Simple Steps To Sight Reading
$260.00
The Ultimate Step-By-Step Music Reading Method For Bass Guitar.
Master the art of reading standard notation on bass guitar with this systematic course split into beginner, intermediate, and advanced volumes.
Progress from basic note-by-note reading to fluent sight-reading through a step-by-step series of video lessons, practical reading exercises and musical etudes.
Click Here For Full Course Info PDF
Simple Steps To Sight Reading
The Ultimate Step-By-Step Music Reading Method For Bass Guitar
Simple Steps To Sight Reading is the only online course that teaches music reading from absolute beginner level all the way through to advanced professional standard. With over 24 hours of video content and over 700 pages of lesson material, this is the largest course in the TalkingBass catalogue and will provide many years of practice for bass players of all levels.
The course begins with the basics of written notation, applied to the bass in a set of positions that cover the entire fretboard. On the journey through 9 levels you will cover every rhythmic hurdle you are ever likely to face and all symbols used in general Western music.
This is a HUGE course that will guide you through practice and study for your entire playing life. This is not a brief overview of reading or a quick fix course. This is the REAL DEAL. A complete progressive method and roadmap for reaching the highest levels of music reading.
Click Here For Full Course Info and Lesson Listing PDF
Check out the video below for more details:
What The Students Are Saying…
‘Learning to read has improved my understanding of music, my confidence, and my enjoyment of the bass tremendously’ Antonio Pizarro – USA
‘Easy to understand and lots (and I mean lots!) of exercises, materials and backing tracks’ Ben Kwakman – Holland
‘The personal satisfaction when I was able to look at a new piece of music and play it first time was marvellous.’ Paul Wright – UK
Check out more reviews of the course in the Reviews below!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Simple Steps To Sight Reading Course?
Simple Steps To Sight Reading is the ultimate guide to reading music on bass guitar. It is a multimedia course using a combination of video lessons, PDF workbooks and MP3 backing tracks to provide the most comprehensive, step-by-step approach to sight reading available today.
What level of player is the course aimed at?
The course is aimed at any player from beginner to advanced level. Many advanced bass players are lacking in this very specialized area of playing so the number of playing years and experience is irrelevant. If you cannot read music – you cannot read music and this course serves to take you from the absolute basics of reading through to an advanced professional level whatever your standard.
What Will I Learn?
After completing the course you will have the knowledge and resources for working on your reading up to a professional sight reading standard. This includes all the notes, rhythms and symbols in common use.
How Long Are The Lessons?
The lesson lengths vary but the complete course has a total video length of 24 hours! Plenty of material to keep you practicing for many, many years.
How is the course presented? Do I Download Anything?
The course is hosted on the Talkingbass website so there are no video files to download. All Lesson Material (PDF’s and MP3’s) can be downloaded from a dedicated Dropbox folder on the main course page.
Monique Helsen –
I’m new to bass and playing an instrument, and started this course shortly after taking an intro course. I’ve always wanted to read music. I’ve tried a few times, but it was really hard for me and the “popular” bass book all progress too quicky. I’m only 2/3 of the way though this course and I can already read and play a sheet of music. I can’t play several pieces at tempo yet, but can easily figure out a piece, and only occasionally need to look at my hands while I play. Amazing.
There is a lot of practice material and his instruction is great. It is very comprehensive, methodical, and teaches you exactly what to do and how to do it. I’m making sure to easily play each lesson before moving on, as Mark advises, so I have repeated the lessons many times. It’s taken me over 9 months to get this far, practicing 15 minutes most days. YMMV. I never planned on getting the second volume. But I’m so impressed how much this course improved my knowledge and playing, I will absolutely start the next volume once I’m done (in another 4 months). It’s a commitment and took me a lot of work, but the course assumes you know nothing (like me) and advances gradually.
Great content, especially for the price. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to read music *and* learn the fretboard.
Virgil Saraceni (verified owner) –
I have been playing Bass since I was 12-I am 63 now. I have decided to learn to read music AND I am also learning to play a full 24 fret fretless bass
I am doing both through this course-I have taken other of Marks courses ie. scale essentials and I find him to be a fantastic teacher
I am taking the course slow and easy as Mark recommends.
Not only am I learning to read music but also the finger positions for my new fretless as a consequence
I highly recommend this course-great value and awesome learning resource
Rebsie Fairholm (verified owner) –
I expect a lot of people are in the same position as me. Childhood piano lessons gave me a thorough grounding in the theory of sight reading, but I’ve just never been any good at it! I was especially shaky on the bass clef and had no idea how to apply it to bass guitar, so I’ve spent years playing by ear instead. I hesitated to sign up for this course, thinking that it would duplicate too much of what I already know. However, it is very very worthwhile and is proving to be a game changer for me! Rather than trying to ‘find my level’ and skip the ‘easy’ stuff, I’ve been working through the whole course from the beginning and that was definitely the right thing to do. Even if a lesson covers a topic I’m already familiar with there is ALWAYS some useful bass-specific tip in the video which I didn’t previously know, and I never feel that any of the videos are wasting my time. The practice sheet for each lesson is invaluable, and it’s worth working through all of them and getting good at them before moving on.
One skill it’s teaching me which I’d never really thought about is the ability to play the bass without looking at my left hand! I hadn’t realised how important this is and although I find it challenging and make a lot of mistakes, it’s really paying dividends for my general playing. The course also helps hugely in learning the notes of the fretboard – another shocking omission from my bass-playing knowledge! I can’t recommend this course highly enough; you do need to put the work in, but if you have previous sight reading experience then you will be able to get through some of the lessons relatively quickly and ALL of them are worth your time.
Jay Ketchaver (verified owner) –
I played clarinet in grade school and was able to read treble clef, but over the years forgot it all. Eventually I started playing bass guitar and would rely on tabs to learn things as needed. I finally decided to get serious about my music learning and just completed this course. I can now read bass clef well, and am comfortable with reading rhythms, time signatures, and other musical notation. Mark makes learning all that enjoyable and doable – while thinking about reading music may be intimidating at first, Mark is an excellent guide. I’m looking forward to starting Volume 2 of this series.
As a dad of 2 little kids, my time is to practice is limited and random, so I very much appreciate the on-demand and online nature of this course (and all the TalkingBass lessons.)
Keep the tabs, from now on I’ll just take sheet music please!
Ian McFarlane (verified owner) –
Hi, I purchased the sight reading bundle after having had a six month break from the bass. Mark is a superb teacher whose enthusiasm for what he teaches shines though. I am still in the beginning stages of the courses as I’m committed to really learning this and committing to memory. It’s a great course so far with slow and easy steps to learning sight reading. If anyone had told me I could learn to read music, after trying several times before on other sites, I would have laughed knowing the struggles I’ve had attempting to achieve this long held ambition. I’m enjoying every minute. Not just the course material but the practice and sense of achievement. Can’t recommend highly enough.
vlouise –
This course is my first one. Working through the lessons has given me more confidence and the knowledge that improvement is possible! I’ve been floundering around with bass until I found Mark, a kind, clear, honest, generous and gifted teacher. I have to stop myself from rushing ahead!
moparspanky (verified owner) –
Extremely effective method for committing the fretboard to memory AND learning to read music at the same time. In the span of about a month I went from being completely music illiterate and not having any of the fretboard memorized (beginner) to being able to read music and having the first 6 frets totally memorized. I can now pick up a piece of written music for bass and figure out how to play it without tabs. I’m so impressed with this course that I’ve purchased many others and am taking a couple of them in parallel. Mark is an exceptional teacher and if you’re willing to put in the practice necessary it will all pay off.
Dave North –
More fantastic resources. Carrying on from volume 1, shaping me to become a better bass player. The content is well presented and easy to digest and understand. There are no time constraints so you take as long as you need on each subject to become confident. I have just reached the end of this volume and practice at least 20 minutes per day, usually longer. I feel ready to move onto volume 3 and look forward to it. Thanks again Mark for all you have provided.
Megan –
The advice I’ve read elsewhere is that the ability to read sheet music isn’t necessary or even used that much for the typical bassist, and tab is easy to grasp, so don’t bother. I started working through the chords course here first, but I still had this nagging thought that I wanted to read bass clef, and I guessed that studying sight reading would help with fret memorization (understatement of the year). Now that I’ve finished volume 1 and started volume 2, here’s my humble advice: the sight reading series is the most important course here, bar none, and after you get your beginner bass techniques squared away, please try the first volume. Reading bass clef will free you from tab, and by the end of the first volume you will know the first position and all its notes (naturals/sharps/flats) without looking at your hands, and that is an amazing confidence booster.
Take your time, don’t expect perfection, and keep going. Some chapters are quick, others will take a lot more time and repeats, but the challenge is worth it and the other music theory courses mean a lot more when you can read sheet music.
Ian Winick –
Excellent sight-reading course!
I always had an inferiority complex because I couldn’t read music but under Mark’s positive and straightforward guidance, it’s a lot easier than I expected. I also appreciate not being bombarded with marketing emails at every turn!
When I’ve finished this course, I’m going to check out the Scales Essentials one. I know my scales but, looking at the course outline, there’s still an awful lot that could benefit my playing.
Jim Rogers –
This is a great product for learning how to read music and to commit the notes on the fret board to memory. You cannot rush the learning – it takes time. I’m on the mixed flats and sharps part wanting to get competent at that before moving on. I played in a horn band back in the early 70’s – all by ear. I memorized bass patterns and fret board finger placements. We were good. I graduated from college, started a full time job and unfortunately left my bass behind. I picked up the bass about three years ago A talented guitarist friend refurbished a beginner bass guitar and gave it to me as a gift (it actually plays nicely and sounds okay). I played (jammed) with my friends for about a year relearning many of the previous songs from my early days. Since my musician friends are busy playing with many other groups, we have not played together for quite awhile. In the meantime, I discovered Mark’s courses and initially bought the Basic Fundamentals course which was really good for me. As I mentioned initially this Simple Steps to Sight Reading Volume 1 is really good. I highly recommend it. But if you are like me, someone who never did learn how to read music, then don’t expect to just motor through it if you want to learn it right. I read that it takes 10,000 hours and/or 10 years to learn to play an instrument well. I’m retired and in my early 70’s so would like to shorten that time frame a bit if I can. This course is helping!
Unknown Member (verified owner) –
I have been playing bass for over 30 years, but never really learned to read because it wasn’t a requirement for what I do, which is play jazz standards at jam sessions. I’ve always felt a bit embarrassed when a tune did have a written-out bass line, and I would have to very slowly read each note and memorize the phrase. This reading course started challenging me in level 2, so I can see this will take some time to get through, but I look forward to the journey that has been long overdue for me.
Unknown Member (verified owner) –
This course was outstanding! Mark is such a gifted instructor, every module builds upon itself and you are reading before you know it. “Simple Steps” is such a perfect title, it is so well laid out you can’t help but succeed! But the course is also incredibly comprehensive! I highly recommend anyone interested in learning to read take this course! I started the volume 2 as soon as I finished volume 1 and look forward to finishing the whole series.
Paul –
After completing Volume 1 I moved on to this course and it continues Mark’s excellent and clear, staged lessons on learning music. The final sample pieces are definitely a challenge!
Jose Juan Tejadas (verified owner) –
Never thought that learning to sight read music could be that “easy”. Concepts well explained and all the tricks and materials needed to really learn on your own, with the videos to help you whenever you may need it. A great purchase. Recommended to anyone
Tommy Høyning (verified owner) –
A really good course. It made me understand keys, rhythms, and knowledge of the fretboard in an easy way. I first completed volume 1. I would really recomend this course.
Scott –
Hi Mark,
I just completed this course. I still have many hours of practice to do, but I love how you presented this material and I love that I can go back and watch a lesson over and over again until I feel comfortable.
Regards,
Scott
Bruce MoBettaBass –
Echoing some of what others have already said, this is a great course for learning to read. I decided to start on this course soon after completing the basic starter pack because I heard Mark say 1) of all the courses he offered, he was most proud of the sight reading courses, and 2) the origins of the course. As I recall it, Mark said he was admitted into a music academy to study music without, unlike his peers, knowing how to read music well – so he knew his success as a music student depended upon him acquiring reading skills. He taught himself how to read by breaking the process of reading into basic skill elements and dedicating himself to learning those elements. The sight reading courses are, in part, a refinement of his own method of teaching himself to read. I also think that reading music is a gateway to so much more in music education. So I’m using this course to learn to read music to a minimum standard. I can repeat this course (and the others in the sight reading series) to increase my reading proficiency to the level of a “sight reader”. By the time you complete this course, you will be able to read a straight forward and fundamental bass line in standard notation. It’s hard work, but most everything in life that is worth anything requires hard work. I can’t think of a better starting point in your music educational journey than this course. Go for it!
Tim Arrington –
Great course, establishes a foundation for your playing, enjoyed completing it and I’m still working on it! Worth investing your time and effort!
Barney Kister (verified owner) –
Very effective path to reading and understanding music theory. I learned to read the treble clef on guitar and some on piano, but that was 50+ years ago. Having played in touring rock bands in the small venue, night club and hotel circuits reading and theory were not a requirement. Having said that theory would have made learning by ear easier if I knew the mechanics better. The structure of this Method is well suited for my learning style and I now can read the simple sheet music fairly well. Ready to star the second module and looking forward to more complex keys and faster play. I set aside an hour a day for these courses and truthfully it is the shortest hour of the day. Mark drops in many tidbits regarding sight reading jigs, playing with bands and the practice tracks are very functional for the material. The PDF material is extensive so be prepared to buy some ink or toner for your printer.
Now on to the next module
Barney
Dave North –
Having completed volume 1, I’m now ready to purchase volume 2. I have learned so much already and taken my time to really get the knowledge cemented in place. Mark is a fantastic teacher and I wouldn’t use anyone else now. This course is for anyone wanting to learn to fluently read music and strengthen their music theory
Allan Andersen –
I’ve played bass in my younger days back in1980, and never learned any music-theory, played only by ear and some knowledge from chords on guitar.
I think this course is just the right for me. I’m 64 years old and hope to find some musicians to play with. I’ve also started the course: The Chord Tones Essentials. The way Mark has builded the courses is very, very good for me. I live in Denmark, somtimes there is a language issue, but I understand the most or I’ve have to replay :-)
Nick Notofranco –
Once again you deliver a first class product. Reading music will be the key to success.
Really has helped to develop the ear as well. Explanations and video tutorial along with tons of practice material, hits the target. Feel like a freshman again.
Looking forward to Sight Reading 2 and continued success,
Thank You Nick.
Dave North –
I have just completed this Level 1 course and it’s been a real eye opener. The approach Mark takes in teaching the content is second to none. I feel confident in what I’m learning and at a good steady rate. I have recommended to all my bassist friends who may be interested in learning sight reading. Thanks a bunch Mark.
Stefan Kniesburges –
I just finished Simple Steps to Sight Reading Vol 2. After some practice I was able to play the Sample Pieces from the beginning to the end with only some little mistakes. Improved it by recording my playing and I was very proud of the result. I must say that the Sight Reading Course for me is the most important course in Mark’s portfolio. You are learning not only to read the notes, it improves the knowledge of the fretboard and rhythm and timing. It is in my opinion the best way to become a better bass player. If you combine it with the technique course and the chord tone essentials and the walking bass course you will get a deep dive into the world of bass playing. I’m looking forward to start the next level in module 3.
Carl Hagen –
This course is by far the best investment I have ever made in my bass education. The way Mark breaks down everything into bite pieces, is what makes his courses stand alone. My only regret is not investing in them sooner.
Liam Goethals (verified owner) –
My favorite course!
Robert Zasio –
Loved this continuation of Volume 1. Certainly not easy, and took lots of time, but I really enjoyed it. Something about noticing yourself slowly get better and faster at reading over time is incredibly satisfying. Mark does a great job of breaking up this daunting task into bite-sized chunks.
Bob Zasio –
For many, many years I studied bass ad-hoc, and without a solid curriculum, I never really felt comfortable calling myself a “bass player.” One of the missing pieces was a solid knowledge of the fretboard and the ability to sight read. Mark breaks things down in such a way that fairly quickly you’re reading very simple pieces and feeling accomplishment. I can finally comfortably refer to myself as a bassist!
Matt Warren (verified owner) –
Currently about halfway through this course having finished Volume 1 – it follows on perfectly and is really helping me develop my reading skills. Exercises are taking a lot longer to work through now and the workbook is much harder… but, still realistic and every time I complete something new it feels like a real accomplishment and improvement. Loving it!
Emily M (verified owner) –
Mark gets to the point, gets across the knowledge, and you have access to lots of lesson materials to practice with. Great course for learning to read music.
Emily M (verified owner) –
Mark gets to the point, gets across the knowledge, and you have access to lots of lesson materials to practice with. Great course for learning to read music.
Paul –
I couldn’t read music at all before starting this course. Mark’s instruction videos are a model of clarity and the supporting workbook provides all the information you need.
Matt Warren (verified owner) –
I’ve always understood the concept of reading music but tab made it all too easy for me to ignore this important part of playing bass. But, these lessons have helped me no end! Within the first week I was really happy with the noticeable progress I could see and felt like sight reading was something totally attainable for me! There are places where the lessons become more challenging so this isn’t something that is going to drop into place quickly… but, it doesn’t claim to be. Throughout, Mark explains that this is something that takes practice and time. But, if you’re up for the challenge then this is a fantastic course with excellently presented lessons. Worth every penny and it makes me excited for the future of my bass playing again. Thank you :D
ian johnson –
I really can’t fault this course. Very easy steps, clear instruction. With regular practice success is just about inevitable. Mark is an exceptional teacher.
Djim Reynolds (verified owner) –
Mark is a stellar teacher! He knows how best to share his knowledge with a player, no matter what the skill level. This Simple Steps to Sight Reading Vol 1 is a great introduction to the subject. He covers all the basics, but doesn’t just dump a bunch of exercises in your lap and leave you to figure it all out for yourself. Taking small steps, he helps a beginner grasp the rudiments and by the end of this first course, you will have a pretty impressive skill set, especially if you practice the material faithfully and honestly. I’ve already purchased a few of Mark’s courses, because i think he does an amazing job of helping you to push yourself musically, while not forcing you to buy more content and he doesn’t feel the need to be ostentatious or gimmicky. kudos to you Mark! thanks for providing us with this material!
Pat Hagen –
Really enjoying this course. Here’s the deal w/ Mark, he gets to it. He gives you instructions so you can get on w/ the lesson and progressing. Yes, he’s personable, funny and gives hints and tips here and there, but a majority of the time is spent on the ‘main course’. Thank you Mark!
– Pat
Philip Adjei (verified owner) –
I started my bass journey with this course -having scanned many courses online. I found Mark courses well structured! Lessons are nicely linked and that gives a sense of direction and purpose. I can see the advantage
of starting to learn how to play the bass with sight reading course. I’ll recommend this course to all interested in reading music on the bass!!!
Michel –
When I decided to pick up the bass, I was determined to learn how to read music as well. It was a personal goal and I could not play or read a single note on the bass clef. So I decided to buy Mark’s course “Simple Steps To Sight Reading”; and I am so glad that I did. The course is simply great and effective, and I cannot recommend it enough. The lessons are progressive, they start simple and allow fast learning, which makes the whole experience just fun. Now I am able to also read Jeff Berlin’s lessons (Etudes) and Phil Mann’s, in addition to Mark’s. But Mark’s method was the starter –and still is– if I want to recommend a course to anyone. If you are thinking of learning to read music (bass clef), do not hesitate to grab this course.
Agustín Montero –
What can I say of this course? I give it 5 stars because I hasn’t more. I’ve been playing bass for about 30 years and I can say without doubt that this is the course that every bass player MUST do. You will learn very fast to read music for bass. You will learn to read while playing from second one. You will get a lot of indirect benefits like understand the music for better compositions, learn scales, learn all the fretboard, learn the rhythm…..I have a lot of old bass books and now I can read them with a huge smile in my face. I love this course. I enjoy a lot all the exerecises and I also extrapolate those exercises playing them with slap, double thumb…. Mark’s methodology is game changer and he is the best online teacher with very clear english; something critical for foreign students like me. With this course, you will feel quickly how to jump to other dimension in bass playing. Actually I’m at 16% of Sight Reading volume 2, 70% slap vol 2, and bought the walking bass course (not started yet)
Mark’s courses are no brainer the best inversion in knowledge.
Francesco Guerrieri (verified owner) –
This course is a real game changer. I can’t over-estimate how much it is doing for my playing skills. At first I was doubtful because… I could already read music (or so I thought!) But after studying in more detail what was on offer and deciding to go for it… I am so happy to have done it. The capability of playing without looking at the fretboard, of looking in advance to the next bar, to orient oneself in the music. It is giving me so much in terms of actual playing and of musical comprehension, it is unlocking bass – and music – to me. It’s really like learning to read: I knew how to spell letter by letter but I couldn’t read words, or sentences, because I was busy remembering the shape of each letter (the position of the note on the fretboard…). Mark’s approach, of small incremental steps, is really working for me. You need to put work in this, and he gives all the support needed. The tips and the potential pitfalls, what to be careful about. After a while you find out that you have improved when you are able to do things that just few days before… seemed hard. Bonus points: my rhytm is improving at the same time, because I waste less time to know what I have to play. I gave the maximum 5/5 since that’s the scale, but my vote should be read as: “Why haven’t you taken this course yet, what are you waiting for?!?!?”
BernieB –
I was a garage band bassplayer in college. After a 30-year layoff, I picked it back up (yep, with the original ’72 Precision). After getting some chops back and finding your website, my learning really took off – I finally started understanding why certain things sounded “right”. I decided to take the plunge and try to learn sight reading, and am now about halfway through the 2nd course. WOW – I can find many transcriptions on the internet and it’s so much fun and so much faster to learn the songs, my enjoyment of the instrument has really grown. I usually try to practice an hour every day, but often have to miss due to family commitments. But that works for me because it’s all at my own pace. Sometimes I need to re-review the lesson, and one thing I really appreciate about the way Mark presents the material is that he gets right to the lesson point and stays there, so I don’t have to plow through a lot of irrelevant material to get the lesson. No time wasting! Mark really brings the A-game to this course – highly recommended!
birnstingl –
I recently finished the “Simple Steps To Sight Reading Volume 2” course. It was fun to do the course, but it takes time. I moved from one lesson to the next only when I had the feeling that I mastered the exercises perfectly. At the end of the course I could play the sample pieces when I played them the first time only with small mistakes. But I have to say that I am not a beginner in reading music, but I didn’t read for a long time. In the course I like most the rhythm exercises. Sometimes they look boring, but they aren’t. You get a good rhythmical vocabulary if you practice these exercises seriously.
Gary Myers –
In response to your request for feedback, I enjoy your lessons and feel that you do the best job of anyone on the web in explaining various concepts. A lot of your lessons do not apply to me as I play Big Band music. I still enjoy listening to lessons and trying some of the riffs you teach even though I will never use them in a live situation.
edsdame (verified owner) –
This is something everyone needs if they want to progress as bass players and general musicians. You’ll learn to read sheet music, and play without watching your hands which is a big plus.
I am only a few lessons in on this course but already can feel that my playing is progressed, I am much more confident in getting the right notes.
Anthony Moreno –
I needed to learn the base as an instrument that plays bass clef notes. When I discovered this course I was excited and it did not disappoint me. I’m only through level 2 but already can play most of the songs our church uses on the bass clef with lots of practice. It’s only been six months since I started but diligent practice of at least one hour per day will get you there. By the time I get to through the next levels I will be very proficient in being able to play almost anything out there which gives me the utmost confidence in my playing. I would not have believed six months ago that I would be this far as seeing other musicians learn their instruments over years of work to play well I figured that was my road. Not so.
In addition to learning the notes I’ve learned a lot about music composition what those notes mean. I’ve been playing chords for 40 years but there is more to them than I thought. Being able to go back and forth between notes and chords is a whole new experience that does leave me scared or wondering any more what I’ve been missing. I’d say learning the notes is a must for almost anyone as it will give you the fundamentals and confidence to go farther in your career as a bass musician. No wonder so many rock and roll stars learned classical piano – note theory that took them behind the scenes and gave them a grounding they use everyday in music. You can’t go wrong in this course at all and the beauty is with all the levels you can easily spend a few years becoming super proficient and not run out of material to practice.
Ronald Greene –
I started playing bass in 1988 when I bought a Hofner 500/1. I never took a lesson, trying to learn by ear and then by tab books and, while I could work some things out, it would take me a long time to get a song down.
Two years ago I found Mark’s courses, and I signed up for the Bassic Fundamentals course first. Then, he made the Simple Steps to Sightreading course and I had to give it a go.
The course is presented in an easy going, learn at your pace model. The breakdown of notes, tempo, rhythym and worksheets to practice reading while playing along comes quickly if you put the time in.
After a couple weeks of practice I got one of my old Led Zeppelin books and read along with the notes for Livin’ Lovin’ Maid, a song I could never figure out, and read the notes instead and was able to play it!
If you’re like me and you never thought you could learn to read music I recommend this course! It makes it, well, simple to learn the basics, gives you the tools to practice to improve your ability quickly if you put the time in, and reading will open up new areas of practice and learning.
Alexander Suppe –
I‘ve been working on this course for about 1,5 years now and the progress I have made has surpassed my expectations. I‘m halfway through volume 2 and I’m now able to play easier big band charts on the fly and work out harder ones with practice. I used to read on trumpet before but just knowing the notes on another instrument didn‘t allow me to read on bass. At first I thought that the biggest challenge would be to learn the notes in bass clef but I was COMPLETELY wrong. So after a few very frustrating self-experiments I got Mark’s course and it was the best decision I could have made. Having learnt to read music as a kid I just didn‘t realize how much practice and repetition it actually needs to build up muscle memory so your fingers automatically go to the right places and you begin to see phrases rather than words (like I could on trumpet). While this is a tough process, Mark‘s course makes it as easy and enjoyable as possible. It’s not a theoretical course, it’s a thoroughly structured guided workout that will get you reading step by step. Unlike many other methods this course acknowledges that it takes a lot of practice and provides TONS of work sheets (about one medium size folder per volume!). It also contains musical pieces with playbacks in a variety of styles to check your skills. The best thing is that you‘re not asked to make your own practice sheets or look for reading material – it’s all there for you, ready to go! Just print it all and follow it step by step. It‘s so rewarding when you don‘t have to hassle with tabs and those little numbers anymore but can just play a bass line right off the page at first sight! Get this course, practice everyday and take it slow(!!!) to get reading fast!
ANDREW MALESKI –
What is the best way to learn to read music for the bass guitar? This search term has about 123,000,000 results on Google and I am utterly convinced that this is the very best method. Every step is intended and written in such a simple way so they just build off one another. I promise you if you just take 10 minutes of your practice time working on this you will be reading music in no time. I am only halfway through the first module and I am able to look at basic sheet music and read it. That is SO cool to me. Mark’s bass groove challenge is GERAT to go alongside some of these lessons. Look no further you have arrived, this is the BEST place to learn to sight-read specifically for the bass guitar! I can’t wait until I am able to work through some Jazz standards or other legendary transcriptions and amplify my bass playing. I am confident that I am on the right path with what I have been able to learn so far. Thank you, Mark!
Antonio Pizarro –
You want to progress as a bass player more effectively, rapidly, and have more fun playing? Learn to read. This course is the only resource that makes sense, and I searched extensively. The value for the money is VERY high. The course itself is exceptionally well-constructed, thorough and detailed. I am almost done with Vol 1. It takes work and time, but it is worth the money and effort. The videos are detailed, the course material is impressively effective. As always, Mark explains every topic with clarity and professionalism. I am a hobbyist, not a pro, and I’ve been playing for decades–just not very well–because I’ve never understood what I was playing. It got to be no fun to just make sounds and play fast or do covers and playing entirely by ear.
Learning to read has improved my understanding of music, my confidence, and my enjoyment of the bass tremendously. I will never play professionally, but I have finally found that reading is essential. For example, I have several amazing books recommended by my bass teacher, and all require reading to complete the exercises.
If you want to learn to read, get this course. Be prepared to work. This is a real course, and it requires commitment and time, but it is also fun and you will see results. There is a steep (meaning good) learning curve at first, then there is a bit of a plateau, but once you reach rhythms, things take off again.