learning classical music?

[xxDavidxx]

i'm not sure where to put this, so in technique it goes.

anyway, hi. i've been playing the bass for nearly a year now, and i really like a bit of cliff burton-ish lead bass, which i practise a lot in my band (it's an experimentalish kind of metal, combining a lot of styles) and i've been wondering for while: would it help to learn some classical music, so as to enlarge my knowledge of music theory and use that for bass solos?

the only thing that draws me away from this is my unability to read music. tabs i can read fine (of course) but i just can't seem to get a hang of reading sheet music. so my secondary question is, are there any bass tabs for classical music out there?

 

[theunknowndude]

i'm not sure where to put this, so in technique it goes.

anyway, hi. i've been playing the bass for nearly a year now, and i really like a bit of cliff burton-ish lead bass, which i practise a lot in my band (it's an experimentalish kind of metal, combining a lot of styles) and i've been wondering for while: would it help to learn some classical music, so as to enlarge my knowledge of music theory and use that for bass solos?

the only thing that draws me away from this is my unability to read music. tabs i can read fine (of course) but i just can't seem to get a hang of reading sheet music. so my secondary question is, are there any bass tabs for classical music out there?

My advice to you is to find one of those bass chord chart books that have it written in tab,... I'm pretty bad with my music reading etc but knowing which notes are which frets help alot,... also learn 'patterns' as the 5th, octave etc will always be the same pattern from the root,... like the intro to pulling teeth is just Root ( I think 4 and 5?),...

another good thing to do is practice scales,... I really suck at them but through that I have learnt where cool sounding diminished notes are and so on... its really made my bass playing in my metal band better so I don't just play the same as the guitars,... hoping to put together a instrumental song in to my band and am heading down the same path as you!

also im pretty sure there's a j.s. bach book in tabs? not 100% about that but I think that could help with classical music alot

http://www.amazon.com/Mel-Bay-J-Bach-Bass/dp/078662843X <--- thats what I was talking about
read up alot on him lately and by golly he was an amazing man...

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

Well - the answer is pretty clear - learn to read music first - that will be a big help to you!

Then a whole world of different music will open up to you!

 

[xxDavidxx]

something nice: i just learned fur elise

hail the power of the interwebz!

 

[xxDavidxx]

bump

 

[MichaelJordan]

You can find a nice learn bass book that will teach you how to read music and show the tab along side it. I am going through one now. I wanted to learn how to read music for guitar, but finding the bass alot easier to read

 

[Mr. Moustache]

In order to really understand theory and improve your solos, you have to read music.

What I'd recommend is the GuitarPro program as it can turn tabs into sheet music and vice versa, though there's a TON of alternate fingerings to consider in classical music that makes it an entirely different challenge. Try learning some J.S. Bach Cello Suites (if you're on a 5 string, otherwise stick to Doublebass Suites). It may be smart to start on doublebass suites anyways...

Good luck to you, classical literature is one helluva an animal to tackle on electric bass but I guarantee you the effort will be worth it!