| Author | Message | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1721 Registered: 2-2006 |
I had a gig last Friday night for a wedding rehearsal dinner. We were to play some light jazz during dinner and then we could “open” up a little after that. I had played with the drummer and guitarist before but never the keyboardist or sax player. The cat on keys was directing the music and he ask me if I prefer notation, chord charts or number charts. I responded with, “I’m like a duck; I can walk when it rains”. Well he gives me some of all three. Well I might have been “walking while it rained”, but these cats were soaring. I got so lost during the first half of the first set I almost hung it up right there. I thought to myself, “Well, I guess I’m just getting too old and out of practice for this”. I thought that for about 2 seconds then buckled down and finished the night. By the end of the first set I had redeemed myself. (somewhat) How does this tie into the thread title I have above? I enrolled in some online courses at Berklee Online. Yep 45 year’s old and going back to school. My wife thinks I’m nuts my daughters both think I’ll be bored with the classes. My technique is fine it's my reading that sucks. So I think what better way to brush-up/improve my knowledge and "skillz". (Wonder if they have any “online” frat parties) Olie | ||
| hieronymous
Advanced Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 248 Registered: 1-2005 |
I say go for it! My buddy who is a drummer went to Berklee after he graduated from high school, but dropped out to join a band. This was over 20 years ago. Recently he went back and finished his degree! He was already a great musician but now his appreciation and ability is that much deeper. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1326 Registered: 10-2003 |
Remember, when all else fails, 6 2 5 1 (and tri-tone substitutions) will at least get you to the bottom of the chart! (note that I did not put the word "gracefully" in that sentence)  John | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1722 Registered: 2-2006 |
LOL John. I managed to get through the first few charts but it sounded like I was soloing the whole time. Waddling all the way. I did hit a few "duck" notes though.(The ones that hurt your quack.) Olie | ||
| glocke
Advanced Member Username: glocke Post Number: 310 Registered: 9-2002 |
"(Wonder if they have any “online” frat parties) " ha...Im 40, and hooked up with a bunch of college kids (ages 20-25) who have an original band, we have played a few frat parties...man can college kids drink alot of cheap beer. | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 829 Registered: 6-2002 |
Olie, Yeah there's "online frat parties". Just be very careful of the Electric Koolaid. Mike | ||
| edwin
Advanced Member Username: edwin Post Number: 278 Registered: 5-2002 |
Olie, the best way to get good at reading is to do a little bit every day. Get a Real Book and read chord changes and the melodies (it's a good thing to read treble clef) and then get some random books for bass, cello, trombone, violin, sousaphone, whatever and just put some notes in front of you. I think the class is a good idea, but it won't substitute for just doing a little bit every day. Get together with friends and read tunes a group. It's a lot of fun! Another thing to practice is the Simandl method for upright bass. It starts out nice and basic and gets crazy pretty quick. Then, get a drum book to read rhythms. It really helps to read stuff not written for the bass. Anyway, that's my 02c. Edwin | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 433 Registered: 11-2004 |
Olieoliver..my answer to the problem was to down load midi files (jazz/rock/pop etc) from the internet, use Cakewalk, Cubase or any midi software, bring up the stave option and hit the play button, the great thing is that you can slow the tempo down to assist reading the notes. | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1723 Registered: 2-2006 |
Thanks Terry and Edwin, good advice from both. I do gave Cubase 4 on my Mac and it never even occured to me to down load the midi samples great idea. I have tons of books Edwin and I've started pulling them out and spending at least 30 minutes to an hour with one every day. I must not have done as bad as I thought because the cats have called me and have 3 other gigs they want me for. Of course I've always been my own worse critic. Olie | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1724 Registered: 2-2006 |
Electric Koolaid?! A good way to get get a dark room "Lit". lie | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 434 Registered: 11-2004 |
Well you couldn't have been that bad..we are always our own worst critics at times Get some classical cello midi files..BACh, Beethoven etc..they are really good to play and you can transpose them and use parts of them for solos..plagiarism..I love it | ||
| gare
Senior Member Username: gare Post Number: 416 Registered: 11-2003 |
Olie..you're never to old to learn something. My reading skills could use a bit of help too, like Edwin mentioned, have to do a little bit everyday until it becomes second nature. I've taken to pulling out old piano books and learning both bass and treble clefs. I especially like running thru Bach 2 part inventions etc. I've also been thinking for awhile of goin back to schoo..have to checkout the Berkley on-line things. Good luck, let us know your progress. Gary | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1725 Registered: 2-2006 |
Thanks Gary, The class doesn't start until April 7th but when it does I'll let you know how it goes. lie | ||
| inthelows
Senior Member Username: inthelows Post Number: 411 Registered: 11-2006 |
Practice, practice, practice. You know what's crazy? I still use FACE more than anything else to find out a note. Sounds simple I know, but it works for me. Works on both treble and bass clef. As far as charts, I practice scales. Unfortunately all too often some get lost in simple reproduction of the notes. I prefer to leave a little room for emotion and trust my feelings to find the notes. Good luck and as always, have fun! LoL NLP | ||
| glocke
Advanced Member Username: glocke Post Number: 311 Registered: 9-2002 |
"Thanks Gary, The class doesn't start until April 7th but when it does I'll let you know how it goes." Im curious to know how they go also. Ive thought about taking one of the ear training or harmony courses from time to time.... | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 437 Registered: 11-2004 |
Inthelows--what is FACE..more music software?? I am always interested in making life easier to find that elusive note | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6136 Registered: 5-2002 |
Looking at staff paper, in treble clef, the notes that go in the four spaces between the five lines are, from bottom to top, F, A, C, and E. | ||
| eligilam
Member Username: eligilam Post Number: 90 Registered: 2-2006 |
I think it's a reference to the notes of the spaces on the treble clef, low to high. | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 946 Registered: 12-2004 |
How about: Great Bassists Deserve Furious Applause Bradley | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6138 Registered: 5-2002 |
The lines in bass clef, bottom to top! | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 438 Registered: 11-2004 |
Oh dear how obvious what a chump I am not to recognise that! and me with all my Royal Schools of Music Theory grades. for Bass Good Boys Deserve Favours Always All Cows Eat Grass For treble Every Good Boy Deserves Favour F A C E | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1781 Registered: 6-2002 |
Just be grateful that you're not forced to read with the C clef - wherever they put it. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 439 Registered: 11-2004 |
Ah yes the C or Alto clef..mainly seen in church organ music(St Siens, Widor etc) | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1784 Registered: 6-2002 |
Or cello parts. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 441 Registered: 11-2004 |
I thought they changed to the bass stave unless they are really manuscripts | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 442 Registered: 11-2004 |
old manuscripts I meant to add | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1785 Registered: 6-2002 |
Back in the days when I sang in a choir, I had to transpose a lot mentally because of having perfect pitch (besides a lousy singing voice) and because I can't translate notes on a score to relative intervals. That's kind of like singing with a C clef - you get some funny incidentals. (Plus you have to keep up with the rest of the a capella choir as they inevitably go down in pitch.) | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1729 Registered: 2-2006 |
I am familiar with all three clefs, I just really need to crack down and practice reading them. That’s one of my main reasons for the on-line course. I am not one to squander money, so I know I’ll practice my reading via the course if for no other reason that not to waste money. Besides that it may be fun, we’ll see. ;)lie | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 949 Registered: 12-2004 |
Nobody in Pentecost reads music (I ordered the Real Book, and I'm going to learn), its basically just a root note (often expressed in flats-- 1 flat == F, 2 flats == Bb, etc,), and you better be able to hear (and predict) the changes. | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1731 Registered: 2-2006 |
I hear you Bradley. When I play at our church that's about all they have. And they seem to always be in Bb or Eb. And you're right about hearing the changes. Sometime we get "hand singals". Olie |
