Can you read music?

[Captain Sunshin]

Yes, both bass and treble. However, I struggle to read chords on the go, unless the chord name is denoted above the staff. Coincidentally, I was just about to crack open the score for the wizard of oz, as I'm performing it in the pit in less than a month.

I'd say you could learn to do it sufficiently well if you practised an hour a day for a month. Really, it's not any harder than any other thing you learn to do on the bass.

 

[carl h.]

Yes, treble, alto, tenor, and bass.

It's where the money gigs come from for non-name players.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Yes, and I am still working to improve my reading skills. Once I get to three ledger lines, I am not very fluent.

 

[davidhilton]

yes.

 

[VerryBerry]

Yes, but still working on fluency.

Rocksmith 2014 isn't helping though - it's easier to spend the 15-20 minutes you might have to go over some fun song there instead of doing sight-reading exercises for that time.

Gotta be more strict with myself. Time to develop a plan and stick to that format.

 

[onda'bass]

yep, treble and bass clef...seriously not that hard, but you do have to try.

 

[Philonius]

Qualified yes. Last year I decided to get serious after years as a noodler. By just working through Ed Freidland's Walking book, I've made considerable progress. I'm approaching the point that it's starting to feel somewhat natural, rather to my surprise. Yes, it takes time, no, it's not that difficult. And I'm pushing 60, so if I can do it....

It really helps my understanding of form, and the ability to see the magic behind the music.

 

[Nashrakh]

I'm amazed that we have 90% music readers... Reading TB gives me the impression tab is all the rage.

 

[stratovani]

Yes, but at the equivalency of a first-grader just learning how to read. Maybe soon I'll be able to read the musical equivalent of "Dick and Jane".

 

[elgecko]

I'm amazed that we have 90% music readers... Reading TB gives me the impression tab is all the rage.

I suspect the results are a tad skewed.

 

[Passinwind]

I'm amazed that we have 90% music readers... Reading TB gives me the impression tab is all the rage.

It's just like the "Do You Own...?" threads, self-selecting poll responders. FWIW, I can't read tabs at all.

 

[Whit Townsend]

Yes, but kinda like Jethro Bodine ciphers. I could get better w practice. I'm much better at treble clef because I've done it more, learning fiddle tunes on mandolin and fiddle.
Never took any lessons, self taught at reading and everything else.

 

[FretlessMainly]

Since 1975. In looking at the poll results so far (with a moderate sample size), I get the sense that more folks that can read are voting than those who cannot. I doubt the actual percentage of members here that can read is ~90% (poll is currently at 89.06%), with n = 64.

Then again, what does "can you read music really mean?" There's a big difference between reading the bass part for a simple rock tune and reading and playing a Zappa bass chart or a Beethoven symphony part. So, "yes" contains shades of grey.

 

[klaus486]

Nope. And I don't care. I play because I love it.

 

[kingdbass]

Yes, I read Bass Clef, My Treble Clef reading blows....

 

[Renaissance]

Yes, treble and bass

Then again, what does "can you read music really mean?" There's a big difference between reading the bass part for a simple rock tune and reading and playing a Zappa bass chart or a Beethoven symphony part. So, "yes" contains shades of grey.

Respectfully, I disagree. Just because you can't play something doesn't mean you can't read. Maybe the grey area is in "Can you play or do you understand what you read?".

 

[Hamlet7768]

Not very well, but yes.

 

[Pilgrim]

Yup. Upright bass in Jr. High and High School orchestra. (40+ years ago.)

 

[Reddog01]

Having a major in music, I'd have to say yes, I can read music. However, there's a difference between knowing the names of the notes on a staff and begin able to play them on the fretboard. Every time I sit down and practice, I work on my reading. Sometimes I can read it straight off, and sometimes I have to work on an etude for a while. Also, there's more to reading music than naming the notes on the staff -- there's reading rhythm patterns also. When you were in elementary school and learning to read, you first started by decoding every word separately. Eventually, however, you learned to cluster your reading into familiar patterns. Reading rhythms is the same way. At first, you will read every rhythm written, but eventually, you learn to read clusters of rhythm patterns, which makes your reading easier and much more fluent. That's the power of working on etudes during your practice time. If you spend enough time every practice session on this, you will eventually find yourself in the same spot as some of the above posters who have found continuous work as a bass player because of their reading skills.

 

[lyla1953]

Qualified yes. Last year I decided to get serious after years as a noodler. By just working through Ed Freidland's Walking book, I've made considerable progress. I'm approaching the point that it's starting to feel somewhat natural, rather to my surprise. Yes, it takes time, no, it's not that difficult. And I'm pushing 60, so if I can do it....

It really helps my understanding of form, and the ability to see the magic behind the music.

I also just started this book after completing Ed's first 3 method books - Like the first 3, I'm using an instructor. He's also got me learning a "themed" song consistent with the subject in Ed's book from the Shadows of Motown book each week, which is also 100% notation similar to the Walking book so far.
.
Unlike the 3 method books, I have to transpose most of the practice pieces in Walking before I can play them - Its a great method for reading and understanding why a particular note is used.
In 3 weeks I've made it to page 21 (Double Chromatic Approach notes) Oh yea and I pushed over 60 about 9 months ago.