philthygeezer
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- Joined
- Jul 9, 2004
- Messages
- 389
Is 'none of the above' an option?
- Thread starter EBMM7181
- Start date
totally depends on the gigs you do. if all you do is classic rock and country then there may be little point in learning how to read well but if you want to be one of the first call big band players or play the broadway shows that come to town..... you gotta have some tight reading chops. as a jazz trumpet player i have good knowledge of changes/scales so give me changes any day over written notes
Colin
Well-known member
some people only play the white keys on a piano, some only play the black. Me, I play between them in the cracks....
Melissa
Well-known member
I started learning to read music at the same time I started learning to play bass, but still struggle with it to a large extent, but still fight through it. I've mainly been playing by ear, especially when I need to get something down ASAP.
Straight UP
Well-known member
Well I have avoided this thread as well.
As with Jack (+1) I'm a by ear player. I have been doing it 42 years..(That dose no mean I;m old) and It dose not mean I know what I'm doing.
I can also chart read but I do not like to do that either. I consider myself no expert when it comes to playing the bass... There are a lot out there that can do what I do..
I do consider the whole thing awsome though when I have help, like a whole band playing while I'm grooving the bottom end.
As with Jack (+1) I'm a by ear player. I have been doing it 42 years..(That dose no mean I;m old)
and It dose not mean I know what I'm doing.I can also chart read but I do not like to do that either. I consider myself no expert when it comes to playing the bass... There are a lot out there that can do what I do..
I do consider the whole thing awsome though when I have help, like a whole band playing while I'm grooving the bottom end.
KennethB
Well-known member
I do both, but when it comes to reading I have to work it a little bit. That's because I'm a somewhat lazy I'm afraid, and haven't praticed reading as much as I maybe should have. I used to be a better reader but since it's not something I'm being requested to do a lot I get a little sloppy. After I've spent some time reading though, it comes back to me.
armybass
Well-known member
Just to clarify if needed..... IMHO, being able to read does not make you a better player. Just one who can read. I have played with some smoking players that don't know the names of the strings and with some guys that could read fly crap on paper but could not swing from a tree or groove to save their lives......
Back to our endless pondering
Back to our endless pondering
LoEndGuy
New member
Hello, newbie here...
Great thread! I actually feel a little better about my own lack of musical knowledge now. I was getting a little down on myself lately because I never took the time to learn scales or theory, and I felt like I was largely "faking it" by learning songs by ear. Like many of you, I am also self-taught. I have only ever played in rock cover bands and never had a need to learn to read music or study theory for that matter. I get by just fine and have picked things up over the years, and I rarely play a bass part exactly like the recording. I like to find out which notes I can play during a given part of a song (which ones "fit") so I know what will work if I want to throw in an extra riff or something. I recently picked up a book which has tons of scales in it and have been spending time trying to familiarize myself with them. Acquiring more knowledge is never a bad thing, right?
Great thread! I actually feel a little better about my own lack of musical knowledge now. I was getting a little down on myself lately because I never took the time to learn scales or theory, and I felt like I was largely "faking it" by learning songs by ear. Like many of you, I am also self-taught. I have only ever played in rock cover bands and never had a need to learn to read music or study theory for that matter. I get by just fine and have picked things up over the years, and I rarely play a bass part exactly like the recording. I like to find out which notes I can play during a given part of a song (which ones "fit") so I know what will work if I want to throw in an extra riff or something. I recently picked up a book which has tons of scales in it and have been spending time trying to familiarize myself with them. Acquiring more knowledge is never a bad thing, right?
stretch80
Well-known member
Interesting to see where everybody is on reading / not.
I'm an ear player who knows a decent amount of theory, and understands sheet music, but can only read slowly. (I learned to read music as a choral singer)
I do a lot of "reading" fakebook changes where you have bar lines and chords noted, and you need to figure out what you want to play from the chords. Playing jazz and some rock and funk, that's mostly what gets thrown at me.
I would like to read better -- I just got a Sam & Dave / Duck Dunn tune thrown at me as sheet music, so I'm going to practice reading that!
I'm an ear player who knows a decent amount of theory, and understands sheet music, but can only read slowly. (I learned to read music as a choral singer)
I do a lot of "reading" fakebook changes where you have bar lines and chords noted, and you need to figure out what you want to play from the chords. Playing jazz and some rock and funk, that's mostly what gets thrown at me.
I would like to read better -- I just got a Sam & Dave / Duck Dunn tune thrown at me as sheet music, so I'm going to practice reading that!
Great thread...
I can read a little, but I never need to given the music I play.
BTW, I would LOVE to be able to write music and convey exactly all the arrangements that are in my head. Unfortunately, when the Lord passed out brains, I was on the line where they were passing out the Jello.
Has my Honeyburst fretless shipped yet? (a lousy 8-10 weeks away )
I can read a little, but I never need to given the music I play.
BTW, I would LOVE to be able to write music and convey exactly all the arrangements that are in my head. Unfortunately, when the Lord passed out brains, I was on the line where they were passing out the Jello.
Has my Honeyburst fretless shipped yet? (a lousy 8-10 weeks away
)Steve Dude Barr
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2005
- Messages
- 5,173
100% ear but I suck.
nashman
Well-known member
When I got my first base in the early 80's, I received 10 bass lessons as a Birthday gift from my Family. I got turned-off right away ... I wanted to play Aerosmith and Zepplin and was learning/could not handle Old McDonald's Farm etc. in the lessons. I think I went to 3 or 4 lessons and didn't play hardly at all for years. Then I met a Guy (who is now a good friend) who sings and plays guitar. He takes his guitar everywhere and at a dinner party at my house (after several cocktails etc.) he convinced me to pull-out the bass. He taught me a little riff (I didn't know what song it was from), then he started in on the guitar ... it was "Sweet Home Alabama" ... sparked my interest again in a large way. I now play by ear and use tabs. I have some books/software/CD's with classic rock tunes and learn one at a time.
Aussie Mark
Well-known member
He was a mean, sadistic guy.
adouglas
Well-known member
Well he could have taught him "Locomotive Breath."
That little three-chord ditty gave my mom, various roommates and neighbors hours and hours (and hours, and hours, and hours...) of listening pleasure!
bassmancb
Well-known member
I play by ear so I can add or take away a little here and there.
KennethB
Well-known member
I agree 100%.
