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Reading music and elitism

#82
I wish I could get musicians to understand what whole new realms reading opens to them, and how many more gigs you can get when you can read. I began reading treble, then learned to read bass clef. Then, when i started working with horns, how to read in their clefs and transpose back and forth. Actually, that's very easy to do on a bass - a trumpet is one whole (two frets) step up, and Eb instruments, like alto sax, is a minor third (three frets) down. IOW, a G on a bass is an A on a trumpet and an E on an alto sax. I can also read piano music now - skill learned from way too may divas who show up at a jam session with piano music and they expect me to read and interpret the piano bass clef chart.

If you do not know how to read - LEARN. You will thank yourself in the future. Take it easy, just a small part every day. It will come together for you.

One of my reading tricks- learn to read in patterns. Play a simple bass riff, and write it down. Then play it in another key, and write it down. Change a note or two, maybe change the rhythm pattern and write that, and note the difference on paper.This sequence of play> break down> write it, really helps the skill to stick in your head. DO it enough, and you will start to recognize those riffs on paper, and this really helps...
 
#83
miltslackford said:
I have a question about this because I don't understand. In what way do you feel reading gives you an impression of the harmony of a piece?

When I read I just play the notes I don't really notice much about what the chords are.

I had this problem with piano. I got to play some really nice music on piano but my piano teacher never taught me anything about chord changes or harmony so it was all just dots to me. I got to grade 6 and could play lots of piece but ask me what the chords were and I couldn't tell you anything.

If I play a bassline from notation I'd be playing single notes. How do you translate this into an understanding of harmony?

I've never understood this point from people who bang on about why reading is better. I've found for me learning to play from chord charts and learning to convert charts into roman numerals has given me those skills much easier but not reading.

I'm interested to know how reading has given you a window into harmony precisely - like what exactly do you notice or think while your reading other than 'G, F sharp, D' etc?
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Some key notes tells you what the chords is and where you are going next. Also reading the note you play and looking at the name of the chords written over it just tells you what in the chords you are playing.
 
#84
I became a bassist because I love the instrument and its role. I always knew that it would be a career as a sideman backing up others. The more things I can do, the more gigs I can get. So I believe that while there are many awesome players with great understanding of music and bass, I am often hired to play gigs where I am reading music I've never seen or heard. Now I am a first call sub in my area because everyone knows I can do whatever I'd thrown at me.

If you can't read or don't want to, that's cool.
 
#86
hdracer said:
You lost me on this. How do you forget? If you didn't pick up a book for ten years would you forget how to read?

I learned to read music when I was a young child (my mother was a music teacher). I got out of music when I was in my late teens and picked up the bass when I was 52. I never played any instrument that was in the bass clef. I can read music better then I can play it.
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I know what the notes are but it probably takes me anywhere from 5 to 20 seconds to connect the dots in my head from seeing the note on the page to playing the note, as opposed to when it used to be near instant.
 
#88
I like what Marcus had to say on this topic:

James Ross @ (Bassist Extraordinaire) - Marcus Miller - "Know Your Craft" - Jross-tv - YouTube

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​
--Steve
 
#93
So what would someone recommend as a good way to start learning to read standard notation. I picked up my bass a few months ago after a loooong (8-9 year) layoff, and had the idea that I would start to learn to read. I've been going through the studybass website, but the last several weeks I've gotten very busy with work. Like right now, I'm at work putting in some time to prepare for conferences that are coming up... well, sort of.:D

But, do you just read? And keep reading, until it's easier?:eyebrow:

What are the Exercises, MAN!?

PS I did see azureblue's method a few posts back...
 
#94
My little tips for learning to read:

1. Best to take a little time out of each day rather than cramming it all in a weekend.

2. Better to spend 10 minutes learning one small facet of it well than spending 10 minutes trying to learn 10 things and not remembering any of it.

Other than that, I think the best thing is to find a decent method book for learning how to read on the bass and start on page 1.
 
#95
Oh, and right after starting to play again, I ordered up a 2 year subscription to BP.:eek:

I like the gear reviews, and some of the artist interviews, and some of the lessons.:spit:

But it does kinda start to feel like one big product commercial gear envy enhancer (or sumthin...):D
 
#96
JimmyM said:
My little tips for learning to read:

1. Best to take a little time out of each day rather than cramming it all in a weekend.

2. Better to spend 10 minutes learning one small facet of it well than spending 10 minutes trying to learn 10 things and not remembering any of it.

Other than that, I think the best thing is to find a decent method book for learning how to read on the bass and start on page 1.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. Any book recommendations?
 
#97
You can learn to read music on your own time if you take the time to learn.

I have been learning the bass for 18 months. My first 6 months was dedicated to bass tabs. Easy to learn but you are shorting yourself regarding learning your instrument.

Then I purchased a few music books that did not offer tabs, only notation. I was lost.

So, I purchased the Hal Leonard 3 book bass learning series and learned to read notation. Amazing! I can now read music notation. And it is easy!

Learn to read music. You will be happy that you did.
 
#99
I'm the guy who just got back into the bass after 30 years. No TABs back in the day, only a record and my ears. I was an average music reader and didn't really spend much time with it. Now I enjoy working on my sight reading for no other reason than I like the challenge. I see TABs as just another tool but nothing beats listening to a song and playing by ear. I'm afraid that too many people are relying on tabs and neglecting their ears.
 
#100
Many of the replies in this thread are pretty elitist. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing. It's kind of amusing to read posts claiming they aren't elitist but are somehow much cooler because they can read. For the record I can read. Read or don't, but looking down on people who don't or don't want to learn is elitist. That's pretty much the definition of elitism. Use your reading ability to read the dictionary lol ;)
 

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