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Has anyone learned to read after learning to play?

#21
I am not to old 22 almost 23 and have been in school non stop since I was 5 so learning is something my brain is still capable of :), but its something I have wanted to learn 5+ years. I cant learn something offline I need a hard copy of a book , if you guys have any suggestions of hard copy material Ican buy I would lvoe to hear it. I think sitting down and trying it on my own before seeking a teacher maybe best so I at least go into lessons with a small understanding because as of now I basically know nothing regarding musical notation.
 
#22
Everybody always asks what to buy to learn to read, even had my one student who has been playing for 20 years ask the same question last week, I will tell him what everybody else tells you. Sheet music. Just plain old sheet music, the more the better.

I think Jaco recommends Donhauers Cello exercises (something like that I am sure I butchered the name)
 
#23
A-Step-Towards said:
I know nothing about talking lessons, I didnt know you could specifically take lessons that just teach you to read. I have tried learning to read through some stuff on here but I cant do it online, maybe with a good book I could learn by myself but I think a teacher would be very helpful.

I just feel learning to read could open up more possibilities on bass for me, right now I have grown bored with it.
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I wonder if you understand the things you play.
I mean,nothing is written about the theory behind your playing.
Have you learned any theory?
I ask because reading music is simply a way of communication between musicians.
O course by reading you will be playing somebody else;s ideas,which might teach you something.(specially if you try to play other instrument lines)
But I sense that theory might teach you more than merely reading.
 
#24
I would highly recommend the sight reading course with the international institute of bassists. Cliff Engel is a great instructor and for the price it is an amazing value! I'm taking the course right now and have been nothing short of impressed. I'm also going through "reading in bass clef" by Jim Stinnett. This is another great resource for anyone trying to navigate the waters of learning to read music for bass. I do agree that learning to read music will help you speak the language of music, but it won't necessarily teach how to how to construct great bass lines as much as play great bass lines written by other players. An emphasis on theory would probably benefit one more if they are trying to write vs. read.
 
#25
I have to second Mashu's advice. I took Cliff Engel's Music Theory for Bass course last December (I still have to finish working through it) and he focuses a lot on reading. Its not expensive. I think it was $20 or $24 and lasts about 3 months (12 lessons). Every week there's a new lesson and you can log into the IIB's chatroom for a year after to discuss anything bass-related with him. You can Google the International Institute of Bassists (IIB) and find more information. You'll basically get a book, lessons and teacher for the price of a book. Other students of all experience levels also comment in the chat area.
 
#26
I'm learning to read as I learn to play, but I SO wish there were more books of music that didn't put tabs right under the staves. I know it can help knowing what octave to start in and which fret will allow you to find the other notes with ease, but as soon as I start playing my eyes go straight to the numbers and I find I'm thinking about playing the "5" on D string rather than thinking of it as "G".

The solution, of course, is use cello music as someone else said earlier
 
#28
bigboy_78 said:
+1 to Ed Friedland’s books. They’ll help a lot with the rhythm notation.
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+2 to this. Ed's HL Method is a great place to start (and if you start teaching, it's a great resource to use). Another thought is to get some books on things you want to learn that include/require reading. Two other Friedland books come to mind: R&B Bass Masters and Building Walking Bass Lines. Great books and all in standard notation. Other suggestions: Standing in the Shadows of Motown, Real Book in Bass Clef, and the Charlie Parker Omnibook in Bass Clef. Oh, and Rufus Reid's The Evolving Bassist is great for reading, too. Rufus' first exercises (etudes) are all open strings, so they are easy to read.

--Steve
 
#31
Mashu01 said:
An emphasis on theory would probably benefit one more if they are trying to write vs. read.
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But here the OP is getting bored of his playing.
He tries to explore reading as if he will acquire new ideas to come out of his "stuck" position.

New ideas is "writing on the spot" ,developing bass lines with some sense.
So,I still sustain he needs to know the theory behind his playing,or at least understand whatever he plays.

I keep wonder what he knows,because if he doesn't know,reading will simply be a mechanical tool,and new ideas will never come.
 
#32
ACalbass said:
But here the OP is getting bored of his playing.
He tries to explore reading as if he will acquire new ideas to come out of his "stuck" position.

New ideas is "writing on the spot", developing bass lines with some sense.
So, I still sustain he needs to know the theory behind his playing,or at least understand whatever he plays.

I keep wonder what he knows,because if he doesn't know,reading will simply be a mechanical tool,and new ideas will never come.
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Meh.

IMO/IME, learning is never wasted, and inspiration can come from the strangest places.
 
#33
Handyman said:
+1 to this. This set of books is an excellent way to learn to read. It worked for me!
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The Friedland 3-pack is great way to go; unlike many of the bass guitar methods of my youth, this one has been updated by a great player with real world playing/gigging experience. And if you play some upright, Ed begins with a 1-2-4 fingering, which is very Simandl-like. The backing tracks help, too. Bass method books are a lot better than they used to be. And Ed's stuff is top notch.

--Steve
 
#34
I posted this in a thread earlier in the year; relevant to the current question, I think. Take it from Marcus...

Stev187 said:
I was really inspired by this short statement from Marcus Miller in an interview with James Ross recently:

Invalid Link Removed

Thought I'd transcribe and share.

Stop complaining about not being able to read music and take three months out of your life at 16 years old to learn how to read music and stop wasting time. I have guys come up to me: "Hey man, is it okay if I don't read?" I say "Didn't you ask me that last year?" I said "in that one year, man, you could've had that behind you." Reading isn't the key to anything, but it just makes it easier for you. You get to a rehearsal, and somebody goes "this is what we're playing." And you're up there: "Hey, could you play it for me three times? You know, I can hear anything." Meanwhile, for me... I'm gone. I've done recorded it, and I'm gone. I'm down the street to the next session, you know? So, I mean, it won't stop you if you're really talented, but reading just makes things easier.

Jross-tv, Aug 7, 2011​

Great interview, Mr. Ross, and wonderful sentiment, Mr. Miller!

--Steve
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#35
steve_rolfeca said:
Meh.

IMO/IME, learning is never wasted, and inspiration can come from the strangest places.
Click to expand...

Inspiration is only a moment,then can be another moment,and another,but can't be inspired every moment : sometimes is not there,if not all of the time.
Instead,you channel the inspiration using what you already know :your technique and your theory.
If you know little,little will come out.
I know super good readers that can't put two notes together of their own.

I say yes to learn to read,don't get me wrong,but I am 100% sure it is not going to solve his problems.
It is deeper.

Maybe listening to different kind of music than usual might open more options than learning to read.
And we still do not what the OP knows about music.
 
#36
I learned to read after learning to play. It was difficult but I think it really opens up your mind to understanding rhythmic syncopation in a way that you can actually see on paper. I've noticed that this helps dramatically when programming drum machines or manipulating MIDI. Essentially knowing how music has been transcribed as a language can open doors of creativity concerning how technology is changing the way music is transcribed for the future.
 
#37
I started to learn to read about half a year after I started playing. I started of by remembering where D, E and G are, and go on from there.

Learning to read can be quite beneficial, so I highly suggest you do.

On another note, the AMEB music exams are stupidly hard if you can't read treble clef too well.
 
#38
The Marcus Miller quote is tops.

I had a dream where Marcus Miller gave me a lesson. It was crazy. First of all, he was not the sweet guy you see in that video. It was like Miles Davis was giving my dumb ass a lesson (probably got them confused because I had just read the Miles biography). Then, the exercise that he taught me was to play scales in alternating octaves, but to always approach each note from a whole/half step away and bend it up to pitch! Like, how insane is that? It would be good practice anyway.
 

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