Is reading chord charts like found on iReal Pro considered in the same category as sight reading.
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Sight Reading
- Thread starter Bassin4God
- Start date
no.
sight-reading a chord chart is not the same as sight-reading bass clef notation. that said: if you can sight-read changes = you're way ahead of many and the skill is probably good for a lot (most?) of playing circumstances/gigs. but the term "sight-reading" refers to notation. (bass clef for bass instruments.)
sight-reading a chord chart is not the same as sight-reading bass clef notation. that said: if you can sight-read changes = you're way ahead of many and the skill is probably good for a lot (most?) of playing circumstances/gigs. but the term "sight-reading" refers to notation. (bass clef for bass instruments.)
Agreed. Reading chord charts is a great skill to have, but "sight-reading" means reading notation.
"Sight reading" means reading notation and playing at tempo with proper timing the first time you look at it. Being able to read standard notation isn't even sight reading. I can sight read simple passages. I cannot sight read complicated passages.
English is my native language. I can read a passage out loud regardless of the complexity as fast or slow as needed and understand what I read. I can understand and read a lot of Spanish. I cannot read it perfectly if I try to read quickly and I won't understand what I said. The latter scenario is like reading music while the rather is like sight reading music.
Likewise, if someone posted an ad looking for a bassist that could sight read, and you show up being able to sight read chord charts and tablature, you won't likely be what they are looking for.
English is my native language. I can read a passage out loud regardless of the complexity as fast or slow as needed and understand what I read. I can understand and read a lot of Spanish. I cannot read it perfectly if I try to read quickly and I won't understand what I said. The latter scenario is like reading music while the rather is like sight reading music.
Likewise, if someone posted an ad looking for a bassist that could sight read, and you show up being able to sight read chord charts and tablature, you won't likely be what they are looking for.
Transcribe your favorite songs. Learning to write will also improve your reading.
Also, just get any book of music you want to learn and start reading. It will be slow and painful at first. There are several beginner bass books that would start with simple passages and work toward more complicated passages. Just choose one that doesn't have tablature if it causes you not to use the staff.
The Best Method Books for Bass Guitars ⋆ Hear the Music Play
The Best Method Books for Bass Guitars ⋆ Hear the Music Play
If someone posts an ad for a commercial bassists with sight reading skills, there is a good chance they will want someone who can read standard notation and chords. Many bass parts are written in a way that requires you to read both. If you can't do both, IMHO ask for clarification.
If someone wants you to read TAB or Nashville numbers they will generally specify TAB or Nashville numbers. I never saw TAB as a professional and was only exposed to Nashville numbers once or twice. However in some circles, Nashville numbers is very common.
If someone wants you to read TAB or Nashville numbers they will generally specify TAB or Nashville numbers. I never saw TAB as a professional and was only exposed to Nashville numbers once or twice. However in some circles, Nashville numbers is very common.
Nashville numbers is just a chord chart that can be used for any key.
True but I can read chord charts. I wouldn't know where to start with Nashville numbers.
Here's an example from Invalid Link Removed The link explains how the system works for anyone who is curious.
Get an app for your phone called NotesDeMusique. Instant and accurate note recognition is fundamental to sight reading, and this app is great for that.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fr.progmatique.notesdemusique&hl=en_US
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fr.progmatique.notesdemusique&hl=en_US
I've been trying to improve my reading skills so that i can more easily study bass books teaching walking bass.
A series I found on the 'net is this:
Unfortunately, it is incomplete, but it's given me back the basics.
I had no music schooling until grade 12. I lived in a small town and our high school had no music program until my last year. I Learned to read a bit of treble clef to play clarinet, but that was just less than one year nearly 50 years ago. I have since tried to get better reading treble clef, but it's become easier with Internet lessons.
This has helped too:
A series I found on the 'net is this:
Unfortunately, it is incomplete, but it's given me back the basics.
I had no music schooling until grade 12. I lived in a small town and our high school had no music program until my last year. I Learned to read a bit of treble clef to play clarinet, but that was just less than one year nearly 50 years ago. I have since tried to get better reading treble clef, but it's become easier with Internet lessons.
This has helped too:
No absolutely not. Sight reading is reading notes on sheet music where the notes tell you the pitch and the rhythm. Chord charts are just "chord charts". They are just a guide telling you what chords are played there. The chord charts are like a skeleton whereas real sheet music is like a completely developed, mature body.
With chord charts, you follow a framework. With sheet music it tells you exactly which notes to play, when to play them, and how to play them (dynamics).
Big difference.
I would start by saying there is no unified Nashville numbering system. There are different versions of the Nashville numbering.
Nope. Sight reading means reading standard notation at first sight. Something you’ve never seen/heard before. Reading standard notation slowly, figuring it out note-by-note, is also not sight reading. That’s just reading standard notation.
If a gig requires “sight-reading,” you should assume they mean they will put a song in standard notation in front of you and you can play it correctly at tempo the very first time through. IME.
okcrum
in your chest
I get charts on the gig all the time with some sections containing only chords and other sections containing only notation. What am I doing then? 
Remember, there are also folks who sight read who are lost when the notes disappear...different skill sets. Best to have both.
That looks like a bit of enhancement to the basic Nashville numbering system with some notation hints thrown in to boot, but it makes sense at first read. If it were that different everywhere, odds are it would not be used so widely.
Remember, there are also folks who sight read who are lost when the notes disappear...different skill sets. Best to have both.
That looks like a bit of enhancement to the basic Nashville numbering system with some notation hints thrown in to boot, but it makes sense at first read. If it were that different everywhere, odds are it would not be used so widely.
I get charts on the gig all the time with some sections containing only chords and other sections containing only notation. What am I doing then?
Remember, there are also folks who sight read who are lost when the notes disappear...different skill sets. Best to have both.
That looks like a bit of enhancement to the basic Nashville numbering system with some notation hints thrown in to boot, but it makes sense at first read. If it were that different everywhere, odds are it would not be used so widely.
I have only come across Nashville numbers a few times and both times what I was given looked pretty much like the example I posted.
Although I am slow at it, I can make sense of number systems such as I vi ii V. But honestly the Nashville numbers looked like gibberish to me. Our music director scratched out a standard lead sheet, and we were good to go.
