• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Reading Music

#2
Icarus26 said:
can anyone suggest a book or direct me to a site where i can learn how to read sheet music?

people may think it's a waste of time, but being the growing bassist i am, i'd like to learn how to read music in case a situation arises such as an audition or what have you, i'll be prepared.
thanks.
Click to expand...

http://www.studybass.com/lessons/reading-music/ for a very quick course.

http://www.thelibster.com/bass/ (go to Lessons->Reading) for more details.

By the way, what I found that helped me more to understand traditional music notation was writing sheet music for songs I only had tabs for. The studybass site also has a quiz for help you learn what line refers to which note.
 
#4
Icarus26 said:
can anyone suggest a book or direct me to a site where i can learn how to read sheet music?

people may think it's a waste of time, but being the growing bassist i am, i'd like to learn how to read music in case a situation arises such as an audition or what have you, i'll be prepared.
thanks.
Click to expand...

It is NOT a waste of time IMO.
it is a basic "requirement" as far as I'm concerned and will make it easier to communicate.( not saying , some people don't get by without it)
I would not suggest you go for any "teach me how to read music"book but read anything you can get your hands on.
Also study transcriptions of tunes you know so you understand the relationship between what you see and what you hear.
A consistent practise regime also helps-if you get into a routine it will feel less like "work".

And...keep well clear of tab- "the lazy man's substitute for real information" ( I have never seen tab being used in "the real world"...again, that's just me...)
My two cent...:)
 
  • Like
Reactions: CozmoCosty
#5
Icarus26 said:
can anyone suggest a book or direct me to a site where i can learn how to read sheet music?

people may think it's a waste of time, but being the growing bassist i am, i'd like to learn how to read music in case a situation arises such as an audition or what have you, i'll be prepared.
thanks.
Click to expand...

www.studybass.com

IMO learning to read music is not a waste of time. Not learning to read is a waste of time!
 
  • Like
Reactions: CozmoCosty
#6
Anyone who thinks it's a waste of time obviously doesn't read music. The time you spend learning to read music will greatly be offset by the time you save trying to fumble around figuring out stuff with no frame of reference.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CozmoCosty
#7
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
#8
It's a waste of time if your goal is to play clubs and rock bands. Learn to Read!
There are several beginning bass books that explain the staff and the note placement and values. Forget tabs- that is a crutch. Once you can read basic stuff- find a note on the staff and play it in time, then write out a simple bass part- a great way to learn is to see what you are playing. Write out triads, too, in quarter notes. This will help you to see, notes, rhythm patterns, and riffs as a group, rather than individual notes- and this is the key to being a good reader.


Also, learn to read both bass and treble clefs- it's not hard to do, and is a big help when you get with other readers. I can sight transpose- a good thing to learn. I was playing Thursday and the leader lit into a jazz tune I didn't know. I didn't have the chart but I was able to read it off the Bb book.

PS
Get transcriptions of bass parts and read along with the recording. If you have Cubase or a similar program that will play back a midi file while displaying a score, use this to "connect" seeing with playing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CozmoCosty
#9
azureblue said:
It's a waste of time if your goal is to play clubs and rock bands.
Click to expand...
I disagree completely, although I do agree with your emphasis on learning to read. Even playing in rock bands, which I did for years, reading has been quite handy. It makes the difference between aping licks off records and being able to write your own.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CozmoCosty
#10
LowDown Hal said:
Congratulations on your decision.

My very first exposure to "reading" Bass was the Hal Leonard Beginners Book.

http://www.amazon.com/Hal-Leonard-B...&s=musical-instruments&qid=1224346513&sr=8-11

Then for some more practice that is a little more fun....

http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Pop-Bass...=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224346513&sr=8-8



I think the key is to have a "reading exercise" as part of your DAILY practice.
Click to expand...
that book a rip off in my opinion

it's good, but way too short and simple

the 3 volume one that combines the 3 parts is much better. It also saves you money
 
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
#11
Im new to playing as well, I got "The Complete Idiots Guide to Playing Bass Guitar" it was like 24$ at barnes and noble. Its one of those large 10x12 sized trade paperbacks. 300 pages and includes alot about every aspect , but at least 200 pages of it is reading music and music theory. So far in a few months i learned my scales, how to read the notes, and starting to learn about half notes, 1/4 notes etc and im only on page 80. It also comes with a CD with played examples of what they are talking about. Its written by David Hodge who it says is a teacher at berkshire music school, and endorsed by Dan Lakin owner of lakland bass. For the price of a half an hour lesson you get alot i think.

Alot of my friends keep telling me this crap is all a waste to learn as well, just come play everynite youll never need to know any of that stuff. But i disagree, Im sure i could come over and they could teach me how to play thier songs and keep up with them, but i want to know how to do it on my own. How to play any song i want, and how to write my own. As soon as im back to work im going to take lessons, I think the more i know from this book the less lessons ill have to pay for if i already know the basics.

Invalid Link Removed

15$ at overstock.com
 
  • Like
Reactions: CozmoCosty
#13
When it comes down to it, there isn't much to "learn" out of a book when it comes to reading. Yes, there's the basics, like where notes are on the staff, and rhythms and things like that, but ultimately sight-reading is something that has to be practiced. A lot. A whole hell of a lot. It's not something that can be solved with a magic bullet the way that some theory concepts can be explained.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CozmoCosty
#14
Icarus26 said:
can anyone suggest a book or direct me to a site where i can learn how to read sheet music?

people may think it's a waste of time, but being the growing bassist i am, i'd like to learn how to read music in case a situation arises such as an audition or what have you, i'll be prepared.
thanks.
Click to expand...

You're the one posting about majoring in music in college, you better get your reading and sightreading together, better now than trying to do it while learning theory, composition, and playing in ensembles.

The book I like to recommend is Simplified Sight-Reading for Bass by Josquin des Pres. Has a play a long CD and focuses on rhythms first then adds notes. Then get your hands on as much reading material as you can. DB books are good for working on reading like Simandl or Rufus Reid. Berklee has some good books especially the Chord Studies book. Check out Jim Stinnett website he has some good books on reading.

Like HaVIS said the key to learning to read is DAILY practice. You are learning to speak an new language and train your eyes to read a new language. Reading is one of those things for everyday you skip you fall back two. Until your are a fluent reader you just have to do it everyday even if only for 15 minutes.
 
#15
DocBop said:
You're the one posting about majoring in music in college, you better get your reading and sightreading together, better now than trying to do it while learning theory, composition, and playing in ensembles.

The book I like to recommend is Simplified Sight-Reading for Bass by Josquin des Pres. Has a play a long CD and focuses on rhythms first then adds notes. Then get your hands on as much reading material as you can. DB books are good for working on reading like Simandl or Rufus Reid. Berklee has some good books especially the Chord Studies book. Check out Jim Stinnett website he has some good books on reading.

Like HaVIS said the key to learning to read is DAILY practice. You are learning to speak an new language and train your eyes to read a new language. Reading is one of those things for everyday you skip you fall back two. Until your are a fluent reader you just have to do it everyday even if only for 15 minutes.
Click to expand...
Yep...when you can read 3 or 4 bars ahead of what you're playing, then you're in business. Till then, practice every day.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CozmoCosty
#17
azureblue said:
It's a waste of time if your goal is to play clubs and rock bands. Learn to Read!
There are several beginning bass books that explain the staff and the note placement and values. Forget tabs- that is a crutch. Once you can read basic stuff- find a note on the staff and play it in time, then write out a simple bass part- a great way to learn is to see what you are playing. Write out triads, too, in quarter notes. This will help you to see, notes, rhythm patterns, and riffs as a group, rather than individual notes- and this is the key to being a good reader.


Also, learn to read both bass and treble clefs- it's not hard to do, and is a big help when you get with other readers. I can sight transpose- a good thing to learn. I was playing Thursday and the leader lit into a jazz tune I didn't know. I didn't have the chart but I was able to read it off the Bb book.

PS
Get transcriptions of bass parts and read along with the recording. If you have Cubase or a similar program that will play back a midi file while displaying a score, use this to "connect" seeing with playing.
Click to expand...

I agree with this post!!
But...what's with the first statement-It's a waste of time if your goal is to play in clubs and rockbands...????
 
#18
The Velosky book is a great place to start!

I've been working for the last couple of weeks out of a book called "sightreading jazz" by Bob Taylor (bass clef). I have found it to be very helpful and quite challenging. There is a lot of good sightreading material in it, both etudes for note reading in each key and pages of rhythms.

Link Removed
 
#20
to get home from your new school, you have a two mile walk along city streets... after a few weeks you notice a shortcut... a large wall... it blocks a laneway that leads straight to your house with just a quarter mile hike... but the wall is high and you have to scale it... your first attempt is very disapointing... you can't even get your feet off the ground... after a few days of taking the long way home, you try again... a bad day for you - this attempt is even worse... you promise yourself to avoid the wall... you go out and buy new running shoes to walk the long route... but when you get home you're tired and collapse on the couch, too tired to do anything but fall asleep...

so next day you try the wall again... standing there staring up at the red bricks, you feel that you will never be able to climb it... but then, you notice a small gouge in the wall... just enough to get a toe hold... you're off the ground! then you lose your balance and stumble back... nah! forget it... you walk home... next day, your friends tell you of a different way home - a better way...! so you try it, but it still takes two miles to get home... so, a week later you're back at the wall... after scouring the surface you begin to see a possible way of scaling the wall... up you go! your heart is racing as you lift yourself above the pavement below...

WHACK! you feel the wet leaves under your back as you stare up at the clouds tumbling by... you slowly pick yourself up and are checking for any broken parts, when a rusty iron gate partly hidden by the wall suddenly swings open... you are about to wonder how you never saw it before, when a frail but scholarly looking bass violin teacher of considerable age with bad hair and white beard pops his head out from the gate and peers down at you until he realizes what you were trying to do... as if he has seen it a hundred times before... "Tarnation...!" he begins to shake his bow in your direction and says...

"Why, you damn fool! You've just been wastin' all your time... Why didn't ya knock? I could've let you pass 'round the wall and you would have saved years off your journey...!

and the moral to the story is... sometimes the shortcuts prevent us from seeing the only true way of getting the job done...
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back