuff through playing metal, hehe) that I could work with to train my notation reading skills. Then I'll head to the library and try to find notation for them.

Preferably for bass, but guitar stuff is accepted too as I've played that damn thing for over 12 years now and I still can't read and play it either.

I'm pretty much at a beginner's level, but not a total n00b with sight-reading. ()

Just came to my mind.. Would the Beatles have some tunes in that vein?

if you can get your hands on guitar world,bass player/guitar and gftpm back issues......there are usually 5 transcribed basslines,fewer in bp, but i doubt there would be too much in the way of used in finland........i copy them and glue the pages into one or two big sheets so as to minimize page turning and play along w/the cd.start with the jamerson book.it will keep you busy

[PJSShearer]

Originally Posted by nimbleswitch

I think using trombone music to practice reading on the bass is a great idea. I came across it myself, purely by accident. I ordered a "bass cleff" book, thinking bass, and the publisher sent me a book labeled as being for trombone. I didn't even know trombone was a C instrument. I had always assumed it was one of those Bb or Eb transposing instruments, like the trumpet family. Anyway, the trombone book works great for practicing reading notation.

Trombone is a transposing instrument (B flat) but it can be notated in either transposing (B flat Treble Clef) or C (Bass Clef). The third way (which I used to see in my Brass Band days) was Tenor Clef (the funny capital K). This set the note "C" on the middle middle line of the stave, so the part was written in C but the notes fell on the same lines and spaces as B flat transposing. So you read it as Treble Clef and added two sharps to the key signature - written in C play in (B flat) D!!.

Confused? - I was :-)

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

The third way (which I used to see in my Brass Band days) was Tenor Clef (the funny capital K). This set the note "C" on the middle middle line of the stave, so the part was written in C but the notes fell on the same lines and spaces as B flat transposing. So you read it as Treble Clef and added two sharps to the key signature - written in C play in (B flat) D!!.

Confused? - I was :-)

I can see the confusion. The "funny capital K" clef is the moveable C clef. The line that in the middle of the "K" is middle C. The clef can be moved to any line to make that line middle C. If the "K" is on the fourth line (count from the bottom up) its called a TENOR CLEF and the fourth line is middle C. If the "K" is on the middle line its called ALTO CLEF (since this is the clef commonly used by the viola it is often called Viola Clef). In ancient music you'll possibly see the C clef on the second line and sometimes on the bottom line. In modern usage you'll only run into the Tenor clef, in trombone music (mostly orchestral) and cello (quite frequently)and viola (almost all the time).

[warnergt]

Originally Posted by Fathand

Recommend me some simple, melodic songs...that I could work with to train my notation reading skills...

Just came to my mind.. Would the Beatles have some tunes in that vein?

Yes. Work on "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles.
It's a straightforward bass line excellent for learning music reading.

[Jack Clark]

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

Trombone is a transposing instrument (B flat) but it can be notated in either transposing (B flat Treble Clef) or C (Bass Clef). The third way (which I used to see in my Brass Band days) was Tenor Clef (the funny capital K). This set the note "C" on the middle middle line of the stave, so the part was written in C but the notes fell on the same lines and spaces as B flat transposing. So you read it as Treble Clef and added two sharps to the key signature - written in C play in (B flat) D!!.

Confused? - I was :-)

Brother! A Bb transposing instrument that can be notated in either Bb on the treble clef or in C on the bass clef? Gad! Just when you think you've got things figured out. So when it plays a "C" on the treble cleff, it's really sounding a concert Bb? Yet when it plays a "C" on the bass clef, it's really sounding a concert C? I don't think I can wrap my tiny mind around that.

[Cy_Miles]

Mel Bay has a series of "Authentic Bass Line" books that has exact tabs and notation.

I have been using Beatles 62-66, Wailers Bass Lines, and Motown Bass Lines. The music is accesible, I know the music by heart and the notation is accurate down to the trills and accents.

As far as becoming more comforable sounding out melodies or being more comfortable with your scales I recommend kid songs.

DO a Deer, Twinkle Twinkle, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Camptown Races,

Or Christmas carols. Silent Night, Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger etc.


That may sound silly but those are built on the basic melody/choard structure that most western music is based on.

[Cy_Miles]

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

Trombone is a transposing instrument (B flat) but it can be notated in either transposing (B flat Treble Clef) or C (Bass Clef). The third way (which I used to see in my Brass Band days) was Tenor Clef (the funny capital K). This set the note "C" on the middle middle line of the stave, so the part was written in C but the notes fell on the same lines and spaces as B flat transposing. So you read it as Treble Clef and added two sharps to the key signature - written in C play in (B flat) D!!.

Confused? - I was :-)

Originally Posted by nimbleswitch

I don't think I can wrap my tiny mind around that.

I played the baritone in school. I had previously played trumpet so I knew the treble clef. My friend also played baritone. He had played trombone so he knew bass clef. He read the baritone parts in bass clef, and I read them in treble clef. They had baritone parts for each bass and treble clefs.

And I still can't rap my head around playing a B flat and calling it a C. Or wait is it the other way around?

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by Cy_Miles

Mel Bay has a series of "Authentic Bass Line" books that has exact tabs and notation.

I have been using Beatles 62-66, Wailers Bass Lines, and Motown Bass Lines. The music is accesible, I know the music by heart and the notation is accurate down to the trills and accents.

As far as becoming more comforable sounding out melodies or being more comfortable with your scales I recommend kid songs.

DO a Deer, Twinkle Twinkle, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Camptown Races,

Or Christmas carols. Silent Night, Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger etc.

the national anthem,tv show themes ..............for the sight reading thing i would consider finding stuff that you are not that familiar with......when you find a piece of music look at it without the bass in your hand and;

check the key sig

time sig

repeats ds,codas,key changes

go through it counting it out while trying to get a feel for the rythym,

play it thru

put it away and repeat with a different piece


if you work on one piece too much you will be remembering it instead of sight reading it....unless you are actually trying to learn the piece,then thats a different story

[IdealWay]

I recommend starting with "Note Reading Studies for Bass" by Arnold Evans, which begins at the beginning, very basic, and progresses to intermediate reading. Once you've mastered this, move on to the book "60 Melodic Etudes" by John Patitucci. This one provides lots of technical studies in a musical format that really help you know the fingerboard and navigate positions quickly while reading. Hope this helps you in your endeavors