I'm learning to read bass clef, recommend a book to me

[datainadequate]

Hi all,

Many years ago I was a reasonably competant brass player (grade 5), and learned to read music pretty well. Treble clef only. Well, I did learn enough theory to understand what bass clef is, and I still remember that Good Boys Deserve Fun Always on the bass clef, but that's about as far as it went (studied for grade 5 theory, but never took the exam).

Now I've playing bass guitar for several years, and while I can sit down and slowly work out how to play the bass line from some printed music, I have never learned to sight read. Because rock music

I decided this week that I want to branch out musically, and that would be easier if I learn to sight read. Can anyone recommend a book that would help me learn to read bass clef, and sight read for bass guitar, but not completely annoy me by spending forever teaching me stuff I already know (note lengths, rests, repeats, etc)?

Cheers,

John

[J3ster]

You would be better off just doing an internet search for learn Bass clef or Bass Clef tutorial or something like that. It is not that hard and is a matter of repitition. There are plenty of helpful sites out there some with quiz like sections too that can be useful.
Also do a search for an App as well as I have seen a few of them floating around.

Edited December 3, 2014 by J3ster

[IzzyT2807]

youtube

[sarah thomas]

You've got Good Boys Deserve Fun for the lines on the stave. Just add All Cows Eat Grass and you've got the spaces.

[zero9]

Get an app for your phone. You can then use it anywhere, anytime, and will be able to monitor your progress.

[TKenrick]

If you can already read treble clef well then the main thing is learning where the notes of the bass clef are on the fretboard - I find that most people struggle with reading because they don't know where the notes are on their instrument.

These are some of my favourites for teaching students to read:

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Simplified-Sight-Reading-Bass-Josquin-Pres/dp/0793565189/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614416&sr=8-1&keywords=simplified+sight-reading+for+bass"]Simplified Sight Reading For Bass[/url]

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Method-Double-Bass-Book/dp/0825801524/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614445&sr=8-1&keywords=simandl+bass"]Simandl's New Method For Double Bass, Volume 1[/url] (still works a treat on electric bass)

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Musicians-Institute-Music-Reading-Complete/dp/0793581974/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614474&sr=8-1&keywords=music+reading+for+bass"]MI Music Reading for Bass[/url]

[url="http://www.anthonyvitti.com/fingerfunk1.html"]Anthony Vitti's Fingerfunk workbook [/url]

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Modern-Reading-Text-All-Instruments/dp/0769233775/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614524&sr=8-1&keywords=louis+bellson"]Modern Reading in 4/4 time [/url](rhythm reading only, but a bloody good workout!)



If you want some nice melodic stuff then get hold of some cello music:

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dotzauer-Studies-Cello-Nos-1-34/dp/B007HWJIIO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614554&sr=8-2&keywords=dotzauer+cello"]Dotzauer[/url]

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bach-Suites-Cello-Barenreiter-BA320/dp/B0076IUJ2I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614582&sr=8-1&keywords=bach+cello+suites+sheet+music"]Bach Cello Suites[/url]


I also run a site that has 100+ free bass clef transcriptions if you need more sight reading material (link is below).


Tom

[Grangur]

If you can put up with not having a binding on the pages, as a start, feel free to download and practice on some of the pieces here:

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/215336-learning-to-read-the-dots-sheet-music-to-learn-with/page__fromsearch__1

[datainadequate]

[quote name='zero9' timestamp='1417614462' post='2622234']
Get an app for your phone. You can then use it anywhere, anytime, and will be able to monitor your progress.
[/quote]

Nice idea, but not sure which apps are worth trying. Any recommendations?

[datainadequate]

[quote name='TKenrick' timestamp='1417614780' post='2622239']
If you can already read treble clef well then the main thing is learning where the notes of the bass clef are on the fretboard - I find that most people struggle with reading because they don't know where the notes are on their instrument.

These are some of my favourites for teaching students to read:

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Simplified-Sight-Reading-Bass-Josquin-Pres/dp/0793565189/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614416&sr=8-1&keywords=simplified+sight-reading+for+bass"]Simplified Sight Reading For Bass[/url]

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Method-Double-Bass-Book/dp/0825801524/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614445&sr=8-1&keywords=simandl+bass"]Simandl's New Method For Double Bass, Volume 1[/url] (still works a treat on electric bass)

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Musicians-Institute-Music-Reading-Complete/dp/0793581974/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614474&sr=8-1&keywords=music+reading+for+bass"]MI Music Reading for Bass[/url]

[url="http://www.anthonyvitti.com/fingerfunk1.html"]Anthony Vitti's Fingerfunk workbook [/url]

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Modern-Reading-Text-All-Instruments/dp/0769233775/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614524&sr=8-1&keywords=louis+bellson"]Modern Reading in 4/4 time [/url](rhythm reading only, but a bloody good workout!)



If you want some nice melodic stuff then get hold of some cello music:

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dotzauer-Studies-Cello-Nos-1-34/dp/B007HWJIIO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614554&sr=8-2&keywords=dotzauer+cello"]Dotzauer[/url]

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bach-Suites-Cello-Barenreiter-BA320/dp/B0076IUJ2I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614582&sr=8-1&keywords=bach+cello+suites+sheet+music"]Bach Cello Suites[/url]


I also run a site that has 100+ free bass clef transcriptions if you need more sight reading material (link is below).


Tom
[/quote]

Thanks Tom, very helpful

[datainadequate]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1417615073' post='2622245']
If you can put up with not having a binding on the pages, as a start, feel free to download and practice on some of the pieces here:

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/215336-learning-to-read-the-dots-sheet-music-to-learn-with/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.u...__fromsearch__1[/url]
[/quote]

Thanks, I'm sure they'll be useful.

[moonbass]

I used to be a trombone player, and this made sight reading on bass a doddle. I would consider getting a trombone grade 5+ book as it will have loads of sight reading practice stuff in, and the instrument range is very similar! The problem for me with bass transcription books is that they tend to be just basic bass lines, or jazz solo transcriptions that are unfathomable.

[Duckspeak]

Hi there,

Not sure this is free on iPhone but it is on Android, I currently use Music Tutor Sight Read which is free. Nothing spectacular but it does the job when I have spare time on the train.

Take a look here:

[url="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=es.virtualcode.musictutor.sightread"]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=es.virtualcode.musictutor.sightread[/url]

[paul_5]

Carol Kaye's books are available for Kindle from Amazon - no tab, just dots and lines. Great tutor books too, and not just reading practice.

[Bilbo]

Plus one for Bach.

[josie]

Stuart Clayton, The Bass Guitarist's Guide to Reading Music - very clear with well-graded exercises and good explanations. This is the Beginner, there's also Intermediate and Advanced. I found it excellent to work through systematically.

https://www.basslinepublishing.com/bass-essentials/the-bass-guitarist-s-guide-to-reading-music-beginner-level.html

Josquin des Pres, Simplified Sight-Reading for Bass - covers much more material but throws it all in, in a dense format, just exercises with no text. Probably better as reference / reminder than to learn from to start with.

https://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.action?itemid=695085&lid=0&keywords=sight-reading&searchcategory=00&subsiteid=7&

Both come with audio to download.

[rushscored4]

On 4 January 2018 at 19:43, josie said:

Stuart Clayton, The Bass Guitarist's Guide to Reading Music - very clear with well-graded exercises and good explanations. This is the Beginner, there's also Intermediate and Advanced. I found it excellent to work through systematically.

https://www.basslinepublishing.com/bass-essentials/the-bass-guitarist-s-guide-to-reading-music-beginner-level.html

Josquin des Pres, Simplified Sight-Reading for Bass - covers much more material but throws it all in, in a dense format, just exercises with no text. Probably better as reference / reminder than to learn from to start with.

https://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.action?itemid=695085&lid=0&keywords=sight-reading&searchcategory=00&subsiteid=7&

Both come with audio to download.

Just ordered that, thanks @josie!

[rushscored4]

On 6 April 2018 at 23:34, rushscored4 said:

Just ordered that, thanks @josie!

And it's arrived this morning so I'm looking forward to turning the clock back 43 years from when I learnt to read music in the first year (year 7 for you youngsters) at secondary school!