Looking for easy songs to learn sight reading

[Spiraling]

I'm learning how to read bass music and I'm looking for songs that:
1 - are fairly easy
2 - are written in standard notation.

Can anyone point me to a good source? Most of what I see is in TAB

 

[SteveCS]

These are companions to the method books, but also stand alone:

Easy Pop Bass Lines - Supplemental Songbook to Book 1 of the Hal Leonard Bass Method Hal Leonard Online

Buy the official Hal Leonard Bass Method, 'Easy Pop Bass Lines - Supplemental Songbook to Book 1 of the Hal Leonard Bass Method' (Sheet Music) - This series includes official Hal Leonard sheet music for the following songs, available in: Softcover and Digital Book

www.halleonard.com

More Easy Pop Bass Lines - Play the Bass Lines of 20 Pop and Rock Songs Hal Leonard Online

Buy the official Hal Leonard Bass Method, 'More Easy Pop Bass Lines - Play the Bass Lines of 20 Pop and Rock Songs' (Sheet Music)

www.halleonard.com

Even More Easy Pop Bass Lines - Supplemental Songbook to Book 3 of the Hal Leonard Bass Method Hal Leonard Online

Buy the official Hal Leonard Bass Method, 'Even More Easy Pop Bass Lines - Supplemental Songbook to Book 3 of the Hal Leonard Bass Method' (Sheet Music)

www.halleonard.com

 

[Lava]

Great recommendations, thanks!

 

[skycruiser]

Go through the submissions on this site. Many are standard notation only. I have submitted a few and none have tabs.

Simple ones I submitted.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/a-little-bit-of-soap-nigel-olsson.1626953/
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/never-be-the-same-christopher-cross-standard-notation.1612176/
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/you-are-the-woman-firefall-standard-lyrics.1599576/

 

[bwildt]

A couple of sites with lots of transcriptions.
TRANSCRIPTIONS | Tom Read Bass
Transcriptions

 

[dreamadream99]

In my opinion, graded method books are the best source. Method books are available for many bass clef instruments, including trombone, bass, and cello. Graded method books are in multiple volumes, where volume one starts at an absolute beginner level, and after three or more levels will escort you through beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. The instrument specific teachings are irrelevant. All you really need is an explanation of standard notation and examplesthat proceed in an ordered fashion from beginner to advanced,

Graded method books are available where band and orchestral instruments are sold, and print music stores and websites.

 

[skycruiser]

In my opinion, graded method books are the best source. Method books are available for many bass clef instruments, including trombone, bass, and cello. Graded method books are in multiple volumes, where volume one starts at an absolute beginner level, and after three or more levels will escort you through beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. The instrument specific teachings are irrelevant. All you really need is an explanation of standard notation and examplesthat proceed in an ordered fashion from beginner to advanced,

Graded method books are available where band and orchestral instruments are sold, and print music stores and websites.

The OP asked about "songs" though. I guess it wasn't clear if he meant actual full play-through songs transcriptions or just material to practice reading.

 

[ChrisDev]

I'm learning how to read bass music and I'm looking for songs that:
1 - are fairly easy
2 - are written in standard notation.

Can anyone point me to a good source? Most of what I see is in TAB

I have over 950 transcriptions on my website from very simple to very complex.

Free bass transcriptions

1,211 free transcriptions for bass and other instruments on BassLessons.be. From the funkiest bass grooves to the most lyrical bass solos

basslessons.be

 

[Gopherbassist]

These are companions to the method books, but also stand alone:

Easy Pop Bass Lines - Supplemental Songbook to Book 1 of the Hal Leonard Bass Method Hal Leonard Online

Buy the official Hal Leonard Bass Method, 'Easy Pop Bass Lines - Supplemental Songbook to Book 1 of the Hal Leonard Bass Method' (Sheet Music) - This series includes official Hal Leonard sheet music for the following songs, available in: Softcover and Digital Book

www.halleonard.com

More Easy Pop Bass Lines - Play the Bass Lines of 20 Pop and Rock Songs Hal Leonard Online

Buy the official Hal Leonard Bass Method, 'More Easy Pop Bass Lines - Play the Bass Lines of 20 Pop and Rock Songs' (Sheet Music)

www.halleonard.com

Even More Easy Pop Bass Lines - Supplemental Songbook to Book 3 of the Hal Leonard Bass Method Hal Leonard Online

Buy the official Hal Leonard Bass Method, 'Even More Easy Pop Bass Lines - Supplemental Songbook to Book 3 of the Hal Leonard Bass Method' (Sheet Music)

www.halleonard.com

Are these all TAB free?

 

[SteveCS]

Are these all TAB free?

Yes, they are standard notation.

 

[Eikari]

https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Shadows-Motown-Legendary-Jamerson/dp/0881888826

Great book, helped me in practising sight reading. Difficulty level ranges from easy to advanced, I presume you want to progress and play also more busy bass lines.

 

[groooooove]

I'm learning how to read bass music and I'm looking for songs that:
1 - are fairly easy
2 - are written in standard notation.

Can anyone point me to a good source? Most of what I see is in TAB

i've sometimes had students read easy pieces from cello books like solo time for strings. I don't know your skill level, but book 1 (red cover) is pretty easy.

you can also browse imslp.org and just look for anything easy enough to read. just about any ensemble work will have some type of bass clef part.

obviously some will be way too hard, but there are tons of pieces with very easy bass parts.

 

[MCF]

I have over 950 transcriptions on my website from very simple to very complex.

Free bass transcriptions

1,211 free transcriptions for bass and other instruments on BassLessons.be. From the funkiest bass grooves to the most lyrical bass solos

basslessons.be

I love your transcriptions. They’re split with only notation and only tab. Plus you include the chords. Something like Psycho Killer and And She Was are perfect for what the OP is after.