Can you read?

[Jamie]

So, who can read and who can't? This should be interesting :)

By read, I mean sightread. Durr. :p

[Phalanx]

not particularly well, i just need more practice, im a little slow

[Radiobass81]

Yes.

[Akira]

I can read decently, but not as well as I should.

[Jamie]

Woah! You people certainly post quick :D Didn't even give me a chance to get my poll up and there's already 3 posts!

Vote away ;)

[BenJammin]

I voted 'kind of.' I can read, but there's vast room for improvement.

[Akira]

The one I selected was "kind of", but then I saw the other clef thing. I can read treble (particularly on the alto sax) fluently.

[BenJammin]

The one I selected was "kind of", but then I saw the other clef thing. I can read treble (particularly on the alto sax) fluently.

Thus proving: you can't read. ;)

[Pluperfect_Arson]

I destroy at sight reading treble clef. I can sight read bass clef in my head, but, when it comes to playing as well, I have a bit of difficulty. :p I am not horrible, but I can do it well enough to pass. I just haven't bothered on working up to a higher standard, yet.

[Sammy_L_D]

I'm still at the "deciphering individual note" stage for anything more complex.

But I'm getting better.

[Criss Frantic]

I voted kind of, because I can sight read pretty darn well on trombone, but beacuse I'm self taught on bass, I kind of learnt by ear and not by reading charts. I can play basic stuff but I'm still having trouble converting the notes I'm reading into positions on the fretboard. I'd much rather play by ear/feel.

[Killer Fridge]

I can read fairly decently, give a piece to me 10 minutes or so before you want it played (as long as its not particullally hard, classic rock, modern pop, stuff like that) and I should be fine. Give me a day or 2 on hard stuff!

[Low_End_Communications]

I can read pretty decently, just need to really work on rhythms for jazz ensemble and stuff. Having played trombone for 8 years, and never in a jazz environment, I'm not used to more complex unison rhythms and stuff.

[bleeding_fingers]

It's been like a year since I've actually attempted to read. So probably the 'kind of. i can get through some basic stuff' option.

[Left Shoe]

yes to a high standard, reading music since i was....6?

[HaVIC5]

I can read to a standard that could probably, when compared to most MXicans, could be considered "high". I can sight-read in bass clef pretty fluently and to a slightly lesser extent treble clef, albiet in an octave lower than written. My goal for the next year is to get better reading in tenor clef.

[Singh]

I can sight read bass clef very well. Treble I can't sight read at all.

[thelowsoundofbass]

I can read to a standard that could probably, when compared to most MXicans, could be considered "high". I can sight-read in bass clef pretty fluently and to a slightly lesser extent treble clef, albiet in an octave lower than written. My goal for the next year is to get better reading in tenor clef.

Tenor? Isn't there only two clefs?

I can sit there are figure it out if I really have to. I should learn to read, but it isn't very high on my list right now.

lowsound

[BassVirtuoso]

Tenor? Isn't there only two clefs?

I can sit there are figure it out if I really have to. I should learn to read, but it isn't very high on my list right now.

lowsound

There's a lot of clefs, only a few are used widely though.

[Left Shoe]

treble, alto, tenor, bass.

and im pretty sure tenor is the one you can move around to wherever you want to be on the staff

[Criss Frantic]

There are many clefs:

Treble, Bass, Alto, Tenor, French, Soprano, Percussion, Baritone, Subbass, Mezzosprano.

Before I stopped my trombone lessons I'd just started working on learning the Alto and Tenor clefs....it was pretty confusing.

[badtaste]

I've come to bass from piano, so I can read pretty well. Unfortunately, right now it's a struggle attaching notes to frets.

Tenor? Isn't there only two clefs?


Different clefs for different instruments, right?

[Left Shoe]

There are many clefs:

Treble, Bass, Alto, Tenor, French, Soprano, Percussion, Baritone, Subbass, Mezzosprano.

Before I stopped my trombone lessons I'd just started working on learning the Alto and Tenor clefs....it was pretty confusing.

hmm i was taught that bass clef, treble clef, alto clef was middle line being c, and then any other clef you just called tenor

[naut]

well, i used to read for piano and violin, never officially for bass though. although i have used my experience from the past to help with a bit of transcribing...

but, meh, i would say my skill with it is really too weak to register...so i'll just go with: i can't read at all. and don't want to.

[Thonk]

I voted just started learning.

[Soulfly666]

I can sight read some basic stuff, but I'm getting better. :)

[blizzard]

I can read pretty well. I have to learn tenor clef someday because I have quite a bit of music that is in tenor clef.

[Jamie]

Ever tried reading treble stuff and playing it on a bass? That gets confusing :D

I've found some really good books for learning to sightread. The Louis Bellson rhythm books (they're for drummers I think) are very good for learning all your different note values and rhythms, etc.

The Bass Bible is a fantastic book. That has alot of excercises and stuff in too.


http://i11.tinypic.com/47n3zf6.jpg

I was also given that to look at aswell :)

[Criss Frantic]

hmm i was taught that bass clef, treble clef, alto clef was middle line being c, and then any other clef you just called tenor

Shhh, don't tell anyone but I wikipedia'd that to sound smart :lol:. (Although I did already know of bass, treble, alto and tenor) so I can't really argue with you!

[Rollo47]

It's a yes from me.

[fatbandit]

I'm trying to learn, but it all seems to go in one ear, and out the other straight away :/

I have to count up the note name from the bottom line for each note still :upset:

:smash:

[katana_manatee]

I still find plonking something in front of me and giving me a minute to look over it a little tricky but I can sight read more basic stuff without much problem.

To make things easier when attempting to sight read:

1. Know the key and find an appropriate fingering position.
2. Know the range of the piece, so know what your highest and lowest notes are.
3. Take note of repeat signs, d.s. al coda, codas etc. Basically learn the chart's geography.

These three tips take a lot of stress out when you're about to read something.

[Polyamarous]

Can't read for love nor money.

[Son of Magni]

I can sight read the sheet that Jamie posted at about quarter note = 80. But that's very easy. I can't just open up the real book and sight read, which is what I'd like to be able to do...

[Az_Holl]

Cant read, dont want to. I dont see the point in me learning it.

[museic]

i can read basic stuff.. and look at more complex stuff a few times and then play it.. but i cant open up a music book and read off the music and play immediatly..

[HaVIC5]

The only relavent clefs for bassplaying are the bass clef (duh), the treble, and the tenor. Many classical solos for double bass are written almost exclusively in tenor clef, and the treble clef is important in learning melodies in general.

The only other clef thats used frequently in music is the alto clef, which is what violas read. All the others are rather obscure variations on the three basic clefs - the G clef (generally treble), the F clef (generally bass) and the C clef (alto and tenor clef). They're made by moving the clef shape up and down on the staff.

[peeted]

i used to be able to read treble cleff fluetley but i cant realy any more, im trying to learn bass cleff but dont realy dedicate much time to it, i tend to just read the chords and can pretty much work out the bass line from the melody and roughley were the dots are on the page.

[mikethecoug]

I can read some stuff, but I've been doing alot of treble clef lately for music class, but I can do both.

I usually read and play to a metronome though

[Spaceman Spiff]

When I actually get into doing it, I find reading pretty easy. However, I rarely/never practice, so I'm not good at it now.

[kilian]

I miss the option: I can't reedat all, but I don't need to (yet). :thumb:

So I didn't vote. I can actually find my way a bit with the Gkey cleff (ehh?) but bass.. No.

[Left Shoe]

g clef = treble clef

[bottlerocket]

I was learning but stopped. I should start it up again but eh, there's not nearly the drive there was. Sight-reading was always something I wanted to be able to do.

Now, I'll study music theory for my love of music.

[Manticore Guy]

I voted yes to a high standard, I've been reading since I was about 10 and I've been doing a lot of it with Jazz Band and such. Nothing like seeing you're about to play an unaccompanied written bass solo:p

[Left Shoe]

haha, or them throwing a 16th note finger funk groove at you and expecting you to go, that was jazz band last year, my face was like "...O_O"

[Akira]

I would love to do jazz band. Unfortunately, a kid a grade above me kills on bass (both upright and electric), so I am screwed until at least senior year.

[SlincoJ]

I can read treble clef fine,bass clef not so much,but I'm learning.

[Manticore Guy]

haha, or them throwing a 16th note finger funk groove at you and expecting you to go, that was jazz band last year, my face was like "...O_O"

haha I sorta had that happen this year because we played What is Hip by Tower of Power. Now I know the song pretty well from listening to it a bunch, but sight reading those crazy tied16th note rhythms on upright is ridiculous. And I feel for you Akira, lucky for me I'm a freshman and the guy who was the bassist graduated last year, so now I've gotten into the higher ensembles:)

[Left Shoe]

I would love to do jazz band. Unfortunately, a kid a grade above me kills on bass (both upright and electric), so I am screwed until at least senior year.

start your own jazz group

[Left Shoe]

haha I sorta had that happen this year because we played What is Hip by Tower of Power. Now I know the song pretty well from listening to it a bunch, but sight reading those crazy tied16th note rhythms on upright is ridiculous. And I feel for you Akira, lucky for me I'm a freshman and the guy who was the bassist graduated last year, so now I've gotten into the higher ensembles:)

pffff why would you play ToP on an upright, woudln they not let you use an electric? rocco played an electric

[Akira]

haha I sorta had that happen this year because we played What is Hip by Tower of Power. Now I know the song pretty well from listening to it a bunch, but sight reading those crazy tied16th note rhythms on upright is ridiculous. And I feel for you Akira, lucky for me I'm a freshman and the guy who was the bassist graduated last year, so now I've gotten into the higher ensembles:)

Playing What is Hip in a jazz band would be pretty cool.

Phil: I've thought about getting a jazz group, or a ToP-style group together. I don't know where I will find members though. Drums and good vocals (if it is the ToP-esque thing) will be a pain. I can probably get a tenor sax player, and maybe an alto. Maybe bari, and trombone. But I don't know about trumpets.

[Left Shoe]

it doesnt have to be that huge, i was thinking just get like a piano player, a drummer, trumpet, sax, bass, maybe vocalist

[Manticore Guy]

pffff why would you play ToP on an upright, woudln they not let you use an electric? rocco played an electric

I play upright on everything, thats just how it works at my school. It sounds pretty awesome on upright though. The director told me that if he wants electric on a certain song he'll tell me, and then ill bring in my conklin and play it. But it didn't matter that much because we just sight read it and haven't played it since

[Akira]

it doesnt have to be that huge, i was thinking just get like a piano player, a drummer, trumpet, sax, bass, maybe vocalist

Yeah, drums would definitely be hardest. I know a piano player who might be game depending on the other members. Sax I am pretty sure I can do, since I play it in band I have quite a few friends who play one version or another.

[Specialsauce]

i can sight read very well for the saxophone (been doin' it five years) but not so much on bass.

[PERFECTXDARK]

I need to work more on sight reading aswell,If I have the peice I tend to learn it slowly on my own time.Analyze the chord changes and such or whatever is involved then just memorize and when I have the sheet music live if theres to much to remember then I can look to see what is needed to be played.

But im not so good at BAM play this,which I hope to get better at.

[Foxfire]

I can read bass clef. Not insanely well, but I can read latin rhythms and other stuff.

No crazy stuff really.

So not basic, but not "to a high standard." :p

[PERFECTXDARK]

haha, or them throwing a 16th note finger funk groove at you and expecting you to go, that was jazz band last year, my face was like "...O_O"

Haha,My school Jazz band just has sheet music really even the Senior Jazz band is all sheet music no one has to learn from a chord chart or anything its already written,the only person who does is the drummer who makes his own lines according to the music.

Im in Junior not senior,and we still dont have a Upright Bass but the Senior Jazz Bass Player plays Upright and I plan to start soon aswell.

[PERFECTXDARK]

The only relavent clefs for bassplaying are the bass clef (duh), the treble, and the tenor. Many classical solos for double bass are written almost exclusively in tenor clef, and the treble clef is important in learning melodies in general.

The only other clef thats used frequently in music is the alto clef, which is what violas read. All the others are rather obscure variations on the three basic clefs - the G clef (generally treble), the F clef (generally bass) and the C clef (alto and tenor clef). They're made by moving the clef shape up and down on the staff.

I know my Treble quite well,since I played Trumpet for 2 Years.

and Have been playing Bass for 4 years now,but I learned all of my other instruments (recorder,trumpet etc) were in treble so I knew it a bit better,since I only started learning more complex theory.

Ill need some help/tips on tenor clef though,you should write a lesson on that havic or leftshoe!

[Jody LeCompte]

I can read the notes off the paper like a peice of cake, but I cant play them on my respective instrument at all.

[Specialsauce]

can anyone link me to some (preferably free) bass clef sheet music on the internet that i can practce

[Left Shoe]

search for gary willis's site, hes got a sight reading program in there

[bottlerocket]

http://www.garywillis.com/

Somewhere in there.

[Jaded]

Yes.

[bleep_bloop]

i can read musical notation for classical guitar so i dunno i guess it's the same thing.

[EADG]

i can read musical notation for classical guitar so i dunno i guess it's the same thing.


Except that is treble clef and this is the bass forum...

[bleep_bloop]

whateva

[EADG]

whateva


It's only a totally different clef, instrument, range in harmonic spectrum, and tuning.

It's kew.

[fortyseven]

I can sightread treble clef fluently after playing sax for like 5 years, and i can sight read bass off the treble clef if that makes sense.

I used to be able to read bass clef when i played piano, but i was never as good at it, and can only really recognise chords and things. I cant read for **** when playing bass of sheet music though.

[Akira]

It's only a totally different clef, instrument, range in harmonic spectrum, and tuning.

It's kew.

You don't really have to get on his back, an option in the poll is he can read another clef.

What I don't get about reading is why people say "I can read x clef". That doesn't make sense to me. Reading a clef takes like 2 minutes to learn. The hard part is translate that to an instrument. I mean I can read treble clef fluently on saxophone, that doesn't mean I could pick up a trumpet and start playing.

[Left Shoe]

that barely makes sense, you can play an instrument on a clef, but you cant play another instrument of the same clef?

[Akira]

that barely makes sense, you can play an instrument on a clef, but you cant play another instrument of the same clef?

Well not without learning the notes. When I play bass it isn't that I have trouble going through a piece and recognizing each note, it's that I can't, at a fast speed, connect note names to actual fingerings. The note names aren't important, it's the fingerings. When I look at a piece of music on sax I don't see name after name after name, I just instinctively go to the fingerings. Learning to read in the sense of looking at a staff and knowing the note names is the easy part.

[Left Shoe]

try reading intervallically (sp?) its how i do it most of the time, find where the root of the key you are playing is on the music and just read intervals from there.

[EADG]

that barely makes sense, you can play an instrument on a clef, but you cant play another instrument of the same clef?


Sure it does.. you may know what note you're supposed to play, but if you don't know how to play it on the instrument, you're not playing it.

[Akira]

Sure it does.. you may know what note you're supposed to play, but if you don't know how to play it on the instrument, you're not playing it.

Exactly.

[Left Shoe]

Sure it does.. you may know what note you're supposed to play, but if you don't know how to play it on the instrument, you're not playing it.

i kind of hear someone say "i can read this clef" and infer they can play it on an instrument, not all of them maybe just a few. but yeah i guess if you look at it literally then you can readd a clef and not be able to play it on an instrument oyu dont play

[TheClap]

I don't really have to sight read anymore, however I do it very well. They just tell us what style and what key to start on and we go from there, (ex. Dixieland, 16 bar blues (sometime 12), Basie progression, etc.)

[burtonbassist_101]

somewhere between the "kind of" and the "yes" ones.

[blacklungfever]

I can sightread pretty well, thanks to playing piano for 7 years :)

[Left Shoe]

who all voted they can sight read to a high standard, they are 16 votes and i think thats a bit high for this bass forum o_O

[Akira]

who all voted they can sight read to a high standard, they are 16 votes and i think thats a bit high for this bass forum o_O

Well those are the people who can read better than the people who put "kind of", which is a euphemism for "I can't read to save my life, but I don't want to look like an idiot".

[Left Shoe]

haha "i dont want to look like an idiot on an anonymous vote" akira you are one of my favorite posters

[Akira]

haha "i dont want to look like an idiot on an anonymous vote" akira you are one of my favorite posters

Well plenty of people posted their votes.
Honestly, I think "kind of" means "no".

[Foxfire]

Well not without learning the notes. When I play bass it isn't that I have trouble going through a piece and recognizing each note, it's that I can't, at a fast speed, connect note names to actual fingerings. The note names aren't important, it's the fingerings. When I look at a piece of music on sax I don't see name after name after name, I just instinctively go to the fingerings. Learning to read in the sense of looking at a staff and knowing the note names is the easy part.

I just saw this and I wanna say, this is how I learned to play Bass Clarinet in 4th grade.

I did not know the note names, just the fingerings, and I could sight read very fast.

[Thunder Fingers]

Kinda, ill manage to work out a piece if i get a little time...

i realy wanna improve though, its just finding the time between job and extreme tiredness (wich usualy follow each other...)

[Thunder Fingers]

I just saw this and I wanna say, this is how I learned to play Bass Clarinet in 4th grade.

I did not know the note names, just the fingerings, and I could sight read very fast.

I am so glad i finally learned that thats the way many play, i have always been wondering about how horn, trumpet players an such could read so fast, especially in the english musical language where the notes are named thinks like "B sharp" "A flat"

[Pluperfect_Arson]

Well plenty of people posted their votes.
Honestly, I think "kind of" means "no".

I meant my "kind of." :upset:

[Pluperfect_Arson]

I just saw this and I wanna say, this is how I learned to play Bass Clarinet in 4th grade.

I did not know the note names, just the fingerings, and I could sight read very fast.

When I was learning clarinet, I learned all the fingerings and note names in the beginning. At the same time, my sister was learning violin, and she was talking about how her orchestra teacher had taught her "fret" numbers instead of the note names (the fret number would correspond with the note on the staff, but the name of the note, to them, was mysterious), and I looked at her as though she had thrown up blood.

She never learned to read music, correctly, though, and, shortly after dropping orchestra, she dropped music altogether.

[Alma]

Yes I can read.

If you can't read, learn to. It'll help you more than anything in the world.

[kilian]

^^Well.. I will really never use it I think. I play bass in my band and not in my school ensemble, as a sessionist or something where I need to sightread. So that doesn't really count.