Can't read music - what next?

[mr_big]

Okay, another possibly dumb beginners question coming up:

I have no idea how to read music, and don't understand musical theory. If I want to learn to play sax (jazz is my interest) would I be best advised to learn how to read music? Or can I learn to play using fingering charts and by ear? Didn't some of the legends learn this way? :S

 

[Col9]

Hello, I was in your situation 6 months ago. I still dont get music theory but I did learn to read it. I think the theory is laziness on my part to be honest, but I just havnt found an easy way in.

Learning to read it is essential I think. You can then pick up a book and start to play anything out of it, dosnt always sound right (timing) but its a whole lot easier than learning by ear I find. I worked out some of the trolley song (Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond) Its great but I had to write it down so I could still play it 20mins later its a lot to remember with everything else.

Knuckle down spend a few hours learning the notes. Its well worth it, opens up a whole new world.

Col.

 

[old_git]

Maybe, just maybe, there are two extreme types of musicians in the World.
The first rely solely on how it sounds and if it's good, it's good.
The other always want to know why it sounds good.
Both work, just try to get your balance between the 'Blind Grape MacCoutney couldn't read, let alone music, whilst picking sublime blues on his cigar box guitar' and the 'Everything is explainable by maths, but it keeps me so busy, I never get to play' school.
The real thing to bear in mind is to enjoy it. Learn as much as you want. Get really good and others can enjoy it too.

 

[philthd]

reading music will save you a lot of time - as others have done the hard work or working out how the tune goes for you

but ear playing is also an important skill

dont get too hung up on theory, just try to make sure you pick up at least a little as you go along because it helps contextualise the things you learn about playing

 

[phil_edwards]

Most 'beginner Sax' books include a bit of this but it's very basic. I started with a book that wasn't aimed at any instrument - just the theory but easily digestible. I still refer back to it when I come across something I haven't seen before, or can't remember a term or phrase.

It will help enormously, but as others have said don't get too hung up on it. Learn as much as you want to so that you understand the notes and timing, and dip into the book when you want to understand more.

I use this book - very readable and simple to follow... http://tinyurl.com/yupzvw

regards, Phil

 

[sharon]

I was in the same situation as you when I started sax (10 months ago). I taught myself to play with a couple of good books and as I learned the notes on the sax, of course I learned to read music at the same time. Then I played lots of different tunes all the time (ususally badly) so I got used to reading and if I came across notes I didn't know I'd check them out on the fingering chart.

After a while I learned a bit of theory so that made more sense of the music. It wasn't hard but you have to put the time in. I don't naturally have a good ear I don't think, so this was the easiest way to learn to play actual music.

If you are going to get a teacher, which you should (do as I say not as I do 😉 I presume you will have to read music to learn the sax with them as I suppose they give you exercises to do every week.

IMO the noodling school of instrument playing maybe ok for some but if you want to actually play things that you know, you need to read music unless you have a very good ear.

Sharon

 

[mr_big]

Thanks for the help and advice. This is the sort of music I'd like to play btw. Obviously this guy is pretty good though...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrNzve9MXjA

 

[Thaumaturge]

A good method for learning reading/theory is to go through the ABRSM graded theory books. These have written questions at the end of each chapter to check if what you are reading is sinking in. Up to about grade 6 is probably enough for most amateurs.

 

[Mikec]

I find reading music to be absolutely essential. I don't think I'd have got anywhere at all by ear alone (it takes so long to learn a tune...). Learning the basics of music is just a matter of memorising which lines and spaces on the staff correspond to the letters a to g, and which sax fingerings they represent. That doesn't take very long. There is then a huge amount of extra stuff that you can add gradually, and will continue to do for ever, basically.
I drew a staff with the dots on it and the letters, copied it and posted it around the house, in the car, etc. They soon get into your head.

 

[Simon]

More a question of how do you learn best and does the gig require alot of sightreading!

I know ear players that can't read, but they have developed incredible hearing to the point of being able to pick phrases and harmonies up fast.

At the other extreme is the player who won't improvise without the music in front of them.

Most people are visual learners, hence sightreading, notation etc. The best jazz musicians I know have strength in both ear and sight approaches - written music is portable and saves alot of time in learning and explanation.

When you refer to 'the legends', you've gotta remember this is all these guys did 24/7 and hence they had huge ears. If you can work this into your schedule, go for it and forget the dots.

For the rest of us time-deprived mortals an ability in sightreading fast tracks getting the tune down... in jazz, it's an aid, not a necessity (unless you're playing big band).

Simon

 

[tonyboy]

dont worry,,,i play soley by ear,,and play in three bands,,,over the cousre of twenty years playing this way i have learnt to pick up a song in minuets,,but you have to train your ears to really listen to whats going on ,,and focus on what you are doing,,but the main thing is to enjoy your playing,,,go with what feels best,, i find that sheet music helps when learning a piece,,,,,as a guide,,,but once i have the tune nailed ,,,i like to start improvising with it ,, hope that helps