Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Paul, you taught your first band 5 part harmony...did you have vocal training prior to that, or did Brian Wilson's arrangements just meld with your DNA...

I sang in a church choir from the time I was 9 years old. "Sorta" read music; took some theory courses in HS. After I taught myself how to play keyboards and guitar and began to understand chord structures, I began to take apart the BB songs and taught them to the guys. To this day, however, I cannot really sight-read at playing speed; I have to stop and analyze. I'm OK with fake books and tabs, though.

Congrats on #500, George!

Same with me, Paul---I can decipher music, and I can write it, but I cannot read and play at the same time. Long ago I "decoded" Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. After a couple weeks, I had it down and can play it from memory to this day. But I wouldn't be able to "read" Mary Had a Little Lamb...

I'm the same way! though still I find I'm at a point where I can learn music from sheet music, just takes me forever! I learn it fast, so once through I don't need to look at it again! I think I'm going to go play Autumn Leaves...

Ok here's one. I read fairly well, but I just got an EUB, and I want to play melody on it. Most songbooks are in treble clef. I read bass clef way better(trombonist as a youngster). I would love to figure out a better way than thinking "up a third" on every note! Or is there something I am missing?

Charly, one alternative - and this takes some work - is to get notation software, input the melody you want to play, and simply put it into bass clef. It'll transpose it for you. Sibelius is my favorite notation software.

I do still have that Sw that will scan in sheet music. Maybe I should give it a whirl! They keep buggin me to upgrade. I think it was originally called Midiscan....hang on(google timeout), it is now Smartscore. I think I am only 1 or 2 versions behind. It is up to v5.