ChunkyMunky

http://garywillis.com/pages/lessons/read.html

I'm actually surprised no one has suggested this. The best method I found was to separate the two aspects that vital of music reading, those being the notes themselves and the rhythm. Take the Gary Willis thing for notes and something else for rhythms. It's best to work incrementally on it and to keep going by upping the tempo a little bit each time. I used to play a game with myself that if I could sight-read the notes perfectly on 3 generations in a row, then upping the tempo by 2bpm. I got so chuffed with this that at one point, I'd treat myself if I nailed it 10 times in a row. Lots of curry was consumed in my note-reading progress, naturally.

Another note to throw in on this is to go with "ACEG" in between the spaces on the stave, so if you lose your cool and your mind at the same time, you've got a partial mental safety net to fall back on. Just remember it's not a race and you're welcome to PM me if you like!

I've already got it, it's great stuff and thanks for the recommendation. I think I'm probably not explaining myself very well but I'm trying to learn how to write what's in my head and hands onto pen and paper, you know? Any ideas?

The Pensa by a long shot! Any more details on it at all, please?

There is a way around all of this. (mods, feel free to reprimand me over this, if necessary)

When I was absolutely flat broke poor, I had to ask my girlfriend to lovingly unscrew the neck off of my Ibanez and then split the bass in two into two separate packages for it to be sent to here in blighty. Do I endorse the idea? Not particularly, but this is what I would recommend if you are absolutely desperate.

Awesome acquisition! How are you finding the tone on it?

Hubba, hubba! Why not seek out one of the older MIJ models to satisfy your new found Ibanez lust?

Howdy, col.decker.

I use an Ibanez SR800 solely and as much as they are great basses, they can be really rather thin in comparison to something like a Jazz bass. Although, they're great things to learn stuff on. I ended up swapping the stock pups out on them for Bartolinis, it's still a bit thin on tone. It's not something I'd use for a disco or funk gig, for example.

However, don't let my experience dissuade you as there are countless guys out there who rock the Ibanez SR stuff and get a great variety sounds out. Gerald Veasley being one such person to do so. Feel free to PM me if you've got any questions too!

I've seen all kinds of sheet music for various basslines (MarloweDK's site for one comes up in my mind) and I'd love to know how to do it properly. I've had a whack at it by writing out basslines like Earth, Wind and Fire's 'September' and everyone's fabulous favourite - YMCA. Both of which had relatively limited success, although I was kind of impressed with it to begin with.

To anyone whose fairly fluent at listening to something and then writing it down on notational paper, what's your advice for someone to start out with it all? Obviously, I'm not wanting to notate the syncopated slurries of Jaco or Rocco, but you get the jist! Thanks all.

Great stuff, Oscar!

This is all excellent stuff, thank you very much everyone. I'm going to see if I can hunt out a cheap DB (wardrobe rather than the broomstick variety) and then see where it goes from there. I'm sure the Stagg would be a nifty backup, though!

Hey, I'm looking to study with someone in the West/East Sussex region. Someone who also teaches sight-reading, jazz and DB stuff too would be just dandy! Any recommendations, please drop me a line.

Might be a bit late to the party, but I hope these all help.

http://freebasspart.pv24.pagesperso-orange.fr/Tower_Of_Power.htm
Ignore the fact it just exclusively says Tower of Power, there are loads of soul pieces on here. Tonnes of Aretha on here!

http://www.basslessons.be/links.php
"Transcriptions" the rest is down to you.

Hope it helps!

Howdy, all.

I'm a regular electric bassist but I'd love to learn upright bass as well. I'm not on a mega budget either, but I was looking at something like the Stagg EDB? I'm not worried hugely on tone, I'm keen to get my technique down first; I might as well get good before I get something that's priced to the ability, right? I'm mostly a jazz guy for the upright.

I'm based in the Sussex area and I'd love to study under someone in that vicinity, if possible. As by what the title has said, I'm literally a newbie for double bass. Any recommendations, guys and gals? Cheers!