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Topic: Steeler wants to be a reader |
Paul Seager
From:
Augsburg, Germany
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Posted 1 Mar 2014 12:56 am |
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Wasn't sure where to put this one so I'm starting with the folks that have always offered me good advice.
Heres' the challenge. Despite notices and small ads, I can't find a band. Western Swing doesn't exist out here, Country is niche (and prefer PSG) and Rockabilly bands stay in trios. So, to expand my musical vocabulary, I've acquired a bunch of Jamey Aebersold books to work out with.
Now these books are agnostic to the instrument played. The tunes & exercises are notated (no tabs) and I struggle to read the melodies which occasionally leads to frustration. So I've decided to invest time in learning to read sight-read.
Can any of you recommend a good, dedicated sight-reading book that is independant of an instrument? I am looking for something that starts with basic etudes and goes beyond. I'd like to hear where you were when you started and how it helped you.
\ paul
_________________
\paul
Bayern Hawaiians: https://www.youtube.com/@diebayernhawaiians3062
Other stuff: https://www.youtube.com/@paulseager3796/videos |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 1 Mar 2014 5:20 am
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Beginning violin books are in the same range as steel. Also there are many sight singing books that are great for getting going. The Abersold stuff is pretty hard for reading at first. There are some great iPad apps for learning how to read music notation also. Overall look for sight singing stuff.
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Bob |
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Ulrich Sinn
From:
California, USA
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Paul Seager
From:
Augsburg, Germany
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Posted 1 Mar 2014 8:02 am
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| Quote: |
| You write sight-read, does that mean you already read music? |
Well I've been playing bass most of my life and started in the "punk" years when such things as reading music were frowned upon!
I can certainly follow written music in the sense that I know what the staves represent, the note and rest lengths, etc.
I started playing steel using the C6 book you recommend, I can follow that notation but of course the tabs then were essential to learn the neck and technique. Now that I know the neck, I'd like start reading melodies and applying them. That's the tough bit, because one generally learns to read on an instrument!
So what I'm after are reading exercises, preferably melodic ones! And the idea of the singing examples is a good one! No tabs on the tongue and throat!
Thanks and keep the advice coming. I'm going to raid my kid's violin books now!
\ paul
_________________
\paul
Bayern Hawaiians: https://www.youtube.com/@diebayernhawaiians3062
Other stuff: https://www.youtube.com/@paulseager3796/videos |
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Jerome Hawkes
From:
Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 1 Mar 2014 8:23 am
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reading rhythms is always what threw me off...i could get the note parts ok.
which leads to this little tidbit:
i had faked my way through some 101 level music classes in college with little reading ability by just plodding along. my little sister took up band in the 6th grade with zero musical experience and when i went home that winter break, she played some simple sight reading flute pieces for us. it hit me, here she learned in 3-4 months what i was to lazy to learn in 10 years so i set out to be a better reader. i'd say you can learn this skill fairly easily in 6 months (for most single line melodic music)
_________________
'65 Sho-Bud D-10 Permanent • '54 Fender Dual-8 • Clinesmith T-8 • '38 Ric Bakelite • '92 Emmons D-10 Legrande II |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 1 Mar 2014 8:32 am
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I think it is important to learn the notes on the neck in whatever tuning you are using one string at a time, and then do it two strings at a time by playing scales in intervals. This is where the violin exercises Bob mentioned can come in handy. Then there is the matter of rhythms, which to me is the most challenging thing. This book is huge: Rhythmic Training
Although I have total command of the Spanish guitar neck, it's very revealing to play, say, Eb melodic minor on steel guitar using two strings and playing in 3rds or 4ths. It is a goal of mine to be as comfortable on steel as I am on guitar.
Knowing all the notes on the neck is a big part of the success of being able to read on the steel guitar. I'll admit, I still struggle with this.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 1 Mar 2014 9:19 am
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At
http://www.practicesightreading.com/
it says:
| Quote: |
Rhythm
Rhythm is the most important part of sight reading. If you have correct rhythm but incorrect pitch, at least you will be in the correct place. If you play the correct notes but the wrong rhythm you will quickly become lost.
To create a random set of rhythm:
Start Practicing Here
Melodies
Once you have mastered rhythm, move on to melodies. Choose from four different clefs, multiple time signatures, note ranges and intervals. Change the tempo and even add a metronome to the background. |
The point about rhythm is a very good one. That site lets you choose various levels of difficulty. Just click and it gives you new rhythms to read. |
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L. Bogue Sandberg
From:
Chassell, Michigan, USA
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Posted 1 Mar 2014 10:01 am
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You can practice reading even when you're away from your instrument. Sing it, even if it's in your head on a plane or elsewhere out in public. You don't need perfect pitch for this to help. It has helped me greatly with reading rhythm and getting a sense of how a melody will sound when I am able to sit with the steel.
Secondly, be patient with yourself. The journey never ends, but what a fun trip! |
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James Hartman
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 1 Mar 2014 10:30 am
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| Mike Neer wrote: |
I think it is important to learn the notes on the neck in whatever tuning you are using one string at a time, and then do it two strings at a time by playing scales in intervals. This is where the violin exercises Bob mentioned can come in handy. Then there is the matter of rhythms, which to me is the most challenging thing. This book is huge: Rhythmic Training
Although I have total command of the Spanish guitar neck, it's very revealing to play, say, Eb melodic minor on steel guitar using two strings and playing in 3rds or 4ths. It is a goal of mine to be as comfortable on steel as I am on guitar.
Knowing all the notes on the neck is a big part of the success of being able to read on the steel guitar. I'll admit, I still struggle with this. |
Mike has summed it up well. Many people struggle unduly with reading studies by failing to accomplish the preliminary step of properly learning the fretboard. One string at a time is a good approach. What you want to do is establish landmarks (open string, 12th fret, 5th fret, 7th fret) and then fill in the rest. Of course, eventually you need to integrate the vertical and horizontal aspects (so to speak) in order to read in position, understand chord spelling, etc.
I've used the Starer rhythm book Mike recommended with many students. It's quite good. There's a more basic book ("Basic Rhythmic Training") available from the same author, for folks starting from scratch. |
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Ulrich Sinn
From:
California, USA
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 1 Mar 2014 10:34 am
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I learned to read playing violin. But when it came to learning where I was on steel I switched to the number system. Without getting into it, I found it simplified and sped up how to understand the neck.I use a lot of Aebersold books too. They are great!
I don't want to dissuade you from learning the letter notes and that vocabulary, I just thought I would mention this as an alternative in case you get stuck.
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www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
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