Reading Music

[hrodbert696]

I learned to read playing sax and a bit of piano as a kid. I can read on bass but not all that smoothly - not going to sight-read on a gig. 99% of the time when I'm playing bass it's by ear (cover band gigs), possibly with the help of a chord chart or, if a bit is tricky, checking a TAB to see how someone else rendered it. About the only occasion anyone even offers me a piece of sheet music is in church when playing a traditional hymn rather than a praise chorus.

Ultimately, I think the way to think of learning to read is that it's an investment (of time and effort) and the question is whether the investment is worthwhile for a person's goals. For many it isn't. I don't find myself in situations where I need to read enough to feel it's worth spending much time upgrading my reading skills.

In terms of "pushback," I do sometimes note people who not only do without reading but will talk as though there were something wrong with it, which I think is absurd. You get myths like that knowing how to read will stunt your expressiveness or creativity. I think that's largely a defensive reaction from people who feel threatened or marginalized by those who insist in reading too dogmatically.

 

[Killing Floor]

I'll have to disagree.

It's still done this way today, because it's the best way to read and communicate with other musicians.

It's not complicated and it sure isn't outdated.

What's so complicated about reading music?

I think it's an essential skill for anyone with a serious interest in music.

In my post I said it’s a critical skill.
And I said I learned at an early age, beginning about 1st grade. And both of my kids learned beginning 1st and 2nd respectively. And one of them won all state UIL (a Texas thing) varsity awards for sighting.
I’m saying it is important.
And if you sincerely believe that the dots, dashes, fish hooks, not one but 2 completely different registers, and 8 steps in an octave (I get it) but let’s agree it’s more than 8 and disagree on why because I can count frets or keys thanks to my math minor and maybe it’s flat or maybe it’s sharp, and heck…
I learned it and you learned it. But no way it’s easy or intuitive and current.
But it I fully agree it is necessary to have a uniform language.
Still stand by my statement that it is wonky and cumbersome and not intuitive. And that it is a necessary skill.
And we’re both strangers who love music and bass guitars and we can have differing views and some common ground.

 

[James Collins]

I didn't learn to read standard notation at first. Still improving now. Standard notation is terrible for figuring out the fingerboard, but very powerful for understanding musical ideas in our western tradition. Learning to read has helped tremendously with my music theory knowledge. And my music theory knowledge has improved my reading and comprehension. Unfortunately, too much is taught like this video which was my problem with standard notation originally.

 

[BillyRay]

I didn't learn to read standard notation at first. Still improving now. Standard notation is terrible for figuring out the fingerboard, but very powerful for understanding musical ideas in our western tradition. Learning to read has helped tremendously with my music theory knowledge. And my music theory knowledge has improved my reading and comprehension. Unfortunately, too much is taught like this video which was my problem with standard notation originally.

I'm not sure I follow you when you say that standard notation is terrible for figuring out the fretboard. In my experience, as someone who learned to read playing trombone and only picked electric bass later, it is a fantastic tool to learn the fretboard. If someone only reads from the page, he'll know exactly where the notes are on the fretboard because if he doesn't, he can't play. It's actually a strong point of standard notation compared to tab. Getting out of first position is easy if you just read on one or two strings only as a drill.

Standard notation is also an invaluable tool to teach rhythm or to reinforce it. If you can make it groove with a sheet of paper and a metronome, you'll make it groove in a band situation when you can use the other instruments and your ears. Now tabs on the internet have started to incorportate rhythm, so this is less of an advantage than 20-30 years ago when all you had were 4 lines with a bunch of numbers that were maybe spaced apart a bit to indicate note length.

I say this as someone who can't remember if I ever was handed out sheet music when playing electric bass. It certainly never happened playing rock in bars. I use sight reading as a drill to reinforce and refresh my fretboard mastery and rhythm and to allow me to explore music theory without having the serious handicap of not being able to read.

 

[JRA]

accurate charts serve a purpose, a good ear serves a purpose, willingness/compulsion to play serves a purpose, and so on. they're all 'a way'. how many ways do you know?

being able to decipher what someone else meant can be useful and enlightening. being able to help others decipher what you meant is a blast in its own right!

it's important to read --- at least enough to 'decipher'. (sight-reading can be its own money maker for some pursuits, and it's a different/extended skill, IMO). no matter: playing by ear/chart/passion with knowledge of that simple "code" is a trip!

also: reading music is a "gateway" experience in case you like taking risks!

i voted "yes!" learn to read.