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good books for learning to read music quickly...

joebar

joebar

Jan 10, 2010
5,193
4,051
#1
I have enrolled in a week long college course; a jazz bass course in 6 weeks
I need to learn to read and fast.
what are the best books to start out with?
reading is not a prerequisite, but I wanna be ready.
 
#3
I'm currently going thru John Harnum's "Basic Music Theory, How to Read Write and Understand Written Music (I got it on Kindle, I'm pretty certain they have a hard copy as well). I can't really tell you how effective it is yet, I've only gotten thru the first couple of chapters, and so far it is indeed very basic. It is easy to understand though, and not too dry, it remains to be seen how effective it really is, but I'm enjoying It so far, and I am encouraged to keep at it. (Theory is something I've really needed to work on for a long time.) Might at least give you a good head start for the course, it's not too big and you could probably read it a few times before class starts, just to be sure you've got what it has to give. Just reading the chapter headings gives me an idea that it seems fairly comprehensive
 
#4
Frankly, reading isn't that difficult. There are two things you need to understand:

1. Pitch
2. Rhythm

Any book that contains music can be used to learn. Once you know where one note is, you can figure out the rest. I don't mean to sound smarmy, but really, bass music is written in Bass, or F Clef. F is identified by the double dot. The F identified by the double dot is 3rd fret D string, 8th fret A string, and 13th fret E string (identical pitches). Once you know where that note is, you can use the alphabet to figure out the rest. Just buy some music paper (or make it yourself in Word by creating staves with the _ key).

As for rhythm, check out Scott's bass lessons and get some music for songs you understand rhythm-wise. Then listen to them and associate the written notes. We're here to help if you have questions.

It's not simple, but it sure ain't rocket surgery.
 
#5
FretlessMainly said:
Frankly, reading isn't that difficult. There are two things you need to understand:

1. Pitch
2. Rhythm

Any book that contains music can be used to learn. Once you know where one note is, you can figure out the rest. I don't mean to sound smarmy, but really, bass music is written in Bass, or F Clef. F is identified by the double dot. The F identified by the double dot is 3rd fret D string, 8th fret A string, and 13th fret E string (identical pitches). Once you know where that note is, you can use the alphabet to figure out the rest. Just buy some music paper (or make it yourself in Word by creating staves with the _ key).

As for rhythm, check out Scott's bass lessons and get some music for songs you understand rhythm-wise. Then listen to them and associate the written notes. We're here to help if you have questions.

It's not simple, but it sure ain't rocket surgery.
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Good post. my instructor says the exact same thing and im coming along fine. Its practice.
 
#6
i dont agree at all. my reading always was terrible dating back to high school jazz band trying to use that method. it wasnt until opening up simandl and ed friedlands hal leonard bass method books that i became at least passable. working through positions and having a systematic approach made my life much easier.
 
#7
+1 on Simandl. I also think a great way to get started reading is pick up a hymnal and play the vocal bass part. Because the parts are very regular, it's a good way to get used to reading and playing and the range is right for electric bass guitar or upright bass. Also, the tunes are rendered in most key signatures.
 
#8
praisebass said:
+1 on Simandl. I also think a great way to get started reading is pick up a hymnal and play the vocal bass part. Because the parts are very regular, it's a good way to get used to reading and playing and the range is right for electric bass guitar or upright bass. Also, the tunes are rendered in most key signatures.
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That did it for me. That and simple piano books, yes I used some of Alfred's stuff. Keep some handy and just read. Learn how to identify the note first, be able to say the note's name in the same amount of time it takes you to say your full name. Then and only then start finding the notes on your fretboard. This lets you practice reading without your instrument, lunch, ride in, between commercials, etc.

The bit FretlessMainly mentioned about upper ledger notes, lower ledger notes and those within the staff - knowing where to find them on the fretboard helped a bunch. If you play from SN no getting around it you have to know where the notes are on your fretboard - and there are three octaves you need to find.
 
#9
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#10
narud said:
i dont agree at all. my reading always was terrible dating back to high school jazz band trying to use that method. it wasnt until opening up simandl and ed friedlands hal leonard bass method books that i became at least passable. working through positions and having a systematic approach made my life much easier.
Click to expand...

There seem to be several Samandl "new method" books available - red, blue, tan covers...Which one is the starter edition?
 
#11
I think there are two related, but at the core, different objectives in this discussion: 1) understanding theory 2) instrument-based sight reading. If #2 is what the OP is after as a short term objective, than a left hand position-based teaching book (Simandl) is indeed the best start. IU'd avoid any book with tabs in it -it will distract too much.
 
#12
Check out Ed Friedland's "Building Walking Basslines" book. If you're about to dive into jazz instruction and want to get some reading chops together, a book dedicated to jazz basslines might be better than a general-purpose book (Simandl is great too, but is written for the double-bass).

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#13
No matter what book or method you use, learn everything in increments, and don't move on to a new concept until you've mastered the first concept. It's better to spend 10 minutes on one thing than a minute each on 10 things. I have a feeling this is where most folks who attempt to self-teach reading to themselves go wrong...piling it all on at once.
 
#14
Lots of good advice so far.

The three tools I settled on (for reading) are:

Hal Leonard Bass Method by Ed Friedland

Music Theory Dot Net

Simplified Sight Reading For Bass

The Ed Friedland book is great. Music Theory Dot Net has some great exercises for learning the notes on the staff.

The Simplified Sight Reading book is boring, BUT the exercises in them are very helpful to me.

StudyBass is also an excellent resource. It covers music theory very thoroughly and has information and tool on reading as well.

I hope this helps.
 
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#15
JimmyM said:
No matter what book or method you use, learn everything in increments, and don't move on to a new concept until you've mastered the first concept. It's better to spend 10 minutes on one thing than a minute each on 10 things. I have a feeling this is where most folks who attempt to self-teach reading to themselves go wrong...piling it all on at once.
Click to expand...

I agree.

Here is a progressive series of books that my teacher recommended and I used.

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#17
hey guys -I settled on the friedland bass method books.
I decided to start from scratch and learn correctly from the get go.
I am amazed at how quickly I am relearning this! it is easier than it was in high school.
I am very encouraged by my progress thus far.
 

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