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Why cant we all read?

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#301
3506string said:
Hey it isn't a really a TB response without a pinch of anger and a dash of sarcasm.:p

I am currently learning to read. I started bass when I was around 13 or 14 and reading was nowhere on my radar.

Though I have never been handed a sheet of music I decided to start learning to sight read for a couple of reasons.

1. I heard it helps in the theory learning process
2. It will help me identify the fretboard in notes and intervals rather than just shapes and positions.
3. I would hate to miss a great opportunity because of not being able to read.
4. And the biggest reason, it just seems like a cool skill to have kind.

I will say it is slow boring work but I would rather learn it now while single and childless.
Click to expand...

You might have added:
5. Entering a community while refusing to master the communication standard is insulting.

It's like moving to France without bothering to learn to speak French even at an elementary level.

En outre, je pense le poulet dans le pantalon de Jimmy d'être un vrai coq ;)
 
#303
D.A.R.K. said:
some people play music in order to tap into a creative/ spiritual flow. it is commonly called improvisation, and it can't be written.
it is entirely of the moment.
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if they can play it, i can write it.

seriously now, do you think that just because you play improvised music that a background in theory can't help you do it better? i'm so not getting this line of thought where people think that learning to read music is only about the act of reading music and nothing else.
 
#304
Jpeachbass said:
Just wanna know why a lot of players wont learn to read. Expecialy after playing for several years. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

I think that is a valid question.
Perhaps different people want different things from music and for some it may well be less relevant than it is for others to have this skill.
I have met people who said that it wasn't rocknroll, to be able to read-some funny people out there, me thinks :-)

A thing that I tend to find almost offensively stupid (if there is such a way of wording this) is, when people tell me that being able to read would take something away from their "natural musicality" or crap like that.
Those are usually just lazy and ignorant.

I am glad that I invested the time to learn how to read as it has and continues to open doors for me that would keep shut if I was not able to read music.:)
 
#306
You gotta read. you get more work, or maybe more consistent work as far as recording for big bands or a jazz cat whose got charts. cant read? cant get that bread for that gig. that all being said, some can get away with it. i just think that the musical world opens up infinitely if you can read. you can then play ANYTHING. learn.
 
#308
Chris K said:
You might have added:
5. Entering a community while refusing to master the communication standard is insulting.

It's like moving to France without bothering to learn to speak French even at an elementary level.

En outre, je pense le poulet dans le pantalon de Jimmy d'être un vrai coq ;)
Click to expand...

Not bad.

En outre, je pense que le poulet dans le pantalon de Jimmy est un vrai coq.

I know french is quite hard, my mothertong is Fench and it is hard for me to write without any mistakes :P
 
#309
JimmyM said:
if they can play it, i can write it.

seriously now, do you think that just because you play improvised music that a background in theory can't help you do it better? i'm so not getting this line of thought where people think that learning to read music is only about the act of reading music and nothing else.
Click to expand...

i can read.
however, there is some music which is of the moment, only to be played once.
i'm not talking about improv over studied/ written changes.
and i'm not talking about studying theory either.
there is some music that happens that can't be written in advance in order to be played.
you could record it and write it out later, if you like.
i'm not saying learning to read is bad, or unnecessary.
of course it can help in most situations- just not all.
it is definitely not for everyone.
 
#310
WOW! 16 pages on "Why cant we all read?"

Look read if you want/need to. It does not make one a better or lesser musician. The ability to read does makes you more well rounded musician and gives you more opportunities. If those opportunities do not interest you then it doesn't really matter. It is certainly not worth arguing about

Mike

ps - Feel free to refer any good paying reading gigs my way ;)
 
#311
funny, i posted in this thread after seeing stevie wonder
on larry king live.
was thinking of ray charles too.
and jeff healey.
and so many more that can't read....
just something to think about, although kind of off topic, yes,
but it is something to consider.
all these musicians that have had amazing music and have given so much great music to us based on the sound alone.
ok, back ot....
 
#312
I learned to read music when I was in Elementary School and took piano lessons. In my last 23 years playing bass I have never once played a song by a chord sheet....in fact, I picked up a chord chart the other day in a music store and the only note that jumped out at me was middle C. I play exclusively by ear although some new songs I have a sheet printed out with the notes written above the lyrics.
So, I guess the answer for me is....I didn't use it so I forgot how to do it. Apparently I didn't need it. ;)
 
#314
Hendrix and SRV didnt read and they did pretty good in their time. Elvis Costello said in an interview he hardly knows guitar chords and what the notes he plays are...doing pretty well too.
To me music is from the soul and we use out heart, mind, body to guide it out of us. If you need a book to guide your path thru music great! If not that's great too but learning to read and music theory is not going to make you a better musician. A more complete one? Maybe.
 
#315
JimmyM said:
if they can play it, i can write it.

seriously now, do you think that just because you play improvised music that a background in theory can't help you do it better? i'm so not getting this line of thought where people think that learning to read music is only about the act of reading music and nothing else.
Click to expand...

He didn't say that. As to if he can play it, you can write it, while that's cool, did you play it before he did? Breaking things down after the fact, at your leisure is typically the easier of the two tasks. Look at how many folks can mimic Jaco now. But wait... reading isn't required to do that either.
:D

You can most certainly learn theory without learning to read bass clef. The discussion was about bass players reading... but it seems to get broader and broader.
 
#316
Nobody here is saying that NOT reading music will prevent you from becoming a good instrumentalist and/or good musician. Obviously, there are examples of folks who succeeded w/o learning to read.

But the two key points stated, so far:
1 - Nobody who knows how to read music would argue that they'd be better off NOT knowing how to read music (paraphrasing what Jimmy said)

2 - As several have said, learning to read music is like opening a door, a door that allows you to perceive, understand, and interact with music in a way that you cannot without reading music.

There's no arrogance in wishing that my non-reading bass brothers would take a chance on walking through that door. It's not an impossible journey, and there are untold benefits.
 
#317
trevastation said:
You gotta read. you get more work, or maybe more consistent work as far as recording for big bands or a jazz cat whose got charts. cant read? cant get that bread for that gig. that all being said, some can get away with it. i just think that the musical world opens up infinitely if you can read. you can then play ANYTHING. learn.
Click to expand...

Seriously?
:D

Sorry but being able to read does not enable you to play ANYTHING. And it does not mean you get more work. You MIGHT get more work and you could just as easily NOT.

And that doesn't even get into the fact that everything isn't already WRITTEN DOWN and reading does not equal being able to decipher whatever is being played, by ear.

Again, I think it's a valuable asset, it's just that people keep going overboard with the benefits. Why?
:hmm:
 
#318
Tampabass said:
Nobody here is saying that NOT reading music will prevent you from becoming a good instrumentalist and/or good musician. Obviously, there are examples of folks who succeeded w/o learning to read.
But the two key points stated, so far:
1 - Nobody who knows how to read music would argue that they'd be better off NOT knowing how to read music (paraphrasing what Jimmy said)

2 - As several have said, learning to read music is like opening a door, a door that allows you to perceive, understand, and interact with music in a way that you cannot without reading music.

There's no arrogance in wishing that my non-reading bass brothers would take a chance on walking through that door. It's not an impossible journey, and there are untold benefits.
Click to expand...

Actually some have said that.
 
#319
Mike Dimin said:
WOW! 16 pages on "Why cant we all read?"

Look read if you want/need to. It does not make one a better or lesser musician. The ability to read does makes you more well rounded musician and gives you more opportunities. If those opportunities do not interest you then it doesn't really matter. It is certainly not worth arguing about
Mike

ps - Feel free to refer any good paying reading gigs my way ;)
Click to expand...

No offense... you're here in this thread again doing just that... offering your side of the "argument".

Right?
:D
 
#320
Chris K said:
You might have added:
5. Entering a community while refusing to master the communication standard is insulting.

It's like moving to France without bothering to learn to speak French even at an elementary level.

En outre, je pense le poulet dans le pantalon de Jimmy d'être un vrai coq ;)
Click to expand...

Interesting.

What if the community you enter uses TAB?
 
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