Difficulty learning to sightread

[Flongoid]

I'm finding it incredibly difficult to learn to sightread.
I've got Ed Friedland's 'Building Walking Bass Lines' book and I've tried using the exercises over at Basschat - but it seems to be impossible for me to play any line, no matter how simple or slowly, without having to figure it out in my head first or take several careful attempts.
It's getting pretty frustrating.
Has anyone got any advice?

 

[electracoyote]

I'm finding it incredibly difficult to learn to sightread.
I've got Ed Friedland's 'Building Walking Bass Lines' book and I've tried using the exercises over at Basschat - but it seems to be impossible for me to play any line, no matter how simple or slowly, without having to figure it out in my head first or take several careful attempts.
It's getting pretty frustrating.
Has anyone got any advice?

How long have you been at it?

Your story sounds similar to most people just starting out.

It's a language. It takes time, determination, and tenacity.

 

[kesslari]

I'm still working on my sightreading.
First - do it daily. "8 bars a day, every day" was the advice I got, and it's good advice - not so much as to be "too much to do today", and enough to gradually improve.
Second - learn to identify rhythmic phrases. Those are where most people get stuck, rather than the note identification.
Third - it's kosher to review a piece before sightreading it...

 

[Schlyder]

this^
Clap the rythym as well.

 

[azureblue]

work backwards. Play a simple bass line, then write it out, then do this with more complex bass parts.. This will help you to read in patterns, which is essential for good reading habits.

 

[Billnc]

I do this experiment with students all the time. It helps me to see if they are actually practicing. Attempt to play the piece, or measures. If this is not going well, tap the rythm. Next play the line, out of time, just hit the right notes. 9 times out of ten the student will always play the correct notes. This isolates the issue as being one of subdividing rythms.

If they do not know the notes placements they haven't worked very hard. 2 or 3 notes added a week is not too much work.

 

[derekd]

5-10 minutes most days will propel you forward. It is slow, no way around it. Hang in there.