Okay, that makes sense (as a non-classical player orchestra and opera gigs are not an option for me) - though backing up artists on road gigs? I'd expect to know the stuff by heart unless it's Zappa-type material but I guess it depends on the gig.
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Is knowing how to read music that important?
- Thread starter RandomBox
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Okay, that makes sense (as a non-classical player orchestra and opera gigs are not an option for me) - though backing up artists on road gigs? I'd expect to know the stuff by heart unless it's Zappa-type material but I guess it depends on the gig.
I've played behind Ray, Moody Blues, Yo-Yo, Ray Price, Kenny Rogers, Dizzy and others. I have no interest in memorizing the repertoire of every artist out there. I prefer to be handed sheet music, and then give them exactly what they want. If I know far enough in advance I'll give a listen to see what the sound they expect is, but I prefer to get called, go, do it, get paid and go home as soon as the lot has cleared enough that I can leave.
And for the record, I'm not a big country fan, but somehow I get calls - well, used to before the kids came along anyway. I prefer staying home with the kids.
No, you don't need to read to play out or get famous and reading won't make you famous or get you gigs.
I wouldn't say lots of theory to begin with. I joined a big band when I was 14 and I knew nothing. But in any musical situation, you need to open your ears real wide and be prepared to learn
it helps in ways you might not even think of;
forces you to play without looking at your hands and going by feel.
this is a great tool to have-carries over, especially if you are in a non-reading situation where you may be singing-again, can't look at the fretboard.
forces you to play without looking at your hands and going by feel.
this is a great tool to have-carries over, especially if you are in a non-reading situation where you may be singing-again, can't look at the fretboard.
Learning how to read is helping me be a better musician.
I'm now playing in a jazz project so reading has been an important part of being a better contributor to the music.
Here's a thread on this topic that was very useful to me in getting over the hump.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f22/why-some-people-so-reluctant-learn-read-646114/
I'm now playing in a jazz project so reading has been an important part of being a better contributor to the music.
Here's a thread on this topic that was very useful to me in getting over the hump.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f22/why-some-people-so-reluctant-learn-read-646114/
Yes because it is a way of expressing and interpreting music.
It is not the only way but to answer the question, yes it is important
Take or leave that advice as you will.
Rossa
It is not the only way but to answer the question, yes it is important
Take or leave that advice as you will.
Rossa
I took up bass recently. First thing I did was learn to read bass clef. It has certainly sped up my progress just from the point of view helping me get more out of instruction books, which I've been devouring.
Would I have gotten as much from reading tab and listening? Not me, personally. Where it has really made a difference for me is understanding tricky syncopated lines. I could listen to them fifteen times and maybe get close to figuring out what's going on, but why bother? It's more efficient to read what's on the page.
Would I have gotten as much from reading tab and listening? Not me, personally. Where it has really made a difference for me is understanding tricky syncopated lines. I could listen to them fifteen times and maybe get close to figuring out what's going on, but why bother? It's more efficient to read what's on the page.
Its simply about knowing to read.
So it makes no difference if it is music, manuals, diagrams, instructions, etc, its about understanding what is being said or what is needed.
Start easy and slowly get into it, learn to read easy material, material that gives you time to develop the skills.
Do not start with hard or complicated scores or transcription.
For instance 'Twinkle twinkle little star' is not mind blowing but it is reading, and it is easy melodic reading to learn by.
Once you get the challenge of learning to read over with and under control it changes, it becomes about what to read....not how to read. Now you may need a teacher or someone to help you understand, not what your reading, but what it means.
As for being annoyed at the comments, what else would you expect from such a threat title? Music is an art and as such you will find emotions within it and those that are musicians have passion about it.
Good luck with it and start reading as much and as soon as you can...get the learning to read part over with, and get reading.
Fundamentals of Sight Reading, by Josquin des Pres is a good place to start.
LOL! Yeah, I should. Oh well, the one thing you can count on, though, is that a huge number of musicians will take the easy way out as opposed to learning how to read and pretty much guarantee job security for folks like us.
Also, I see someone brought up non-readers who are successful. They are what are known as "flukes." The overwhelming vast majority of folks who can't read music ultimately never do anything with it, and they end up storing their instruments under the bed, only pulling them out now and then to try and fumble around on them till they get frustrated yet again. And back they go under the bed till their future spouses make them sell them so they can store their own stuff under the bed.
Just try not to lose sight of the fact that you ain't Pino
Just try not to lose sight of the fact that you ain't Pino
I can't bring myself to read this whole thread (even though I'm a good reader 
).
But it strikes me as an odd contrast that so many TB members are willing to go to a gig with broken legs, a fever, and Ebola. Yet so many don't want to put out the effort to learn to read music. Maybe if reading music were more macho and painful, more people would do it.
).But it strikes me as an odd contrast that so many TB members are willing to go to a gig with broken legs, a fever, and Ebola. Yet so many don't want to put out the effort to learn to read music. Maybe if reading music were more macho and painful, more people would do it.
I think it's just plain old laziness. It's almost like give me the degree, but I don't want to take any tests, or go to school. I'll take the six figure job, but I want to start with $100,000 a year. Some people do get lucky, but why take that chance? (And I know about taking chances! )Music theory is something that is easier to comprehend if you can read. Tab makes things way more complicated.
I guess a person has to decide, which is worse.. Learning how to do it, and increasing your opportunities, or not bothering and throwing the dice. Heck, it's hard enough being a musician in this day and age as it is!
Shoot, reading music helped me decide that I didn't want to do West End shows, because it felt stifling.. for me anyway..
)Music theory is something that is easier to comprehend if you can read. Tab makes things way more complicated.I guess a person has to decide, which is worse.. Learning how to do it, and increasing your opportunities, or not bothering and throwing the dice. Heck, it's hard enough being a musician in this day and age as it is!
Shoot, reading music helped me decide that I didn't want to do West End shows, because it felt stifling.. for me anyway..
Yeah, I never quite wrapped my head around it. "They" could have made things so much simpler if they just dropped the whole transposing thing.
Transposing is a well thought out way of notation. It is done that way to make the notes on the staff lay out in a sensible way. If things weren't transposed to Bb, Eb, or in the case of bass, an octave, it would be much harder to read because there would be lots of ledger lines above and below the staff depending on the instrument.
Reading music equals more gig opportunities. If you can sight read well, you can be given the music on the spot and play the song without ever hearing it. It's also the only way to really understand rhythm. TAB doesn't tell you the rhythms, and most chord charts don't either. A great way to learn to read music is to just do it, and when you become confident of which notes are which, start training your ear by writing out things you hear. Reading and transcribing music well will give you the ability to play anything that's thrown at you.
My advice: Playing in the jazz band is a golden opportunity. A slot will only open up once every 2-3 years. If somebody gives you the chance to join, grab it.
I can't give you any "career" reasons because I'm not a career musician. My thoughts are more along the line of just taking advantage of learning for learning's sake, and having fun. The jazz band music might seem kinda square, but you'll be playing music during class time with other kids who tend to be the better musicians at the school. And you never know what might spark your interest. I had no real interest in jazz when I joined the school jazz band.
Folks say that learning to read is easy, but it gets harder as you get older. A lot harder. For this reason I think that intensive learning right now will give you the best chance. If you've got a good band teacher, he or she will ease you into reading with the selection of tunes that get progressively more difficult. Reading pro level big-band charts is anything but trivial.
I've noticed in "how you got started" threads, a fair proportion of bassists who came up through school jazz bands, among the players who are still gigging past 40.
Even as a weekend warrior, fluent sight-reading gets me gigs.
I can't give you any "career" reasons because I'm not a career musician. My thoughts are more along the line of just taking advantage of learning for learning's sake, and having fun. The jazz band music might seem kinda square, but you'll be playing music during class time with other kids who tend to be the better musicians at the school. And you never know what might spark your interest. I had no real interest in jazz when I joined the school jazz band.
Folks say that learning to read is easy, but it gets harder as you get older. A lot harder. For this reason I think that intensive learning right now will give you the best chance. If you've got a good band teacher, he or she will ease you into reading with the selection of tunes that get progressively more difficult. Reading pro level big-band charts is anything but trivial.
I've noticed in "how you got started" threads, a fair proportion of bassists who came up through school jazz bands, among the players who are still gigging past 40.
Even as a weekend warrior, fluent sight-reading gets me gigs.
I can't bring myself to read this whole thread (even though I'm a good reader
But it strikes me as an odd contrast that so many TB members are willing to go to a gig with broken legs, a fever, and Ebola. Yet so many don't want to put out the effort to learn to read music. Maybe if reading music were more macho and painful, more people would do it.
I actually am going to put forth the effort. Again, just wanted to know a decent pace to learn it.
I'm really caught up with AP Classes, ACT prep, school projects, etc at the moment, and barely have time for much else. So I plan on waiting until the summer, and then learning as much notation/reading/theory as I can.
My next Media Arts class project is going to be a cover and music video of a Golden Earring song, and I already have a few people willing to help. I thought I would ask them if they want to actually try being a band/practice other songs too.
