If you read bass guitar sheet music

[WantedPeak]

A few years ago I used to take private bass lessons and my instructor was starting to teach me how to read sheet music and how to read the notes well. But then I had to stop taking lessons. (Family reasons) And I completely forgot everything I had been taught. (Which was very little) I was wondering that if I post scanned copies of a couple of pages of bass music could you write the, I guess you could say "tabs" for them. And send them back to me. Because my school schedule got messed up somehow during the end of this semester And I was put in jazz band and I have to play bass for jazz. Because there are already two trombone players. And we are going to some jazz festival soon and we're playing these songs and I have almost no clue what the notes are. I am a great/skilled bass player. But I mostly use bass tablature. If you can then reply or just send me a message and I'll scan the sheet music and send it to you. Thanks. Or email me wrestlingfreak_2006@yahoo.com

[fdeck]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is your homework. It will be a great learning experience, and not prohibitively difficult.

[mwiles30]

+1

Sorry, but having someone else do it won't make you any better.

I recommend getting started on the tunes pretty soon.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

You can thank me later.

[rfclef]

Originally Posted by fdeck

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is your homework. It will be a great learning experience, and not prohibitively difficult.

As a brother bassist, and a music teacher:

Word.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by WantedPeak

I am a great/skilled bass player. But I mostly use bass tablature.

Since fdeck already gave you the best advice you could possibly ever receive in regards to this thread -- in post #2, no less! -- I will use this opportunity simply to be one of those internet assholes who contributes nothing more than a timely

FAIL

[spade2you]

Yeah, just learn how to read the music.

LOL, speaking of that, I saw a guy post on craig's list that he could sight read tab. Ummmmmmm, that's not quite sight reading......

[BlacksHole]

There is a little more info that may help you get started back on your own. The bass is really a contrabass instrument, meaning that it is written an octave higher than it sounds (fundamental). This means that the open E string is the line below the bass staff. i.e., the staff shown previously has as its lowest note the lowest G possible on the E string. The open G string is the penultimate note on the staff (uppermost space). The G octave (on G string) has 3 ledger lines. I hope you remember time values, as they are marked somewhat the same in tab.
If you are going to double a horn part, the trombone part can be read as you see it and it will be in your range, but you will actually be playing it down an octave although the electric bass usually produces the first order harmonic very strongly and it will not particularly sound much deeper. Do not try to read the tuba parts as the tuba is in a different key and requires transposing, and you should be a solid reader before you consider transposing.

[Pilgrim]

With the scale above and attention to the notes, you should be able to work it out. Not only that, but you'll retain it really well if you do the work. I'll bet you can have any part worked out in less than an hour.

[NickInMesa]

Guys, guys, guys... there is MONEY to be made, ok?

Just like when I used to give private lessons, and some of these kids just wanted me to do their homework, well I needed the money, so 1-I got money, 2-the kid had good grades and was happy and 3-the kid had good grades and the parents were happy.

But yes, I had to stop as well, but still can decipher music sheet painstakingly and, with a gun on my head, I could probably play the tune in the end, as long as the gunman is patient.

I also think there are computer applications that do that. Look it up. The software companies need money too.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Chunk-O-Funk

You can thank me later.

+1 In 30+ years of playing, I have never had a 'tab' chart put in front of me.

The best way to start getting comfortable with reading charts (i.e., lead sheets with changes) is to just get comfortable playing 'whole note roots' in time as the changes go by. Then, slowly move to playing the root and 3rd half notes (which will define major and minor for you), then eventually outlining 4 notes that define the entire cord as quarter notes per measure (root, major or minor 3rd, 4th 5th or +/-5th, and 7th or 9th, etc.).

There's no really easy way to learn to read written out lines, though... you just need to muscle through it.

IMO.

[EddieN]

Originally Posted by BlacksHole

The open G string is the penultimate note on the staff (uppermost space).

I believe this is the first time I've seen the word penultimate used properly on an internet forum.