THANKS FOR SIGHTREADING SUPPORT!!

guitardefector · #1 08-02-2010, 10:08 AM

I just want to take a few minutes to thank the TB community for your support in all aspects of bass playing but especially in sight reading. In the past two years, I've bought the "right" books and have been trying to apply the correct fingering and also immersed myself in theory, thanks to all of you.

So last night, after taking about a week's break from music, I sat down with a difficult Steely Dan score and flew right through it without having to struggle and rethink what I just played. I was jumping around in my room afterwards trying to come to grips with what I had just done. Mind you, I'm not Carnegie Hall material yet, but who cares? I managed to hit the right notes and the right timing with little effort and...an occasional yawn.

I know the tabs vs. standard notation debate is a very touchy topic here, but let me tell you: I'm through with tabs. I feel I'm on the correct path in my music studies by avoiding it like the plague. I equate learning notation with learning to read proper English and becoming literate. It's liberating and exciting. And it's worth the occasional tedium and rote memorization. It pays off big time sooner than you think it will.

Again, TBers, thanks for the support and I'll continue to rely on you for more in the future for musical support.

**colcifer** · #2 08-02-2010, 10:16 AM

You're welcome.

Jim Campbell · #3 08-02-2010, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitardefector

I just want to take a few minutes to thank the TB community for your support in all aspects of bass playing but especially in sight reading. In the past two years, I've bought the "right" books and have been trying to apply the correct fingering and also immersed myself in theory, thanks to all of you.

So last night, after taking about a week's break from music, I sat down with a difficult Steely Dan score and flew right through it without having to struggle and rethink what I just played. I was jumping around in my room afterwards trying to come to grips with what I had just done. Mind you, I'm not Carnegie Hall material yet, but who cares? I managed to hit the right notes and the right timing with little effort and...an occasional yawn.

I know the tabs vs. standard notation debate is a very touchy topic here, but let me tell you: I'm through with tabs. I feel I'm on the correct path in my music studies by avoiding it like the plague. I equate learning notation with learning to read proper English and becoming literate. It's liberating and exciting. And it's worth the occasional tedium and rote memorization. It pays off big time sooner than you think it will.

Again, TBers, thanks for the support and I'll continue to rely on you for more in the future for musical support.

i have a few pages of dan dots in my hard drive if you want

#4 08-02-2010, 10:27 AM

Tabs are often inaccurate. If you can't figure the tune out by ear, I would get the sheet music. Adjust accordingly, depending on what key signature you are playing the song in.

aidan784 · #5 08-03-2010, 06:09 AM

Great stuff guitardefector! I'm very pleased for you! I'll get there soon enough, just need to keep working at it, well done!

JimmyM · #6 08-03-2010, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pltnny

Tabs are often inaccurate. If you can't figure the tune out by ear, I would get the sheet music. Adjust accordingly, depending on what key signature you are playing the song in.

sheet music can also be inaccurate but it's better than tabs for sure!

gd, congratulations for ditching tabs and getting your sight reading together...a winner is you!

guitardefector · #7 08-03-2010, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

sheet music can also be inaccurate but it's better than tabs for sure!

gd, congratulations for ditching tabs and getting your sight reading together...a winner is you!

Thanks, JimmyM. BTW, is that James Brown showing up for a Devo audition on your logo?Cute.

JimmyM · #8 08-03-2010, 12:39 PM

indeed!

Demonator · #9 08-05-2010, 11:35 AM

Good job.

monroe55 · #10 08-07-2010, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitardefector

I just want to take a few minutes to thank the TB community for your support in all aspects of bass playing but especially in sight reading. In the past two years, I've bought the "right" books and have been trying to apply the correct fingering and also immersed myself in theory, thanks to all of you.

I read your thread on sight reading. Cool.
I myself would like to begin the journey to improve at site reading. What books would you recommend to begin with? I know a lot of basic theory already-(chord structure, arpeggios, scales, modes, pents, fingering positions, standard progressions, harmony, etc) so I want to avoid any books that will spend too much time explaining this stuff. I cant "sight read" but Ive learned/translated written solos. I know and can identify the notes on the staff lines and understand key sigs and naturals, etc, but I am unclear about reading rythyms yet.
Since I know all this stuff, what book would you recommend first? There are so many topics on the forum on this already, I know. I just liked this thread and figured Id ask you for a start. Thanks for any advice.

bigtiny · #11 08-07-2010, 08:49 AM

good for you! and remember, it's not whether or not you're Carnegie Hall material, it's whether you play a little better today than you did yesterday.

As for tabs -- hey, if they work for you fine. But I would caution young players -- if you ever think you might find yourself in a commercial recording session, or auditioning for a road show, trust me, you're not going to get tabs thrown in front of you, you're going to get traditional notation thrown in front of you. Your ability to read it will be assumed. What I mean is that it will be automatically assumed that anybody auditioning for a gig at this level can read the sheet music. Your actual getting the gig will depend on other factors: how you interpret the music, availability, salary demands, etc etc etc

bigtiny

guitardefector · #12 08-08-2010, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monroe55

I read your thread on sight reading. Cool.
I myself would like to begin the journey to improve at site reading. What books would you recommend to begin with? I know a lot of basic theory already-(chord structure, arpeggios, scales, modes, pents, fingering positions, standard progressions, harmony, etc) so I want to avoid any books that will spend too much time explaining this stuff. I cant "sight read" but Ive learned/translated written solos. I know and can identify the notes on the staff lines and understand key sigs and naturals, etc, but I am unclear about reading rythyms yet.
Since I know all this stuff, what book would you recommend first? There are so many topics on the forum on this already, I know. I just liked this thread and figured Id ask you for a start. Thanks for any advice.

Thanks Monroe. I started out with Ed Friedland's bass method(3 books). I really like all his books especially Building Walking Bass lines. I use Bass Fitness also, when my fingers need more exercise and now I'm on Essential Reading Studies for Electric Bass volume 1. With metronome, of course.

As a side note, I bought the complete Brandenburg Concertos scores by JS Bach over the weekend at a flea market. Why, you ask? The cello parts are a great source for bassists, imo. Except that some parts go lower than the open E so I'm guessing that requires a 5-string bass?? The journey continues and who knows what I'll be listening to or playing a year from now. Good luck in everything!