Can you read music? Do you think it important?

[lfmn16]

Internet screwup. I didn't say all that. There are 2 quotes combined by a previous poster.

Damn. Now I don't know who to wag my finger at with self-righteous indignation!!!

 

[lfmn16]

But it's certainly no hindrance to what I want to be able to do; and if anything, it even sets me free a bit.

How does not being able to read music set you free??

 

[f.c.geil]

I read music, and think it is incredibly important.

 

[LeeNunn]

I'm learning to read by transcribing songs. I'll probably never have to sight read, but transcribing helps me in all kinds of ways. First, I can visualize the structure of the song (verses, choruses, bridge, etc.), including how many measures in each section. Visualizing the structure helps me to remember the structure. Second, identifying all the chords helps me to put the bass line in context of the chord changes. Third, writing out the notes helps me appreciate the nuances of the recorded bass line. Ghost notes and rests can be particularly effective in some bass lines. It was tough at first, but now I think it's fun. The best part is that looking back at my transcription is faster than listening to the recording when a question comes up. I use the software program Transcribe! I get so much out of it that I can't understand why everyone doesn't do this. I have my own sound, but transcribing allows my to add other bass player's ideas to my music vocabulary more easily.