what is wrong with me!!!

dideah · #1 06-22-2011, 02:26 AM

so basicly ive been playing for 8 months. ive played maybe 3 hours a day never missed a day no lessons.. and i think im getting there to be decent. ( some of the harder songs ) i can play mr pink level 42 , scoop marcus miller and millionare waltz very clean * i think * but i recently took up bass lessons and the teacher gave me a very simple song i can usually play with easy but when i look at tabs and play i just get stuck.. i do have dyslexia and maybe thats because? but if i close my eyes and play the song i can do it perfectly i knew the song by heart but when i just look at tabs and play i just cant.. any of you can explain / relate to this?

thereturnfc · #2 06-22-2011, 02:34 AM

I can't neither lol I usually remember thing from practicing with(out) tabs

But it is good to be able to read and play(but that process Take YEARS)

lunarpollen · #3 06-22-2011, 02:43 AM

I have a similar thing where if I look at my girlfriend while playing certain songs, I mess up. The solution is to not look at what messes you up while playing the song!

bluesdogblues · #4 06-22-2011, 02:53 AM

8 months x 30 days x 3 hours = 720 hours.. Someone said we need 10.000 hours to be master, so you need another 9280 hours!

Seriously:
concentration is the hardest but a must thing in practicing, and it'll be harder when we grow older, have a family, kids etc.

And your problem is in sight reading. Everyone ecperience that difficulties. The key is just to always learn hard.
But if I may suggest it's better for you to learn to (sight) read 'real music notation' instead of any tablature. Also learn to transcribe your favourite songs, not just the bass line but all the melody, the instruments other than bass.

Good luck

Longhair · #5 06-22-2011, 02:55 AM

You are basically learning something new - reading AND playing what you read at the same time.

Think of when you learned how to read out loud in class, that is the same exact thing that you must do now. Don't focus too much energy playing the song by itself because there will be a time when you need to play something you don't know.

jabsys · #6 06-22-2011, 07:06 AM

I can't play straight from tabs either, I don't have a problem sight reading sheet music but all the numbers on tabs just end up looking like a mess, only way I can do it is to learn sections at a time and then play it from memory.

cchorney · #7 06-22-2011, 07:30 AM

There is practice time and then there is practice time. If you're just noodling for an hour it doesn't count. That said, you shouldn't be deterred when having a difficult time with a passage - just break it down into little pieces, slow it down, and work out each bit. Once you figure it out and then develop the muscle memory you can put the pieces back together and slowly bring it back up to tempo.

Russell L · #8 06-22-2011, 08:23 AM

Forget about being able to read tablature. Just use it as a tool. You'll never have a tab chart put in front of you for a gig. Learn to read real notation. That's where the real stuff is. And learn to understand real chart layout and nomenclature, including terms for things such as dynamics, repeat signs, codas, tempo, etc.

Tab is for those who don't already know regular notation. But guess what? It's easier to read regular notation.

OPBASSMAN1994 · #9 06-22-2011, 08:32 AM

Try using chord charts instead. If you know the note names and where they are on the neck, they make sight reading stupidly easy.

Crazyeelboy · #10 06-22-2011, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell L

Forget about being able to read tablature. Just use it as a tool. You'll never have a tab chart put in front of you for a gig. Learn to read real notation. That's where the real stuff is. And learn to understand real chart layout and nomenclature, including terms for things such as dynamics, repeat signs, codas, tempo, etc.

Tab is for those who don't already know regular notation. But guess what? It's easier to read regular notation.

You are right about notation actually being easier to read than tab. I find tabs practically useless. I have,however, actually had people send me tabs for gigs, though.

Pilgrim · #11 06-22-2011, 04:59 PM

I read music and I think it's MUCH easier to sight-read than working from tabs. In using tabs, you not only need to recognize the string but you also need to mentally translate the number displayed into your fret position. Music shows you the exact fret position.

I think tabs are a good way to get introduced to a number and get started, but for playing at anything like normal speed, I can't use them. They have uses, but they're a poor substitute for musical notation.

BigOldHarry · #12 06-22-2011, 05:00 PM

8 whole months??

Music takes TIME.

Crazyeelboy · #13 06-22-2011, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I read music and I think it's MUCH easier to sight-read than working from tabs. In using tabs, you not only need to recognize the string but you also need to mentally translate the number displayed into your fret position. Music shows you the exact fret position.

I think tabs are a good way to get introduced to a number and get started, but for playing at anything like normal speed, I can't use them. They have uses, but they're a poor substitute for musical notation.

I guess tab is ok when one does not know where the notes are on the instrument. Beyond that, notation is far superior and easier to learn and read (imho)