Who doesn't read music?

[TedH]

In defence of tab... I've I been thinking recently that I shouldn't be ashamed to use tab. The thought came to me that a number 3 on a bottom line of tab is no worse representation of G than a blob on a line of a stave - if you know the fingerboard and don't need to share a score with other instruments.

Background: although I learnt the mechanics of reading notation, really I started with tab on guitar as an easy shortcut to learning songs. Then figuring out accordion parts by ear I used notation to write them down for my own use. But I still can't sightread. Now my favourite is probably a score with notation and tab.

The ideal would be to be able to sightread, no doubt. For this casual time-poor dabbler though, I'm thinking I might stick to tab and stop feeling bad about it...

I agree with your assessment of tab and "shame"; if you can play and are having fun, and the band is better for it, then mission accomplished. The big shortfall with tab is when the player does not make the connection that 3-2-5 is a Cmaj chord and is incapable of communicating with the other band members because they only know where they are putting their fingers, not what they're playing. It is the player in the end that can make tab work very well in a group setting. I play with 1 guitarist who can't read, yet knows all sorts of complex chords and how to communicate it, so it works great. I work with another that if he doesn't have tab for anything beyond basic open and barre chords, he is truly lost, which is a shame, because he has a ton of potential, but hasn't "learned his fretboard" and the notes within a chord.

And as for the comments about purely using a chart causes loss of feel, I agree and always think about a comment that my jazz instructor told me - "a transcription is merely a representation of what is played; it is not necessarily what is played" implying the timbre/feel dynamic. Danny Morris gave me similar feedback about the importance of your ears when he told me "you're playing what's written; close your eyes and play the feel." Playing with your eyes closed was a huge learning as it forces you to use your ears.

 

[Ric5]

I find that for me and my brain incorporating the visual aspect of sheet music makes me approach music as a left brained activity and playing by ear makes me approach music as a right brained activity … I seem to play better as a right brained musician. Also one of the problems with sheet music and guitars and basses is there is one note on the page, but that one note has 2 or 3 different locations on the fretboard. so the bass or guitar player has to read the note and then also make a choice where to play it. On piano there is only one middle C. The current system we use for musical notation was developed in the middle ages and it is limited and cumbersome and not really intuitive. Also sheet music and tabs are approximations and it is hard to note every nuance of a song and performance with our current notation system, but with audio recordings everything is there to hear. My experience is that most sheet music is at least partially wrong and some is terribly wrong.

 

[LBS-bass]

I'm a poor sight reader in the treble clef. I was in a big, pro level choir once and somehow passed the audition but I always had to sit next to someone who was a really good reader so that I could correct myself when I got it wrong. I always felt like I was reading the intervals, not really reading the music well. My problem is that my ear is faster than my eyes so once I hear something I have it in my head and I will stop looking at the paper. I have had this problem consistently since I was a kid, which frustrated music teachers. It's nice to have an ear, but in some ways it held me back.

I've been picking at learning bass notation lately by dissecting songs I already know but it's challenging to find free notation that's any good for some of the pieces I play.

 

[Low Class]

Learning to read is just like learning to play...it takes practice. The ability to read will open up a whole new world for gigs. Those of you who can read treble clef can learn and adapt to play bass clef. As the experience grows and one becomes more comfortable reading the ear will become part of it also.

 

[Copperhead]

Not functionally, sadly. I can pick my way through a G clef chart, but not sit down and play.
I kind of like the freedom of chord charts or numbers, I've never been in a situation which required me to read.

The upside of that is that I learn well by ear and am pretty adaptable, I have worked with some well credentialed players and understood what they wanted, and delivered to their satisfaction.

 

[turf3]

I think this describes the horn section. They are definitely NOT practicing the tunes at home. Good example is Move On Up by Curtis Mayfield. That horn line has groove and timing. They are not nailing it at all. Just reading the note but they aren't feeling the groove, timing and inflections to make it work. Sounds horrible every time we play it!

Well, you've got a couple things going on there, I think.

1) You are talking about notated horn charts for a funk tune. It is basically impossible to notate those rhythms accurately. The BEST you can do is to use what I call "conventional violations of notation" which means that for certain styles, those versed in the style recognize a particular notated pattern means "play it this way" and they play it that way even though it's not exactly what's notated. Perfect, elementary example is that two eighths tied across a bar line in swing charts are played short, even though the notation does not say that.

2) You may have the problem that the charts don't even use the "conventional violations of notation" properly, in other words that even those skilled in the style may not be able to interpret them properly.

3) You may also have the problem that the horn players do not know how to interpret the "conventional violations of notation" properly.

4) You may also have the problem that the horn players can't read rhythms accurately even when there aren't "conventional violations of notation".

All of these problems can be solved by making the horn players listen to the tune - if it exists in a recorded form. They can also be solved by rehearsing the particular section by making the horn players just sing the parts (just a hi hat click, nothing else) till they are all doing it exactly the same way; then picking up the horns and duplicating it on the instrument. Even if it's not exactly "correct" to the recording (assuming a recording exists) or the chart, if they all do it exactly the same it doesn't matter. This is basic band rehearsing 101.

 

[buldog5151bass]

When I was in college, I could sight read anything. Now, not so well. But it still comes in really handy. When I have to make complex notes, I find it much easier to write (and read) than tab, especially with more complex rhythms. Same when I have to work out a complex part. Recently, I had to learn Kid Charlemene - tough part. I found both tab and standard notation for the line, and found the notation a much better tool to help me.

 

[higain617]

No, I can't. There were a couple attempts during my youth, but to no avail. When I write music for groups, I give them handwritten tablature.

 

[the baint]

I started university as a Music major (classical guitar performance, lol) and my guitar instructor was amazed that in my past bands we'd have an hour-long set of original music memorized. It was pretty funny because I think that's the norm for most non-classically trained bands, right?

In my Music Theory 101 class I thought we'd be starting at the beginning, but I was in a room of violinists, pianists, and vocalists who had all been sight-reading for years. I told the Professor (stern, ex-Army Band) that I was having trouble keeping up. Never forget who he glanced down, then looked at me in the eyes and gave the empathetic "Well, you have the weekend". That was crazy catch-up time.

For the years I studied music there (second year I switched to a minor, and my Senior year dropped it due to workload) reading was such an effort that by the time I had read a piece and worked out the fingering, I would have it completely memorized. Sheet music, though I tried to read it as we went, became just like shorthand reminders of where I was in the piece, rather than actively reading it as we went.

All these years later, I want to get back into sight-reading, but with 4 kids I can't make it a priority.

 

[tb4sbp]

I can read music, not sight read though. Same with tab. I feel it depends on what type of gigs you want to do. I mostly do rock bands so sight reading is not really required. If I were to do plays or jazz gigs then I would brush up on my charts and sight reading. I look at what is needed for my own pleasure with music as it is not my job. I like knowing about sheet music, charts and tabs. Maybe someday I will take it to another level but not right now.

Kudos to those that do know read music by sight

 

[QORC]

I never learned how to read music

 

[BazzaBass]

There are plenty of fine musicians who do not read music.
In some situations, it is helpful, and in certain situations a downright requirement, but for an average pop/rock type band, it is not.

Situations requiring notation reading:

• Theater/pit orchestra work
• Orchestra work
• Pretty much any classical gig
• Most professional jazz groups
• Big band work
• Theme park/cruise ships
• Union sightreading jobs
• Session work

Also, I find music reading very helpful when I have to learn a substantial amount of new music in a very short time. It may take me an hour to memorize a song by ear and repetition alone, but I can transcribe it in less than 15 minutes, then read it at the rehearsal. To me it’s the difference between learning 2 songs a night, or 10.

From your list it looks like there are more options for making money if you can read.

 

[SactoBass]

Admittedly, I am a horrible music reader. I can read charts ok. In my main band, Brasswind, I'm the only member who is not reading music on gigs and it's funny many of them are amazed that I learned everything by ear and have it all memorized. Especially the subs!! They always ask me "You're not reading?" I tell them 'nope, got it all memorized!' They just shake their head! The band is comprised of mostly all musically educated members (subs as well), some who are music teachers/band directors/armed forces band members.

I sometimes feel out of place but the BL has never said anything because I nail everything and am always prepared.

Can you imagine going to a Led Zeppelin (or Rush, or YES) concert and watching all of the guys perform from sheet music? Drrrrrrrr!

DW, *YOU* are the one who should be shaking your head when your band members say that they can't play their instruments without crutches.

If you are performing in an orchestra, then sheet music is fine on stage. Otherwise, nooooooooooooo!

All IMO of course!

 

[-Asdfgh-]

A poll would probably help this thread.

Carrots.

Too early?

 

[metron]

I'm one of the people Jaco was talking about in his bass video. I can read a little bit.

 

[LBS-bass]

Can you imagine going to a Led Zeppelin (or Rush, or YES) concert and watching all of the guys perform from sheet music? Drrrrrrrr!

DW, *YOU* are the one who should be shaking your head when your band members say that they can't play their instruments without crutches.

If you are performing in an orchestra, then sheet music is fine on stage. Otherwise, nooooooooooooo!

All IMO of course!

It drives me crazy when I see musicians on a stage reading charts, especially when it's a rock band. I get that sometimes you have a player who is a sub; I did a show as a sub recently where I had to learn about 25 new tunes and after we rehearsed them I decided to break my own rule and bring charts for four of them. I barely looked at the charts but it was reassuring to have them there. But that's more of a swing band and I wasn't expected to strut around and perform on stage to any great degree.

I expect to see stands when there's a horn section. I expect to see stands when it's an orchestral thing. I don't like it but I also expect to see stands when it's a small jazz trio or something, because those cats never memorize anything. But not a casual rock band.

In my younger days there was no such thing as going onstage with a stand. You learned your parts, you played what you learned. But there were cats doing Real Book (Fake Book) gigs back in the day, as well. My husband plays in a band that has been tied to their music stands for something like four years. It's insane. It looks terrible, especially since they keep their music right up in front of their faces practically, so you can't even see them playing their instruments. It gets in the way of any visual content we might want to create to promote them. He complains about it but I guess there are people who really do not have the capacity to memorize music.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Can you imagine going to a Led Zeppelin (or Rush, or YES) concert and watching all of the guys perform from sheet music? Drrrrrrrr!

DW, *YOU* are the one who should be shaking your head when your band members say that they can't play their instruments without crutches.

If you are performing in an orchestra, then sheet music is fine on stage. Otherwise, nooooooooooooo!

All IMO of course!

I wish I could read so I could Have transcribed the cool prog rock opus I had in my dream last night.

 

[Nevada Pete]

Hi,

I find it helps a lot to know how to read. I don't do it that much these days because I don't play in the situations that require it often. I don't read as well as I used to in high school or college when I was a music major. I've had to quickly learn a bunch of tunes for an upcoming show so I just wrote up a bunch of Nashville Number System charts to make sure I play the proper arrangements.

I also find that if I start reading a chart and performing from the chart, I'm pretty much married to the chart. It's hard for me to memorize from the chart. Whereas if I just sit down in front of a recording and learn by playing along it makes the memorization much quicker and easier. I don't know, maybe a left brain/right brain thing?


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

I gotta ask! What would happen if you learned a tune straight from the sheet music, then recorded a piano or acoustic guitar backing track and used that to memorize the tune (just play along with it)? I used to do that sometimes back when I wasn't as good at bass clef as I am now. I always felt like I was 'cheating', but it worked for me at the time to memorize. Way easier that way.

 

[TedH]

My problem is that my ear is faster than my eyes so once I hear something I have it in my head and I will stop looking at the paper.

I have this too. My piano teacher asked me to go through something and I wasn't looking at the chart or forgot it and looked a bit confused as to why I was playing something on week 2 without the music. Got the "I knew you memorized, but didn't know you did it that quickly."

 

[TedH]

I gotta ask! What would happen if you learned a tune straight from the sheet music, then recorded a piano or acoustic guitar backing track and used that to memorize the tune (just play along with it)? I used to do that sometimes back when I wasn't as good at bass clef as I am now. I always felt like I was 'cheating', but it worked for me at the time to memorize. Way easier that way.

Totally possible and a good idea in my experience as you get closer to "playing with others" while not having the bass track to memorize. My classes would give me a backing track with 2-3 instruments and no bass line, and I really enjoyed it as you need to find your way AND keep track of what the others are doing. Great training for me at least.