Mainly as a challenge to self. I got a book on How to Read Music and found it heavy going as I struggled with the concepts and names of notes. The book, probably correctly, advised not moving on by chapter 2 until I fully understand everything in chapters 1 and 2. I read, re-read and re-read again chapters 1 and 2 and still struggling. What I need is a 'leg up' to explain what I am missing. There is a Music School in town, probably mainly used by children, that might be able to help. I will call in and talk to them later this week. When I started playing bass, I was lost. I literally could not do anything with it apart from tune it. A local music teacher called to my house every two weeks for a couple of months and he got me going. He helped me to understand what a bass does in a band context and gave me the lowdown on what notes to play etc. I will never be a great bass player but I can get by and I hope the music lessons will have the same impact.
My reason for learning to read notation is like the reasons mountain climbers give for scaling mountains - because it is there!
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. [Albert Einstein]
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Comments
Suggestion. Take piano lessons? You'll get two clefs for the price of one!
Get the Dave Stewart Music for musicians books.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Musicians-Guide-Reading-Writing-Music/dp/0879305703
I'm not locked in here with you, you are locked in here with me.
Trust your own ability and take it slow. Take pride in the bits you do know, such as the notes in the spaces spelling the word... (no spoilers).
I learnt to read for bass when I was 13/14. I can’t read for Guitar so now I’m trying. Kudos for tackling something new, but give yourself a long time period and don’t give up!
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
Ebay mark7777_1
“Theory is something that is written down after the music has been made so we can explain it to others”– Levi Clay
Concentrate on the treble clef only till you've got it nailed. Concentrate on the pitch before moving on to the note durations. Start in C major then go onto G major. I'm sure your book follows this general direction anyhow.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
I'm not locked in here with you, you are locked in here with me.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
this one @Phil_aka_Pip ?
I'm not locked in here with you, you are locked in here with me.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
makes it sooooooooooooo much easier than trying to recognise notes at comventional paper scale size
It focuses on reading skills and interpreting a transcription based on rhythm reading - which is most often the problem. When you can master rhythm reading, it frees you up to worry about note recognition.
https://www.patreon.com/leviclay | https://www.youtube.com/c/leviclay
The thing that drove me was wanting to know more about certain things in some music. Reading for it's own sake with no particular goal other than that would never happen, for me. So maybe pick something you want to play or want to understand, so there's some incentive.
To start afresh it's probably easier with few or no sharps & flats in a key, just to get on with the business of remembering notes on the clef.
I didn't bother with timing at first, just notes. So that's a ton easier already to get rolling.
Just ways of breaking it down, sneaking up on it in stages.
Also maybe knowing or setting limits might help. Like I only want to see harmony & movements & thinking behind certain things. So I don't want to sight read, or worry much about timing. So there's less hill to climb, less off-putting.