Talking Bass or SBL for reading music?

[Jazzpunk]

Greetings!
First post and happy to be here. Guitarist with the bug to bass and wanting to learn to read standard notation as part of the journey.

I do well with video learning and am looking at either talking bass or SBL for a structured reading course. The reading set at talking bass is almost as much as a year long subscription to SBL. Is it worth it?

Appreciate any insights especially from anyone who has compared this aspect of both learning platforms.

 

[FatStringer52]

I have the first two volumes of "Simple Steps to Sight Reading " from TalkingBass and I am also an SBL Member. I got the TalkingBass courses long before I became a member at SBL. For that reason I have not gone very deep into the sight reading lessons at SBL. But what I can tell you is that they are both very good programs. From what I have experienced, you get quite a bit more .pdf support from TalkingBass. With both programs, you'll probably want to consider getting some free notation software [MuseScore] to supplement the .pdf material provided. The reason being that with the provided .pdf's, you will still have an issue of memorizing (just from sheer redundancy) the provided notation. If I'm not mistaken, Mark from TalkingBass even recommends this early in the course. Phil Mann teaches the sight reading courses at SBL and he is an excellent instructor.

With the TalkingBass courses, you have lifetime access to the course. With an SBL membership, you have access for a year (unless you get a lifetime membership). But once you know it, will you really need lifetime access?

Purchase a course at TalkingBass and you get that course. Purchase an SBL membership you get access to all of the courses available to members. In addition to sight reading, there are also courses on theory, chord tones, harmonic layering, and groove just to name a few.

Mark has a couple of YT videos that are excerpts from his sight reading course. Check those out. And at SBL, you can get a free 14-day trial. If you have not already done so, get the free trial and check out the sight reading courses (and others) for yourself.

The question becomes, "Do I need more .pdf support?" or "Do I want access to more than just sight reading courses?" And only you can answer those questions.

Every now and then, Scott will offer lifetime memberships at a substantial discount. You might start off with an annual and when he offers the discounted lifetime, be ready to pounce!

Both courses will help you become a very proficient reader.

Best of luck!

 

[Robf]

Great question and I'm in the same boat, I'm taking lessons but I want to supplement my time with off lesson time. One of my goals is learning to read sheet music and I have a subscription to SBL but taking a shorter video class with TB was more of my learning style (shorter lessons and a bit less chatty).

On TB they either sell the bundle or individual videos. It's about 23 hours according to the following link - Simple Steps To Sight Reading

From what I see on SBL, they have the following courses on reading. Based on just hours, the TB series is longer and unless you have a subscription on TB, more expensive.

 

[Robf]

From what I have experienced, you get quite a bit more .pdf support from TalkingBass

Personally, for me, that's a huge selling point between the two. I like to practice off line from a computer and if I can print out the lessons, even bring them to my instructor, it much easier than taking screenshots from the video.

 

[Quinn Roberts]

Not to diverge from your sources, but I'd just get a real book (or, if you're more into rock, a songbook for a band you like) and just start reading. It's slow at first but it's something that comes quicker than one may think.

 

[Fun Size Nick]

Not to diverge from your sources, but I'd just get a real book (or, if you're more into rock, a songbook for a band you like) and just start reading. It's slow at first but it's something that comes quicker than one may think.

You have to start somewhere though. A person with no reading background will learn to read much more effectively with at least a little leg up on the basics of how notation works. I agree that reading actual pieces should be a part of learning to read, but you can cut out a lot of trial and error if you have at least a rudimentary understanding of the 'rules' of musical notation.

 

[Pings Bass]

Kinda old school but a lot of us learned to read with Simandl (double bass method book). It moves through the notes and up the neck methodically, with little etudes throughout that get harder as you go. You can download a PDF for free.

 

[DaDo625]

I know learning how to read standard notation is a very YMMV thing...
But this App has helped me, and it's a better use of my "game time" than playing Tetris...

‎Speedy Note: Bass Clef

You can work your way in to it starting with C D E and adding the note above and below at each level.

I don't view it as a substitute for the: "bass in your hands, sheet in front of you" time in the shed...but for me it makes that time much more effective.
And it's a couple of bucks...

 

[Jazzpunk]

So much great info. Thanks everyone!

 

[tb-player]

Save yourself some time & money and get this book.

 

[Paul New]

One more option.

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[WrapRough]

My teacher uses Jeff Berlin, and I really like it. I feel like I am progressing quite well. Before that I was using the Talkingbass course, which I also think is very good. You can supplement stuff with simple sheet music songs found online, or some double-bass ABRSM books if you need more.

 

[brianrost]

Really, 8 hours of video lessons on reading?

I studied clarinet in elemtary school and organ in high school. In both cases, the staff was introduced, then the method books had pictures of proper fingering with corresponding notes shown on the staff. That was all in the first lesson, no more than an hour. All lessons after that were standard notation out of books. This is the sort of stuff that takes up the first dozen pages of any beginning bass method book.

The whole thing about reading is, um sitting down and reading. You can even read through a piece without your bass by just singing what's on the page. What the heck is being covered in those lessons?

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I would recommend Jeff Berlin's new book "Bass Mastery".

 

[enricogaletta]

Two books and in few weeks you will be ready to go:

Rhythm reading
https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Readi...hythm+sight+reading+4/4&qid=1630670052&sr=8-3
Sight reading
https://www.amazon.com/Sight-Readin...ght+reading+Ron+velosky&qid=1630670080&sr=8-1

If you need more help just let me know.
Cheers. Enrico

 

[Rhythmman535]

Jeffe Berlin
Jim Stinnett

 

[Mechanical]

This will help you.

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[WrapRough]

Not to diverge from your sources, but I'd just get a real book (or, if you're more into rock, a songbook for a band you like) and just start reading. It's slow at first but it's something that comes quicker than one may think.

"just start reading". Come on dude.

Reading what? What notes are they? How long does each note last? What are those weird tie things? What are those weird things that don't look like notes? What does 4/4 mean? Why is there loads of # symbols?

You don't give a child a book and say "here, just start reading. you'll get there."

 

[akukulich]

Once you have an understanding the mechanics of reading (e.g., note duration, key signatures, time signatures, etc.) this is a good book to get. The Ray Brown Bass Method is another one worth picking up.

https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Cont...ocphy=9010730&hvtargid=pla-564992880396&psc=1

 

[sokolasty]

"just start reading". Come on dude.

You don't give a child a book and say "here, just start reading. you'll get there."

1+
It takes few years to learn writing and reading, which is IMHO way more natural than reading and playing on the fly.