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Sight reading exercises?
- Thread starter DannyShem
- Start date
There is a video game that came with Coda Finale, shud be shared by now that is a basic point and shoot using the mouse that will work wonders for you. Fun and Educational. I can't for the life of me think of what the name is but it worx.
There are a lot of pdf's out there of all kinds of music. I've gotten the Storch etudes (written for DB, but great for EB) Dotzauer Cello etudes, Bordogni vocalise (you'll have to transpose from treble clef) Arban book for trombone. Weissenborn Bassoon etudes (some use of tenor clef there) plus literally hundreds of transcribed bass lines from all kinds of pop and rock stars.
Don't limit yourself to one style of music. There's lots to be learned from everyone.
And, if you want to actually spend money, there are some great books on sightreading. David Motta's 3 volumes are worth every penny spent. Ron Velosky's book is really fine, and Rich Applebaum book (Berklee school) is very well done. Also the Oscar Stagnaro book on Cuban and Latin rhythms is incredible (you don't have to take his tempos, which are really sick).
Sight Reading is a marketable skill, but it is a skill, meaning that you will work at it every day. Learning wise, it's a process, not an event.
Don't limit yourself to one style of music. There's lots to be learned from everyone.
And, if you want to actually spend money, there are some great books on sightreading. David Motta's 3 volumes are worth every penny spent. Ron Velosky's book is really fine, and Rich Applebaum book (Berklee school) is very well done. Also the Oscar Stagnaro book on Cuban and Latin rhythms is incredible (you don't have to take his tempos, which are really sick).
Sight Reading is a marketable skill, but it is a skill, meaning that you will work at it every day. Learning wise, it's a process, not an event.
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One of the best things I used for sightreading practice was a book of random notes that one of my instructors gave me.
It had about 50 pages of just 1/4 notes randomly placed on the staff.
It started with just notes in half and first position. maybe 5 pages.. then it would be all in second position, then third etc etc. all down the neck.
There was no key signatures. no accidentals... you did all that in your head. You could use different rhythms in place of a 1/4 note as well, such as play each 1/4 note as 2 eighth notes, or a triplet.
You set the metronome at maybe 60bpm and just nail the notes in time. As there is no melody or any structure other than the positions, you cannot memorize and cheat.
You could even turn the book upside down. LOL
It really trained you to not look at your hand/neck, and to be focused on reading the notes.
It had about 50 pages of just 1/4 notes randomly placed on the staff.
It started with just notes in half and first position. maybe 5 pages.. then it would be all in second position, then third etc etc. all down the neck.
There was no key signatures. no accidentals... you did all that in your head. You could use different rhythms in place of a 1/4 note as well, such as play each 1/4 note as 2 eighth notes, or a triplet.
You set the metronome at maybe 60bpm and just nail the notes in time. As there is no melody or any structure other than the positions, you cannot memorize and cheat.
You could even turn the book upside down. LOL
It really trained you to not look at your hand/neck, and to be focused on reading the notes.
Sight Reading Factory isn't public domain, but at $35 for a year it's a great deal. I purchased it on the advice of another thread on this forum. It is on-line and offers practically unlimited exercises with optional playback of the notes so that you can check yourself in terms of both pitch and rhythm. You choose among eight levels of difficulty, key, number of measures, and tempo.
If you play fretless, it's a great way to practice intonation at the same time. Sight reading makes of the discussions of lines/no lines on a fretless bass less relevant, because you can't look at the notation and the neck simultaneously. The keys are your ear, muscle memory, and good technique.
- Sep 9, 2007
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My introduction to sight reading was my teacher opening a Real Book (in treble clef), and immediately counting it off.
+1 to BassChuck's post. I use a lot of classical repertoire for sight reading on electric and it works great, especially if you want to work on different areas of the fretboard (I'll take a Storch étude, and play it in everything except the G string).
+1 to BassChuck's post. I use a lot of classical repertoire for sight reading on electric and it works great, especially if you want to work on different areas of the fretboard (I'll take a Storch étude, and play it in everything except the G string).
devnulljp
Supporting Member
Any good iPad/Android apps for sight reading practice? I've seen a few, but would appreciate any recommendations.
I googled "music sight reading video game" and quite a few options came up. I'm interested if any of these are what came with Coda Finale?
Check out Jellynote (dot com)! Great site!! If you need help on HOW to read, there are tons of sites like studybass to get you started, and honestly there isn't much to learn regarding "how", but there are some tricks.
Get started with reading just rhythm using just one note. I like "practicesightreading" (dot com I think) to generate random rhythm-only measures to practice. Once you're comfortable with that after a few days, getting started on pitch (you'll need another site like jellynote for different pitches unless you pay "practicesightreading" because they only give rhythm practice for free).
For pitch, start with the C Major key signature (no sharps, no flats), place your hand in the position for C Major on the A string at the third fret (using middle finger) and say the note names out loud as you read/play them. Do this without worrying about timing/rhythm at first just to get used to what pitch each note is.
Next up is to combine pitch with rhythm. Go slowly with the metronome, like 60 bpm and adjust to keep yourself challenged but not freaking out.
Lastly, you just need to learn to read key signatures to clue yourself into where your fret hand should start. I've found that beyond where to place my hand, I can almost ignore the sharps/flats with the proper technique / scale shape!
Hope that helps. Practice practice practice. A little everyday is better than a lot once or twice a week.
Get started with reading just rhythm using just one note. I like "practicesightreading" (dot com I think) to generate random rhythm-only measures to practice. Once you're comfortable with that after a few days, getting started on pitch (you'll need another site like jellynote for different pitches unless you pay "practicesightreading" because they only give rhythm practice for free).
For pitch, start with the C Major key signature (no sharps, no flats), place your hand in the position for C Major on the A string at the third fret (using middle finger) and say the note names out loud as you read/play them. Do this without worrying about timing/rhythm at first just to get used to what pitch each note is.
Next up is to combine pitch with rhythm. Go slowly with the metronome, like 60 bpm and adjust to keep yourself challenged but not freaking out.
Lastly, you just need to learn to read key signatures to clue yourself into where your fret hand should start. I've found that beyond where to place my hand, I can almost ignore the sharps/flats with the proper technique / scale shape!
Hope that helps. Practice practice practice. A little everyday is better than a lot once or twice a week.
Hi,
I am working through Alexander's very good and very cheap guide:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KD3WN4K/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1421813782&sr=8-1
He has great wisdom and an effective teaching style.
I am working through Alexander's very good and very cheap guide:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KD3WN4K/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1421813782&sr=8-1
He has great wisdom and an effective teaching style.
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
You might want to check out EarMaster. I work as a part time tech supporter there. It features a lot of sight reading exercises. Both rhythmically and melodic.. You can try out a free trial at Invalid Link Removed
An iPad app is on it's way
An iPad app is on it's way
In my experience, there's only one way to do it: reading. Read a lot. Every day if you can.
There's no way to do it but to do it. Once you have a basic understanding of where the notes are on your fretboard, you can try to read anything you want. Some will be easier than others, and you'll most likely feel the need to tear your hair out at first because you're maybe too inaccurate or too slow. It's just as BassChuck said, it's a process. You didn't learn how to read in one day as a kid either.
In preparation for my current reading gig, I used this: Big Band - Mind For Music
It may or may not be your kind of music, but it's free.
There's no way to do it but to do it. Once you have a basic understanding of where the notes are on your fretboard, you can try to read anything you want. Some will be easier than others, and you'll most likely feel the need to tear your hair out at first because you're maybe too inaccurate or too slow. It's just as BassChuck said, it's a process. You didn't learn how to read in one day as a kid either.
In preparation for my current reading gig, I used this: Big Band - Mind For Music
It may or may not be your kind of music, but it's free.
There is much to be said for separate practice of pitch and rhythm.
For rhythm practice, Cliff Engel has produced an excellent PDF of exercises.
For rhythm practice, Cliff Engel has produced an excellent PDF of exercises.
I don't disagree that there is value there...but until you put it all together and start reading music (i.e., pitch + rhythm + dynamics + articulation etc) you're only just postponing the inevitable
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
FME, a few times through something like this...and my fingers began moving to the next note...automatically. In other words, muscle memory kicked in & I wasn't reading anymore.
So, I asked a Bass instructor/friend. His suggestion: Turn the book upside down & read it that way. Or read from Right-to-Left.
Things will sound kinda 'out' but still kinda 'in'.
Just food-for-thought.
