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Read or ear ? What do you prefer ?

#107
I have a good ear...
but not perfect. I am doing subs for two dance cover bands and I am pretty anal about doing note for note. Some glaring errors uncovered, esp. on beat placement that required sheet music and metronome to undo deep rooted errors.
 
#109
Killed_by_Death said:
no choice for me, I can barely tell a C from a G.
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I don't know a lot of theory, but sometimes playing the G over a guitarist's C chord will work, no? :woot:

My ear has a long way to go as well. When I first picked up the bass as first instrument, I thought I had to know theory to play. Turns out to play with others in most rock forms, the ability to play by ear is way more useful... working on it! :headphone:
 
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#110
TKnights said:
I've noticed in the last many years that musicians aren't reading as much as they used to . When I was playing mostly horns (in the early 70s) it was much easier to learn a song with the music written out for you . Of course , then , I was doing stuff that required playing as written . But , since I've gone to bass full time , it seems to be a mostly ear thing . Now , it's nice to have a score handy for reference . But , I think you get better feel when you play by ear . It leaves you open to your own interpretations . And having a good drummer to work with makes it even better .
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Wish I could read but am pretty good by ear...
 
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#111
Interesting that I found this thread, because it does apply to where I'm at right now. I was not a youthful beginner when I started about sixteen years ago on the bass. I was age 53. Never had played a stringed instrument before in my life. This was for our church praise band, were not professional so I did not need to be "perfect". We played off guitar chord sheets so that's what I became familiar with. Well, about three years ago, someone heard me and thought I would be a great addition to their "swing" band or "big band". I said that I was not professional and thought I would not be good enough for them. I was told I sounded fine and that they needed a bass player. I joined the band, a group of about twenty that includes trombones, trumpets, saxophones, drum-set, and piano. We play music primarily from the 30's, 40's, 50's, through the early 60's. I hadn't thought about it ahead of time, but I discovered that the band plays off sheet music and attempts to stay close to the original sound. Hmmm, well I played trombone through elementary school into college using sheet music, so I "knew" the notes and would probably catch on rather quickly. To my embarrassment, I learned that knowing the notes as applied to the trombone didn't really apply instinctively to the bass. I could not keep up, so I felt I was doing horribly. They never asked me to leave and expected me back the next season. After our summer break, I returned and began to play along by ear. Could now keep up to tempo. I would glance at the sheet music for the proper key and some basic patterns and just let her go. For the most part, I've begun to play better now than ever before. They haven't asked me to leave yet, and the sight reading skills having been developing ever so slowly. I still play mostly by ear and feel.
 
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#112
Duanestuermer said:
The last strictly 100% reading gig I did was for Mary Wilson (formerly of the Supremes) where all her bass parts were the J Jamerson parts note for note , but transposed to be in her key. With out being able to read the entire 1 + show down with only a 1 hour slot for rehearsal, I would have been able to do the gig by ear. And I considered it a privilege to do the gig.
My normal band (a 10 piece with horns) never rehearses, so the BL writes charts for everyone, and all songs are played cold on the gig, having an ear helps with the easy stuff, but some of the more difficult things would be almost impossible without the reading chops.
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Are you in Panama permanently, or will you come back, occasionally?
 
#115
NOLA bass55 said:
You need both if you want to work full time. I wouldn't hire a musician that couldn't sight read or play by ear. And forget idiotic tablature.
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Amen. Sight-reading is a great skill to have even if you only want to work part-time.

I'm the classic weekend warrior. I have a pretty good ear: I can learn many standard pop/rock bass lines just by listening, but if not I can still learn them quickly: I have the gist, and can work out the tricky details on my bass. Because of this I stay busy in a few regular bands, and am asked to do short-notice sub work somewhat regularly.

However I do NOT sight read. Because of this, I have had to decline paying show gigs. The contacts would say "hey, this isn't jazz fusion, it's easy stuff". Doesn't matter -- I'm fairly fluent at charts, but am terrible at reading music.

I haven't motivated myself to sight read because I'd rather gig in my various rock/R&B/funk/blues bands where reading hasn't been required than play musicals where reading IS required. But that's lame. I do occasionally have to read for the private music lessons I'm currently taking, but I'm not asked to sight read. I REALLY should work harder and learn to sight read.



TL;DR: As many others have said, musicians should know how to sight read and learn by ear. No reason not to be fluent at both.
 
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#116
I took a few bass lessons last year after 50+ years of playing guitar and bass entirely by ear. I am not sure if lessons could do me much good at this late date -- playing by ear and trying to play with musicians who are better educated than I am seems like a good compromise. I still don't much care for tab -- written music on the staff gives me the "shape" of a bass line, even if I can't sight-read the exact notes. I find it useful to read along as I listen to a recording. The notes on the staff clear up things I miss by ear.
 
#117
I learned, and have only ever played, by ear! I like to think that I have a pretty decent ear, and not reading has never held me back...over the course of fifty-one years (and counting)! Of course, I don't play double bass in a symphony orchestra, but I have played a wide array of styles and never had a real problem...even with some of the prog rock of the '70s, or fusion!

I do wish, though, that I had paid a bit more attention to theory in school. I'm now taking my first serious stab at keyboards, and there it would definitely help me.
 
#118
With tricky stuff it works best for me if I play the first couple of times with chords I've previously worked out on the piano. Most of my playing is instinctive, though and Paul (who does the tune) and I have been playing for over 40 years now so I'm fairly used to his little ways! I never have to learn a part as we play Scottish/Irish jigs and reels in our own way: there's only a squeeze box and drum kit apart from me so I don't have to coordinate with guitarist, keyboard, etc.
 
#119
When I am composing I always write the part down so I don't lose a good riff. I find writing it down is quicker than recording on a mobile phone or some other recorder.

I have also read the music in a band to make sure that I was playing the right part instead of winging it. They were a band that did not like to practise. The band folded due shortly after.

I also play by ear, some standard bass lines involve the same repeated riff so once I have learned the first riff it is then all about moving it around the fretboard.
 

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