• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Why cant we all read?

Status
Not open for further replies.
#221
fdeck said:
How many hours per week do you rehearse?
Click to expand...
Not much with an actual bass in hand. Most days I'm learning bass lines or chord structures by ear on the way to/from work. That's an hour or two for sure. Also listen to them at work to internalize the song structure, but that's more in the background, through osmosis rather than "rehearsing". Once I've figured them out I'll try to spend some time actually playing them to make sure I'm right. Usually have 3-4 songs each from a couple of different bands to learn for the next gig/rehearsal. Probably averaging 3-4 gigs/month, with a few less rehearsals per month.

More if I've got a sub gig coming up, depending on how many new songs they've learned since the last time I filled in and if they want a rehearsal.

Probably spend more time gigging than playing on my own time lately. Been spending a lot of time working on rental houses after work. I started trying to learn Donna Lee from the Real Book (ok, I'm reading that, but how many are trying to do that song, its my own personal challenge...) Got the first 12 bars somewhat down but its been a while getting the arpeggiated part smooth/fast. The first 4 and third 4 bars were up to speed in a few hours, took weeks for that 2nd 4 bar part to get it reasonably smooth, still not quite there at speed. Would probably help if I got back to actually working on it instead of noodling it at sound checks.

Randy
 
#224
I think the readers are rather snobbish to the non-readers. I think the SVT players are to the SS players. I think the Jazz guys are to the metal guys. But when someone points out McCartney or Gene Simmons or Nikki Sixx, or someone else who's done fantastic in spite of the snobbish requirements, then the argument turns to how the poster is superior to the critic. The original post is "why can't/doesn't every bassist read music?". That got carried into an attack that those who do NOT are lazy, missing out, etc, etc. I would again point out that Macca, Gene, and Sixx, are pretty darn far from what I would consider "lazy". I've said before that I am a writer, not a cover guy, and by choice. I just don't want or NEED to sightread. I started it years ago when I began taking lessons. Didn't enjoy it. Wasn't FUN for me. I can learn by ear, so it's not something I plan to do. No need to say everyone is lazy or can't that doesn't.

I'm not calling all readers "snobs". Not at all. But telling other players that they are less than YOURSELF is pure SNOBBERY. I guess it must suck for you if you spent an inordinate amount of time learning something and someone who doesn't do it can play as well, or succeeds where you don't. I can see that.
 
#225
For the average bass player there are very few reading gigs. Most of the time its "learn these tunes" on a CD and be ready for Friday night.
If you are career minded then it is essential.
I've never been given a chart for ACDC or SRV.
 
#226
Greevus said:
I think the readers are rather snobbish to the non-readers. I think the SVT players are to the SS players. I think the Jazz guys are to the metal guys. But when someone points out McCartney or Gene Simmons or Nikki Sixx, or someone else who's done fantastic in spite of the snobbish requirements, then the argument turns to how the poster is superior to the critic. The original post is "why can't/doesn't every bassist read music?". That got carried into an attack that those who do NOT are lazy, missing out, etc, etc. I would again point out that Macca, Gene, and Sixx, are pretty darn far from what I would consider "lazy". I've said before that I am a writer, not a cover guy, and by choice. I just don't want or NEED to sightread. I started it years ago when I began taking lessons. Didn't enjoy it. Wasn't FUN for me. I can learn by ear, so it's not something I plan to do. No need to say everyone is lazy or can't that doesn't.

I'm not calling all readers "snobs". Not at all. But telling other players that they are less than YOURSELF is pure SNOBBERY. I guess it must suck for you if you spent an inordinate amount of time learning something and someone who doesn't do it can play as well, or succeeds where you don't. I can see that.
Click to expand...

I must have missed the post stating that non readers were less than others. Not what was ment by this original post.
 
#229
Greevus said:
I think the readers are rather snobbish to the non-readers. I think the SVT players are to the SS players. I think the Jazz guys are to the metal guys. But when someone points out McCartney or Gene Simmons or Nikki Sixx, or someone else who's done fantastic in spite of the snobbish requirements, then the argument turns to how the poster is superior to the critic. The original post is "why can't/doesn't every bassist read music?". That got carried into an attack that those who do NOT are lazy, missing out, etc, etc. I would again point out that Macca, Gene, and Sixx, are pretty darn far from what I would consider "lazy". I've said before that I am a writer, not a cover guy, and by choice. I just don't want or NEED to sightread. I started it years ago when I began taking lessons. Didn't enjoy it. Wasn't FUN for me. I can learn by ear, so it's not something I plan to do. No need to say everyone is lazy or can't that doesn't.

I'm not calling all readers "snobs". Not at all. But telling other players that they are less than YOURSELF is pure SNOBBERY. I guess it must suck for you if you spent an inordinate amount of time learning something and someone who doesn't do it can play as well, or succeeds where you don't. I can see that.
Click to expand...

I'm in rather the opposite situation. I'm an average bassist at best. There are plenty of players who are better than me. Most of you probably are. In order to break into the rock band scene, I would have to start out at the absolute bottom, and spend years working my way up, perhaps by hitching my horse to a start-up band.

So I'm following the old marketing adage: "Sell what you've got." I have a short list of skills that includes fluent sight reading, and I use those skills to compete for gigs. Does it make me a better bassist? No. Does it get me onto the bandstand? Yes. That's all, no more no less.
 
#231
This thread is like many before it. It started out with the implication that reading was better than not. To be PC it should have been "why did you CHOOSE not to read?" instead of "Why CAN'T we all read?". I really enjoy debating with Jimmy cause he's so passionate and opinionated. I agree with him more than not. There are a few specific scenarios where reading would be a necessity. There are far more that don't require it. It would be boring to say "I CHOSE not to read", but that's the case.
 
#232
There's degrees of reading as well. I can read a chord chart and I understand the various types of chords and how they connect. I can read a key signature.

Notes? I can read VERY slowly. Certainly not at tempo. But - I haven't yet needed to...

P.S. Just those basics have made me a better player and increased my options... and fun ...
 
#233
This thread is pretty asinine.

I've encountered both situations! I will say that any self-respecting STUDIO musician in CERTAIN STYLES of music have a tendency to read.

If you play rock, honestly, I don't see why it's super necessary to learn how to read, unless the arranger or producer has a specific bass line written for you. However, in other styles, I personally have needed to be able to read to play a lot of gigs. I wouldn't have gotten them otherwise.
 
#238
Let's all just agree that having more skills doesn't make you a better bassist. We should adopt the postmodernist Kindergarten Credo:

* All of the kids are Special.
* There are no bright kids or dumb kids, only "different ways of learning."
* There are no good kids or bad kids, only "different choices."

If you think I'm kidding, you haven't had kids in Kindergarten within the past couple decades. :rollno:
 
#239
fdeck said:
Let's all just agree that having more skills doesn't make you a better bassist. We should adopt the postmodernist Kindergarten Credo:

* All of the kids are Special.
* There are no bright kids or dumb kids, only "different ways of learning."
* There are no good kids or bad kids, only "different choices."

If you think I'm kidding, you haven't had kids in Kindergarten within the past couple decades. :rollno:
Click to expand...

I missed it by a year (my Son was in Kindergarten 21 years ago). But your post is right on the money!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back