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Sight reading

Are you talking about reading notes or rythms?
As far as reading notes go,use anything that uses a wide range of notes.
As far as reading rythms,"Modern Reading Text In 4/4"by Louis Bellson,is an indespensible book.He also wrote "Odd Time Reading Text"when you want to work outside of 4/4.
 
tim99 said:
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I highly suggest this book myself. After you've spent some time with it, and have a basic understanding of the things, there are some great books you can get to further your sight reading abilities.

For songs, I suggest finding a "Real Book" in bass clef. Should be about $40, but well worth it.

For etudes and basic drills, there are a couple of different and great books to really help you along. Rufus Reid's "Evolving Bassist", Simandl's method 1, or "Arban's Conservatory for Trombone."
 
chrismmc said:
Are you talking about reading notes or rythms?
As far as reading notes go,use anything that uses a wide range of notes.
As far as reading rythms,"Modern Reading Text In 4/4"by Louis Bellson,is an indespensible book.He also wrote "Odd Time Reading Text"when you want to work outside of 4/4.


+1

When I first took lessons 15 years ago my instructer made me get this book and I' m still working on it. Ugggh now that I read that maybe I need to work on it a little harder.
 
jazzbo said:
…<snip>
For songs, I suggest finding a "Real Book" in bass clef. Should be about $40, but well worth it.
<snip>…

Well, I have the bass-clef Real Book, and I've never used it… It contains exactly the same tunes as the Real Book (Vol. I), but in F-clef rather than G-clef. I bought it naively thinking that it might have ideas for bass lines in it :rolleyes: . If you really want one (F-clef), but can't find a copy (the 5th ed. Real Book I G-Clef version is becoming very scarce), drop me a line and I'll sell you mine. I read all clefs, and it's much easier to use the G-clef version and move things up or down and octave (or two), in your head. If you don't already have any RBs, for $25 you can get the latest (6th) edition from Hal Leonard - which is essentially the same as the 5th edition, with slight changes, and is in the G-clef (which is much more useful† than the F-clef version, as it can be shared with other musicians who might not read the F-clef… )

- Wil

† Just my opinion
 
Wil Davis said:
Well, I have the bass-clef Real Book, and I've never used it… It contains exactly the same tunes as the Real Book (Vol. I), but in F-clef rather than G-clef. I bought it naively thinking that it might have ideas for bass lines in it :rolleyes: . If you really want one (F-clef), but can't find a copy (the 5th ed. Real Book I G-Clef version is becoming very scarce), drop me a line and I'll sell you mine. I read all clefs, and it's much easier to use the G-clef version and move things up or down and octave (or two), in your head. If you don't already have any RBs, for $25 you can get the latest (6th) edition from Hal Leonard - which is essentially the same as the 5th edition, with slight changes, and is in the G-clef (which is much more useful† than the F-clef version, as it can be shared with other musicians who might not read the F-clef… )

- Wil

† Just my opinion

Really? I use it like crazy!
 
jazzbo said:
Really? I use it like crazy!

I thought I would, but honestly I don't think I've opened it more than once after I realised it was just an octave transcription of the 5th edition. My G-clef 5th edition is literally in pieces, and my RBs II and III are heading that way!

Also reading the G-clef is very good practice for playing at correct pitch in the thumb-position.


- Wil
 
Wil Davis said:
Well, I have the bass-clef Real Book, and I've never used it… It contains exactly the same tunes as the Real Book (Vol. I), but in F-clef rather than G-clef. I bought it naively thinking that it might have ideas for bass lines in it :rolleyes: . If you really want one (F-clef), but can't find a copy (the 5th ed. Real Book I G-Clef version is becoming very scarce), drop me a line and I'll sell you mine. I read all clefs, and it's much easier to use the G-clef version and move things up or down and octave (or two), in your head. If you don't already have any RBs, for $25 you can get the latest (6th) edition from Hal Leonard - which is essentially the same as the 5th edition, with slight changes, and is in the G-clef (which is much more useful† than the F-clef version, as it can be shared with other musicians who might not read the F-clef… )

- Wil

† Just my opinion

I agree. I wouldn't have any use for an F clef Real Book either. I just transpose the treble melodies into bass range. And as you say, a G clef book is more useful if you want to copy a chart and hand it to another musician--say,a pianist or guitarist--to play. I've met a couple of sax players who could transpose more or less at sight from G clef, but none who were comfortable doing that from bass clef.
 

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