I can do all those. Whilst in the middle of playing a song though? Nope. Not quite that fast. Tabs come in much more handy for me. With notation above, it gives me a better sense of rhythm though. So I tend to use both together.
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Can you actually read music
- Thread starter magic2119
- Start date
I read and/or write music almost every day (I use Finale software). It's an essential part of what I do, playing bass, arranging, etc. However I am not a good 'sight reader', simply haven't pushed myself hard enough in that area as it hasn't been necessary so far in my professional experiences. If a gig came along that really required strong and accurate sight reading then I'd have to do some serious wood-shedding.
I have the most FUN onstage when I'm not reading music. But that's my rock n roll roots...
As it is, my reading skills are adequate for routine tasks of learning new music, transcribing and creating charts, scores and parts, etc. Basically it's just a language that makes being able to communicate with other musicians a heck of a lot more efficient (a LOT more efficient than it was back in my garage band days - "Oh, wait...dude...how did that part go?")
I have the most FUN onstage when I'm not reading music. But that's my rock n roll roots...
As it is, my reading skills are adequate for routine tasks of learning new music, transcribing and creating charts, scores and parts, etc. Basically it's just a language that makes being able to communicate with other musicians a heck of a lot more efficient (a LOT more efficient than it was back in my garage band days - "Oh, wait...dude...how did that part go?")
This ignores at least 50% of what is valuable about reading music: rhythm.
Especially true for bassists. Ironically, also the aspect usually ignored by those who downplay the importance of reading notation.
I've sat in on some jazz gigs and had to sight read. Did ok. Missed a few.
Oh, get this: I can write piano music (both clefs together), but for the life of me can't sight read it right back atcha. I have to work at it. Heh, I guess I haven't practiced that enough.
Oh, get this: I can write piano music (both clefs together), but for the life of me can't sight read it right back atcha. I have to work at it. Heh, I guess I haven't practiced that enough.
By the op's definition, I can read. But if someone just asked if I do, I'd say that I can't. To me reading equals sight reading, any short of that is of course useful, but not true reading in my books.
I have proficient sight reading skills that has lead to much work over the years, it's one of the fundamental skills I work to keep up.
I play in a show band and do a lot of the horn arrangements so, yeah, I can read music. I haven't, however, had as much opportunity to do on the spot sight reading a lot. Our trumpet player brought in an arrangement of "Minnie the Moocher" recently that we did an initial sight reading on and I did pretty good, although it's not a particularly complicated part. I'm getting better at it though.
I try to work on reading music everyday because I think that's the only way to get better. I use the "Sightreader Master" software for sight reading. It's a part of the "Guitar Freak Workstation" software but I don't use all the other stuff it has. It's actually pretty cool because it's easy to program it to your own experience level. It does have some glitches but still works pretty good.
I try to work on reading music everyday because I think that's the only way to get better. I use the "Sightreader Master" software for sight reading. It's a part of the "Guitar Freak Workstation" software but I don't use all the other stuff it has. It's actually pretty cool because it's easy to program it to your own experience level. It does have some glitches but still works pretty good.
I can read, but I'm pretty slow at it. Played trumpet in elementary and junior high band, so I was very familiar with the treble clef, but didn't really play anything for quite a few years afterwards. Oddly enough, I have more trouble now reading treble clef than bass clef. Notes are fine, but as someone posted earlier, the rhythm and timing still give me problems sometimes.
I'm still working at it; it's the only way to get better. Also will start a beginning piano class next week, so hopefully that'll help as well.
I'm still working at it; it's the only way to get better. Also will start a beginning piano class next week, so hopefully that'll help as well.
Yes, I can read, but I don't have to much anymore. Chord charts, mostly, and I use Nashville notation extensively.
Once upon a long time ago I had a bass teacher who was teaching me how to read along with some music theory stuff. I stopped taking lessons and that was the end of that for many years. I only remembered the very basic stuff. A few months ago I decided it was time to pick up where I left off. I don't play in a band and haven't done so in years, for me music is a hobby and an exercise in self-discipline. I've reached the point where I kind read simple stuff, and though I still suck I'm definitely making progress.
One thing I really hate is tabs. I use to love them, especially as a lazy teenager, but now I find that they are a crutch which hinders my efforts to learn music for real. If I am trying to read a piece of music and there are tabs on the same page, I have to mask off the tabs with a piece of scrap paper because my eye will be drawn to them otherwise. They are very distracting and have no rythm notation. They are useful if you are stuck on something, but the more I learn the less I get stuck.
One thing I really hate is tabs. I use to love them, especially as a lazy teenager, but now I find that they are a crutch which hinders my efforts to learn music for real. If I am trying to read a piece of music and there are tabs on the same page, I have to mask off the tabs with a piece of scrap paper because my eye will be drawn to them otherwise. They are very distracting and have no rythm notation. They are useful if you are stuck on something, but the more I learn the less I get stuck.
As a rock and roll player many years ago, I played by ear.
I started to move in jazz circles and had to read chord charts (a la real book) and simple dots. (Jazz standards where there was room to fake it).
A few years ago I took up double bass and joined an orchestra. The reading there demands a total ability to play the dots, no faking, while watching the conductor for timing changes, in all the hard keys with constantly changing time signatures. It goes well above the staff and sometimes into tenor clef. And the rhythms are often non trivial.
So by OP's definition I read, but by my definition I have a lot more learning to do before I can read well.
But in rock and roll or blues, it means I can listen to a recording and write down what I hear. Makes it much quicker to learn new stuff!!!!
I would advise anyone starting out to learn to read, even if they don't need it right now. Later on they probably will.
I started to move in jazz circles and had to read chord charts (a la real book) and simple dots. (Jazz standards where there was room to fake it).
A few years ago I took up double bass and joined an orchestra. The reading there demands a total ability to play the dots, no faking, while watching the conductor for timing changes, in all the hard keys with constantly changing time signatures. It goes well above the staff and sometimes into tenor clef. And the rhythms are often non trivial.
So by OP's definition I read, but by my definition I have a lot more learning to do before I can read well.
But in rock and roll or blues, it means I can listen to a recording and write down what I hear. Makes it much quicker to learn new stuff!!!!
I would advise anyone starting out to learn to read, even if they don't need it right now. Later on they probably will.
Been reading treble and bass clef since I was 6 when I started piano. I can also read alto clef since I was a viola player for 7 years. Double bass music written in tenor clef hurts though...I usually end up just transcribing for bass clef because I'm more adept at reading the ledger lines! >_> either that or put the higher parts in treble.
I started off playing in the middle school orchestra playing double bass, and had to learn to read by default. It's come in handy multiple times. Its not my favorite thing to do, and I don't consider myself a great sight-reader, but sometimes you have to.
In fact, I'm playing bass in a musical tonight and tomorrow night where I have to read.
In fact, I'm playing bass in a musical tonight and tomorrow night where I have to read.
I can read the dots, but I'm slower than a glacier. It's been almost 20 years since I was really working on my sight reading.
If I need to learn a tune from manuscript I can do it, but if I needed to sight read it I'd be fully screwed!
If I need to learn a tune from manuscript I can do it, but if I needed to sight read it I'd be fully screwed!
